pbadeer takes on Dewey

I feel like I read a lot of NonFiction, but I can't say I've ever tracked it to see what "kind" of NFC I am reading. This should be fun.

I have no faith in my ability to tackle the entire list - there are far too many categories I care too little about - but the tracking should be fun all the same. I'm going to start with what I already have on LT - since most of that is recent reads and 2009 reads anyway. Even with it, I have a feeling it won't be very complete. But at least I have a new challenge and goal!

NOTE TO SELF
10 Categories
10 Divisions in each Category
10 Sections in each Division

TRACKING
Categories - 10/10 (reached the goal of all 10 categories in January 2012)
Divisions - 39/100
Sections - 67/1000

000 – Computer science, information & general works

000 Computer science, knowledge & systems
>001 Knowledge
>>001.96 - 13: The Story of the World's Most Popular Superstition by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer
>002 The book
>>002 - Used and Rare by Lawrence Goldstone
>>002 - Slightly Chipped by Lawrence Goldstone
>>002 - Pound of Paper by John Baxter
>>002 - Warmly Inscribed by Lawrence Goldstone

010 Bibliographies
>011 Bibliographies
>>011.73 - Book Lust by Nancy Pearl

020 Library & information sciences
>028 Reading & use of other information media
>>028 - Why Not Catch-21? by Gary Dexter
>>028 - How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell
>>028 - Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan

030 Encyclopedias & books of facts
>031 Encyclopedias in American English
>>031.02 - Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge by Mangesh Hattikudur

040 No longer used -- formerly Collected essays by language

050 Magazines, journals & serials

060 Associations, organizations & museums
>>060 - The Winning Delegate by Karem Turunc (Model UN)
>069 - Museum Science
>>069.09753 - The Stranger and the Statesman by Nina Burleigh

070 News media, journalism & publishing

080 General collections

090 Manuscripts & rare books

100 – Philosophy and psychology

100 Philosophy & psychology

110 Metaphysics

120 Epistemology, causation, humankind

130 Paranormal phenomena

140 Specific philosophical schools

150 Psychology
>158 Applied Psychology
>>158.1 - No Opportunity Wasted by Phil Keoghan

160 Logic

170 Ethics-Moral philosophy

180 Ancient, medieval, Oriental philosophy

190 Modern Western philosophy (19th-century, 20th-century)

200 – Religion

200 Religion

210 Natural theology

220 Bible

230 Christian theology

240 Christian moral & devotional theology
>246 Use of art in Christianity
>>246.96 - Heaven in Stone and Glass by Robert Barron

250 Christian orders & local church

260 Christian social theology

270 Christian church history

280 Christian denominations & sects
>289 - Other Denominations & Sects
>>289.3092 - Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer
>>289.7 - Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
>>289.92 - I'm Perfect, You're Doomed by Kyria Abrahams (12/2010)

290 Other & comparative religions

300 – Social sciences

300 Social sciences
>303 Social processes
>>303.34 - How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator
>305 Social groups
>>305.235 - Freedom Writers Diary
>>305.52 - Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor by Tad Friend
>>305.896073 - Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
>>305.9089 - American Nerd by Benjamin Nugent
306 Culture and Institutions
>>306.0 - All My Life for Sale by John Freyer

310 General statistics

320 Political science
>320 - Political Science
>>320.54092 - Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

330 Economics
>332 Financial economics
>>332.092 - Dark Genius of Wall Street by Edward J. Renehan, Jr.
>338 Production
>>338.47 - Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Luster by Dana Thomas
>>338.47664153 - Candyfreak by Steve Almond
>>338.54097309043 - Great Crash of 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith

340 Law

350 Public administration

360 Social services; association
>362 Social welfare problems & services
>>362.82 - Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
>363 Other social problems & services
>>363.550973091732 - Sundown Towns by James Lowen
>>363.7 - Farewell, My Subaru by Doug Fine
>364 Criminology
>>364.1523 - Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
>>364.1532 - Lucky by Alice Sebold
>>364.162 - Museum of the Missing by Simon Houpt
>>364.16287599492 - The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser

370 Education
>370 Education
>>370.973 - How Lincoln Learned to Read by Daniel Silva
>372 Elementary education
>>372.452 - Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
>>372.632 - American Bee by James Maguire
>378 Higher education
>>378.755 - Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose

380 Commerce, communications, transport
>381 Internal commerce (Domestic trade)
>>381.14 - Mom & Pop Store by Robert Spector
>>381.17 - Sotheby's: Bidding for Class by Robert Lacey
>>381.45002 - Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co. by Jeremy Mercer
>>381.456887654 - In Search of L.L. Bean by M.R. Montgomery

390 Customs, etiquette, folklore

>394 General customs
>>394.12 - The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky
>398 Folklore
>>398.8 - Heavy Words Lightly Thrown by Chris Roberts

