The Monitor's monthly guide to hardcover non-fiction bestsellers
1. JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough, Simon & Schuster, $35
Former US President John Adams always maintained a diary and wrote letters avidly throughout his life. Most notable, of course, were the letters to and from his wife Abigail. Their voluminous correspondence takes up some five miles of microfilm. The trick for McCullough was to analyze this massive amount of material and blend it into a coherent, readable volume. He does this beautifully. Research and analysis are interwoven seamlessly, making it an absolute joy to read. (Full review May 31) (751 pp.) By Terry Hartle
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Washington Post: favorable
Bruce Wilkinson is convinced that the prayer of a man named Jabez could change your life - if you're a Christian, that is. Found in I Chronicles, the prayer of Jabez is brief. Wilkinson believes that when this prayer is used daily, it opens the doors to God's blessings. Although it glimmers with moments of inspiration and even aspiration for a better life, by packaging those ideas as a strictly Christian ministry, Wilkinson will leave many seekers of faith on the sidewalks of the road he claims to have found. (96 pp.) By Christy Ellington
The Christian Science Monitor: mixed
The New York Times: mixed
Kirkus Review of Books: no review noted
Selected reviews: unfavorable
Imagine a dinner party with the Founding Fathers. Amid displays of loyal brotherhood, the conversation would inevitably be barbed with disdainful comments. Ellis deals with the famous characters candidly, causing a legendary generation of political leaders suddenly to seem more human. Hamilton, Jefferson, Washington, and others spring to life without sagging under the weight of historical detail. Written in a fresh style, this book makes it easy to remember why character really did matter in the revolution. (288 pp.) By Kendra Nordin
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Chicago Tribune: favorable
Plants have domesticated us to serve their own interests, suggests Michael Pollen. He advances this theory by looking at plants grown because they satisfy human desires: apples (sweetness), marijuana (intoxication), and tulips (beauty). His arguments that plants manipulate humans are, by turns, fascinating, imaginative, and illogical. He calls the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden "the world's first drug war," and says Johnny Appleseed's true gift was alcohol. A flawed but absorbing book. (256 pp.) By Judy Lowe
The Christian Science Monitor: mixed
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Selected reviews: unfavorable
Hillenbrand's biography about the famous racing horse Seabiscuit, and the men who owned, rode, and trained him, capsulizes the time of the Great Depression in America. These were not great men, but average, or below average, men struggling to make a living. All three had obstacles to overcome, from a child's death, to drugs, to poverty. But all three become giants in the industry because they could see the potential in a small, plain brown horse. (399 pp.) By Jan Moller
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Sunday TImes-London: favorable
Using a children's book style, Johnson tells the story of two mice, two mini-men, and their never-ending search for cheese. The cheese represents the things people want out of life, and the characters portray all the patterns we fall into as we search for our cheese. The format makes the book's "keep life moving by overcoming fear" philo-sophy easy to remember. This quick read of simple ideas will provide at least one character to relate to and some advice to hold on to during a busy day. (94 pp.) By Christy Ellington
The Christian Science Monitor: mixed
The New York Times: no review noted
Kirkus Review of Books: no review noted
USA Today: mixed
Sides has ingeniously woven together one of the greatest tragedies in US military history with what was surely one of its finest hours. It's a World War II epic which recounts the events leading up to the Bataan death march, the march itself, life in the infamous prison camps, and the heroic rescue of 511 American prisoners of war by the Sixth Ranger Batallion. Well researched and skillfully crafted, "Ghost Soldiers" is an unforgettable, yet sad, journey documenting the paradoxes of the period. (336 pp.) By Steven Savides
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: favorable
Award-winning columnist Anna Quindlen draws on her own experience as well as the writings of others in this tiny volume offering advice on how to live a meaningful life. Stunning black-and-white photographs take up 30 of the 50 pages and accentuate the core message: Simplicity and the pleasure of friendship give value to each day. The book can be read in less than half an hour, but the familiar message might take a lifetime to digest. (64 pp.) By Kim Risedorph
