Once again time to take a look at the highest-circulating non-fiction books.
10) “Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town,” by Nick Reding. No community is immune to the methamphetamine epidemic, and this tale of Oelwein, Iowa, and its fight against the drug holds lessons for everyone.
9) “Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World,” by Vicki Myron. In yet another book which takes place in Iowa, this one tells the story of a cat who was stuffed into book return of the Spencer Public Library one cold night and his ensuing life in the library.
8) “Sniper One: On Scope and Under Siege with a Sniper Team in Iraq,” by Dan Mills. Sergeant Mills and the rest of 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment, were under fire from the moment they arrived on the scene.
7) “Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip,” by Matthew Algeo. Recently-retired President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess, decided to drive their new Chrysler New Yorker from Independence to Washington D.C. and back – without any secret service protection.
6) “How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People,” by Henry Alford. The author set out to interview people over age 70 who had done extraordinary things, but his study of the elderly as keepers of wisdom took a very personal turn when his mother and stepfather became involved.
5) “The Glass Castle: A Memoir,” by Jeannette Walls. An award winner and popular pick for book discussion groups, this memoir by Walls recounts her growing up in a severely eccentric and dysfunctional family.
4) “I Love You, Miss Huddleston: And Other Inappropriate Longings of My Indiana Childhood,” by Philip Gulley. A successful writer in both fiction as well as non-fiction, Gulley takes the reader back to the days of his youth in Danville, Indiana, in the 1970s.
3) “A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity,” by Bill O’Reilly. In this, the third memoir of youthful experiences on our list, the television personality and writer discusses the people and events he encountered as a boy that guided his life and career.
2) “Crossing Over: One Woman's Escape from Amish Life,” by Ruth Irene Garrett. This narrative takes the reader inside the hidden world of the strict Old Order Amish Community in Kalona, Iowa. Is anyone noticing a trend in this list?
1) “Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog,” by John Grogan. The most popular non-fiction book this year was a bestseller when it was first published five years ago, but thanks to Jennifer Aniston and the movie by the same title, it is hot once again.
That’s the countdown for another year. For more information about these titles – or to check their availability or place them on reserve, visit our Web site at www.macpl.org and click on the “Hot 2009 non-fiction” link in the Weekly Bookmark section of the home page.
I’ve added a few more hot titles from this year to the online list, so don’t miss it!
McPherson, Kan. —
