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Adult

The Natural

The Natural

By Bernard Malamud 231 pages Adult

Danny Says

April means the start of baseball season. While most of us are still excited about our teams (as most of our teams should still be in the race for the pennant by the end of the month), I figured I would include a great baseball book. Warning: this book is not exactly like the wonderful Robert Redford movie. I found that out the hard way when I first read the book in junior high school (yes, when I was young, we did not have middle schools).
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There's a Hole in My Sidewalk

There's a Hole in My Sidewalk

By Portia Nelson 144 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have been in sort of a rut lately, questioning where I am going with my life. My pastor shared with us a passage from this book, and it instantly lifted my spirits. Nelson clearly writes about “the romance of self-discovery,” and this book reminded me to always appreciate the journey and focus on my own choices. A lovely book.
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Pictures I Had to Take

Pictures I Had to Take

152 pages Adult

Danny Says

I admit that when I think of Joel Grey, I usually think of the MC from Cabaret or Chiun from Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (one of my guilty pleasures). After watching a wonderful piece on Grey’s photography featured on the best television program on the air, CBS Sunday Morning, I rushed to the bookstore and bought this collection of his photographs. Photography books are the perfect books for truly lazy readers, and, while I do not know a lot about photography, I am always inspired by what photographers focus on. This book touched me by how much I learned about Grey through his photographer’s eye. 
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Jack Ruby's Kitchen Sink

Jack Ruby's Kitchen Sink

By Tom Miller 250 pages Adult

Danny Says

Just finished this enjoyable travel book about the American Southwest. I really enjoyed one chapter in particular about John Nichols and The Milagro Beanfield War, as I love that book and the film (even if the film caused havoc in northern New Mexico, which is just about one of the most beautiful areas anywhere). The book also features a favorite locale of mine: Bisbee, Arizona.
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Mary Lou Retton's Gateways to Happiness

Mary Lou Retton's Gateways to Happiness

By Mary Lou Retton 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

A couple of years ago I attended a motivational workshop at the Pond in Anaheim that included some of the biggest names in sports: Magic Johnson, Pete Rose, Jerry Rice…some big-name sports figures. The last speakers were 1984 U.S. Olympic gold-medalist gymnasts Peter Vidmar and Mary Lou Retton, and they blew everyone else out of the water (I told them that afterwards, too). I had to read Mary Lou’s book, and I breezed through this inspirational, autobiographical self-help guide. Some really good stuff on motherhood, and even 18 easy recipes, as well.
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Punk Rock Dad

Punk Rock Dad

By Jim Lindberg 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

This book surprised the heck out of me. I was looking for a book to recommend for father’s day, and a friend handed me a copy of Lindberg’s just-released, wonderful autobiographical account of life as a father (of three young daughters, bless his soul) and punk rock singer. I realize I am lame and have never listened to Lindberg’s band “Pennywise,” but I will definitely look them up. Lindberg is from the Los Angeles South Bay (where I live), and I could relate to so many of his views and observations that I finished the book in one sitting (laughing and nodding the entire time). I think you will love this gem, and I hope to bump into Lindberg sometime...outside of a mosh pit, that is.
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The Overlook

The Overlook

By Michael Connelly 304 pages Adult

Danny Says

This is number 13 in the Harry Bosch series, and it does not disappoint. Reading Michael Connelly’s books is like watching a great three-hour movie: it is a wonderful journey, and by the time it ends you cannot believe the time flew by. You will enjoy any of these crime books set in my beloved Los Angeles.
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The First National Bank of Dad

The First National Bank of Dad

By David Owen 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Besides proper nutrition, I have found that personal finance is one of the most important areas that parents and teachers need to prioritize for children nowadays. One way to educate children about money is to check out The Money Mammals, a wonderful program designed to teach kids how to save and invest their money. It was through that program that I discovered this wonderful book by David Owen, an excellent writer who offers a lot of practical advice on how to educate children about money. I have always found money to be the easiest way to attract students’ attention to math, as well. Own makes educating children about money fun and painless. 
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I Feel Bad About My Neck

I Feel Bad About My Neck

By Nora Ephron 160 pages Adult

Danny Says

Jackpot! My favorite kind of book: short and funny. Nora Ephron is one of the funniest men or women alive, and this collection of 15 essays highlights her talent for dealing with subjects that seem depressing with her wry wit. Ephron is an intelligent humorist worthy of high praise and recognition.
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The Cookie Never Crumbles: Inspirational Recipes for Everyday Living

The Cookie Never Crumbles: Inspirational Recipes for Everyday Living

By Wally Amos,Eden-Lee Murray 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

Wally Amos, a.k.a. Famous Amos, offers his “recipes” for successful living. With unbridled optimism and good cheer, Amos inspires with his story of rise, fall and perspective.
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Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

By Bill Geist 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have said it before, and bear with me as I say it again: CBS Sunday Morning is one of the finest shows on television. One of the reasons I TiVo it is because of Bill Geist, a remarkable, Will Rogers-like correspondent whom I idolize (could there be a better job than traveling America and getting to meet all the diverse, silly people that make our country so great?) You do not buy this book; you make it an annual gift for anybody you encounter who takes life too seriously. My world is a better, happier place because of people like Bill Geist.
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Rules for Old Men Waiting

Rules for Old Men Waiting

By Peter Pouncey 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

Written by a former president of Amherst, this book has received mixed reviews. That surprises me because I found the novel deeply touching and wonderfully narrated. The prose is almost lyrical; to me, it reads a lot like Norman MacLean’s beautiful A River Runs Through It. Check it out, and tell me what you think. 
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Positive Attitude: A Dilbert Collection

Positive Attitude: A Dilbert Collection

By Scott Adams 128 pages Adult

Danny Says

If you want to begin your day with a smile, look no further than the daily Dilbert cartoon appearing in your local newspaper. There is nothing particularly unique about Adams’s latest Dilbert book; I just believe everyone should be reminded of how great Dilbert is. It never ceases to amaze me how some corporate executives still do not see how Adams is mocking them.
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The Book of Spam

The Book of Spam

By Dan Armstrong & Dustin Black 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Subtitled “A Most Glorious and Definitive Compendium of the World’s Favorite Canned Meat,” this is the book I have been waiting for my entire life. I love Spam! Maybe it is just in reverence to Monty Python, but I have always gotten a kick out of all things Spam, and this book makes the perfect gift for the Spam aficionado or curious bystander. Great photos and hilarious (and often fascinating) tidbits about Spam.
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Forever Ours: Real Stories of Immortality and Living from a Forensic Pathologist

Forever Ours: Real Stories of Immortality and Living from a Forensic Pathologist

By Janis Amatuzio 209 pages Adult

Danny Says

Pretty fascinating accounts from a forensic pathologist about her encounters with the dead, and how to make the living feel better about their loved ones during their bereavement. The pages turn easily on this one.
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