400 – Language

400 Language
410 Linguistics
420 English & Old English
>428 - Standard English Usage
>>428.2 - Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English - Patricia T. O'Conner
430 Germanic languages; German
440 Romance languages; French
450 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic
460 Spanish & Portuguese languages
470 Italic; Latin
480 Hellenic languages; Classical Greek
490 Other languages

Science

500 Natural sciences & mathematics
510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy & allied sciences
530 Physics
540 Chemistry & allied sciences
550 Earth sciences
560 Paleontology; Paleozoology
570 Life sciences
>576 Genetics and evolution
>>576.1783 - The Genius Factory by David Plotz
>577 Ecology
>>577.56 - Suburban Safari - Hannah Holmes
580 Plants
590 Zoological sciences

600 Technology

600 Technology (Applied sciences)

610 Medical sciences; Medicine
>611 Human anatomy, cytology, histology - Stiff by Mary Roach
>613.69 - Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook - Joshua Piven

620 Engineering & Applied operations

630 Agriculture
>635 Garden crops
>>635.092 - Trowel and Error by Alan Titchmarsh
>636 Animal husbandry
>>636.0887 - Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte
>>636.72 - Marley and Me by John Grogan

640 Home economics & family living
>641 Food & drink
>>641.013 - Choice Cuts by Mark Kurlansky
>>641.5 - Toast by Nigel Slater
>>641.5 - Under the Table by Katherine Darling
>>641.5092 - Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

650 Management & auxiliary services
>658 General management
>>658.11 - Martha Rules by Martha Stewart
>>658.654 - Total Package by Thomas Hine
>>658.8 - The Must Have Customer, 7 Steps to Winning the Customer You Haven't Got by Robert Gordman
>>658.827 - From Altoids to Zima, The Surprising Stories Behind 125 Brand Names by Evan Morris
>>658.85 - Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer
>>658.872 - Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan

660 Chemical engineering

670 Manufacturing

680 Manufacture for specific uses
>688 Other final products & packaging
>>688.7 - Little Big World by Jeffrey Hammond

690 Buildings

700 – Arts and recreation

700 The arts
>709 Historical, areas, persons treatment
>>709.05 - Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
>>709.2 - Making the Mummies Dance by Thomas Hoving
>>709.2 - Girl with the Gallery by Lindsay Pollock
>>709.2 - Tales from the Art Crypt by Richard Feigen
>>709.4409044 - Lost Museum by Hector Feliciano

710 Civic & landscape art

720 Architecture
>>720.92 - The Perfect House by Witold Rybczynski
729 - Design and Decoration
>>729 - Dictator Style: Lifestyles of the World's Most Colorful Despots by Peter York

730 Plastic arts; Sculpture
>731 Processes, forms, subjects of sculpture
>>731.549 - Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography by Douglas Keister
>738 Ceramic arts
>>738.092 - The Arcanum by Janet Gleeson

740 Drawing & decorative arts
>746 Textile Arts
>>Gunn's Golden Rules by Tim Gunn
>748 Glass
>>The Portland Vase by Robin Brooks
>749 Furniture & accessories
>>749.213 - Hidden Treasures by the Keno Brothers
>>749.214 - Objects of Desire by Thatcher Freund

750 Painting & paintings
>759 Historical, areas, persons treatment
>>759.5 - Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King
>>759.94075 - Old Masters, New World by Cynthia Saltzman

760 Graphic arts; Printmaking & prints

770 Photography & photographs
>779 - Collections of Photographs
>>779.0 - Creepiosity: A Hilarious Guide to the Unintentionally Creepy by David Bickel

780 Music
>786 Keyboard & other instruments
>>786.2 - Hiding in the Spotlight by Greg Dawson

790 Recreational & performing arts
>791 Public performances
>>791.43 - Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer
>798 Equestrian sports & animal racing
>>798.4 - Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand

Literature

800 Literature & rhetoric
808 Rhetoric & collections of literature
>>808.0092 - Ghosting: A Double Life by Jennie Erdal
>>808.51 - Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun

810 American literature in English
813 Fiction
>>813.54 - Do-Over! by Robin Hemley
>>813.54 - My Turquoise Years by MAC Farrant
>>813.6 - Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
814 Essays
>>814.54 - Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
818 Miscellaneous Writing

820 English & Old English literatures
822 English drama
>>822.33 - Shakespeare: World as Stage by Bill Bryson
823 English fiction
>>823.914 - D is for Dahl by Roald Dahl

830 Literatures of Germanic languages

840 Literatures of Romance languages

850 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic

860 Spanish & Portuguese literatures

870 Italic literatures; Latin

880 Hellenic literatures; Classical Greek

890 Literatures of other languages
>891 East Indo-European & Celtic
>>891.02 - The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books by Elif Batuman

