Nov 09

BOTNS Books Podcast #102: Presidential Pages

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:33 — 15.2MB)

The retreat is filling up fast, book now! Neil Gaiman recommended books as gifts for Halloween. A roundup of new presidential biographies and memoirs. And two unique works of nonfiction that we can’t wait for you to read. If you are getting this via email or RSS reader, please click through to the website where you can listen to the audio.

Going once… Attendance a the Books on the Nightstand Weekend Retreat is skyrocketing. We never thought we’d be saying this, but we might even have to cap attendance soon! So, if you have been thinking about joining us, don’t wait any longer! Visit the retreat page to get lodging information. Don’t forget: once you’re sure you’re coming, please fill out the registration form.

Books as Gifts, for all Seasons

Neil Gaiman recently started All Hallow’s Read, a website and cause that encouraged folks to give scary books as Halloween gifts. We love the idea and agree with Neil that there should be more opportunities to give books to people. I know all BOTNS listeners are true book people and give books as gifts all the time, but let’s spread the word that there’s no better present!

Presidential Pages (5:27)

Back in episode 95, we gave you our picks for big nonfiction books coming out this Fall, but there were just too many presidential biographies to fit there. So, we saved them for this episode, and we covered the following titles:

Two Books We Can’t Wait For You to Read (17:14)

We continue the nonfiction theme of this episode here in segment three. I recommend Chasing the Sun by Richard Cohen. It’s a fascinating look at man’s relationship to our local star, through the lenses of science, mathematics, art, mythology, language, religion and literature. This book is overflowing with fascinating facts and anecdotes. Ann confesses a literary crush on the sixteenth-century essayist Michel de Montaigne. Sarah Bakewell’s How to Live is a biography of Montaigne that examines the many ways he answered that ultimate question.

  • Beth

    I really enjoy your podcasts and can hardly wait for each one to arrive. But Michael, I have to
    tell you that the thought of listening to George W. Bush read his own book actually makes me
    nauseous. I cannot imagine a more painful book experience. On a brighter George note, just
    yesterday, one of my favorite librarians recommended the new George Washington bio to me.
    It’s great that there are books for everyone. What would we do without them???
    Beth

  • Stan

    Creating a presidential biography section at the Northshire has been on my to-do list for months. You have inspired me to think even harder about maybe doing it really soon.
    Square Books in Oxford, MS has just such a section.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Z3CKJMTYTBXRJBFMNJF2557UYE Sarah

    I belong to Bookcrossing & there are always a few people on there who get a bunch of childrens books to give away to Halloween trick-or-treators.

    Also, if you are still looking for science-fiction podcasts…. Have you tried The Dragon Page? The hosts look at Sci-fi/fantasy from a writer’s perpesctive as well having interviews with authors and taking an overview of the genre as a whole.

  • CBlair

    You have excellent taste in men, Ann. ;-) I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about that Montaigne volume – thanks so much for another great episode!

  • http://www.minhylla.blogspot.com Annmarie

    I´ve just been enjoying your latest podcast and think a book for Halloween is a very good idea. We don´t celebrate it here in Sweden as much as you do in the USA but it´s becoming more and more of it. Here in Sweden we have “Easter crime”. It started as a tradition in Norway many years ago and is now in Sweden. Not really to give away one but of course you can but more to take your time during the Easter holiday to relax, sit down a enjoy a good crime novel. And I must tell you that Montaigne is now on my wishlist! Lots of love from Sweden!

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com AnnKingman

    Thanks, everyone! We appreciate all of your comments, and the week snuck by us so we weren’t able to respond right away. We’re so sorry!

    Annmarie, I want to learn more about “Easter Crime.” Sounds like a GREAT tradition, and I know a few books that might be appropriate … :)

  • Tricia S.

    I got a sample version of the new George Washington bio on my Kindle and could not put it down! Ron Chernow does a beautiful job bringing the man himself to life.

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