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Popular Culture November 2019
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| Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era by Saul AusterlitzThe one with: an engaging look at beloved sitcom Friends, featuring behind-the-scenes dish and interviews with the show's creators.
So no one told you... the show's original title was Insomnia Cafe; comedian Janeane Garofalo was almost cast as Monica.
Try this next: For another nostalgic book commemorating Friends' 25th anniversary, check out Kelsey Miller's I'll Be There For You. |
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Me : Elton John
by Elton John
What it is: reveals Elton's complicated upbringing in a London suburb, his celebrity collaborations, his struggles with addiction and the establishment of his AIDS Foundation.
Read it for: Elton's amusing voice and brutal honesty.
Why you might like it: vividly describes his rollercoaster lifestyle as shown in the film Rocketman.
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| Country Music: An Illustrated History by Dayton Duncan and Ken BurnsWhat it's about: the evolution of American country music in the 20th century and the influential musicians who have shaped the genre.
What's inside: richly detailed illustrations, including album jackets, memorabilia, and rare concert photos.
Book buzz: Country Music is the companion to the eight-part PBS series of the same name. |
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| The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World... by Nathalia HoltWho it's about: Walt Disney Studios' pioneering women animators, who for decades were instrumental to the studio's many successes but received little recognition for their efforts.
Why you might like it: This resonant story of workplace sexism and harassment celebrates the creatives responsible for the stories loved by generations of Disney fans.
For fans of: Mallory O'Meara's The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick. |
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| NFL Century: The One-Hundred-Year Rise of America's Greatest Sports League by Joe HorriganWhat it is: a richly detailed big-picture survey of the National Football League's first 100 years, laden with pub trivia-ready factoids.
Topics include: the league's origins in Canton, Ohio; its ever-evolving management and ownership; player eligibility requirements.
Author alert: Former Pro Football Hall of Fame executive director Joe Horrigan brings his insider knowledge of the game to this lively and illuminating history. |
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| The Contender: The Story of Marlon Brando by William J. MannWhat it is: a meticulously researched biography of actor Marlon Brando.
What sets it apart: Aided by materials from Brando's personal archives, William J. Mann embraces the actor's complexity, celebrating his artistry and activism while also examining his traumatic childhood, complicated family relationships, and mistreatment of women.
Read it for: fresh insights on Brando's career highlights, including the story behind On the Waterfront's famous "contender" speech. |
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| Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America by James PoniewozikWhat it's about: how television's dominance as an increasingly political medium spurred the rise of Donald Trump: "Without TV, there's no Trump."
What's inside: chapters structured like episodes in a TV season, culminating in a sobering "Finale."
Don't miss: thought-provoking insights on how reality TV (including The Apprentice) has influenced Trump and his supporters' worldviews. |
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Crisis of conscience : whistleblowing in an age of fraud
by Tom Mueller
What it is: a riveting account of the heroes who are combating corporate, medical and government fraud traces the rise of whistleblowing through a series of important cases that reflect fundamental questions about the balance between free speech and state power.
Read it for: Extensive documentation of increasing incidences of fraud and corruption in U. S. society.
About the author: Mueller's writing has appeared in the New Yorker, New York Times Magazine, and the Atlantic. He is the author of Extra Virginity: the Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil.
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| Shula: The Coach of the NFL's Greatest Generation by Mark RibowskyStarring: Don Shula, the NFL's winningest coach who led the 1972-1973 Miami Dolphins to the only undefeated season in the league's history.
Read it for: a richly detailed rags-to-riches tale of an ambitious first-generation American determined to make a name for himself.
Don't miss: Shula's rivalry with Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s. |
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One day : the extraordinary story of an ordinary 24 hours in America
by Gene Weingarten
What it is: explores a random day in U.S. history, offering a diorama of American life that illuminates what has and has not changed in the last three decades.
Why you should read it: answers the question is there really such a thing as an ordinary day.
About the author: Weingarten is a longtime Washington Post columnist and two time Pulitzer prize winner.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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