900 – History, geography, and biography

900 Geography & history
901 Philosophy & theory
>>901 - The Uses and Abuses of History by Margaret MacMillan

910 Geography & travel
910 Geography and Travel
>>910.202 - 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
>>910.202 - The Clumsiest People in Europe by Todd Pruzan, ed.
>>910.4 - The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
>>910.4 - Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer
>>910.4092 - Join Us at the Embassy by Summer Whitford
>>910.45 - Three Ways to Capsize a Boat - Chris Stewart
>>910.6 - Explorer's House: National Geographic and the World it Made - Robert M. Poole
>>910.92 - Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz
>>910.92 - A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler by Jason Roberts
911 Historical Geography
912 Graphic Representations of Earth
913 Ancient History
914 Europe
>>914.3048 - Dawdling by the Danube by Edward Enfield

920 Biography, genealogy, insignia
920 Genealogy, names, insignia

930 History of ancient world

940 General history of Europe
940 General history of Europe
>>940.531 - Monuments Men by Robert Edsel
>>940.53150392 - Night by Elie Wiesel
>>940.5318 - The Journal of Helene Berr by Helene Berr
>>940.532 - Five Days in London by John Lukacs
>>940.5425991092 - The Souvenir by Louise Steinman
941 General history of Europe; British Isles
>>941.07 - Mistress of the Elgin Marbles by Susan Nagel
942 General history of Europe; England & Wales
>>942.038 - Mistress of the Monarchy by Alison Weir
>>942.082 - Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
943 General history of Europe; Central Europe, Germany
944 General history of Europe; France & Monaco
>>944.36 - Eiffel's Tower by Jill Jonnes
>>944.9 - Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
945 General history of Europe; Italian Peninsula
946 General history of Europe; Iberian Peninsula
947 General history of Europe; Eastern Europe; Soviet Union
>>947.08308621 - Court of the Last Tsar by Greg King

950 General history of Asia; Far East
951 General history of Asia; China
>>951.06 - Kosher Chinese by Michael Levy
956 General history of Asia; Middle East (Near East)
>>956.70443 - Thieves of Baghdad by Matthew Bogdanos

960 General history of Africa

970 General history of North America
971 General History of North America; Canada
972 General History of North America; Middle America; Mexico
973 General History of North America; United States
>>973 - Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen
>>973.099 - First Ladies by Margaret Truman
>>973.3092 - Houses of the Founding Fathers by Hugh Howard
>>973.7 - Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
>>973.7092 - Land of Lincoln by Andrew Ferguson
>>973.7092 - Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
>>973.91 - A Great Idea at the Time: The Rise, Fall and Curious Afterlife of the Great Books by Alex Beam
>>973.911 - Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
974 General history of North America; Northeastern United States
>>974.0882859 - Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
>>974.71 - When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age by Justin Kaplan
975 General history of North America; Southeastern United States
>>975.5295 - On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery by Robert M. Poole
976 General history of North America; South Central United States
977 General history of North America; North central United States
>>977.14 - Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan
978 General history of North America; Western United States
979 General history of North America; Great Basin & Pacific Slope

980 General history of South America

990 General history of other areas
>>994 General History of Australia
994.02 - The Tin Ticket: The Heroic Journey of Australia's Convict Women by Deborah Swiss

Welcome to the challenge!

Completed another 028 title - Why Not Catch-21? by Gary Dexter - 2.5 stars

I was very excited to start this book, and I had some high expectations - unfortunately, the book fell short.

The concept is wonderful - giving the "story" behind the titles of 50 works of literature. And there were parts of the book I really liked. The problem was two-fold. In order to fit the backstories for 50 titles into a 200 page book, each chapter was necessarily pretty short. So in the cases where the story was truly interesting, it kept me wanting more. But that is also part of the 2nd problem. Most of the stories were not interesting. Admittedly, some of my lack of interest was due to the fact that I had not read - and in some cases, had not even HEARD - most of the titles in the book. Picture of Dorian Gray, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Moby-Dick, etc. - no problem. Again, not all were interesting, but I could get "into" the explanations. But Gargantua and Pantagruel, Astrophil and Stella, Shamela, Poems of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell ????? The fact I had heard of none of these wouldn't have been a problem if then the story behind their names was even remotely interesting.

The redeeming value came from the nuggets I could sink my teeth into. Worth a skim for some of the factoids (impress your friends at dinner parties with the original title of Catch-22, etc.) but not a tome worthy of heavy study.

Good review, 000's are a tricky bunch so it's good to note what definitely isn't worth reading...but I must ask, what was the original title of Catch-22?

I'll put it on your profile - so there are no Spoilers here :)

I read in a new...division(?) category(?) I read the definitions on another post, now I can't remember which is which. Well, I read something in the 800's - 808.51 to be exact

808.51 - Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun - 4 stars

Part memoir, part “how-to” manual, Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun comes together as a thoroughly enjoyable read. Devouring the irresistibly named chapters including “I Can’t See You Naked”, “$30,000 an hour” and “The Science of Not Boring People”, I could not put this book down, and I would recommend this book to anyone who even infrequently gives presentations.

