We continue our look at the best nonfiction added to the CA Library collection in the past year with some notable books for adults:

American History

• The Amistad Rebellion : An Atlantic Odyssey Of Slavery And Freedom by Marcus Rediker (Viking, 2012) — “A totally enthralling account of the Amistad rebellion and its place in the broader American story of revolt against a great threat to liberty.” — Booklist

• The Historic Unfullfilled Promise by Howard Zinn (City Lights Books, 2012) — “This posthumous collection of Zinn’s passionate, iconoclastic, and wryly humorous articles from the Progressive magazine spans 30 years — from 1980 to 2010.” — Publishers Weekly

• SEAL Target Geronimo : The Inside Story Of The Mission To Kill Osama Bin Laden by Chuck Pfarrer (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2012) — “An explosive story of unparalleled valor and clockwork military precision carried out by the most elite fighting force in the world – the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six.” — Publisher’s description

• Shiloh, 1862 by Winston Groom (National Geographic, 2012) — “A provocatively rendered and persuasively argued study that demands a central place in Civil War historiography. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal

• The Story Of America : Essays On Origins by Jill Lepore (Princeton University Press, 2012) — “Ranging from colonial times to the present, these essays are liberally sprinkled with fascinating facts…even the footnotes contain buried treasures; history buffs and general readers alike will savor this collection.” — Publishers Weekly

• Trinity : A Graphic History Of The First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm (Hill and Wang, 2012) — “The writing’s as good as the art, making this a strong primer on the A-bomb’s development.” — Booklist

• When America First Met China : An Exotic History Of Tea, Drugs, And Money In The Age Of Sail by Eric Jay Dolin (Liveright Pub., 2012) — “An ideal book for general readers in popular history or with a historical interest in China’s influence on the U.S. economy and general relations between the two countries-past and present.” — Library Journal

Global Studies

• Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (Random House, 2012) — “This first book by a New Yorker staff writer (and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Washington Post) jolts the reader’s consciousness with the opposing realities of poverty and wealth in a searing visit to the Annawaldi settlement, a flimflam slum that has recently sprung up in the western suburbs of the gigantic city of Mumbai, India.” — Booklist

• Escape From Camp 14 : One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey From North Korea To Freedom In The West by Blaine Harden (Viking, 2012) — “Shin Dong-Hyuk was born in 1982 in one of North Korea’s gulags, Camp 14. At 23, he escaped, one of few to do so and survive. Following Shin’s story from North Korea to China to South Korea and eventually to the States and connecting it to the larger story of North Korea’s dictatorship and culture, Harden tells a gripping story.” — Library Journal

• The Great Big Book Of Horrible Things : The Definitive Chronicle Of History’s 100 Worst Atrocities by Matthew White (W.W. Norton, 2012) — “From Alexander the Great to the collapse of the Mayan Empire to the Crusades to the Napoleonic Wars to WWII to Saddam Hussein to the genocide in Rwanda… this is a very useful and informative supplement to history texts.” — Booklist

• Jerusalem : Chronicles From The Holy City by Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly, 2012) — “Delisle delivers a collection of vignettes and anecdotes culled from a year spent in the contentious holy city of Jerusalem. This beautiful book works as an unforgettable travelogue that delves deeply into finding connections and humanity in a routinely conflicted area.” — Booklist

• The Liberator : One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey From The Beaches Of Sicily To The Gates Of Dachau by Alex Kershaw (Crown, 2012) — “In his latest WWII narrative, Kershaw examines the war through the experiences of Felix Sparks, an American law student-turned-soldier who saw action in some of the bloodiest campaigns of 1943-1945.” — Publishers Weekly

• On The Map : A Mind-Expanding Exploration Of The Way The World Looks by Simon Garfield (Gotham Books, 2013) — “[Garfield’s] droll humor and infectious curiosity will keep readers engrossed as he uncovers surprising ways in which maps chart our imaginations as much as they do the ground underfoot.” — Publishers Weekly

• The Queen Of Katwe : A Story Of Life, Chess, And One Extraordinary Girl’s Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster by Tim Crothers (Scribner, 2012) — “It’s a story almost too uplifting to believe: a young girl from a dirt-poor slum in Uganda meets a man, a missionary from a similar background, who inspires her to take up chess. The girl rises to national champion and travels to the Chess Olympiad in Siberia, a journey that opens her eyes to a world she might never have known.” — Booklist

• Restless Empire : China And The World Since 1750 by Odd Arne Westad (Basic Books, 2012) — “A remarkable and timely glimpse behind the curtain that is required reading for anyone interested in Chinese political history and economic development and the future of China’s position in the international community.” — Booklist

