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Mar 11
2009
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Behind The Bestsellers: Nonfiction February 2009Posted by: Adriann Ranta on Mar 11, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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Bestsellers Nonfiction February 2, 2009
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band. Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.
A: - P: Little, Brown C: Self Help/Improvement
NTY: 10 USAT: 18 PW: 9Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America, by Ann Coulter
Just as presidential politic hits fever pitch, Coulter's new work promises to be timely, controversial, and filled with the author's fearless penchant for saying what needs saying about politics and culture today.
A: Joni Evans P: Crown Forum C: History/Politics
NYT: 3 USAT: 3 PW: 3
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, by Vicki Myron
The charming story of Dewey Read more Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa, starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the library. For the next 19 years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.
A: Peter McGuigan P: Grand Central C: Memoir
NYT: 19 USAT: 35 PW: 17
In this hilarious blast of scathing irreverence from an award-winning actor and comedian, Leary uses his common sense, and his biting take on the world, to attack the politically correct, the hypocritical, the obese, the thin--basically everyone who takes himself too seriously.
A: - P: Viking C: Humor
NYT: 10 USAT: - PW: 8
Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson’s election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson’s presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama–the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers–that shaped Jackson’s private world through years of storm and victory. One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will–or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House–from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman–have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision. Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe–no matter what it took. Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency–and America itself
A: Sally Marvin P: Random House C: History/Politics
NYT: 11 USAT: - PW: 10
Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets,, by Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin
Kate Gosselin tells the amazing story of how she and her husband have survived the overwhelming odds of birthing not only twins but also sextuplets in three years, and how they continue to strive every day to honor Christ while he teaches them to thrive in spite of emotional, financial, social, and physical exhaustion.
A: Peter Cox P: Zondervan C: Memoir
NYT: 14 USAT: - PW: -
The American Journey of Barack Obama, by the editors of Life magazine.
The editors of LIFE Books have collected a richly illustrated biography of presidential candidate Barack Obama. This work includes intimate pictures from Obama's childhood and his time as editor of Harvard's Law Review, and culminates with the historic Democratic National Convention.
A: - P: Little, Brown C: Autobiography/Biography
NYT: 11 USAT: - PW: 5
The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama
Senator Obama has written a book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to the Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans.
A: Jane Dystel P: Crown C: History/Politics
NYT: 35 USAT: 84 PW: -
Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama
In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father -- a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man -- has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey -- first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother's family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father's life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
A: Jane Dystel P: Three Rivers Press C: History/Politics
NYT: 4 USAT: 109 PW: -
Too Fat to Fish, by Artie Lange with Anthony Bozza
When stand-up comic Lange joined the cast of "The Howard Stern Show" in 2001, he provided a wit quick enough to keep pace with Stern's own. Wild, shocking, and drop-dead funny, "Too Fat to Fish" is Lange's reflection on his rise to stardom.
A: Richard Abate P: Spiegel & Grau C: Humor
NYT: 11 USAT: - PW: 10
Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, by Temple Grandin
With the groundbreaking "Animals in Translation," Grandin drew on her own experience with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver extraordinary insights into how animals think. Now she builds on those insights to show how to give animals the best and happiest life.
A: Betsy Lerner P: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt C: Animals/Pets
NYT: 3 USAT: - PW: -
The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World, by Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson tells the human story behind the evolution of money, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest Wall Street upheavals. The author shows that finance is, in fact, the foundation of human progress.
A: The Wylie Agency P: Penguin Press C: History/Politics
NYT: 7 USAT: - PW: -
The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, by Gwen Ifill
Gwen Ifill surveys the American political landscape, shedding light on the impact of Barack Obama's presidential victory and offering profiles of prominent leaders such as Deval Patrick and Cory Booker as well as up-and-coming African-American politicians.
A: - P: Doubleday C: History/Politics
NYT: 1 USAT: - PW: -
Hot, Flat, and Crowded, by Thomas L. Friedman
Friedman's bestseller "The World Is Flat" has helped millions of readers to see globalization in a new way. Now the author brings a fresh outlook to the crises of destabilizing climate change and rising competition for energy.
A: Esther Newburg P: Farrar, Straus & Giroux C: Environment
NYT: 20 USAT: - PW: -
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she's convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations. Are You There, Vodka? It's me; Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today.