So why didn’t I give it 5 stars?

See the rest of the review here: http://www.librarything.com/work/9085932/reviews/52880681

entered a new division - 720 Architecture - with The Perfect House: A Journey with the Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio by Witold Rybczynski. (720.92)

review

Started a new section within the 300's - 303 - Social Processes which is a particularly humorous notation for the title: How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator.

Great Read!

Here's my review

I have another Rybczynski book on my shelf for this challenge--Home.

added a new division

300 - Education -- 300.973 - How Lincoln Learned to Read by Daniel Wolff

3 stars

See the full review here

Good review, it's too bad it didn't meet your expectations.

I really thought my reading habits were more diverse, but I just finished my THIRD entry for the 641 Food and Wine Section - Toast by Nigel Slater

I’m not sure what first attracted me to this title. I had never heard of the author (Nigel Slater) or his culinary background, so it truly served as a simple biography of a chef. And an odd biography it was.

If you didn’t know Slater before, you’ll certainly know him by the time you finish. The personal details and insights were oft shocking, and the flow of the narrative was so violently “non-directional” the blush may not even have faded from your cheeks before you start the next section on Candy Floss. Initially the stream of consciousness style was distracting, but you get used to it, and in the end it’s like someone sharing stories with you over a few (or a lot) of pints of Guinness.

woohoo! another new Division and Section off the list - 822 - Shakespeare: World as Stage by Bill Bryson.

Although I chose this because of Bryson's authorship, it didn't really live up to my expectations of a "typical" Bryson book. Since he wasn't actually "in" it, Bryson couldn't put as many personal observations into it. But all the same, some of his turns of phrase were sufficiently witty to recognize the talent within.

Overall an excellent summary of Shakespeare in a relatively small tome. He handled the vaguaries of Shakespeare's life deftly, and kept the narrative flowing. Recommended

and going right down the line, I added an 823 - D is for Dahl by Roald Dahl. Written for a youth audience, it was a great introduction to Dahl, his life and work.

See the full review here

I checked out the work page for D is for Dahl, and I think I'll have to read it just because the subtitle used the word "gloriumptious."

Added another section - 731 - Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Iconography and Symbolism by Douglas Keister.

A 4 star read with a great use of color photographs representing the hundreds of symbols outlined and explained. Nice detail put in to separate the symbols into categories and the text was kept interesting, and brief, to cover as much as possible in such a small book.

That sounds really interesting, and I don't have one for that category yet.

Dahl is very underappreciated. If you like R. Dahl fun facts, you might enjoy The Irregulars.

650 Management & auxiliary services - 658 General management - Total Package by Thomas Hine.

Very readable overview of the evolution of packaging, labeling and consumer habits. See the full review here

added another 749 Decorative Arts/Furniture - Objects of Desire by Thatcher Freund. An absolutely phenomenal read about three significant works of the 18th century and their makers/owners/dealers and the paths they all took to make them "significant".

See the full review here

added a second 636 title on Animal Husbandry - Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte.

Lots of laugh out loud humor, but a little too "death focused" for my taste. Unlike some other major books about living with pets, we don't build up to just one, major, devastating death at the end of this book - no, this one has a virtual blood bath at the end of every chapter. For as much build up as is established in each chapter for the acquisition of each animal and their antics, there was just as much (if not more) time spent discussing the illnesses, accidents and demise of the same - often in excruciating detail. Although I understand the Circle of Life and all of that, I guess I was hoping that a book with this kind of title with a picture of a duck eating the letter D off the cover would have been less retch-inducing when reading during dinner. But overall, still a 3.5 star read, and still a funny book. Recommended - just know what you're getting into.

Another 973 - General History: US

A Great Idea at the Time: The Rise, Fall and Curious Afterlife of the Great Books is the perfect read for LTers. For those unfamiliar with the concept (as I was), in the 1950's Encyclopedia Brittanica took an idea from a course at the University of Chicago to educate the american public with "Great Books of the Western World". 68 volumes of double column, 9 point text of classic works including scientific texts (can you say Ptolemy's The Almagest? - OK a little shocked there's a touchstone for that one) sold in faux leather bindings along with a Syntopicon - a cross referencing guide of all of the great ideas and which authors commented on them - for the price of $250 (this was 1952 remember) sold by door to door salesman.

