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Popular Culture September 2020
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| Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina by Chris FrantzWhat 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. |
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| The Lost Memoir by Lou Gehrig with a biographical essay by Alan D. GaffWhat 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." |
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| I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To: True Life Lessons by Loni LoveWhat 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. |
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| You Look So Much Better in Person: True Stories of Absurdity and Success by Al RokerWhat 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." |
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The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to The Walking Dead...
by David Bianculli
This in-depth examination of the history of television staunchly proclaims that the best era for TV is... now! (Well, starting in 1999, though TV critic David Bianculli allows for some exceptions before then). Dividing programs into several genres (such as "workplace comedy" or "spies"), and highlighting five shows within each category, this well-researched and comprehensive analysis will have you reaching for the remote -- to try intriguing new shows -- in no time.
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| Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st... by Chuck KlostermanWhat 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. |
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Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time
by Rob Sheffield
In a poignant memoir of love, loss, and music, a rock and pop culture critic shares the story of his romance and marriage to Renée, a young woman with whom he had little in common except for the music that brought them together, and Renée's tragic early death, all viewed from the perspective of the mix tapes that the couple had compiled.
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| What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays by Damon YoungWhat it is: a candid collection of humorous and bittersweet musings on contemporary Black manhood.
Topics include: gentrification's impact on author Damon Young's Pittsburgh neighborhood; the relationships forged in barbershops and on basketball courts; the use (and misuse) of racial epithets.
Author alert: Debut author Young is the co-founder of the website Very Smart Brothas and a senior editor at The Root. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Michigan City Public Library 100 E. 4th Street Michigan City, Indiana 46360 219-873-3044mclib.org/ |
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