Popular Culture
September 2020
Recent Releases
Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina
by Chris Frantz

What it is: a vivid and upbeat memoir from Talking Heads drummer and co-founder Chris Frantz.

Topics include: Frantz's marriage to bandmate Tina Weymouth, with whom he co-created the new wave band Tom Tom Club in 1981; touring with the Ramones in 1977; Talking Heads' breakup in 1991. 

Don't miss: juicy dish on former bandmate David Byrne, whom Frantz paints as an egotistical jerk. 
The Lost Memoir
by Lou Gehrig with a biographical essay by Alan D. Gaff

What it is: a recently rediscovered memoir from New York Yankees baseball legend Lou Gehrig that was originally written as a series of columns for the Oakland Tribune in 1927.

Why you might like it: This humble, homespun narrative features a richly detailed essay from scholar Alan D. Gaff that chronicles the Hall of Famer's achievements (including his lifetime stats) and legacy.

Want a taste? "I'm proud of the game and all who play it. And as long as I wear a big-league uniform, I will give all I can to the game."
I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To: True Life Lessons
by Loni Love

What it's about: comedian and Emmy Award-winning The Real host Loni Love's hard-won path to success.

Read it if: you're looking for a lighthearted memoir peppered with inspiring advice (including "Find Your Hustle" and "If God Sends You a Sign, You Better Pay Attention").

For fans of: Tiffany Haddish's The Last Black Unicorn. 
You Look So Much Better in Person: True Stories of Absurdity and Success
by Al Roker

What it's about: the life lessons beloved Today co-host Al Roker has learned throughout his four-decade career in TV.

Read it for: a heartwarming and conversational blend of memoir and self-help.  

Want a taste? "It doesn't matter that you're not the star; it matters that you're part of the constellation." 
Everyone's a Critic
Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st...
by Chuck Klosterman

What it is: the 10th irreverent book by cultural critic Chuck Klosterman.

Who it's for: Fans and newcomers alike will appreciate Klosterman's entertaining collection of previously published pieces from 2007-2017, which include updated introductions and footnotes.

Featuring: illuminating profiles of Taylor Swift and Kobe Bryant; a thoughtful essay on empathizing with Peanuts' Charlie Brown. 
I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution
by Emily Nussbaum

What it is: a collection of new and previously published pieces from Pulitzer Prize-winning former New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum.

Read it for: a thought-provoking exploration of TV as art form that gives equal critical consideration to low-brow and high-brow series. 

Topics include: the relationship between #MeToo and criticism; TV in the time of Trump; toxic fandom; how Buffy the Vampire Slayer inspired Nussbaum to become a critic.
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion
by Jia Tolentino

What it's about: the complexities and contradictions of American culture and identity.

Is it for you? Balancing wry humor with bleak insights, this 2019 New York Times Notable Book offers a well-researched collection of pieces that will resonate with New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino's fellow millennials. 


Don't miss: "Reality TV Me," in which Tolentino reflects on her time as a contestant on a teen reality show competition. 
Contact your librarian for more great books!


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