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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Whew! You managed to find the perfect book for Aunt Agnes last month, only to receive an invitation to Cousin Curtis's birthday party this month! Now, Curtis was a delightful friend during your childhood, and you want to pick something really special -- something long-lasting, something that will never go out of style. What better way to recognize Curtis's birthday (or anyone else's, for that matter) than with a beautiful book? |
REVIEWS BY MIRIAM E. DRENNAN
The Legend of Harley-Davidson Konemann, $79.98 ISBN 389508297X
By Andy Dougan Thunder's Mouth Press, $22.95 ISBN 1560251964 Speaking of television, a lot has happened during the "electronic age." We Interrupt This Broadcast captures a host of life-stopping events, from the Hindenburg to the death of Princess Diana. Each event is chronicled within 2-3 pages as readers re-visit the Roosevelt presidency, the first moonwalk, the fall of the Berlin wall, and other major events of the past 50+ years. Complete with vivid photographs, a foreword by Walter Cronkite, and two audio CDs of the actual broadcasts, this makes a wonderful gift for media and history buffs.
Sourcebooks, Inc., $45 ISBN 1570713286
A Complete Guide to Preserving Memories in Archival, Heirloom-Quality Books By Cynthia Hart Workman, $19.95 ISBN 0761112227
The Ultimate User's Manual for Your Brain By Todd Siler Bantam, $14.95 ISBN 0553379283
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Recalling that cross-country trip the two of you took in college, Ride Free Forever: The Legend of Harley-Davidson would definitely jar Curtis's memory. The two- volume boxed set includes the history, mechanics, and clubs of Harleys. Brimming with large, colorful photographs, it's a must for any full- or part-time biker.
And what about all those nights you and Curtis curled up in front of the TV to watch Mork and Mindy? Whatever happened to Mork, anyway? Film writer Andy Dougan chronicles the topsy-turvy career of the alien-turned-Oscar winner in Robin Williams. Dougan details Williams's life through a series of interviews with various insiders, including the actor himself. Readers are introduced to Williams's often lonely childhood and travel with Williams to his Academy Award acceptance speech for his role in Good Will Hunting. This is not a smooth journey -- there are many stops, stalls, and re-starts along the way. Very thorough and engaging.
Perhaps Curtis is inspired to create his own book of life-stopping events. Cynthia Hart's Scrapbook Workshop: A Complete Guide to Preserving Memories in Archival, Heirloom-Quality Books offers instruction and advice on preserving memories from childhood and beyond. Hart covers a lot of territory, offering suggestions on almost every occasion imaginable -- holidays, baseball games, rollerblading excursions, to name a few. Surely these events are worth some sort of preservation, whether in a handmade frame, scrapbook, or collage. Perfect for the crafty/cluttery person in your life.
Certainly age doesn't need to catch up with ol' Curtis. To help keep his mind and senses sharp, Renaissance man Todd Siler has written Think Like a Genius: The Ultimate User's Manual for Your Brain. Siler, the first visual artist to receive his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, approaches thinking in the form of metaphorming, which involves looking at things in a variety of comparable perspectives. Siler's metaphorming technique complements his interdisciplinary work and ideas. Think provides a few sketched illustrations, an occasional cartoon, and a wealth of insight -- you may want to "think" about buying this one for yourself!