Non-Fiction

Bobby Wonderful by Bob Morris. Another title released just prior to our 2015 list publication, this is a recommendation from our mole in the publishing world. “His mother's last word was his name. His father's was ‘Wonderful.’ Together they inspired the title for this true story of love and redemption.Bob Morris was always the entertainer in his family, but not always a perfect son. When he finds his parents approaching the end of their lives, he begins to see his relationship to them in a whole new light and it changes his way of thinking. How does an adult child with flaws and limitations figure out how to do his best for his ailing parents while still carrying on and enjoying his own life? And when their final days on earth come, how can he give them the best possible end? In the tradition of bestselling memoirs by Christopher Buckley, Joan Didion, and with a dash of David Sedaris, BOBBY WONDERFUL recounts two poignant deaths and one family's struggle to find the silver lining in them. As accessible as he is insightful, Bob Morris infuses each moment of his profound emotional journey with dark comedy, spiritual inquiry and brutally honest self-examination. This is a little book. But it captures a big and universal experience.”

Bombshell: Explosive Medical Secrets That Will Redefine Agingby Suzanne Sommers. “Loved ‘Bombshell.’ Suzanne has gone from a complete TV ditz to an alternative health guru. Her book is informative and on the cutting edge of all things natural medicine.”

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. From Amazon: "After discovering the fire of true faith in a Harlem church, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany and became one of the first to speak out against Hitler. As a double agent, he joined the plot to assassinate the Fuhrer and was hanged in Flossenberg concentration camp at age 39. ince his death, Bonhoeffer has grown to be one of the most fascinating, complex figures of the 20th century."

Bossypantsby Tina Fey. You all are giving me mixed reviews. Some say hilarious. Others not so impressed. One of you said it “feels disjointed.”

Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Childrenby Henry Cloud and John Townsend. “By far THE best parenting book I've read in a while. I thought it to be very thought-provoking, inspirational and had good, practical advice.”

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. “Inspiring true story, well told. Great read to jointly read with a teen/pre-teen. Push through the first few chapters and it is a quick 'can't put it down' read.”

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown "I knew nothing about rowing before reading this, but now get I why people get hooked on the sport. Great history of Germany before WW 2 and the 1936 Olympics. Wonderful read." "Getting raving reviews from my in laws ... it has popped up in other must read lists."

Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon. From Amazon: “Carly Simon's New York Times bestselling memoir, Boys in the Trees, reveals her remarkable life, beginning with her storied childhood as the third daughter of Richard L. Simon, the co-founder of publishing giant Simon & Schuster, her musical debut as half of The Simon Sisters performing folk songs with her sister Lucy in Greenwich Village, to a meteoric solo career that would result in 13 top 40 hits, including the #1 song You're So Vain… The memoir recalls a childhood enriched by music and culture, but also one shrouded in secrets that would eventually tear her family apart. Simon brilliantly captures moments of creative inspiration, the sparks of songs, and the stories behind writing "Anticipation" and "We Have No Secrets" among many others. Romantic entanglements with some of the most famous men of the day fueled her confessional lyrics, as well as the unraveling of her storybook marriage to James Taylor."

The Brave Escape of Edith Whartonby Connie Nordhielm (One of many selections from a contributor who shared her Barnard College alum book list). “Edith Wharton, author of Ethan Frome, The House of Mirth, and other acclaimed novels, was born into a wealthy family. Beginning in childhood, Edith found ways to escape from society’s and her family’s expectations and follow an unconventional, creative path. Unhappily married and eventually divorced, she surrounded herself with male friends. She spent much of her life in Paris and was recognized by the French government for her generosity and hard work during World War I. Her literary and personal life, her witty and incisive correspondence, her fondness for automobiles and small dogs—all are detailed in this warm and sparkling account of a woman well ahead of her time.”

Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbagby Michael Tonello. A former hair and makeup artist tells the tale of his frenetic effort to buy Birkin bags – the “holy grail” of fashion – in order to resell on ebay. There are waiting lists for the bags, and people pay thousands of dollars over the asking price in order to get their hands on them. [Note to DC area readers – I don’t think I know any such people, but suspect they are the same ones who shop along that stretch of Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights - you know where I mean.]

Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman “An interesting perspective on raising children; as with all child-rearing theories, if it all was that easy ... yet the idea of not always jumping at the every need of our children, even when they are newborns trying to sleep, and of letting them be truly hungry when they sit down for a meal stuck a chord with me.”

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King “about the master who built the Duomo in Florence (since I went there in April it was particularly relevant). "This is short, historical, but interesting enough to read like fiction. Was probably more engaging since I was reading it while I was actually viewing the building. So if anyone is heading to Florence this summer, this is the book for them."

Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story by Chris Nashawaty. From Amazon: “In Caddyshack:The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story film critic for Entertainment Weekly Chris Nashawaty goes behind the scenes of the iconic film, chronicling the rise of comedy’s greatest deranged minds as they form The National Lampoon, turn the entertainment industry on its head, and ultimately blow up both a golf course and popular culture as we know it.”

Carly's Voice: Breaking Through Autism by Arthur Fleischmann. "Non-fiction about a young girl with severe autism who is mute but learns to communicate by typing. Really amazing account."

Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy Beautiful Life by Glennon Doyle Melton. “In Carry On, Warrior, Glennon Melton’s honesty, thoughtfulness, and humor will keep readers racing through the pages—and set them thinking more deeply about their own lives.” ….“Glennon embodies all that we want to be and fear we are not: she is authentic, funny, wise, loving, and resilient in the face of extraordinary challenges. But the magic of Carry On, Warrior is that by the time you finish the book, you realize you ARE all those things, and more. It is a book that actually makes you feel that you are loved and cherished. Has a book ever accomplished anything more marvelous than that?” (Vanessa Diffenbaugh, author of The Language of Flowers)

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Massie. “Terrific storytelling about her early years as a German princess before coming one of Russias most powerful emperors.” And: “Fantastic biography of a born leader.”

Cheerful Money: Me, My Family and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor by Tad Friend. "The author writes for the New Yorker. He's hilarious and brilliant. From an old eastern WASP family with all the attendant history and idiosyncracies. I elected NOT to keep track of the genealogy and just went for the ride and enjoyed the stories. Oh, one thing ... he was in therapy for WAAAAAAAY too many years, and you get to feeling like he was kind of ripped off by his analyst (New York ... sigh) but it probbaly helped him with the narrative for the book, so that's good."

Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hourby Lynn Olson. “The behind-the-scenes story of how the United States forged its wartime alliance with Britain, told from the perspective of three key American players in London: Edward R. Murrow, the handsome, chain-smoking head of CBS News in Europe; Averell Harriman, the hard-driving millionaire who ran FDR’s Lend-Lease program in London; and John Gilbert Winant, the shy, idealistic U.S. ambassador to Britain. Each man formed close ties with Winston Churchill—so much so that all became romantically involved with members of the prime minister’s family. Drawing from a variety of primary sources, Lynne Olson skillfully depicts the dramatic personal journeys of these men who, determined to save Britain from Hitler, helped convince a cautious Franklin Roosevelt and reluctant American public to back the British at a critical time.”

The City of Falling Angels By John Berendt. He’s the author ofMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This book traces the events surrounding the fire which destroyed an opera house in Venice. Some have told me that this was not as gripping as “midnight,” but the Amazon reviews were pretty good.

Clapton: The Autobiography "With striking intimacy and candor, Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life in this poignant and honest autobiography. Clapton is the powerfully written story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons. It is one of the most compelling memoirs of our time."

Non-Fiction

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