shaker your plate: of shaker cooks and cooking,
a collection of simple american food, charmingly presented.
the self-sufficient life and how to live it: the complete back-to-basics guide,
this is a wonderful overview of the self-supporting life. though it contains numerous recipes and lots of specific information gleaned from seymour's lifelong experience, this isn't a complete guide. it is useful enough that I recommend it for anyone who is seriously interested in being a self-supporter, but you will need other books for the complete specifics. highly recommended for anyone who likes to dream of the self-supporting life, or who would like to begin to reimagine their present life.
back to basics: how to learn and enjoy traditional american skills,
this really is a how-to book with step-by-step directions starting with choosing a piece of land, building your own house, heating it, and growing and making the things you will need to live there. highly recommended.
{ beyond fear: thinking sensibly about security in an uncertain world }
recommended without reservation. It's clear, rational, and very readable. Schneier is smart, level-headed, and has a deep understanding of security.
{ the complete tightwad gazette }
no idle hands : the social history of american knitting,
I really enjoyed it, but that was for the subject matter more than the work. a bit of a disappointment: like many social histories, this one felt padded. it would have benefited from a stronger focus on its subject, photos to match each reference to a photo, and some actual knitting patterns from each of the era it highlights.
the years of rice and salt,
ambitious and uneven. I enjoyed it.
many waters,
disappointing. maybe if I were 14 I would like it better.
the seat of the soul, pretty standard new age stuff.
mrs pollifax, innocent tourist, typical later mrs pollifax. underwhelming.
{ the passionate vegetarian }
just fantastic. this is a wide-ranging, enthusiastic introduction to vegetarian cooking by a woman who is not afraid to use newfangled labor-saving devices like cooking spray, prepared soyfoods, or dehydrated beans to gain time, flavor, or to save a few calories. tons of information, frequent variations (including lots of vegan variations) and ideas for reusing leftovers for another meal. try the vegetarian cassoulet on page 612, an instant tradition on our house. bonus: it's also just fun to read. highly recommended.
{ }= recommended
(-) = not recommended
< current >
bookshelf 2003 22 books
bookshelf 2002 34 books
bookshelf 2001 17 books
bookshelf 2000 10 books
{ the stone diaries }
though the author tries too hard in places to be 'literary', this book is saved by her ability to really inhabit extremely varied characters, and by the extraordinary, ordinary life she portrays. recommended.
the thief lord,
this is an odd book. I enjoyed reading it, looking forward every night to reading some more. but as the story progressed it became less enchanting, and I always felt distant from the characters. I don't know if that's due to the translation, or if its a characteristic of the author's style.
{ the image: a guide to pseudo-events in america }
smart, smart, smart. a bit repetitious by the end. recommended anyway.
organizing from the inside out, julie morgenstern
ignore the stuff about using computers. otherwise, a very useful book.
{ caddie woodlawn }
just as good as I remember. highly recommended.
{ getting things done }
this seems like a smart system to do just what it promises. currently recommended. time will tell.
{ made from scratch: reclaiming the pleasures of the american hearth }
interesting and engaging with an important and intriguing thesis that, unfortunately, the author doesn't convincingly support. recommended anyway.
{ elizabeth zimmermann's knitters' almanac }
fun, fun, fun. the directions are sometimes a bit opaque for even an advanced beginner, but this is an entertaining and inspiring book for knitters at all levels.
the difference engine, william gibson and bruce sterling
{ perfection salad }
the book that inspired the current crop of women's social histories, and one of the very best. a delightful examination of the rise of domestic science and home economics. the concluding chapter, ostensibly describing the fall of home economics, seems unconsidered in comparison to the rest of the book: unfocused, too broad, opinionated without supporting evidence. regardless, this book is a gem. highly recommended.
cook's illustrated
martha stewart living
will in the world: how shakespeare became shakespeare,
learn needle tatting step by step,
madhur jaffrey's world vegetarian,
local flavors: cooking and eating from america's farmers' markets,
complete guide to home canning and preserving,
a quaker woman's cookbook,
the american woman's home,
the american frugal housewife,
knitting in the old way: designs and techniques from ethnic sweaters,
the forgotten arts and crafts,
the world according to mr. rogers: important things to remember,
lonesome dove,
robot dreams,
a summons to memphis,
hard times: an oral history of the great depression,
ironweed,
the shipping news,
the stranger,
martin dressler : the tale of an american dreamer,
angle of repose,
empire falls
the amazing adventures of kavalier & clay,
richter the town,
harbrace college handbook - 5th edition
style, ten lessons in clarity and grace
introducing post-feminism
coercion: why we listen to what 'they' say
the non-designer's design book
tying rocks to clouds
sparks of genius
the elements of typographic style
a natural history of the senses
... from perseus:
the a-list: the national society of film critics' 100 essential films
the heat is on: the climate crisis, the cover-up, the prescription
the erotomaniac
the bombast transcripts: rants and screeds of rageboy
the cluetrain manifesto
mad in america
gonzo marketing: winning through worst practices,
...
last chance to see
the cult of information
the user illusion : cutting consciousness down to size
the future and its enemies
jamming the media
the homeless mind: modernization and consciousness.
the jungle
little house on the prairie
the long winter
coffeehouse: writings from the web
indian captive
a history of the american people
The art of happiness: a handbook for living,
the essential haiku: versions of basho, buson, and issa,
high fashion sewing secrets from the world's best designers,
the middle mind,
classic tailoring techniques: a construction guide for men's wear
jacques pepin's complete techniques