Annual Roundup of Hot Non-fiction
McPherson Sentinel, December 14, 2012
A new year is upon us, and it is once again time to take a look at the highest-circulating non-fiction books for the past year. Let’s count them down to number 1!
10) Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine, by Eric Weiner. The author, an agnostic at the time, is taken aback when a nurse asks him during the course of his stay in a
hospital, “Have you found your God yet?” He travels the globe in search of some answers.
9) Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, by Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly. On January 8, 2011, Congresswoman Giffords was shot in the head in an assassination attempt that left six people dead and thirteen wounded. She refused to give up, and along with her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, tells about the struggles on the road of recovery.
8) The Smart Approach to Kids Rooms, by Megan Connelly.Parents frequently throw up their hands and go running from the house when it comes to arranging and decorating kids rooms, but Connelly’s creative ideas and practical advice will make for smiles all around.
7) Take Your Best Shot: Essential Tips & Tricks for Shooting Amazing Photos, by Miriam Leuchter. This collection of advice from professional photographers will improve anyone’s ability and includes topics such as portraits, underwater images, action shots, and abstract compositions.
6) Then Again, by Diane Keaton. This award-winning autobiography by an award-winning actress tells the story of her rise to stardom, and along with it, her relationship with her mother.
5) The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from my Frontier, by Ree Drummond. This second collection of recipes proves that Drummond’s food is hot with the public. Cowgirl quiche, blackberry chip ice cream, Cajun chicken pasta, creamy cheese grits – what’s not to like?
4) Eva Braun: Life with Hitler, by Heike Görtemaker. Some 70 years after her death, Hitler’s mistress, and briefly, his wife, is emerging from the shadows. Using recently uncovered documents and sources, Görtemaker’s book shatters the myths surrounding Braun and sets a new standard for future biographers.
3) House Beautiful – 750 Designer Secrets. McPhersonites were in a decorating mood during 2012, and this popular guide gives advice and tips from professionals on how to use maximize the impact of any room in the house.
2) Unbroken: A World War II Airman’s Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand. Lt. Louis Zamperini was the sole survivor when his bomber crashed into the Pacific in 1943, who endured countless hardships at sea – and then fell into the hands of the Japanese. This is the only returner from last year’s list.
1) Killing Lincoln, by Bill O’Reilly. On the New York Times Best Sellers list for over a year, O’Reilly’s book chronicles Lincoln’s assassination and the hunt for the conspirators.
That’s the countdown for another year. For more information about these titles – or to check their availability or place them on reserve, visit our web site at www.macpl.org and click on the “Hot non-fiction of 2012” link in the Weekly Bookmark section of the home page. I’ve added a few more hot titles from this year to the online list, so don’t miss it!