The New Vegan Cookbook: Innovative Vegetarian Recipes Free of Dairy, Eggs, and Cholesterol, by Lorna Sass, Chronicle Books, 2006, $18.95, 120 pp. Veganism has exploded in the last ten years. Finally, a cookbook that supports the trend with ingredient, not banishment.

The Newman's Own Organics Guide to a Good Life, by Nell Newman with Joseph D'Agnese, Villard Books, 2003, $14.95, 236 pp. If your idea of the good life includes SUVs, over-consumption and relying on somebody else to fix the environment, this book is probably not for you. But, if you're a compassionate individual looking to live life as a verb, this may be the carob sprinkles on your frozen yogurt. Newman donates all royalties from this book to charity.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America, by Barbara Ehrenreich, St. Martin's Press, 2001, $13.00, 221 pp. Studs Terkel loved Ms. Ehrenreich's darkly humorous account of returning to work for poverty-level wages. Seattle's Intiman Theatre launched a play based on it, they liked it so much. Maybe you will too.

Night Mare, by Piers Anthony, Del Rey, 1983, $2.95, 309 pp. The Night Mare's job is to deliver bad dreams. When she's banished to the day world with a warning for Xanth's king, she can no longer do that. To her horror she discovers that in delivering the warning she's delivered the curse as well. Once again, Anthony displays a talent for wordplay in this, the sixth volume of The Magic of Xanth.

Nine Nasty Words, English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever, by John McWhorter, Random House, 2021, $24.00, 276 pp. Following his book Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English (Random House, $17.00), John McWhorter is back. This time he's deconstructing profanity with Nine Nasty Words, English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever. Cleverly based on George Carlin's famous "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," McWhorter's updated his list for the twenty-first century.

No Exit and Three Other Plays, by Jean-Paul Sartre, Vintage Books, 1978, $8.95, 275 pp. Sartre is to theatre what Gaultier is to fashion. Both have a knack of taking a thing and standing it on its head to fully and better appreciate it. No Exit is one such look at hell. In The Flies, he re-works the Electra-Orestes story, bringing it up to a modern clip. He explores the vagaries of intellectualism in Dirty Hands, and challenges racial division with The Respectful Prostitute. When reading Sartre, expect the unexpected.

No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies, by Naomi Klein, Picador USA, 2002, $15.00, 227 pp. There's a battle being waged from Madison Avenue. The goal: YOUR loyalty. In No Logo, Klein does an impressive job of presenting an America divided into two camps: one, that of corporate America determined to achieve brand name loyalty; the other, a growing distrust among consumers of the ceaseless ad campaigns in our mail, on our clothes and in our schools. The real culprits here aren't the manufacturers, though. The culprits are their shareholders who increasingly demand higher and higher profitability, thus higher and higher visibility by YOU.

North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi, by Orson K. Miller, Falcon Guide, 2006, $25.95, 583 pp. North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi is Miller's follow-up to his enormously successful Mushrooms of North America. Formerly a fungi wrangler for the US Forest Service, Miller continues to lead the way as America's foremost expert on mushrooms.
The Northwest Coast, by Richard L. Williams, Time-Life Books, 1973, 184 pp. In The Northwest Coast, Richard L. Williams captures all the reasons for wonderment - if not the wonder itself - of the Pacific Northwest. A native Washingtonian, he writes about the Olympic Peninsula from the perspective of one who's experienced it, respects it, and appreciates it. Through a series of essays illustrated with full-color photos by eminent Northwest photographers, he casts a wide net, covering the coast from Vancouver Island's Nootka Sound, to the Kalmiopsis, a 100-square-mile wilderness area on the Oregon-California border. When Williams writes about the Northwest, it's with an eye for geological time. He sees the big picture - the geological and meteorological forces of creation - that make the Northwest coast unique. Williams possesses a unique perspective himself, having known Edmund S. Meany, chief organizer of the Press Expedition (hailed as the last great expedition in the lower forty-eight), and was in the press pool that toured the Olympic Peninsula with FDR just prior to receiving national park status. Part of The American Wilderness series.
Northwest Coast Indian Art: Seattle World's Fair Fine Arts Pavilion, April 21 - October 21, 1962, edited by Alan C. Wilcox, University of Washington Press, 1962 102 pp. The tribes of the Pacific Northwest coast lived very differently from their inland cousins. Their environment provided an abundance of food and wealth which didn't require them to be nomadic in order to procure. They did travel though, engaging in trade with the various tribes of the coast. For this reason, they were influenced by each other, as is reflected in the common themes and style of their art, clothing, customs and mythology, as captured in Northwest Coast Indian Art, the catalog for the Indian Art exhibition of the 1962 World's Fair.

