Books Reviews - Page 27

"Throw strikes—home plate don't move." That's the no-nonsense pitching advice once given by baseball's late, great Satchel Page, and it forms the cornerstone for this assemblage of more than 400 quotes, insults, wisecracks and wisdom about America's favorite pastime from an illustrious collection of players, coaches and commentators. "With the money I'm making, I should be playing two positions," quipped Pete Rose. "Most ball games," noted manager Casey Stengal, "are lost, not won." "Hot as hell, ain't it, Prez?" observed Babe Ruth as he was introduced to President Calvin Coolidge on a particularly warm day at the ballpark. For baseball fans at every level, Home Plate Don't Move is a home run.

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Working in the U.S.A.
by Christine D. Hauber
Silver Spectrum Books ($32.95)

Photographer Hauber's search for soul-satisfying work led her on a yearlong journey across the country to capture everyday folks on the job. Her portraits of Americans in their natural workaday habitats—with an accompanying audio CD of interview comments that enhance the photographs—skillfully captures both the commitment and contentment of their subjects, who manage to rise above the everyday humdrum. And through these casual glimpses, ordinary people spring vibrantly to life. Hauber's respect for her subjects and their work creates an affectionate portrait of American life in the 21st century.

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The average American has a high school diploma, lives in the state where he was born, drives an 8-year-old vehicle and prefers smooth over chunky peanut butter. At least that's according to author Kevin O'Keefe, who spent two years traveling from New Hampshire to Hawaii looking for the Average Joe and Jane. In this book chronicling the search, O'Keefe follows a standard for the average American based on 140 criteria—created from polls, surveys and U.S. Census Bureau data—that ultimately leads him to Bob Burns of Windham, Conn. (pop. 6,612). The Average American is a great source for politicians and marketers trying to identify the "typical" voter or consumer, but it's also a fun and informative way to find out just how average you are—or aren't.

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Earl Hamner: From Walton’s Mountain to Tomorrow
By James E. Person Jr.
Cumberland House

Once immensely popular, TV’s The Waltons is sometimes recalled by today’s cynics as an overly idyllic portrait of characters too optimistic to be believed. But in fact, the series closely paralleled the early life of its creator and his family. From Walton’s Mountain to Tomorrow traces Hamner’s Depression-era upbringing and its effect on his prolific career. It explores his fascinating contradictions: an impoverished but happy childhood in rural Virginia, followed by a move to opulent Los Angeles, where he also conceived the salacious prime-time soap series Falcon Crest. (Hamner once joked that the fashionable decadence of Falcon Crest represented his "wicked side," noting the disparity between the famous TV creations that became his signature.) But as this biography deftly demonstrates, what all his works have in common is a mark of the enduring family values he clearly holds so dear.

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Airstream Living
by Bruce Littlefield & Simon Brown
Collins Design

Once exclusive tow-behind properties of wilderness-seeking suburbanites, Airstream trailers now count actor Aidan Quinn and fashion icon Ralph Lauren among their aficionados. But Airstream owners, no matter how diverse, have one thing in common: They all can recall the moment they first laid eyes on the gleaming chrome shell and fell madly in love. Airstream Living affectionately recounts these tales of trailer infatuation, weaving in tidbits from the recreational vehicle’s history, which began when the inventor’s wife vowed never to go camping without a kitchen. Gorgeous photographs display both the retro beauty of Airstreams’ unique architecture and their inspired interior customized designs, ranging from cheerful Tex-Mex to sleek modern chic. In addition to serving as mobile homes, moving museums, command centers and even restaurants, these treasured collectibles continue to induct their owners into a charming community that this photo-illustrated book may make you long to join.

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Country Wisdom & Know-How
Black Dog/Leventhal

More than 30 years ago, the Country Wisdom Bulletin began as a series of 32-page booklets offering practical, hands-on advice for getting back to basics in a mind-boggling assortment of activities, including raising rabbits, attracting hummingbirds, concocting elixirs and home remedies, building a stone wall, making candles and crafting a chicken coop. Now collected into one oversized, 480-page volume with nearly 1,900 hand-drawn illustrations covering nearly 200 different topics, these detailed tutorials transport you to the "back-to-the-land" movement of the 1970s, when people from many walks of life were eager to learn how to do more for themselves. And like all wisdom that stands the test of time, the advice remains solid today, especially if you’d like to know how to build your own doghouse, learn beekeeping, keep your basement dry or buy a good horse.

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The Experts’ Guide to Life at Home
Various contributors
Clarkson Potter

Turn on the television at any moment and you’ll likely find a home makeover in progress. America’s nesting instincts are stronger than ever, and The Experts’ Guide to Life at Home speaks to that trend, offering comprehensive advice on both home- and self-improvement from an array of individuals who each represent a particular area of expertise. Conveniently divided into five categories, the book dispenses tips ranging from a turkey-carving tutorial by Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef to a whimsical how-to on building a snowman. The book contains hints of the spiritual, including a reflective lesson on "How to Have Patience," and while several intensive projects for homeowners are included, renters will find plenty of valuable information, too. The careful choice of experts and variety of topics make this book a delightful read for anyone who treasures the simple comforts of home.

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The Christmas Hope
By Donna Van Liere
St. Martin’s Press

In the tradition of The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing, best-selling author Donna Van Liere once again tugs at your heartstrings with her third inspirational holiday offering. In The Christmas Hope, lead characters Patricia and Mark Addison have distanced themselves from hope and each other after a tragic accident that took their son’s life on Christmas Eve four years earlier. "Mark and I could no longer connect," Patricia notes. But a foster child’s Christmas visit gradually turns their attention away from their personal grief and leads them to a spiritual re-awakening. This is a compelling book with an uplifting look at coping with tragedy. It might well be the best of Van Liere’s popular Christmas trilogy.

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Fifty Things to Do When You Turn Fifty
Various authors
Ronnie Sellers Productions

Five million people in North America turned 50 this year—and chances are, most of them didn’t like it. But as the writers of these 50 essays suggest, life after the often-dreaded mid-century mark isn’t that bad. In fact, they say it can be the best time of your life if you take care of yourself and get your affairs in order. This instruction manual for mid-life—written by such been-there experts as makeup mogul Bobbi Brown, radio host Garrison Keillor and spirituality guru Marianne Williamson—addresses an array of topics as they pertain to life after the big 5-0, from health and finances to cosmetic procedures and sex. While many tips are practical—commit to being strong, fit, and happy, and live moment to moment—the best advice invites closer self-examination. "What’s precious to me? What do I really care about?" asks playwright Wendy Wasserstein. In the years you’ve got left, you’ll want to make those answers count.

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Behind the Lines
Edited by Andrew Carroll
Scribner

Andrew Carroll traveled the world for three years collecting letters written by soldiers. Behind the Lines is a powerful read that offers a highly personal glimpse of warfare from the American Revolution to the current battles in Iraq. The letters are riveting, fascinating, and, bound together, serve as a valuable addition to history bookshelves. Carroll categorizes the letters topically; in "Letters About Animals in Wartime," a missive from Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee describes his horse in detail to his cousin, artist Martha Williams, so she can paint a portrait of the trusty steed. In an entry from the section "Line of Fire," a bedridden World War I soldier writes his mother that he has survived a barrage of "tear-gas" grenades, a new entry into warfare weaponry. "I’m all right, no danger at all," he reassures her. For readers, the letter is a reminder that though the tools of war advance over time, one thing never changes: families anxiously await word from the front lines to know if their loved ones are alive.

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