A Walk in the Woods

This isn't your everyday adventure book, and I'd like to make that clear first off. A Walk in the Woods is more of a tale that offers an insight on the way the average American thinks, acts, and changes over the course of time. Narrated by an eager but inexperienced hiker, the story unfolds in a humorous and reflecting way. Bill Bryson, comes off as a likable narrator whom you can't really help following throughout his (sometimes perilous yet still funny) journey. And even though the title, cover, and blurb say that the book is about the Appalachian Trail, it's not. Though the central idea is a hike on the AT, it covers topics from his opinions on rural development in the South to rekindling friendships that drift apart with time. From the beginning, Bryson's witty voice keeps you interested from the start and manages to neatly and sneakily drop in a few pages of Trail history at the same time. Whether you've decided to take a crack at this book because you're a hiking enthusiast or simply because you need something lighthearted and easy to read, there's something for everyone to take away from it.

Secretariat's Meadow

The story of the world-record-smashing, inspirational, and beautiful racehorse named Secretariat has been told in books countless times, but not many have gone deeper into his lineage and home. Behind the scenes of Secretariat's trophies is centuries of careful breeding and care. Now all this would normally be way beyond my interest, as I don't have a single thing to do with racing or breeding horses. Now all this would normally be way beyond my interest appreciate the history and grand tales of the fastest horse in history. However, when such stories are wrapped up nicely in a well-planned book, it's hard not to be interested. Secretariat's Meadow recounts a lively history, from the founding of The Meadow (where Secretariat was born and bred) all the way up to its end and subsequent breakup. And of course, by then you'll be so into the story that you'll feel bad about it. Guaranteed.

Back to the Garden

I'll admit it. I hardly know anything about Woodstock. And I decided that I really needed to know more about it. Cue Back to the Garden. The entire book follows a reminiscent narrator's story, with snippets of quotes in between. There's even a four-page who's who of Woodstock. This volume tells the entire story from as many viewpoints as possible. Random attendees relive the horrid stretches of no-moving traffic that riddled the concert. The famed Richie Havens recounts the happenings that forced him to perform not only as the opening act but for hours on end. However, what makes Back to the Garden a really satisfying read is the lack of a strong bias. No one's slamming the 60s counterculture, nor is anybody criticizing those who poke holes in those three days of peace, love, and rock 'n' roll. Above all, especially to someone who knows so little about the topic as I did, you learn things! And that's what truly makes this book worth a read.

Brave Companions

In my local library, the biography section is overflowing with huge shelves that threaten to fall over and bury you. There are countless volumes on Darwin's voyages, or the adventures of Lewis and Clark. But none of them concern the lesser-known pioneers, such as Miriam Rothschild, a respected botanist, or Alexander von Humboldt, who climbed the tallest mountain known to mankind. In David McCullough's compilation of his best magazine essays, these people and more are all documented in great detail. The subjects may lie a bit off the beaten path, but that's a good thing in this case. Even Theodore Roosevelt gets a chapter discussing his time in the West that many know nothing about. Although the writing sometimes feels overloaded with details and obscure people, the variety and thoroughness of each mini biography outweighs by far any problems one could have with the book. In short, don't miss this volume if you have a thirst to learn about interesting and prominent (in a roundabout way) figures in history.

Freakonomics

There always comes a time when life feels redundant. Nothing ever happens, and you need something totally different to turn it on its head. This is the time to pick up Freakonomics. Suddenly, a whole new way of looking at the world enters your head. Drug markets become respectable monarchies. Schoolteachers are pitted against sumo wrestlers. And the best part is, you're pulled into Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner's way of thinking seamlessly. Each chapter opens with a thought-provoking proposition that makes you first scoff and then puzzle over the answer. Charts, statistics, and intriguing try-it-yourself examples are sprinkled throughout the pages to prove Levitt and Dubner's chapter argument. My eyes tend to skim over any passages in books that I find overly confusing, and I don't think I did so once while reading Freakonomics. In fact, all that's left to do now is get my hands on the sequel.

Born on a Blue Day

This is one of those books that deals with a topic so unique and fascinating that it feels as though it were a piece of fiction. In fact, at times I had to flip to the back inside flap with the author bio to remind myself that this was an actual person's memoir. However, Daniel Tammet's award-winning autobiography is a completely true tale. Each chapter presented a new storyline that tied in wonderfully with the main theme: the challenges of living with autism and savant syndrome. There were so many interesting facts and memories perfectly recounted that it was insanely difficult to finish one chapter and not turn the page and continue reading. From learning about the efforts of Tammet's endlessly caring parents to his struggles with independence, this book is guaranteed to make you feel thankful for all the differences that determine who we are and who we become.

How Not to Write a Novel

Maybe you've wondered why your fiction characters always seem so plain and one-dimensional. Or perhaps your plot always turns out way too clichéd. Whatever troubles you think your writing contains are all covered in one imaginative, informational guide: How Not to Write a Novel. I personally discovered this find when I was browsing around the aisles in the library. I found an amusing ordinary how-not-to read sitting right next to a book I was searching for. I checked it out on a whim and inhaled it almost as soon as we got back. Packed with often-seen errors of aspiring authors, an ordinary how-not-to book would become boring in about three pages. However, How Not to Write a Novel uses well-placed doses of humor to keep you interested enough to keep turning the page. But it's never easy to forget what this book is all about; it still provides a wealth of tips and tricks. From sarcastic and witty chapter openers detailing the exact steps to make people steer clear of your manuscript to cringe-worthy example excerpts, this book is something you'll refer back to again and again.