Author Archives: smellincoffee

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About smellincoffee

Citizen, librarian, reader with a boundless wonder for the world and a curiosity about all the beings inside it.

A People’s History of the United States

Posted on May 2, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of the United States, 1492-Present© 2003 Howard Zinn729 pages I attracted a fair number of dirty looks and endured numerous assaults on my non-existent patriotism for reading this book, making it especially fun to read in public. … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (27/4)

Posted on April 27, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: The Associate, John Grisham A People’s History of American Empire, Howard Zinn Abounding Grace, M. Scott Peck The House of the Vestals, Steven Saylor Our Inner Ape, Frans De Waal The Sane Society, Erich Fromm The Reason … Continue reading →

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Our Inner Ape

Posted on April 27, 2009 by smellincoffee

Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are the Way We Are© 2005 Frans De Waal288 pages I’ve been passing by this one for weeks now, and decided to give it a go this past weekend. It was … Continue reading →

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The House of the Vestals

Posted on April 24, 2009 by smellincoffee

The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder© 1997 Steven Saylor260 pages In previous weeks I have read two novels by Steven Saylor starring Gordianus the Finder, ancient Rome’s very own private detective. This book is a … Continue reading →

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Abounding Grace

Posted on April 24, 2009 by smellincoffee

Abounding Grace: An Anthology of Wisdom© 2000 ed. M. Scott Peck384 pages Abounding Grace is a strangely titled book of quotations, compiled and commented on by M. Scott Peck, a psychologist who wrote a number of so-called “self-help” books. The … Continue reading →

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A People’s History of American Empire

Posted on April 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of American Empire: A Graphic Adaption© 2008 Howard Zinn273 pages Earlier in the week, I read A People’s History of American Empire, composed by Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, and Paul Buhle. The book is a graphic novel, … Continue reading →

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The Associate

Posted on April 22, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Associate© 2009 John Grisham373 pages I will admit to taking John Grisham for granted. Like old t-shirts and Star Trek, when I begin a Grisham novel I do so with the expectation that I will enjoy it. Grisham rarely … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (20/2)

Posted on April 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Persian Fire, Tom Holland Shattered Mirror, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Kingdoms of Gold, Kingdoms of Jade, Brian Fagan The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu, Henry Wei The Moscow Option, David Downing Although I read most of Persian Fire last … Continue reading →

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The Moscow Option

Posted on April 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Moscow Option© 2006 David Downing256 pagesWorking in a university setting means being surrounded by readers, and this occasionally gives rise to book recommendations. This week, I read a brief alternate history book from the library of my boss, who … Continue reading →

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The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu

Posted on April 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu : A New Translation and Commentary on the Tao Teh Ching © 1982 Henry Wei234 pages In the interests of cultural literacy, I’ve been trying to get a handle on major religions I have … Continue reading →

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