Not Enough Rope, by Elaine May, Samuel French, 1964, 22 pp. This satirical one act play explores the isolation of individuals. When a woman has second thoughts about hanging herself, getting a neighbor to help her out of her jam is tantamount to pulling teeth. In the end she remains alone, refusing to take responsibility for the damage she's inflicted on herself and others.

Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade - And How We Can Fight It, by David Batstone, Harper San Francisco, 2007, $14.95, 320 pp. Call to arms: 27 million people enslaved worldwide. Half of them children. 200,000 in the US alone. The so-called "new abolitionists" are fighting it. This is their story. It could be yours.

Novelty Teapots: Five Hundred Years of Art and Design, by Edward Bramah, Quiller Press, 1992, $76.00, 245 pp. In this encore to Coffee Makers (Quiller Press), Bramah lends the same level of expertise to teapots as he did to coffee making machines. A beautiful coffee table edition, it's packed with 650 full-color illustrations covering 500 years of design, from utilitarian to whimsical.

Obliviously on He Sails: The Bush Administration in Rhyme, by Calvin Trillin, Random House, 2004, $12.95, 112 pp. A good rhyme can make the most horrible things seem downright charming. Obliviously on He Sails is full of charm.
Odditorium, by Hob Broun, Harper & Row, 1983, $14.95, 282 pp. As if the setting isn't reason enough to read this book - a Florida town that serves as an off-season refuge for circus oddities - Broun attaches to it an upbeat storyline as well. Three dreamers get caught up in a web of witless drug trafficking, and everybody turns out fine. Totally refreshing, you'll want to run to the nearest secondhand bookstore and buy this one.

The Odyssey: The Story of Ulysses, by Homer, Random House, 1960, .50, 287 pp. Hailed as the first adventure story, Homer wrote The Odyssey: The Story of Ulysses around 800 BC. Within its pages are lovers, star-crossed and otherwise; good rulers and bad; battles, both mental and physical; pirates, treasure hunters, thieves and monsters waiting your discovery.

The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader, by Michael Moore, Simon & Schuster, 2004, $14.00, 363 pp. In an attempt to re-set the record after Karl Rove's spin machine went into high gear in an attempt to discredit Moore's film, the filmmaker has published this handy companion piece. In it he refutes Rove's claims with evidence that support the assertions made in the film, including additional information on bin Laden's flight to safety. Complete screenplay included.
The Official Preppy Handbook, edited by Lisa Birnbach, Workman Publishing, 1980, $4.95, 224 pp. The Prozac of the Eighties? Birnbach - through her handbook - created paper cutouts of college bound kids across America. The epitome of conformity, The Official Preppy Handbook is a guide to the right schools, dressing, shopping and lingo. Entertaining as it all is, we can't shake the memory of our friends buying into this.

Ogre, Ogre, by Piers Anthony, Del Rey, 1983, $2.95, 309 pp. Ogres are huge and horribly ugly and stupid and warring and generally despicable creatures. This story, the fifth installment in The Magic of Xanth series, is about one such ogre. Except he doesn't quite fit the bill. He has a sensitive side. If you read no other book in the Xanth series, read this one.

Oil Painting Techniques, edited by David Lewis, Random House, 144 pp. Lewis brings together experts on painting in oil in this superb instruction manual. An excellent companion to Pencil Drawing Techniques (Random House, $16.95), also edited by David Lewis.
Olympic National Park - Washington, by Gunnar O. Fagerlund, Government Printing Office, 1965, 60 pp. More a pamphlet than a book, Olympic National Park - Washington was authored by a former Chief Park Naturalist. What Fagerlund lacks in writing style he makes up for in park expertise. Covered topics: Glaciation, climate, water cycle, park vegetation, wildlife, fish habitat, and native history among others. Chock full of photographs, all black and white unfortunately.

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, by Michael Pollan, Penguin Press, 2006, $26.95, 450 pp. Michael Pollan takes mealtime and turns it on its head with The Omnivore's Dilemma. In it he follows the genealogy of four meals (one from a fast food chain, one from a large organic supermarket, one from a small organic producer, and the fourth from sustenance he gathers himself) and exposes confounding - and surprising - issues about each. The biggest surprise: How both funny and fascinating a subject as pedestrian as mealtime is in Pollan's hands. It might be more appropriately titled The Secret Lives of Meals.

On a Pale Horse, by Piers Anthony, Del Rey, 1984, $2.95, 327 pp. When Zane - the tale's protagonist - accidentally murders Death, he must assume the Grim Reaper's responsibilities. His life becomes one of endless travel, performing the grisly duties of Death. This, the first book in the Incarnations of Immortality series, blurs the lines between living and non-living; ambition and duty.

