Books Reviews - Page 10

Once up a time, a camera and a pony were usually all it took to get a kid to smile. Saddle up and ride along with this charming collection of more than 200 vintage photos, ranging across nearly 80 years, which depict children alongside or atop ponies in a variety of seasons and scenarios. “Remember,” writes the author, “a pony is a pony, not a small horse. Which is perhaps why we love them so—because they never seem to grow up, and perhaps, if we love them enough, we won’t grow up, either.”
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Over the decades, the Boston Red Sox have created enough characters, history, lore, drama and trivia to overspill Fenway Park several times. Author Green—who’s similarly saluted the Cubs, Mets and Giants—assembles rare photos, quotes, anecdotes, stats and facts for this affectionate, informative, totally engaging rundown of legendary players, momentous moments and other highlights in the colorful annals of one of baseball’s top teams and its passionate fans.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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When it comes to bad hair, every dog has its day—and so do kittens, monkeys, horses and just about every other kind of fuzzy, furry creature in this collection of cute animals caught in hilarious hair-don’t moments and other comical poses. It ain’t exactly brain food, but Bad Fur Days is good for a cheer-up on those mornings when you just can’t get your own ‘do to fall into place—or any other time you need a smile.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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The era of civil rights, free love, peace movements, drug culture and Viet Nam had its own lingo, touchstones and personalities. Whether your interest in the ’60s is academic, nostalgic or merely curious, this A-Z compendium is a groovy way to re-examine the many wonderful, way-out colors of the decade’s cultural kaleidoscope.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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Mickey Rooney as Archie Bunker? He didn’t want the part, worried about the public’s response to the bigoted, blue-collar loudmouth. Producers didn’t think Sandra Bullock was right for Baywatch. Rosie O’Donnell didn’t work out as Elaine on Seinfield. Lisa Kudrow was turned down for a cast spot on Saturday Night Live, freeing her up for Friends. How different would other TV shows be had someone else been cast in the starring roles? That’s the premise behind this addictive encyclopedia of nearly 500 shows and the often life-altering, career-making decisions behind who’d ultimately end up playing their parts.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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As Batman fever takes hold of moviegoers this summer with The Dark Knight, bookworms can snuggle up with this page-turner that puts the reader into the story. This “Interactive Mystery” takes you inside the mysterious world of Batman’s home, where a long-ago murder unfolds with forensic clues, police reports, journal entries, maps, newspaper clippings, photos and letters. As Batman works to solve the crime, you do, too—finding out by opening the sealed document at the end of the book if you’ve been following clues correctly. Holy Whodunit!
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Take a trip to “The Rock,” the windswept island off the San Francisco coast that was home to one of America’s most notorious prisons from 1934 to 1963. This collection of more than 200 rare black-and-white photos depicts guards, prisoners, wardens, cellblocks and the once-thriving civilian life that sprang up outside the forbidding, virtually escape-proof walls. You’ll be fascinated by this glimpse into the evolution and transformation of a storied American landmark with more than one tale to tell—military fortress, federal penitentiary and, finally, national park.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Babe Ruths’ bat… A plaster casting of Bob Feller’s fabled fastball grip… Cy Young’s glove. Elegant color photos of these and other iconic displays of legendary baseball memorabilia, all enshrined at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., make this classy collection almost as good as being there in person—with the notable exception being the mouth-watering spread of a mustard-splashed ballpark hot dog…for which there simply is no substitute.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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For two decades, the “Bathroom Readers Institute” has been cranking out easy-to-pick-up, hard-to-put-down collections of trivia, fun facts, stats and anecdotes perfect for browsing anywhere, anytime—including quick trips to the bathroom. Now it’s batter-up for the subject of baseball. Whether you’re a Little Leaguer or a Hall of Famer, you’ll cheer as this spunky, pint-size compendium merrily rounds the bases…then sprints across the outfield, runs into the stands and rummages through the clubhouse!
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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See the pretty birdie outside your window? Now you can not only identify it, but hear exactly what it sounds like. Each regional edition of this innovative, interactive guidebook features a touch-activated electronic sound module with the corresponding chirps, coos, shrieks, whistles, honks, hoots, chirps and other calls of 75 feathered friends that call North America home. Close your eyes, push a button and you’ll swear you’re perched on a tree branch.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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