|
|
A good read takes you somewhere you've never been before. It might be a
place -- like an elementary school in a New York City neighborhood or a remote
village in China -- or a place in time, such as the eve of D-Day. It also gives
you a rare glimpse from another person's point of view, be that an expert
outdoorsman or a veteran Hollywood movie star. And the last four books on our
list take this concept most literally of all. They're travel books from the
editors of Reader's Digest that will take you places, and this time, perhaps,
not just in your imagination.
CURRENTS
HISTORY
MEMOIR
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRAVEL
CURRENTS
I Am a Pencil
Children's book author Sam Swope took a job teaching writing to
third-graders in the New York City borough of Queens. His students were
immigrants or the children of immigrants from 21 countries, speaking 11
languages, practicing many faiths. But there were a few things they had in
common. Family troubles, for one. Money struggles. And poetry. Every single
student, at the coaxing of this creative, break-all-the-rules teacher, came
forth with awesome writing. Swope leaves the reader with the inspiring
conviction that deep within each of us lives a poet, a visionary -- a child.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Expert outdoorsman Aron Ralston, 28, should have known better: He went
hiking in a remote Utah canyon without telling anyone. Catastrophe struck -- a
boulder shifted, pinning Ralston's right arm at the wrist. With enough supplies
only for a day hike and help unlikely to show, Ralston knew his situation was
desperate. Sure enough, after five days he was in a staring contest with death.
That was when he carried out a dramatic plan that was either insane or
courageous, or both -- using a pocketknife to amputate his trapped arm. His
amazing survival story merits a place among the classics of the genre.
By Myself and Then Some
Reading Lauren Bacall's story is like strolling through theatrical history
-- and rediscovering a friend. The star of Woman of the Year discusses Bogey,
Hepburn, Gielgud and others she's been close to over the years.
What It Takes to Pull Me Through
A contributing editor for U.S. News & World Report, David L. Marcus
takes us inside a therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens. The result is
a candid, thought-provoking look at what Marcus believes are the unique stresses
on adolescents today.
Our Brother's Keeper
Author Jedwin Smith spent 30 years trying to repress all memories of his
brother, Jeff, who was killed in Vietnam. But in Our Brother's Keeper he tells
what happens when the Internet brings him into contact with several of his
brother's old Marine buddies, including the guy who held Jeff in his arms as he
died. First via e-mail, and then in person, Smith gets to know these men -- all
scarred by the past they share. Together the author and his new friends make a
pilgrimage to Vietnam, to visit the spot where Jeff died. In a remarkable twist,
their Vietnamese guide turns out to be the former commander of the Viet Cong
platoon responsible for the attack that killed Jeff. A powerful story of
brotherhood, bravery and healing.
HISTORY
The All Americans
With his graduation ring from West Point still gleaming on his finger,
platoon leader Henry Romanek sailed toward Omaha Beach on the eve of D-day. It
was June 1944, and he was about to encounter the bloodiest battle of his life.
But certain games from the gridiron ran like reels in his head -- games against
archrival Navy most of all. Just yesterday, it seemed, he was a standout tackle
on the Army team, trying to tear up the opponent in front of thousands of
screaming fans. Now, he was a leader of youngsters in battle, fighting, quite
literally, for his country and the future of the free world. In this
illuminating book, Lars Anderson retraces Romanek's life and that of three other
Army-Navy players as they evolve from young college men into furious, determined
fighters facing trauma, suspense and loss.
Copies in Seconds
With the push of a button, anyone can make copies of almost anything --
unlike the old days, when documents had to be rewritten longhand, carbon-copied
or cranked out of fussy mimeograph machines. In Copies in Seconds, David Owen
shows how a shy patent engineer named Chester Carlson perfected his xerography
machine and shopped it around until finally hooking up with the Haloid
Corporation. That partnership led to the Xerox copier and changed the face of
work forever.
MEMOIR
State of Grace
Back in the late '50s and early '60s, the Lynvets were just a sandlot
football team in a gritty New York City neighborhood. But to most of its members
-- the author, Robert Timberg, included -- the team was their only experience of
a happy family, their only chance to rise above lousy everyday circumstances,
their only shot at being heroes. The friendships these men formed on the scruffy
gridiron sustained them throughout their lives.
Dear Senator
Growing up in a rural black neighborhood in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, the
author, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, thought she lived a normal American life.
But as a teenager she was hit with a series of shocks. At 13, she met her
mother, Carrie Butler, for the first time, and at 16, her father. He was none
other than Strom Thurmond, who later became one of this country's leading
proponents of segregation. In the startling memoir, Washington-Williams shares
stories from her unusual life, including the advice, support and encouragement
-- emotional, financial -- she received from her father. The most poignant
moment: her conviction that even after raising four children and working as a
teacher for nearly three decades, her life finally "began" at the age of 78,
when the Thurmond family acknowledged her as one of their own.
The Suburban You
The talented and funny author, Mark Falanga, describes the shocking
aftereffects of moving out of the city and into the burbs -- and what happens
when garage sales and block parties take over his life.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Buildings That Changed the World
This beautiful book by Klaus Reichold and Bernhard Graf displays history,
art and architectural magic -- perfect for any armchair traveler -- with
gorgeous photography and illustrations, and explores the creation of everything
from Machu Picchu to Stonehenge to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
TRAVEL
The Most Scenic Drives in America
Updated for the first time since 1997, this travel book includes over 200
brand-new photographs of the spectacular sites along 120 selected routes. The
updated volume also provides maps, the latest information on state parks, and
lodging suggestions.
Off the Beaten Path
In a state-by-state A to Z format, this best-selling book reveals more than
1,000 of America's most overlooked destinations in rural hideaways, quaint
villages, and even big cities.
Illustrated Guide to Ireland
The captivating photos in this book make it worthwhile for armchair and
world travelers alike. It's packed with anecdotes about the history, lifestyle,
culture, and folklore of the land and its people.
China: Paradise Discovered
In this illustrated guide, you will discover 80 scenic places whose natural
beauty and unique customs attract travelers who crave adventure and enjoy the
untouched grandeur of the world's oldest civilization. |
|
发表于 2016-7-9 23:38:31