A: Michael Broussard P: Simon Spotlight Entertainment C: Humor
NYT: 28 USAT: - PW: -
Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan, by Suze Orman
2009: The Year You Can’t Afford to Make Any Mistakes with Your Money. The credit crunch, the stock market freefall, the staggering toll of home foreclosures and job losses: The economic crisis that struck in 2008 has left no one untouched and everybody reeling. Seemingly overnight, the financial landscape has undergone seismic changes that suddenly have you asking all kinds of questions: Are your savings safe? Should you continue to invest in your retirement account? Should you keep your home if it’s worth less than what you owe or should you sell it? How do you pay your bills if you’ve just been laid off? The nation’s go-to expert on financial matters, Suze Orman, believes that 2009 is a critical year for your money. There are safeguards to put in place, actions to take, costly mistakes to avoid, and even opportunities to be had, so that you are protected during the bad times and prepared to prosper when things take a turn for the better.
A: Amanda Urban P: Spiegel & Grau C: Business/Money Management
NYT: - USAT: 4 PW: -
Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solutionby, David Zinczenko
Based on the most popular column in both "Men's Health" and "Women's Health" magazines, this work is a comprehensive guide to what to eat at home, from the supermarket, even at a fast-food counter.
A: - P: Rodale Press C: Health/Fitness
NYT: - USAT: 4 PW: -
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson
Description: The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools especially for girls that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, "Three Cups of Tea" combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.
A: Laurie Harper P: Penguin C: History/Politics
NYT: - USAT: 99 PW: -
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog, by John Grogan
Description: The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. John and Jenny were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow fur ball of a puppy-and their life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever who crashed through screen doors, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, devoured couches and fine jewelry, and was expelled from obedience school. Yet Marley's heart was pure, and he remained a steadfast model of love and devotion for a growing family through pregnancy, birth, and heart break, and joy, right to the inevitable goodbye.
A: Laurie Munroe Abkemeier P: Harper C: Memoir
NYT: - USAT: 128 PW: -
Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president. On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry. Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand.
A: Amanda Urban P: Simon & Schuster C: History/Politics
NYT: - USAT: 38 PW: -
Barack Obama Presidential Vault, by Avery Krut
"Yes, we can." On the night of November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama addressed the nation as the first African-American to be elected president of the United States. It was the end of a race that had gripped the country more than any other in its history-a race of unprecedented firsts. This detailed scrapbook recreates one of the most inspiring presidential races in U.S. history. Tucked among the pages is a treasure trove of memorabilia: souvenir replicas such as buttons, bumper stickers, posters, tickets, and more are set against a vivid narrative, historical photographs, and images from the campaign trail. You'll read the full text of Senator Obama's electrifying keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and his "American Promise" speech from 2008, when he accepted the Democratic nomination. The Barack Obama Vault: an unforgettable portrait of a candidate and a campaign, from its hopeful beginnings to its landmark conclusion.
A: - P: Whitman C: History/Politics
NYT: - USAT: 1 PW: -
Description: Based on the extraordinary final lecture by Carnegie Mellon University professor Pausch, given after he discovered he had pancreatic cancer, this moving book goes beyond the now-famous lecture to inspire readers to live each day with purpose and joy.
A: David Black P: Hyperion C: Self Help/Improvement
NYT: - USAT: 42 PW: 42
Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2009 (November 2008), by Allan Borushek
Need to lose weight? Have diabetes and need to track carb intake? Want to make healthier-more informed eating choices? Or just want to know what's in that Big Mac or your favorite Starbucks drink? If any of this sounds like you, this book is a must-have!
A: - P: Family Health Publications C: Health/Fitness
NYT: - USAT: 4 PW: -
What's Age Got to Do with It?: Living Your Healthiest and Happiest Life By Robin McGraw
"I'm 42-years-old, but feel like I'm 62." "I have lost my glow." "I miss the woman I used to be." "I'm so afraid of getting older." "I want to feel healthy and alive again "If you've had these or similar thoughts, you're not alone. Robin McGraw, wife of television talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw, receives thousands of emails from women asking her what she does to look and feel so vibrant, energetic and healthy at the age of 55. It all started back in Robin's twenties and thirties when pivotal moments in her life made her realize that if she did not put her health and well-being first, no one else would. One such moment came in her early thirties when Robin experienced the sudden death of her mother, a wonderful woman who put the needs of her family above her own and, as a result, didn't know that her health was ailing. This tragedy made Robin realize that in order to be the best wife, mother and woman possible, she had to take care of herself as if her life depended on it. In What's Age Got to do with it; Robin urges you to do the same and shows you that it's not selfish to take care of yourself. Robin says, "I wrote this book, not only to answer questions about what I do to stay healthy and in shape, but to remind women that it's time to move yourself to the top of your list of priorities. If you can't do it for you, then do it for your family. Because my precious mother never did that, she missed out on so many wonderful years and experiences. I realized that it doesn't make you a better wife or parent if you're sacrificing everything -including your health, soul and spirit -for your family. I refuse to perpetuate that legacy and I want you to join me and get excited about living your life in a passionate, happy and healthy way. It's never too early to start taking care of you, but it's also never, ever too late."
