Recent Tempting Titles 500s - 600s

Click on any image or title link to place a hold via the online catalog. You can also now see a full list of the books librarians have ordered in the last two months by clicking on the Coming Soon button on the left of any library web page or as a tab on the catalog page. (Not all are in the online catalog yet as these few selections are but they're on the way.)

The nonfiction books of Tempting Titles are arranged by Dewey Decimal order, just the way they would be arranged on the New Book Shelves. Here are today's offerings:

500s - Science

13 Things that Don't Make Sense: the most baffling scientific mysteries of our time by Michael Brooks

"Based on Michael Brooks's popular article for New Scientist --one of the most forwarded articles in the magazine's online history-- ... tackles the most hotly debated topics in science today, from the placebo effect to life on Mars, and shows how these conundrums are changing the way scientists approach their work and why these issues will define science in the twenty-first century." (Publisher's summary)

Flat Earth: the history of an infamous idea by Christine Garwood

"Garwood, historian of science at the Open University in England, presents a thoroughly enjoyable first book….Garwood is respectful throughout, analyzing the philosophical underpinnings of those who have doubted, and continue to doubt, the Earth’s rotundity." (Publisher Weekly)

Only a Theory: evolution and the battle for America's soul by Kenneth R. Miller,

"Kenneth R. Miller, professor of biology at Brown University, examines the landmark Dover I[ntelligent] D[esign] trial as a symptom of a much greater struggle in American society. Miller opens his argument by dissecting the claims of the ID movement. But Miller's concern here is less the deficiencies of ID than what its claims to legitimacy and its increasing popularity represent." (Publisher's blurb)

Where the Wild Things Were: life, death, and ecological wreckage in a land of vanishing predators by William Stolzenburg

"As the title implies, this work is an examination of a world without the top predators of an ecological niche….The easy-to-read and captivating prose will introduce readers to species of animals they've never heard of before, as well as give a greater awareness and appreciation for the complexity of the world in which we live." (Library Journal)

600s - Health, Technologies, Home Economics, Business

Human: the science behind what makes us unique by Michael S. Gazzainga

"As wide-ranging as it is deep, and as entertaining as it is informative, the latest offering from UC–Santa Barbara neuroscientist Gazzaniga (The Ethical Brain) will please a diverse array of readers. He is adept at aiding even the scientifically unsophisticated to grasp his arguments about what separates humans from other animals. His main premise is that human brains are not only proportionately larger than those of other primates but have a number of distinct structures" (Publisher Weekly)

"One grand search engine for all the qualities that make Homo sapiens different from other species….A savvy, witty guide to neuroscience today. " (Librarian comment)

Medication Madness: a psychiatrist exposes the dangers of mood-altering medications
by Peter R. Breggin

" Breggin joins the growing group of experts who argue that the FDA is 'more dedicated to serving the drug companies than consumers,' relying on doctored or incomplete evidence and botched tests. Breggin's assertion that psychotropic drugs induce rather than treat brain imbalances is controversial, but this book is a reasoned look at these drugs, which have come under increasing scrutiny in the media as well as medical world." (Publishers Weekly)

Traffic: why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us) by Tom Vanderbilt

'Traffic emerges from chaos, and chaos emerges from traffic. There's too much of both, and entirely too little honesty—a quality that has much to do with travail on the roads.Say what? Well, writes I.D. and Print editor Vanderbilt ... the nations of the world that are the least corrupt "are also the safest places in the world to drive," Fluently written and oddly entertaining, full of points to ponder while stuck at the on-ramp meter or an endless red light." (Kirkus Reviews)

Heirloom: notes from an accidental tomator farmer by Tim Stark

"On a whim, Stark started 3000 tomato seedlings in his New York City apartment, transplanted them to his parents' Pennsylvania yard, and then sold his crop at the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan. Then, like Keith Stewart in It's a Long Road to a Tomato, Stark gave up his consulting career to become an organic farmer. ... Stark's vivid descriptions and his real knack for character development, whether speaking of his immigrant ancestors, dubious neighbors, urban foodies, or errant groundhogs, place the reader into his rural world and into Manhattan's restaurant scene, too. His wit and self-awareness make us want to visit often." (Library Journal)

Hungry Girl: recipes and survival strategies for guilt-free eating in the real world by Lisa Lillien

"Lillien started her web site, www.hungry-girl.com, in 2003, and she now has close to 400,000 subscribers to her free daily e-newsletter. She doesn't have a food background but describes herself as a "foodologist," someone who is 'obsessed with foods that taste great but don't pack on the pounds.'" (Library Journal)

The Essential Best Foods Cookbook: 225 irresistible recipes featuring the healthiest and most delicious foods by Dana Jacobi

"This follow-up to food writer Jacobi's 12 Best Foods Cookbook focuses on 60 "best foods"—the original dozen, of course, plus other healthful ingredients from avocados to red wine (in moderation)." (Library Journal)

Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's father-son cookbook by Tony Danza, Marc Danza, and Jennifer Carrillo

"Every Italian American favorite and some new surprises are generously served up in this warmhearted cookbook, which conveys the close-knit Danza family's passion for food. Family anecdotes accompany the recipes, ... and there are plenty of pictures throughout the book of TV star Tony Danza and his son Marc, a chef, as well as extended family members," (Library Journal)

The Answer: grow any business, achieve financial freedom, and live an extraordinary life by John Assaraf and Murray Smith

"In The Answer, John Assaraf, a key team member behind the phenomenal success of The Secret, and business growth expert Murray Smith reveal the specific tools and mental strategies they have used to become internationally successful entrepreneurs." (Book jacket)

Do It Yourself Guide to Biodiesel: your alternative fuel solution for saving money, reducing oil dependency, and helping the planet by Guy Purcella

"If you are ready to start making your own biodiesel, then this book is for you Do It Yourself Guide to Biodiesel provides up-to-date information, step-by-step instructions, and tried-and-true methods as well as helpful tips and tricks. With detailed photos, illustrations, and charts, this book makes it easy to understand the procedures and equipment you will need to make biodiesel at home-in small or large batches." (Book jacket)