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: no review noted
Kirkus Review of Books: no review noted
Selected reviews: no review noted
Ehrenreich, an acclaimed author with a PhD, cleans houses, waits tables, and works as a Wal-Mart sales clerk to give a ground-level view of life in the working-class trenches. During her sojourn, she takes the cheapest lodgings and highest-paying jobs she can land quickly. Her goal: to see if she can earn enough money to pay a second month's rent. Her conclusion: One pay-check is not enough. This book is a tough, engaging, and revealing look at life as a low-wage worker. (221 pp.) By Shelley Donald Coolidge
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: favorable
A beloved college professor who is dying agrees to meet each Tuesday with a former student and discuss life and death. Albom, a well-known sportswriter, recorded 14 "classes" with his former teacher Morrie Schwartz. Religion, family, friends, and work are carefully considered. Schwartz (now deceased) was interviewed at home by Ted Koppel and appeared on "Nightline." What keeps this uplifting book from being maudlin is Albom's crisp writing and Schwartz's generous heart. (192 pp.) By Jim Bencivenga
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: mixed
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Los Angeles Times: mixed
The darkness of depression is a place most are happy to avoid. But for Solomon, a man who has spent his life dealing with the illness, shedding light on its many complexities was a task worth its horror. Many of the stories he shares are as dark and disturbing as the illness itself, and yet Solomon handles his research thoroughly, writing about depression's many puzzling faces with clarity and insight, depth and care, and the perspective of one who has taken the time to examine the illness from every angle. (571 pp.) By Christy Ellington
The Christian Science Monitor: mixed
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Houston Chronicle: favorable
In this volume of first-rate story-telling and investigative journalism, Dunne brings to life the intrigue and complexity of justice in this age of mass, sensational media. It's an intimate take on the celebrity murders and trials that mesmerize society. Far from simply recounting facts, "Justice" sheds new light on these crimes. From the murder of Dunne's own daughter and the flouting of justice in the trial of her killer, to OJ Simpson and the Menendez brothers, Dunne is courageous and uncompromising. (288 pp.) By Steven Savides
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
Selected reviews: favorable
Schlosser argues that the fast-food joint near your neighborhood is more than just a quick-meal fix; it's the end point where several long roads converge. Schlosser, an Atlantic Monthly correspondent, takes us down those roads into meatpacking plants, flavor-engineering factories, and fields of ranchers losing the battle against an industrialized agriculture. Schlosser's point is that while fast food may seem cheap and convenient, its enormous cost to society goes unrecognized. (270 pp.) (Full review Feb 1) By Julie Finnin Day
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: mixed
Washington Post: favorable
Wilkinson, author of "The Prayer of Jabez," is back with more confident Christian faith. By focusing on John 15, in which Jesus speaks of the grapes of the vine, he attempts to show how we can lead more fruitful and abundant lives. He says Jesus is the vine, the Father is the vinedresser, and we are the branches. He concludes: If your life isn't fruitful, you're sinning, and if you're sinning, you'll be punished. If you commit your life to Christ, the punishment stops, and your life becomes abundant. (126 pp.) By Christy Ellington
The Christian Science Monitor: mixed
The New York Times: no review noted
Kirkus Review of Books: no review noted
Washington Post: no review noted
The title of this eloquent work comes from a group of men who met in 1872: Charles Peirce, a scientist and logician; Oliver Wendell Holmes, a Civil War hero who would serve on the Supreme Court; and William James, the future founder of American psychology. Along with John Dewey, who revolutionized education, these men proposed a new way of thinking called pragmatism. The triumph of this book is its demonstration of the parallel between developments in science and philosophy. (480 pp.) (Full review June 21) By Ron Charles
The Christian Science Monitor: favorable
The New York Times: favorable
Kirkus Review of Books: favorable
National Post: favorable
The Book Sense(C) bestseller list is based on sales from independent bookstores across America. 1-888-BOOKSENSE
Selected reviews include: Washington Post; Buffalo News; Chicago Tribune; Sunday TImes-London; USA Today; Pittsburgh Post Gazette; Los Angeles Times; Houston Chronicle; National Post
