All About Books discussion

For our non-fiction group read in June and July we'll have a carte blanche again, so instead of sticking to a theme you can nominate any work of non-fiction you like.

Nominations will run for a maximum of 7 days or until 7 poll-contestants are chosen. In order to move into poll a book needs to receive a second vote. So second if you are not nominating!

Please stick to one nomination OR one second vote per person.

Should you have a question, feel free to ask in this thread!

Just for once I think I'll make a suggestion:


Colour: Travels Through the Paintbox by Victoria Finlay

it's a history and travelogue of the artist's palette; where the materials used in different colours of paints come from and how they were (and are!) used. I've had a copy on my shelf since last year and it looks very interesting but I've not yet got around to reading it.

There's an ebook, paperback, various hardbacks...

I would like to nominate A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage.

My nomination is for Orientalism by Edward W. Said

I've nominated it for another group, but I'd really like to discuss this one, so I'll try here as well.

I'll second Orientalism - I haven't read it yet, and I've quite liked what I've read by Edward W. Said so far.

I would like to nominate Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

My suggestion is: I Forgot To Remember by Su Meck
This is a compelling memoir of a young mother who, due to a freak at-home accident, loses all memories of her life up until that point. After just three weeks in hospital, she is sent home to resume her life and its responsibilities - in other words, business as usual. She has to learn everything all over again (reading, writing, child care, everyone's name (including husband). Life has to continue along normally while this enormous learning process is undertaken. This is the most uplifting Life-after-trauma story I've read in years. I was so taken with this woman's huge, challenging journey I forgot the time and nearly missed a meeting, I admire this writer to the nth degree - heck, I'm having big trouble writing a memoir WITH memories intact!!

Love the nominations so far, Paul, I've never heard of the one you picked, but it will have to go on to my to-read list despite the outcome of the poll!

So far there are:

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay seconded
Orientalism by Edward W. Said seconded
A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck

Jenny wrote: "Love the nominations so far, Paul, I've never heard of the one you picked, but it will have to go on to my to-read list despite the outcome of the poll!

So far there are:

[book:Color: A Natural ..."

Thanks Jenny, and Sandy for seconding it. It does look very intriguing; I find myself leafing through my copy a lot but always seem to have too many books on the go when I do, the only reason I've not started it yet. I think that I am going to try to clear the decks so I can actually start reading it myself whether or not it gets chosen.

I nominate
The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes

Can I change my nomination to Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End? this book is being talked up everywhere.

I would like to second Being Mortal. Definitely a topic that concerns us all.

Ok, so here's a little update:

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay seconded
Orientalism by Edward W. Said seconded
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande seconded

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Secrets of a Real-Life Female Private Eye by Colleen Collins
I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck
Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court by John Wooden
The Immense Journey: An Imaginative Naturalist Explores the Mysteries of Man and Nature by Loren Eiseley

I nominate The Immense Journey by Loren Eisely.Science by a naturalist and a poet.

Sandy wrote: "Perhaps I misunderstood. Was Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End supposed to replace A History of the World in 6 Glasses?"

No, you are perfectly right, sorry, that was my Monday head ;)

John wrote: "I nominate The Immense Journey by Loren Eisely.Science by a naturalist and a poet."

That one looks great John! If I hadn't already seconded, I would second this one for sure.