• Tinderbox : How The West Sparked The AIDS Epidemic And How The World Can Finally Overcome It by Craig Timberg (Penguin Press, 2012) — “A compelling account of the ravages of the southern African AIDS epidemic and its heroes, villains, and missed opportunities.” — Library Journal

• The World Until Yesterday : What Can We Learn From Traditional Societies? by Jared M. Diamond (Viking, 2012) — “Diamond draws on his fieldwork in New Guinea, the Amazon, Kalahari, and other areas to compare the best and most questionable customs and practices of societies past and present, [bringing]  a fresh perspective to historic and contemporary ways of life with an eye toward those that are likely to enhance our future.” — Booklist

Science and Technology

• Air : The Restless Shaper Of The World by William Bryant Logan (W.W. Norton, 2012) — “For everyone who has wondered just how a 747 manages to get off the ground, luxuriated in the intoxicating aroma of a bed of roses, or marveled at a tropical sunset, Logan’s meticulously researched and engagingly presented treatise is a breath of, well, fresh air.” — Booklist

• Exploding The Phone : The Untold Story Of The Teenagers And Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell by Phil Lapsley (Grove Press, 2013) — “Tech industry veteran Lapsley uses more than 100 interviews and 400 Freedom of Information Act requests to present the virtually unknown battle between phone companies and overcurious young tech whizzes determined to explore Ma Bell’s networks.” — Library Journal

• The Forever Fix : Gene Therapy And The Boy Who Saved It by Ricki Lewis (St. Martin’s Press, 2012) — “In this impressive, meticulously researched study of the exciting new developments in gene therapy, geneticist and journalist Lewis looks closely at the history of setbacks plaguing the treatment of rare genetic diseases as well as recent breakthroughs.” — Publishers Weekly

• Gulp : Adventures On The Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach (W.W. Norton & Company, 2013) — “Roach once again goes boldly into the fields of strange science. Adventurous kids and doctors alike will appreciate this fascinating and sometimes ghastly tour of the gastrointestinal system.” — Publishers Weekly

• Knocking On Heaven’s Door : How Physics And Scientific Thinking Illuminate The Universe And The Modern World by Lisa Randall (Ecco, 2012) — “In Randall’s second book written for a general audience, several major themes are woven together to depict the state of physics in the 21st century.” — Library Journal

• Letters To A Young Scientist by Edward O. Wilson (Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2013) — “Wilson’s celebration of creativity and discipline, love for the living world, and commitment to explicating its wonders and fragility will uplift every reader, no matter her or his calling. Warm, sage, and compelling, this concise and mighty book of wisdom and encouragement belongs in every library.” — Booklist

• No Time To Lose : A Life In Pursuit Of Deadly Viruses by Peter Piot (W.W. Norton, 2012) — “Belgian physician Piot has been on the front lines of infectious disease research for the last three and one-half decades, and he details the battle against Ebola and AIDS in his timely and accessible memoir. Piot’s race to make a difference in the face of [the AIDS] epidemic makes for enthralling reading, and his determination, efforts, and accomplishments are inspiring.” — Booklist

• The Story Of Earth : The First 4.5 Billion Years, From Stardust To Living Planet by Robert M. Hazen (Viking, 2012) — “With a blend of storytelling and science (from mineralogy and geology to biochemistry), Hazen illuminates the origins of Earth and the origins of life. This is a thoroughly accessible book, deftly mixing a variety of scientific disciplines to tell an unforgettable story.” — Publishers Weekly

• The Violinist’s Thumb : And Other Lost Tales Of Love, War, And Genius, As Written By Our Genetic Code by Sam Kean (Little, Brown, 2012) — “As he did in his debut bestseller, The Disappearing Spoon, Kean educates readers about a facet of science, in this case, genetics, with wonderfully witty prose and enthralling anecdotes.” — Publishers Weekly

• Weird Life : The Search For Life That Is Very, Very Different From Our Own by David Toomey (W.W. Norton & Co., 2013) — “Toomey’s latest covers the strange, stranger, and strangest of life forms at the frontiers of biology. This title would be an excellent supplement to a physical science course and will be perfect for curious readers with humanities or social science backgrounds.” — Library Journal

Environmental Issues

• The Conundrum : How Scientific Innovation, Increased Efficiency, And Good Intentions Can Make Our Energy And Climate Problems Worse by David Owen (Riverhead Books, 2012) — “After Green Metropolis (2009), a revelatory exposition of why urban life is green, Owen — brisk, funny, elucidating, and blunt — illuminates a wide spectrum of environmental misperceptions in this even more paradox-laden inquiry.” — Booklist