Admittedly, reading about the series I felt a little uneducated at times - some of the authors included in the Great Books were completely new to me (and I went to a liberal arts college) - as Beam points out, the works' obscurity and irrelevancy were part of the problem. The initial launch included NO female authors. But the idea behind the series and the business attached to it were fascinating. This book was well written, with a fair amount of humor, at no point talking down to the reader (he doesn't expect anyone to have read, or understood, Nichomachus of Gerasa's Introduction to Arithmetic - WOW another touchstone! - (Great Books, volume 12)) and he pokes gentle fun at an interesting concept and the people and events surrounding it. Highly recommended

See the full review here

I will have to get my hands on A Great idea at the Time. I went to a "Great Books" school and have to admit that not only did I read Ptolemy's Almagest and many others, but I've kept and returned to many of those works over the years. How "gentle" was Beam?

>>33 Voracious_Reader: - if you went to St. John's, I'm not sure what you'll think. He dedicates a chapter to the Annapolis school, and from an outside perspective, it reads as a "unique" educational experience. He interviews current and past students - all of whom put the school in a positive light - stating their experiences rather than judging them. One of the students had a tough time getting into Medical School and had to take a lot of "non John" courses just to pass the test, but then talks about how the med school classroom environment isn't as enriching and St. Johns because there is little interaction or discussion. Just memorizing facts. Beam mentions a lot of other schools who use aspects of Great Books, so maybe yours is listed.

Overall Beam does a very good job balancing on the edge of fact and humor. Some very poor decisions were made when the original list of titles was chosen, but instead of stating that, he provides comments from the minutes of the meetings where they were discussed and why some of the founding members themselves thought they shouldn't be included. Very few titles had unanimous support and one of the founders went on a tear after the technical volumes were included because he thought that a travesty which would doom the collection as unreadable.

It sounds absolutely intriguing.

I am in fact a Johnnie.

729 - Design & Decoration

Dictator Style: Lifestyles of the World's Most Colorful Despots by Peter York

I struggled with placing this one. LT's dewey number doesn't seem appropriate (645 - Household Furnishings) as it was too generic, but the only other library tags I found were 321 (Systems of Government) and 920 in the Bio section. I think 729 is a little more appropriate (and it gets me an extra Section).

See the full review here

Ha. I'd love for someone to count that for 321. I bought that book for a friend for a gift but haven't read it myself.

Another 974 - General history of North America; Northeastern United States

When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age by Justin Kaplan

In the historian (or time travel) parlor game of “if you could choose any era, in which one would you wish to live?” my stock answer is the Gilded Age. With no income-tax, enough early versions of current technology to seem uber-retro and the ever important knowledge of germ theory, the Gilded Age would be my perfect destination (oh, did I mention I would need to be rich?).

For that reason, this book spoke to me. It seemed to have it all – money, architecture, scandal and the Titanic – promising the perfect package. Unfortunately, the package was a little tarnished.

See the rest of the review here

Another 940 - General History of Europe

The Journal of Helene Berr by Helene Berr – 2.5 stars

I really wanted to like this book more, but I just couldn’t embrace it. The book is the actual transcript – unedited – of Helene Berr’s diary from 1942 to 1944. Berr was a Jew living in German Occupied France and served daily witness to the humiliations and eventual deportations of the French Jewish population.

Because this was not written (or edited) for a popular audience, the first part of the journal - which is simply a collection of diary entries - is relatively uninspired and tends to drag. A lot of entries about lunches, sitting for exams and boys named Jean. However, these entries occurred during some serious moments of German aggression toward the Jews, including the initial declaration requiring the wearing of the yellow star. As the diary progresses, Berr recognizes what is going on, and is forced to face it head on when her father is “arrested.” About half way through the diary, she changes her writing style, in effect knowing that she too will eventually be deported, and likely killed, and what she is writing will become her legacy. She knows it will be up to her to document some of the injustices so they are not forgotten once she is gone. The depth of her analysis of the Germans in this later part of the diary is profound, and as the “future reader” of the diary, knowing what we now know, the writing is disturbing in its honesty and perspective. Unfortunately, the more powerful writing toward the end was (understandably) a little frenetic and the overall message was diminished.

New Division and Section - 398 - Folklore

Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme by Chris Roberts

What a fun book! Everything I hoped it would be – entertaining, educational and a source of conversation topics at cocktail parties for months to come.

This book is a small collection of the stories and characters behind some of the world’s most popular (and sometimes obscure) nursery rhymes. With a few pages dedicated to each, the book proves a quick read while learning the true meaning of Baa Baa Blacksheep and the secret identity of Jack Sprat.

See the full review here

Another 910 - Geography and Travel

Join Us at the Embassy by Summer Whitford

Great concept poorly executed. A collection of the history of the cultures and cuisine of 10 different countries all connected through the idea of how their Ambassadors entertain at their embassies in Washington, DC. Wanted to love it, but shoving so much into only 200 pages proved TOO much for a meaningful read. Good for snippets, and some really interesting facts do emerge. Just wish it would have been done better.

