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Non-Fiction Reads July 2024
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The secret history of Bigfoot : field notes on a North American monster
by John O'Connor
From the forests of the Pacific Northwest to off-the-wall cryptozoological conventions, a journalist and self-diagnosed skeptic embarks on a quest in search of Bigfoot, its myth and meaning, alongside an eccentric cast of characters, while examining the forces behind our ever-widening belief in the supernatural.
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To dye for : how toxic fashion is making us sick--and how we can fight back
by Alden Wicker
"Award-winning journalist Alden Wicker breaks open a story hiding in plain sight: the unregulated toxic chemicals that are likely in your wardrobe right now, how they're harming you, and what you can do about it. In To Dye For, Wicker reveals how clothing manufacturers have successfully swept consumers' concerns under the rug for more than 150 years, and why synthetic fashion and dyes made from fossil fuels are so deeply intertwined with the rise of autoimmune disease, infertility, asthma, eczema, and more. In fact, there's little to no regulation of the clothes and textiles we wear each day--from uniforms to fast fashion, outdoor gear, and even the face masks that have become ubiquitous in recent years. Wicker explains how we got here, what the stakes are, and what all of us can do in the fight for a safe and healthy wardrobe for all"
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MCU : the reign of Marvel Studios
by Joanna Robinson
Drawing on more than 100 interviews with actors, producers, directors and writers, this first book to tell the Marvel Studios story in full charts the stunning rise—and suddenly uncertain reign—of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—a studio forged by near-constant conflict despite its outward success. Illustrations.
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The rulebreaker : the life and times of Barbara Walters
by Susan Page
Drawing on 150 interviews and extensive archival research, this definitive biography of the most successful female broadcaster of all time, who gave women a permanent place on the air, reveals the woman behind the legacy-one who broke all the rules to tell viewers what they deserved to know
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Accordion eulogies : a memoir of music, migration, and Mexico
by Noâe âAlvarez
The son of working-class Mexican immigrants shares his story of taking up the accordion to connect with his long-gone grandfather, traveling across the United States and Mexico while trying to make sense of his place in the world.
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Indigenous continent : the epic contest for North America
by Pekka Hèamèalèainen
"This nation's history and self-understanding have long depended on the notion of a "colonial America," an epoch that supposedly laid the foundation for the modern United States. In Indigenous Continent, Pekka Hèamèalèainen overturns the traditional, Eurocentric narrative, demonstrating that, far from being weak and helpless "victims" of European colonialism, Indigenous peoples controlled North America well into the 19th century. From the Iroquois and Pueblos to the Lakotas and Comanches, Native empires frequently decimated white newcomers in battle, forcing them to accept and even adopt Native ways. Even as the white population skyrocketed and colonists' land greed become ever more extravagant, Indigenous peoples flourished due to sophisticated diplomacy and flexible leadership structures. As Hèamèalèainen ultimately contends, instead of "colonial America" we should speak of an "Indigenous America" that was only slowly and unevenly becoming colonial. In our myth-busting era, this restoration of Native Americans to their rightful place at the very center of American history will be seen as one of the most important correctives yet"
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Python all-in-one / : All-in-one
by John C. Shovic
"Python All-in-One For Dummies is your one-stop source for answers to all your Python questions. From creating apps to building complex web sites to sorting big data, Python provides a way to get the work done. This book is great as a starting point for those new to coding, and it also makes a perfect reference for experienced coders looking for more than the basics. Apply your Python skills to data analysis, learn to write AI-assisted code using GitHub CoPilot, and discover many more exciting uses for this top programming language"
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Malaysia and Singapore
by Marco Ferrarese
"Whether you want to marvel at Gardens by the Bay, trek through the jungle of Pulau Tioman or tuck into the world's best street food at Lau Pa Sat market, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Malaysia and Singapore have to offer. Captivating cities, idyllic islands, ancient rainforest and sumptuous cuisine make Malaysia a country worth savoring. Across the border, Singapore's urban landscape is just as vibrant and varied, studded with unspoilt green spaces, trendy bars and Michelin-starred restaurants. This corner of southeast Asia has it all. Our updated and redesigned 2023 guide brings Malaysia and Singapore to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the iconic buildings and neighborhoods of both country and city. DK Eyewitness Malaysia and Singapore is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime"
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The Exorcist legacy : 50 years of fear
by Nat Segaloff
Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of The Exorcist, this tribute to the movie that both inspired and transcends the modern horror genre reveals the complete story of this culture phenomenon, starting with the real-life exorcism in 1949 Maryland that inspired the best-selling novel on which the film is based. Illustrations.
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The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness
by Jonathan Haidt
"From New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind, an essential investigation into the collapse of youth mental health-and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the "play-based childhood" began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the "phone-based childhood" in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this "great rewiring of childhood" has interfered with children'ssocial and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the "collective action problems" thattrap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes-communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children-and ourselves-from the psychological damage of a phone-based life"
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Want to request any of these titles? Place a hold through the online catalog or or call the library for assistance 831-768-3404.
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Watsonville Public Library
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