Books In The Mirror

John Feinstein

Little, Brown

When John Feinstein’s golf classic, A Good Walk Spoiled, was published in 1995, I gave it to my golf-fanatic husband thinking he might enjoy it. He loved it so much, he convinced me to read it. Despite having only a passing interest in the game, I too loved it. It kept me up late at night, and I didn’t want it to end. We both couldn’t wait to get our hands on Feinstein’s new book about the PGA, The Majors. I somehow contrived to read it first, and it did not disappoint me. More late nights, more wishing it would never end. The Majors offers an insightful examination of the history and workings behind the four annual tournaments that constitute the "majors" and the colorful characters who orchestrate them. But, as in A Good Walk Spoiled, the heart of the book is the golfers themselves. Feinstein treats us to juicy details of their lives, the honorable and the less than honorable facets that make them human. This is a wonderful, fun read for anyone with even the slightest interest in golf.

Cheryl Clark

Janet Gleeson

Little, Brown

Although The Arcanum is written in the style of such other popular history narratives as A World Lit Only By Fire and Longitude, it is resonant with overtones of the Brothers Grimm.

As much a non-fiction retelling of Rumpelstitskin, as it is the history of porcelain in Europe.

The Arcanum is the story of Johann Frederick Bottger, King Augusta the Strong, alchemical discovery, and unbridled passion and greed.

The historical setting of this narrative occurs between the Renaissance and the Age of Reason, and in the span of the story the emphasis of science moves away from the quest for ultimate understanding toward purely practical applications. In Bottger’s case, the results are tragic. He begins his career as an alchemist who is obsessed with transmutation; he’s convinced that he’ll find the Arcanum and produce gold. Ten years later, he’s simply a chemist, imprisoned by the King and forced, in essence, to spend his life testing the quality of clay.

Bottger, this period, and the intriguing story of porcelain are fascinating. I’m sure there’s a movie here, so if that’s of interest, take note. And, if the Renaissance mind is of interest to you, be sure to check out the Athanasius Kircher (polymath extraordinaire of the 17th century at the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City.

Janyce Collins

Molly Peacock

Riverhead Books

Edward Hirsch

Harcourt Brace

The story of these two books is the subtext, or at least the subtitles. Both are written by highly regarded poets and both are imbued with the love the poets feel for their avocations, fellow avocees, and the vocations themselves. Of course, the best thing of all is when they send you scurrying for another book, because you just can’t believe that you’ve missed whoever Hirsch or Peacock may be discussing, Hirsch has a terrific glossary and reading list in his book’s appendix. Peacock gets you "shopping" for poetry in her last chapter. I will always be grateful to her for putting a copy of Alice Noteley in my hands.