See the full review here

Yet another 910 - Geography and Travel

Three Ways to Capsize a Boat by Chris Stewart - 4 stars

Written by the original drummer of Genesis (Chris Stewart), Three Ways to Capsize a Boat covers his time between being kicked out of the band and the farming experiences as outlined in his bestselling memoir, Driving Over Lemons. Part Bill Bryson/Part Peter Mayle, Stewart’s narrative outlines a hilarious (although at times harrowing) life on the open sea – beginning with a job offer to skipper the sailboat of a wealthy American couple – an offer he received and accepted at a time when he had never yet even stepped foot on a boat. Clearly he learned a thing or two before this first position, and what he experiences in his life at sea, while not particularly profound, provides enough humor and insight to keep the book moving at a fast and steady pace. See the rest of the review here

New Division

680 - Manufacture for Specific Use
688.7 - Little Big World: Collecting Louis Marx by Jeffrey Hammond - 2.5 stars

This was a disappointing read detailing the minutiae of a collector and his accumulation of Louis Marx plastic toys. While I do not begrudge Hammond's love of the toys, the depth of his descriptions in such a slim book was mind-boggling. The first chapter alone could easily be expanded into a brief biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and the imagination Hammond shows for interacting WITH the pieces was bordering on disturbing. Collectors of toys may see some of themselves in his situations, but as a collector of many things - none of them related to toys - I could not relate as well to the passion he clearly displays. Although pieces of it were very well written, I found it overall a poor execution of a potentially interesting subject.

940 - General History of Europe

The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel - 5 stars

Although I didn't need another 940, it's rare that I hand out 5 stars, so I wanted to list this one, too. I loved this book. A great mix of military history on WWII along with the art history prevelant to the war torn areas. Some reviews have been critical of the book's "superficial" handling of the military aspects of the war as well as its failure to delve deeply into the history of each of the works. In my opinion, there are several books available which dig into each of those subject matters for their own purposes. The overview of this book is to provide an understanding of the men and women serving in the military from muliple nations to preserve and protect the artwork which was put at risk during battle and/or stolen through looting or other means. The idea that one of these individuals could stand in a battle field and tell a military commander that they didn't have the right to knock down a church just because it was in the way is amazing - and a great testament to the bigger picture of the war. Highly recommended

658 - General Management

From Altoids to Zima: The Surprising Stories Behind 125 Brand Names by Evan Morris - 4 stars

I can't believe I have yet another 658, but this one was a fun one. Giving the background stories behind common brand names as well as name changes and "almost named" examples. Humor runs throughout with some of the stories almost designed to be found laughable.

246 Use of art in Christianity

Heaven in Stone and Glass by Robert Barron - 2.5 stars

Added a new Division, and to be honest, that was about the only reason I even kept reading this book. Considering how slim it was (128 pages) it took me forever to work my way through it. Breaking it down, there really were some interesting components which explained a lot of the symbolism behind the architecture of medieval cathedrals. But the religiosity associated with that symbolism became a bit much to take in.

another duplicate - 289 - other religions

I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales from a Jehovah's Witness Upbringing by Kyria Abrahams - 4 stars

Indirectly, this very humorous book gives a lot of real insight into what defines the Jehovah's Witness religion. Written as a memoir by an individual raised with these beliefs, it's not always respectful to the fundamentals. And some of the scenarios are twisted enough to bring into question how much validity actually exists in them, but you get the message.

But the section which talks about how the Smurfs are agents of Satan is simply laugh out loud hysterical, and makes it all worthwhile.

Read with an open mind, the book could actually teach you a few things worth thinking about.

Hi Patrick, I stumbled over your thread in this group by chance, looking for people who'd read Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island. This looks like fun. It probably comes as no surprise I love lists and I like to expand my horizon, so this group would be my cup of tea. Unfortunately, I think I have more than enough challenges up and running already and one more would just not be possible... I think...maybe...would it...

a new section under 740 Decorative Arts

748 - Glass

748.8 - The Portland Vase by Robin Brooks

As odd as it sounds, I really enjoyed this title about a 2000 year old Roman vase, currently on display at the British Museum. Filled with theories regarding what exactly is depicted on the face of the vase, the book also includes biographies of its owners, social commentaries on what made it a desirable object and details on the mishaps the glass vase experienced through time. Not designed as a technical or scholarly text, The Portland Vase is highly readable while still supplying details of interest. Highly Recommended.

031 Encyclopedias in American English

031.02 - Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge - Mangesh Hattikudur - 4.5 stars

Finally a new Division and Section. This was a fun and fast read of short facts covering a little bit of everything. Some items I'd always wanted to know (like the real lyrics to "Blinded by the Night" (FYI - it's "revved up like a Deuce, another runner in the night" with "deuce" slang for car, like "little deuce coupe")) and others I realized I didn't really know - like the story about the black and white moths in industrial revolution England as an example of natural selection was actually a hoax! I just told my daughter that story a couple of months ago when she was studying Darwin and survival of the fittest. Yikes!

