Tagged: books

In the decades leading up to the civil war, white Americans uncomfortable with the rising numbers of free blacks came up with a plan. Get rid of them. Specifically, convince them to resettle in Liberia. It was America's original "self-deportation" scheme. But things didn't go exactly according to plan.

List of stories from KUOW Presents,  May 15:

Fire, air, water and earth; or as author Michael Pollan experienced it: barbeque, bread, braise and beer. In his latest book, “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,” Pollan challenges himself to master the basic technologies that have allowed people to turn raw into cooked.  

The impetus of his journey was to highlight the possibility and importance of mastering the preparation of personal meals. His book explores the cultural shift of food responsibility from the home to corporation via packaged or prepared foods, and how this directly correlates with the rise in American obesity issues.

Stephen Apkon says we live in a world of images but do not have the visual literacy to understand them.  His new book is "The Age of the Image: Redefining Literacy in a World of Screens." KUOW's Ross Reynolds chats with Stephen Apkon. 

If you are looking for a good memoir to read, here are a few of Nancy Pearl’s suggestions.

"A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana," by Haven Kimmel

"Cakewalk: A Memoir," by Kate Moses

"The World’s Strongest Librarian," by Josh Hanagarne

"Between Terror and Tourism," by Michael Mewshaw

"Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown," by Paul Theroux

"Stop-Time," by Frank Conroy

"Mountain City," by Gregory Martin

"Going Back to Bisbee," by Richard Shelton