• Death At Seaworld : Shamu And The Dark Side Of Killer Whales In Captivity by David Kirby (St. Martin’s Press, 2012) — “Journalist Kirby offers another passionate industry expose, focusing on SeaWorld Orlando’s popular orca display and its costs in happiness and safety for both the animals and the humans who care for them. Kirby’s exhaustively researched chronicle offers the definitive look at its subject.” — Publishers Weekly

• Full Body Burden : Growing Up In The Nuclear Shadow Of Rocky Flats by Kristen Iversen (Crown Publishers, 2012) — “National security has always trumped transparency, but Iverson’s well-researched, firsthand account of the effects of growing up a few miles from Rocky Flats, [a plutonium trigger plant] near Denver, is a bombshell. Teens interested in environmental causes will be amazed at the enormity of this issue and its implications for the future.” — School Library Journal

• Garbology : Our Dirty Love Affair With Trash by Edward Humes (Avery, 2012) — “On average, every American will generate 102 tons of trash in their lifetime. Pulitzer Prize-winner Humes asks how that number came to be, and what can be done to reduce it; [his] take on the science and culture of ‘garbology’ is both academic and deeply personal, making this a fascinating read.” — Publishers Weekly

• Global Weirdness : Severe Storms, Deadly Heat Waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas, And The Weather Of The Future, by Climate Central (Pantheon Books, 2012) — “Climate Central Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan science and journalism organization, wrote this guide in response to Thomas Friedman’s request in a 2010 New York Times column for the climate-science community to ‘convene its top experts’ to provide a simple, unimpeachably peer-reviewed 50-page report ‘summarizing everything we already know about climate change in language that a sixth-grader could understand.'” — Publishers Weekly

• Nature Wars : The Incredible Story Of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards Into Battlegrounds by Jim Sterba (Crown, 2012) — “Sterba tells the story of, as he puts it, how we turned a wildlife comeback miracle into a mess. The eastern third of the U.S. hosts the majority of Americans and is also the home of a burgeoning population of animals that have adjusted to life near and among humans. This is an excellent introduction to a problem that is often one of human perception.” — Booklist

• The Ocean Of Life : The Fate Of Man And The Sea by Callum Roberts (Viking, 2012) — “Biologist and conservation activist Roberts examines with clarity the relationships among fossil-fuel use, climate change, rising sea levels and ocean acidity, overfishing, and pollution from toxic chemicals, sewage, and fertilizers. Appropriate for the general public as well as high school and college students, this is essential reading for anyone concerned about the future of the planet.” — Library Journal

ELA

• The Best American Travel Writing 2012, edited by William T. Vollmann (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012) — “Bold and questing writer and world traveler Vollmann is at the helm of the thirteenth edition of this superb travel annual, which has always been distinguished by its stellar guest editors. Vollmann’s best assemblage profoundly extends the reach of the ever-vital and enlightening art of travel writing.” — Booklist

• Better Than Fiction : True Travel Tales From Great Fiction Writers, edited by Don George (Lonely Planet Publications, 2012) — “This refreshing compilation of 32 travel essays by some of the world’s best-known fiction writers offers intimate and offbeat impressions of places near and far.” — Publishers Weekly

• Good Prose : The Art Of Nonfiction by Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd (Random House, 2013) — “Kidder and veteran editor Todd, who have long worked together, have cowritten a treatise on writing nonfiction that not only focuses on art over craft, but rises to the level of art itself, while remaining accessible. This is a must read for nonfiction writers and is a strong choice as a textbook or required course reading covering the narrative nonfiction, essay, or memoir forms.” — Library Journal

• My Bookstore : Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places To Browse, Read, And Shop, edited by Ronald Rice (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2012) — “Rice invited 84 outstanding writers to contribute to this essay collection, and one could do worse than to plan a road trip based solely on the bookstores featured in this unabashed paean to what may be a vanishing part of the American landscape, the independent bookstore.” — Booklist

Sports and Health

• Dream Team : How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, And The Greatest Team Of All Time Conquered The World And Changed The Game Of Basketball Forever by Jack McCallum (Ballantine Books, 2012) — “The 1992 U.S. team that won the Olympic gold medal is considered by virtually all knowledgeable observers to be the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Great reading for NBA fans.” — Booklist

• Howard Cosell : The Man, The Myth, And The Transformation Of American Sports by Mark Ribowsky (W.W. Norton, 2012) — “Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in U.S. sports and broadcasting history.” — Library Journal

