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Popular Culture January 2018
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The autobiography of Gucci Mane
by Gucci Mane
A highly anticipated memoir by the prolific hip-hop artist traces his unlikely path to stardom and personal rebirth, discussing his early years in Alabama and Georgia, his activities as a drug dealer, the experiences that inspired his influential street anthems and his recent prison term.
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| Hank and Jim: The Fifty-Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart by Scott EymanWhat it is: A sweeping, entertaining dual biography that explores the steady, close friendship between actors Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart, which lasted close to 50 years despite their considerable differences.
Further reading: For another long-time Hollywood friendship, try Daniel De Vise's Andy and Don (about Andy Griffith and Don Knotts). For more on Henry Fonda, go with Devin McKinney's The Man Who Saw a Ghost; for Jimmy Stewart, try Marc Eliot's eponymous biography. |
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| The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir by Jenifer LewisWhat it is: an uplifting account of actress Jenifer Lewis' childhood, career trajectory, love affairs, and struggles with mental illness.
About the author: Currently appearing in the television show Black-ish, Lewis is known for portraying mothers (hence the title), and writes with both humor and honesty.
For fans of: Lewis herself, of course -- but also anyone who appreciates candid, frank stories of women who have overcome obstacles on their way to success. |
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The Way It Was : My Life With Frank Sinatra
by Eliot Weisman
Frank Sinatra's long-time manager and friend, who was one of the singer's most trust confidantes and advisors, tells the story of the final years of the iconic entertainer from the perspective from within his inner circle. 70,000 first printing.
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| Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches by John HodgmanWhat it is: offbeat and self-deprecating essays from a rueful middle-aged man with a well-developed funny bone. The ups and downs of summers in Massachusetts and Maine provide plenty of fodder.
Why you might like it: you love actor and writer John Hodgman, enjoy hearing about travel disasters, or don't always care for all the responsibilities of adulthood -- even if it's a pretty privileged one. |
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| The First Major: The Inside Story of the 2016 Ryder Cup by John FeinsteinWhat it's about: The Ryder Cup is one of the few team-based championships in golf, a sport that usually focuses on individual players. In 2016, the American team won in a dramatic, hard-fought battle that ended an eight-year losing streak.
Why you might like it: Providing plenty of backstory -- both about the Cup and the players -- sportswriter John Feinstein once again provides an exciting, insightful account of the sport he loves. |
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| Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News by Kevin YoungWhat it's about: Tracing the history of American hoaxes and humbugs from the days of P.T. Barnum to the frauds and flimflammery of today, Bunk is an illuminating exploration of the roles of stereotype, suspicion, and prejudice as factors that shape and support fraudulent activities.
Why you might like it: You want to understand Rachel Dolezal, James Frey, Lance Armstrong, and others with a flexible definition of the truth.
Book buzz: With "fake news" now a buzzword, this National Book Award longlisted title seems to have been published at exactly the right time. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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