Manhood for Amateurs

Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father and Son (2009) by Michael Chabon. As a married man with four children, Chabon writes from experience and with authority about the American experience of being a husband, father or son. He also writes with uncommon wit and insight. I'm not sure if women would be able to enjoy this book, but I really did. Grade: A-

The Simpsons

The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History (2009) by John Ortved. Anyone who loves "The Simpsons" will be interested in this extensively researched book which tells the story of how the series got started and how it has developed through the years. We learn, not only the role that Matt Groening played, but the roles of other show developers, from network big shots to lowly writers and voice actors. It's a fascinating tale, and well told. The only caveat I have about the book is that Ortved was not able to interview any of the principal players -- not Groening, not James Brooks, and not several others who were in on the creation of "The Simpsons" at the beginning. But it's still an interesting and valuable book. Grade: A-

Eating the Dinosaur

Eating the Dinosaur (2009) by Chuck Klosterman. This book has a picture of a dinosaur on the cover, with the different cuts of meat neatly marked and labeled. Other than that, I don't remember anything else in the book about eating dinosaurs. But there's plenty of meat on this book's bones. Klosterman is a smart and insightful essayist, who has a way of saying even the most outlandish things in such a way that they seem to be true. He writes essays on rock music, time travel, professional sports (basketball and football), voyeurism, Garth Brooks, canned laughter, and much more. Some of it I was interested in, some not so much. But mostly, Klosterman finds a way to make it interesting, whatever he is writing about. And this makes this a book worthy to be read. Grade: B+