On the Road, by Jack Kerouac, New American Library, 1985, $3.95, 254 pp. Perhaps the most famous chronicle of the road trip genre is Jack Kerouac's enduring classic, On the Road. Originally published in 1957, it tosses convention on its ear and through a seemingly endless series of run-on sentences, put the Beat Generation firmly on the map. Adventure.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Dale Wasserman, Samuel French, 1974, $2.00 We've all seen the movie, but have you read the play? Based on the novel by Ken Kesey, this is a diabolical romp into the environment of a mental health ward. Rebellious, funny and moving, the subtleties lost in the film come screaming at you when reading the text.

The Onion Ad Nauseam: Complete News Archives, edited by Robert Siegel, Illumination Arts, 2002, $17.00, 264 pp. Left-brained news delivered with right-brained wit.

The Onion Ad Nauseam: Complete News Archives Vol. 15, Three Rivers Press, 2004, $17.95, 264 pp. More left-brained news delivered with right-brained wit (circa 2002-2003).

Open to Desire: Embracing a Lust for Life; Insights from Buddhism & Psychotherapy, by Mark Epstein, Gotham Books, 2005, $25.00, 227 pp. The idea that suffering is caused by desire is a common theme in Buddhism, Christianity and even Freudian psychology. In Open to Desire, Epstein - a Buddhist and psychotherapist - asks, "What if desire is the key to enlightenment?" and proceeds to turn Freud and Buddha on their heads. The result is a thoroughly fresh approach to managing desire.

Organic & Wholefoods: Naturally Delicious Cuisine, edited by Andre' Domine', Konemann, 1997, $39.95, 460 pp. With a plethora of books on health food available, Organic & Wholefoods rises above the pack in its sheer volume of information. It offers a brief history of the natural food movement with bios of its founders, an international roster mostly restricted to Europe. Generally, when we think of organic food we limit it to what can be grown in the dirt. Organic & Wholefoods goes beyond fruit and vegetables to cover dairy, eggs, even fish. Each chapter includes recipes. The illustrations are huge and plentiful, and I would be remiss not to give a nod to photographer Ruprecht Stempell and designer Peter Feierabend.

Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin and a Vibrant New Self, by Stephanie Tourles, Storey, 2007, $18.95, 378 pp. Tourles brings over twenty years experience as a holistic esthetician to Organic Body Care. From nails to hair, she's got a recipe for improvement, making this the ideal companion for Organic & Wholefoods (Konemann, $39.95), by Andre' Domine'.

Organic Kitchen Garden, by Juliet Roberts, Conran Octopus, 2005, $24.95, 160 pp. For discerning diners: Juliet Roberts writes for England's Gardens Illustrated, and Organic Kitchen is her chosen vehicle for collecting her expertise into one volume. It contains a treasury of information on soil preparation, produce selection and sowing processes. Heavily illustrated.

Original Zinn: Conversations on History and Politics, by Howard Zinn with David Barsamian, Harper Perennial, 2006, $13.95, 167 pp. This slim book with a catchy title is a collection of interviews with Howard Zinn by Alternative Radio founder David Barsamian. At once poignant and entertaining, it's a satisfying glimpse into the provocative mind of Zinn.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era, by The Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Simon & Schuster, 2005, $25.00, 832 pp. Back by popular demand, this edition of Our Bodies Ourselves is filled with practical, updated information on health, nutrition and sexuality for the empowerment of women. Don't tell G. Dubya.

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English, by John McWhorter, Random House, 2009, $17.00, 256 pp. Etymology is a big word for the study of words and their origin. Sounds tedious, but in the hands of John Mortimer - author of over twenty books including Nine Nasty Words, English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever (Random House, $24.00) - it's anything but. Entertaining, educational, and above all, fascinating.

Out of Gas: The end of the Age of Oil, by David Goodstein, W.W. Norton, 2004, $21.95, 140 pp. In this, a wake-up call to petroleum addicts, Cal Tech physics professor David Goodstein predicts oil production may peak in a decade, spurring two possible scenarios: 1. We switch our addiction to coal and escalate environmental destruction; or 2. We start planning now for a future powered by clean energy.

Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now, by George McGovern and William R. Polk, Simon & Schuster, 2006, $15.00, 160 pp. It's been a long while since we've heard from George McGovern, but with Out of Iraq he's back. Teaming with expert on Middle East William R. Polk, the duo offer an ambitious plan for full withdrawal by June 30, 2007. Too ambitious? It works on paper.

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