Too Many Books, Too Little Time
As an editor, many newly published books cross my desk. Here are a few worthy recent additions:
New Good Food: Shopper’s Pocket Guide to Organic, Sustainable and Seasonal Whole Foods by Margaret M. Wittenberg (Ten Speed, 2007) — When this book first crossed my desk, I thought, “Well, whole foods are whole foods, right? What else do I need to know? I can already tell the difference between a squash (whole) and a Twinkie (slightly less than whole). But this book has a treasure trove of valuable information. It gives all the nitty-gritty details on identifying, preparing, and storing whole foods staples.
Need to know if preparing French green lentils differs from preparing Spanish pardina lentils (or mung beans or split peas on yellow soybeans)? This book’s got the answers in an easy-to-refer-to chart. Can’t keep Soba and Udon noodles straight? Check the book. Want to try baking with ultra-nutritious Teff flour? Book’ll tell you how it’s done.
Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying by David Bach (Broadway, 2008) — Bach has authored a series of “finish rich” books, but this one focuses on how to build your wealth while also saving the earth. While the tips struck me as more useful for befriending the earth than bolstering the wallet, they’ll help out with both.
What I liked most about the book was the “Go Green Action Steps” Bach provides in each section. They direct readers to websites (primarily) for more information or getting involved. All the websites I visited from this section were actually really helpful (so many sites are not). And, call me old-fashioned, but I like gleaning new websites from books or print magazines and newspapers instead of someplace else online.
Also, the book has beautiful pictures and is well designed. I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but it’s fun to peruse something pretty.
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (Penguin, 2008) — This book is great, great, great. Pollan chronicles the modern history of American food, which sounds much less interesting than it is. What’s happened to our food system in the last 40 years is the stuff of Shakespearean tragedy. Pollan exposes the many sins committed in the name of food and then gives guidelines for eating well in the modern age.
Even if you’re not a stitch interested in food, I recommend this book for it’s pure phraseological beauty. Pollan’s prose is bewitching, with sentences that are hearty, soul-enriching comfort food and whipped (grass-fed) butter all at once.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I haven’t heard of New Good Food — sounds like my kind of book. Amazon, here I come (I was about to order David Sedaris’s new book anyway — did you see him on Jon Stewart last night? Funny!)
I picked up Pollan’s book last month, but haven’t read it yet. I’m definitely moving it up to the top of my Must Reads now.
As always, thanks for the great info, Laine!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Aaaaaah! I have been missing out! When you changed the name of your blog, my Google Reader didn’t keep up. Meaning that I, passive reader, have been waiting (and waiting!) to be spoon-fed another dose of brilliance. I finally went looking today and found all these great new posts! I hope there aren’t too many other lazy Readers out there who got left behind with the name change….
June 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I’m so sorry. I wasn’t sure how to reach my hundreds of thousands of adoring readers! I can only hope they, too, come looking for me. And, perhaps, this is impetus for me to go back out and find them. Watch out, readers. Here I come!!