The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt

I went to a neuroscience talk and the speaker recommended this book. Since I have two teenagers in my house, I figured it would be appropriate to read.

Subtitle: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults

Published: 2015

Genre: nonfiction science

Length: 296 pages of text. 358 pages with glossary, bibliography, and index

Summary: Short version: A discussion of how teenage brains differ from adult brains

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Great Garden Companions by Sally Jones

I had seen the book on my mother-in-law’s shelf. When I glanced through it, the information seemed interesting. I borrowed it and read it off and on for a few weeks.

Subtitle: A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden

Published: 1998

Genre: nonfiction gardening

Length: 278 pages

Summary: Short version: How to increase production in an organic garden by encouraging beneficial insects

What I Will Be Reading #42: Nonfiction variety pack

I’ve managed to collect several nonfiction books from a variety of sources to add to my TBR list. They include two science books, a book about your money, and a memoir. (As a side note, what’s with the super long titles for nonfiction books lately? Titles tends to be quite descriptive, and yet there’s always a giant subtitle to go along.) Here’s what I’ve found lately:

First off is The Fate of Food: What We’ll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World by Amanda Little. Gretchen Rubin interviewed Little about happiness, habits and productivity, and a bit about her new book. The book is all about how our food resources will have to change with climate change. That fits into two of my interests – where our food comes from and climate change.

I also picked up an economics book from Gretchen Rubin. She interviewed Jill Schlesinger about her newest book, The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money: Thirteen Ways to Right Your Financial Wrongs. I consider myself a smart person, but I don’t really know what to do with my money, besides put it in the bank and maybe a 401k plan. The book sounded like a good place to start to learn about some better long-term options.

The memoir is Rowing to Latitude: Journeys Along the Arctic’s Edge by Jill Fredston. I saw this on a Wandering Scientist summer reading post. It seems to be a memoir about a woman leading the life she wants to live. I’m at the age where I’m taking stock of my life and trying to decide what to do next. Do I continue in my current path, which I’m enjoying, or make changes? Reading about someone else who’s gone through that self-examination is helpful.

I’ll end on another science book. In this case, it’s The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Transformed Civilization by Vince Beiser from a 99% Invisible interview with author. I wouldn’t think a book about the importance of sand would be interesting, but the interview certainly made it sound that way. Did you know that people are being killed for sand? It’s a limited resource in some areas and necessary for construction (it’s used in making cement). There are sand mafias! I need to read more.

And those are the newest books I’m adding to my TBR list. Anything sound good to you? Anything I should add?

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The Imitation Game by Jim Ottaviani

I saw this book reviewed somewhere online and immediately requested it from our library. I’m intrigued by Alan Turing and wanted to learn more about him.

Subtitle: Alan Turing Decoded

Illustrator: Leland Purvis

Published: 2016

Genre: nonfiction graphic novel biography

Length: 234 pages

Setting: England, early to mid-1900s

Summary: Short version: A biography of Alan Turing’s life

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

I was looking for an audiobook to listen to while I work outside since I’m burning through my podcasts. This came highly recommended by the Modern Mrs. Darcy and was available.

Subtitle: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

Published: 1998

Genre: nonfiction history

Length: 242 pages

Setting: mostly England, around Oxford, 1850s-1910s

Summary: Short version: Check out the subtitle

Alphabetical by Michael Rosen

This was a random book find as I was browsing the library catalogue for something else. The title caught my eye.

Subtitle: How Every Letter Tells a Story

Published: 2015

Genre: nonfiction history

Length: 411 pages of text, 431 pages total

Summary: Short version: A history of letters and how we play with letters

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I was looking for an audiobook and I wanted something that was enhanced by listening to rather than reading the book. I saw this book was recommended and available.

Published: 2014

Genre: nonfiction memoir

Length: 329 pages

Summary: Short version: A memoir of Amy Poehler’s life