I actually listened to this on audio, and I think it's something I need to go get in print just so I have it as a resource.

Another New Section...

394 General customs

394.12 - The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky - 3 stars

I was disappointed to learn that Kurlansky was only an editor of this book. While his powerful and exceptional writing style bursts forth in the introduction and within some of the connecting pieces within each section, the bulk of this title is actually a collection of essays, poems and lists from the last efforts of the Writers’ Project within the WPA. Kurlansky does a good job explaining why whole sections are missing (being from Chicago, I was rather dismayed that nothing was ever written about the dining habits of the Windy City), but the works which are included run the gamut from interesting to pointless. Worthy of a heavy skim, particularly if interested in particular parts of the country, but overall, not a recommended read.

And a new Division

891 - Literature, East Indo-European

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books by Elif Batuman - 3 stars

Not really what I had been hoping for. Elif is a literature student, and the book is more of a memoir of her activities studying and interacting with others of her ilk. Oddly, three chapters (the most interesting ones in the book) actually take place in Uzbekistan which she goes to great lengths to explain is not Russian. Pretty much a disappointment

Did the food book have any cultural or historical insights? I remember being fascinated when reading an article about the last of the old cafeterias in Los Angeles and how important the cafeteria had been socially and economically during the 30's and 40's.

it served as a rather odd time capsule in and of itself - since it was a collection of writings from 1940. For example, the descriptions of the automat and glossary of diner terms was interesting from its historical aspect alone. Some of the sections do better jobs than others of actually explaining the food and cooking traditions - the section explaining what a taco was seemed particularly humorous although it wasn't written as such - but others just took that knowledge for granted.

(about The Possessed):

Oddly, three chapters (the most interesting ones in the book) actually take place in Uzbekistan which she goes to great lengths to explain is not Russian.

You know, that's nearly a universal reaction as far as I can tell. Interesting.

New Section

069 Museum science

The Stranger and the Statesman by Nina Burleigh - 3.5 stars

An extremely thorough history of John Smithson but a less than thorough history of the actual Smithsonian. A lot of "detail" is included on Smithson's life - which is somewhat surprising since little is actually known about him and all of his papers/documents were lost in a fire before they were cataloged. That's where the book lost me. I'm not big in the "this could have happened" or "he could have" done that theories. So it got a little tiring, and I wish more time had been spent on the development of the museum itself. It's there, just not enough of it.

New Section

577 Ecology

577.56 - Suburban Safari - Hannah Holmes - 3 stars

This book held great promise. Cute cover, interesting writing and a touch of humor. But the style and theme of the book grew old after the first few chapters. Holmes has decided to "study" her backyard as a habitat for the insects, animals, etc. which call it home or use it for a food source. Her attraction to Cheeky the Chipmunk and interest in the Crow Family was cute to a degree, but she failed to keep her writing on a consistent track. Too funny to be considered an educational source (she practically mocked one of the "experts" she invited to her home), but had too much detail to keep it a lighthearted, humorous tale. Not a recommended read.

975 - General History of the United States: Southeast

On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery by Robert M. Poole – 4 stars

Finished with perfect timing to celebrate the Memorial Day Weekend, "On Hallowed Ground" is a fabulous book about the history and growth of America's most famous cemetery. Beginning with a detailed history of the farm as the property of Mary Custis Lee, wife of Robert E. Lee and grand-daughter to Martha Washington (and by marriage, George Washington). Having lived in that area, and with a modest knowledge of history, I was aware of the Lee connection, and that the government obtained the property after the Lee's departure at the start of the war, but I was unaware of exactly how the government went about it (and based on Poole's details, in my opinion, this goes down as another embarrassing moment in our history).

My only criticism on this book is the level of detail given to the battles and history of the individual wars which resulted in the men and women coming to Arlington. I've never been overly interested in military/war history, so this level of detail seemed a bit dry. I think its intent was to break up the narrative on the cemetery itself, but those details were far more interesting to me. To someone with an interest in war history, this work would provide a great primer on its multiple aspects. Definitely a recommended read - maybe in time for Independence Day

New Section - 001 - Knowledge

001.96 - 13: The Story of the World's Most Popular Superstition by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer - 4 stars

Overall, this was a very interesting book starting with the creation of the Thirteen Club (to fight the idea that 13 is unlucky) to the psychology and sources of superstitions related to the number 13. There were points where the author got a little too detailed into some of the minutiae of the superstitions, and I found the psychology section particularly dull. But with a little light skimming of that area, the book picked up again and I'm already thinking of ways we can use some of its content in planning my daughter's 13th birthday party...

