New Nonfiction

The Peter White Public Library offers these new nonfiction books.

Liberty or Death: The French Revolution by Peter McPhee.

A thorough recounting of a complex event. Author McPhee includes the context of contemporary events to explore the ways in which the world was changing toward the end of the 18^th century, and how the revolution impacted the human condition. He gives examples of how life was changed (or not changed) by the events of the revolution for the inhabitants of Paris, France, the French colonies, and the world. “McPhee’s extraordinary work is destined to be the standard account of the French Revolution for years to come.” -Publishers Weekly

New Adult Nonfiction 944.04 MC

You Could Look It Up: The Reference Shelf From Ancient Babylon to Wikipedia by Jack Lynch.

A history book for information junkies and lovers of words. If you have spent time pouring through the Guinness Book of World Records, looked up rules of card games in the Book of Hoyle, or used Roget’s Thesaurus to brighten up your writing, you might appreciate this volume which includes all these topics and much more. Each is given a chapter to illuminate its history, and provides insight into why we are compelled to create such works in the first place.

New Adult Nonfiction 028.709 LY

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table, an American story by Ellen Wayland-Smith.

One of the United States’ best known purveyors of flatware has a backstory that begins as a mid-nineteenth century utopian commune. John Humphrey Noyes and his followers mixed spirituality, capitalism, sexuality, technology, and advertising in an attempt to create a “New Jerusalem”. The flatware company produced its product in New York State for over a century. Author Ellen Wayland-Smith is a descendant of Noyes.

New Adult Nonfiction 307.77 WA

My Father and Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight for Justice in 1930s Alabama by Joseph Madison Beck.

The circumstances of this court case were likely an inspiration for Harper Lee’s landmark novel To Kill a Mockingbird. This insightful book peers into everyday life in small-town Alabama. The details of the court case were pulled from the official transcript, along with the personal recollections of the author’s father. The author is also a lawyer, giving additional insight into the case.

New Adult Nonfiction 345.761 BU

Learn to Timber Frame: Craftsmanship, Simplicity, Timeless Beauty by Will Beemer.

Timber frame buildings have an enduring rugged quality that can last for generations. This is a straightforward book that will introduce you to the methods of timber framing, with excellent diagrams. The example project in the book is a 12’ x 16’ timber frame structure, which may be adapted to suit a number of purposes. The author and his wife have run the Heartwood School for the Home Building Crafts in Washington, Massachusetts since 1978. Beemer is also a founding member of the Timber Framers Guild.

New Adult Nonfiction 694.2 BE                

--Bruce MacDonald, Head of Circulation