A: Janet Reid P: Thomas Nelson C: Self Help/Improvement
NYT: - USAT: 3 PW: 3
The Love Dare, by Stephen Kendrick
"The Love Dare "is a 40-day guided devotional designed to strengthen every marriage and the same powerful book that plays a pivotal role in the new movie Fireproof.
A: Sterling Lord Literistic P: B&H C: Religion/Spirituality
NYT: - USAT: 18 PW:
The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan
"An amazing story told with steep honesty. The Middle Place is memoir at its highest form." -Darin Strauss, author of More Than It Hurts You and The Real McCoy for Kelly Corrigan, family is everything. At thirty-six, she had a marriage that worked two funny, active kids, and a weekly newspaper column. But even as a thriving adult, Kelly still saw herself as the daughter of garrulous Irish-American charmer George Corrigan. She was living deep within what she calls the Middle Place--"that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap"--comfortably wedged between her adult duties and her parents' care. But Kelly is abruptly shoved into coming-of-age when she finds a lump in her breast--and gets the diagnosis no one wants to hear. When George, too, learns that he has late-stage cancer, it is Kelly's turn to take care of the man who had always taken care of her--and to show us a woman who finally takes the leap and grows up.
A: Andrea Barzvi P: Voice C: Memoir
NYT: - USAT: PW:
Flat Belly Diet, by Liz Vaccariello
The editor in chief of "Prevention" magazine--the country's most authoritative and innovative source for health information--presents a weight-loss plan that's specifically designed to help women over 40 lead a longer, healthier life by getting rid of belly fat.
A: - P: Rodale Press C: Medicine/Health
NYT: - USAT: - PW: 9
Description: Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -- men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.
A: The Strothman Angency P: Beyond Words Publishing C: Self Help/Improvement
NYT: - USAT: - PW: 102
The Great Depression Ahead, by Harry S. Dent Jr
From the author of the bestselling "The Roaring 2000s" comes a new book that predicts a major economic crash and offers advice on how to survive it.
A: Susan Golomb P: Free Press C: Business/Money Management
NYT: - USAT: - PW: 1
StrengthsFinder 2.0, by Tom Rath
DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO BEST EVERY DAY?
Chances are, you don’t. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.
To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced Strengths Finder in the 2001 management book Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book ignited a global conversation, while Strengths Finder helped millions discover their top five talents.
In Strengths Finder 2.0, Gallup unveils the new and improved version of its popular online assessment. With hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, Strengths Finder 2.0 will change the way you look at yourself—and the world—forever.
A: - P: Gallup Press C: Business/Money Management
NYT: - USAT: - PW: 8
High Voltage Tattoo, by Kat Von D
High Voltage Tattoo is a graphic perspective on today's global tattoo culture by Kat Von D, star of The Learning Channel's L.A. Ink and one of the most talented and popular artists working today. Designed in a style that is reminiscent of a handmade Gothic journal with its red padded cover, ornate typography, and parchment like pages, it throws the door wide open to tattooing culture in the way only an insider like Kat can. High Voltage Tattoo traces Kat's career as an artist, from early childhood influences to recent work, along with examples of what inspires her, information about the show and her shop, her sketches, and personal tattoos. The book goes deep into tattoo process and culture: readers can see up close the pigments, the tools, and the making of complex, even collaborative, tattoos. With a foreword by Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx, the book features images and stories about celebrities, rockers, pro skaters, and everyday citizens, including Slayer's Kerry King, Anthrax's Scott Ian, Margaret Cho, Jackass' Bam Margera, David Letterman, and many others. It profiles and showcases the work of artists Kat has selected from all over the world, her interviews with people who have compelling tattoos and stories, and amazing images of extraordinary tattoo work. Numerous portfolios throughout the book showcase a range of relevant subjects, from the black and gray portrait work for which Kat is famous to a popular tattoo theme, such as the rose or biblical images. There is a knockout ten-page full-body spread of Kat-clad in a yellow bikini and seven-inch, rhinestone-studded red stilettos-that catalogs in detail all her personal tattoos on her front, back, left, and right sides-even her hands and head.
A: Kathleen Anderson P: Collins Design C: Art/Photography
NYT: - USAT: - PW: 1
Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients, by Ina Garten
Description: The essential Ina Garten cookbook focuses on the techniques behind her elegant food and easy entertaining style, offering nearly 100 brand-new recipes that will become trusted favorites. With full-color photographs and invaluable cooking tips, "Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics" is an essential addition to the cherished library of Barefoot Contessa cookbooks.
A: Levine Greenberg Agency P: Clarkson Potter C: Food/Cooking
NYT: - USAT - PW: 12