• Muck City : Winning And Losing In Football’s Forgotten Town by Bryan Mealer (Crown Archetype, 2012) — “Drawing comparisons to the 1990 bestseller Friday Night Lights, this football narrative chronicles the evolution of high school football in Belle Glade, Fla. — among the poorest communities in the U.S. — home to Glades Central High School, an academic underachiever whose football team has sent more than 30 players to the NFL since 1985.” — Publishers Weekly

• Pinstripe Empire : The New York Yankees From Before The Babe To After The Boss by Martin Appel (Bloomsbury, 2012) — “In this affectionate fan’s notes to the team, former Yankees public relations director Appel regales baseball fans everywhere with a fast-paced, exhaustively and exhaustingly detailed, year-by-year chronicle of the team’s history.” — Publishers Weekly

• Salt, Sugar, Fat : How The Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss (Random House, 2013) — “American cuisine is just a delivery system for an addictive trinity of unhealthy ingredients, according to this eye-popping expose of the processed food industry. Pulitzer-winning New York Times reporter Moss explains the two-faced science of salt, sugar, and fat; the result is a mouth-watering, gut-wrenching look at the food we hate to love.” — Publishers Weekly

Business

• The Fish That Ate The Whale : The Life And Times Of America’s Banana King by Rich Cohen (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012) — “This spirited book introduces readers to Samuel Zemurray, a Russian Jew who emigrated to Alabama in 1891, eventually settling in New Orleans, where he grew to be head of the United Fruit Company. This is popular history and biography at its best, making for an easy verdict: this book will appeal strongly to lay readers and scholars alike. Highly recommended to all.” — Library Journal

Art

• Glittering Images : A Journey Through Art From Egypt To Star Wars by Camille Paglia (Pantheon Books, 2012) — “Paglia, an ardent and often controversial defender of the arts and creative freedom, presents a commanding case for reclaiming the visual arts as a necessary and nurturing cultural force in a time of alarmingly diminished support for arts education; this bold and rigorous, handsomely illustrated and welcoming art iconography will accomplish her mission to provoke, enlighten, and inspire.” — Booklist

• Mastering Comics : Drawing Words & Writing Pictures Continued : A Definitive Course In Comics Narrative by Jessica Abel (First Second, 2012) — “Filled with clear, engaging, and exact instructions; examples from well- and lesser-known comics; and loads of exercises meant to help both the prospective writer and potential artist flourish, the book leaves literally no area of the comic creation process unexamined. This belongs in every library that is pursuing a serious and expansive graphic novel collection.” — Booklist

• What Are You Looking At? : The Surprising, Shocking, And Sometimes Strange Story Of 150 Years Of Modern Art by Will Gompertz (Dutton, 2012) — “BBC arts editor Gompertz’s aim is to demystify modern art, to provide a basic history of each of its ‘isms,’ and show how these movements are interconnected; the result is an entertaining and elucidating guide to modern art, refreshing in its approach and intentions, that will interest the general reader and art enthusiast.” — Publishers Weekly

Film

• Raiders! : The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made by Alan Eisenstock (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012) — Here’s a making-of book about the production of the coolest movie you might never see. Back in the early 1980s, when Raiders of the Lost Ark was still in theaters, a couple of kids (Eric Zala, 12, and Chris Strompolos, 11) decided to remake the movie, using a borrowed camera, a cast of friends, and as much realism and accuracy as they could muster. An amazing, one-of-a-kind book about a triumphant, one-of-a-kind film production.” — Booklist

Education

• How Children Succeed : Grit, Curiosity, And The Hidden Power Of Character by Paul Tough (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012) — “This American Life contributor Tough tackles new theories on childhood education; while traditional education relies heavily on memorization, new research conducted by James Heckman suggests that the conventional wisdom represented by those third-grade multiplication tables has failed some of our most vulnerable students. The ultimate lesson of Tough’s quest to explain a new wave of educational theories is that character strengths make up perhaps the single most compelling element of a child’s education, and these traits are rooted deep within the chemistry of the brain.” — Publishers Weekly

• Sticks And Stones : Defeating The Culture Of Bullying And Rediscovering The Power Of Character And Empathy by Emily Bazelon (Random House, 2013) — “Bazelon first became involved in reporting on bullying for a series in Slate magazine, which ultimately led to this book-length analysis of the phenomenon. This very perceptive and accessible work on a topic of increasing relevance is a must-read for any teacher, administrator, or after-school provider for teens and tweens.” — Booklist