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Best Non-Fiction of 1999
Return to Fiction_L Booklists Menu
January 2000
Compiled by Kay Blakeman
of Standley Lake (Arvada, CO) Public Library, from contributions by the members of Fiction_L.
(To use this list in your library, book club, etc., please include the following credit line: "Compiled by the subscribers of the Fiction_L mailing list." This list may not be used for commercial purposes.)
Birkerts, Sven. Readings.
Briggs, Raymond Ethel and Ernest.
An illustrated biography that reads like fiction.
The illustrated story of the marriage of the author's parents, set in London from the late 20's to the early 70's.
Epstein, Joseph. Narcissus Leaves the Pool.
Garbarino, James. Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them.
A sobering examination of the increase in violence among boys. Dr. Garbarino posits that rejected and neglected boys often turn their anger, shame, and depression into violence. He suggests rehabilitation based on a monastic model. Includes helpful resources section.
Goldstone, Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone. Slightly Chipped: Footnotes in Booklore.
A whimsical journey through the world of book collecting.
Hubell, Sue. Waiting for Aphrodite: Journeys into the Time Before Bones.
Linden, Eugene. The Parrot's Lament and Other Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity.
Mosese, Jennifer. Food and Whine: Confessions of an End-of-the-Millennium Mom.
Rhodes, Richard. Why They Kill: The Discoveries of a Maverick Criminologist.
Pulitzer prize winning Rhodes, examines the life and work of Dr. Lonnie Athens, an unorthodox sociologist/ criminologist. Dr. Athens posits a four step process towards what he calls violentization. His theories are based on his own violent upbringing and extensive one-on-one interviews with violent offenders.
Simon, Alvah North to the Night.
A nonfiction account of a man and his cat (and wife part of the time) who took a boat to the Arctic with the idea of wintering in the frozen sea. Even though I didn't find what he did admirable, it was still a fascinating story.
Sobel, Dava. Galileo's Daughter.
Strand, Mark Blizzard of One: Poems.
I thought these poems managed to navigate the fine line between intellectual and emotional poetry without becoming too much one or the other. (1998)
Underhill, Paco Why We Buy.
This book was widely discussed on library lists because of his comments on displays and merchandising, but I recommend it as much for his cheerful wit and incisive thinking on American consumers.
This has already been mentioned a couple of times, but I enjoyed it so much I thought I'd mention it again. It really makes for fascinating reading.
Velman, Edith. Edith's Story.
West, Michael Lee. Consuming Passions: a Food Obsessed Life.
A food-obsessed autobiography with great sounding recipes try the Better-Than-Sex Cake!).
Winchester, Simon "The Surgeon of Crowthorne" also known as "The Professor and the Madman".
About the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. (1998)
Zitrin, Richard. The Moral Compass of the American Lawyer.
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