Woohoo - a New Category, Division and Section

428 - Standard English Usage

428.2 - Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner - 3.5 stars

A difficult book to read straight through, Woe is I breaks down some of the most common grammar and word usage mistakes and provides examples and "rules" for how to handle situations in the future. I admit to being somewhat of a grammar snob, so I found some of her rules interesting (not sure if I'll change my ways, though) but felt completely vindicated when she explained the proper use of the word "myriad" - it's "myriad options" not "a myriad of options".

I will never remember all of her rules (and I still question her judgment that splitting infinitives is suddenly OK - I learned grammar via Latin, so I'm a stickler for that one), but I will definitely keep it on hand for future reference.

ooh i've got to always remember that one - gives me a whole myriad of options now! :-P

groan...

New Division

011 Bibliographies

011.73 - Book Lust by Nancy Pearl

Finally got around to reading this. Liked the concept, but there were so many different books with such little information to support the reason they were included, I question the overall value to the writing - and really wonder how she could have written so many additional versions of it. Even so, I did find several books to add to my wishlist...

A new Division/Category - 994 - General History, Australia

The Tin Ticket: The Heroic Journey of Australia's Convict Women by Deborah J. Swiss - 3.5 stars

The premise of this book started out very strong, and I found it read much like fiction, following the life of one convict in particular as opposed to a general overview of all of the convicts. But after effectively following her through crime, conviction, transport and prison sentence in Australia, the author then chose another target, and proceeded to explain the same process again. Yes, aspects were different, but the general tale was similar enough, and it became repetitive. When these two characters then meet up in Australia, it made their inclusion relevant, but in the end, these two (along with a third) become representative of the criminal relocation system which took place over more than 40 years. I felt a little more time in the relationships between the territory and the prisoners and then more on the transition of prisoners to residents could have provided more depth. Well written and a good concept, it just fell a little short for me.

A new Division/Category - 779.0 - Collection of Photographs

Creepiosity: A Hilarious Guide to the Unintentionally Creepy by David Bickel - 4.5 stars

If he would have taken out some of the cruder examples, this book would have been a 5 star read. I cannot remember the last time I laughed so much. A very quick read - I think I finished the whole thing in under a half hour - the book includes a series of two-page spreads showing a photo with a description of what makes it creepy. From the benign (clowns) to the bizarre (grandma's candy dish), the entries range from overly obvious to brilliantly insightful. It did require some editing before I allowed my 12 year old to see it, but it's simply a fun read - and exactly what I needed after a rough week on the road

I've finally gotten my last Category!!!

100 - Philosophy and Psychology
. 150 - Psychology
.. 158 - Applied Psychology

No Opportunity Wasted by Phil Keoghan - 3.5 stars

In my continuing quest to see what I want to be when I grow up, I thought this instruction manual on creating your own Bucket List would put me on the right track, and the fact that I love Amazing Race (and do actually wonder what it would be like to participate in it), I thought it would be perfect. Well, I was a little disappointed.

Although some of the things they do on Amazing Race are "outdoors" and "athletic", what I did not realize is that in Keoghan's personal life, he is all about living on the edge and testing your limits - and the ideas behind writing a life list tended to focus on that type of activity. Although that it fine in and of itself, the writing took on the tone that if you didn't want climb Mount Everest, you are lazy and not living up to your potential and here's how to get over your fears. I'm not afraid of Everest - I just don't want to do it. Ever. And I do not think less of myself because of it.

The book is chaptered by themes of the types of challenges you should present yourself (i.e., face your fears, test your limits, etc). Most of them did include ideas that were not physical in nature - facing your fears could be giving a public speech - but they seemed like afterthoughts. His excitement is palpable in this very readable book, and because of it, I did enjoy reading it. It simply did not motivate me to follow his example in creating his kind of Life List.

However, I have taken the concept to heart, and I am creating a kind of Life List, but a practical one. Trips I'd like to take, experiences I'd like to have with my daughter before she graduates, possessions I would like to (realistically) own, etc. If nothing else, it is starting a dialog in my own house about where our next trip should be. So maybe not the perfect read, but it served its purpose

Congratulations on your milestone!

New Section

951 - General History of Asia, China

Kosher Chinese by Michael Levy - 4

I received this book as a SantaThing gift in response to my interest in nonfiction, travel and culture. It was a perfect fit for me.

Quirky and off color at times, the book follows the two years a Jewish American Peace Corps volunteer spends in central China. After years of Kosher living, Levy immerses himself into the culture of Guiyang, China - and his experience with their very "non-Kosher" eating habits were written with sufficient descriptions to cause me to skip a few paragraphs at a time to avoid the details.

Although a learned a lot about an area of China I had not even previously known existed, I can't say that my knowledge of the Chinese people was enhanced. Just as in any country, not one single experience can ever give the full picture of a whole culture.

Overall, an entertaining read.