but I must have changed several times since then."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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StoryPeople
Painting Weathered Textures in Watercolor, by Richard Bolton, Random House, 1987, 144 pp. In Painting Weathered Textures, artist/author Richard Bolton opens up a world of possibilities for the student of watercolor. Focused primarily on landscapes that incorporate buildings, boats and other manmade structures, Bolton conveys his expertise through clear, thoughtful instruction and exercise.
Paper or Plastic: Searching For Solutions in an Overpackaged World, by Daniel Imhoff, Sierra Club Books, 2005, $16.95, 168 pp.
Paper or Glass? The sad answer is "neither". Glass, plastic, paper and aluminum take a huge toll on our resources each year, so the packaging dilemma cannot be solved by an either or decision. Rather, according to Imhoff, consumers need to
take a proactive approach at the market and re-use those bags and bottles.
Peace With God, by Billy Graham, Pocket Books, 1974, .95, 210 pp. Not your typical "come to Jesus" book, Peace With God
was written with the man in the street in mind, and so Graham's writing is at once compassionate and authoritative. A good refresher for
folks feeling their faith wearing thin.
Pencil Drawing Techniques, edited by David Lewis, Random House, 1984, $16.95, 144 pp.
Covering everything from how to hold a pencil to composing with color, Pencil Drawing Techniques is an ambitious undertaking worth
looking at. Although it's targeted for the beginner, it never hurts the accomplished artist to brush up on technique.
Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body, by Courtney E. Martin, Free Press, 2007, $25.00, 330 pp.
Through interviews with therapists and sociologists, Martin delivers an insightful foray into the new norm of hating one's body, and produces a snapshot of a problem that knows no socio-economic boundaries.
Phantom Encounters, edited by Pat Daniels and Sara Schneidman, Time-Life Books, 1988, 144 pp.
Ghosts galore inhabit this, the fifth volume of Time-Life's Mysteries of the Unknown.
The editors have scoured the library shelves for the most fascinating tales to relate to us here. Includes - as Time-Life is renowned for - an
exhaustive bibliography. Spooky.
Phillip K. Dick: Four Novels of the 1960s, edited by Jonathan Lethem, Random House, 2007, $35.00, 830 pp.
Dick's genius is in his seemingly preternatural ability to see the future. Philip K. Dick: Four Novels of the 1960s puts this talent on full display. Included in this volume are: The Man in the High Castle, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch,
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and Ubik. All four portray societies in which identity has been commoditized, privacy eradicated, and profits optimized. They are all in their own ways visions of worlds in which nobody escapes the eyes of
tyrannical power brokers and their insistence of full participation, even unto death. It's not an upbeat vision of the future, but one that seems to be approaching fruition with the weaponization of social media, targeted marketing, and personal information trade.
The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again, by Andy Warhol, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1975, $15.99, 272pp. Part biography, part tabloid interview, the Manhattan-based artist shares his thoughts on love, fame, jewelry and Mussolini Stadium, among other things.
PHP and MySQL For Dynamic Web Sites, by Larry Ullman, Peachpit Press, 2003, $24.99, 572 pp.
Although I'd like to give PHP and MySQL a rave review, I just can't. After struggling with the lessons which are promised to offer "Concise, straightforward steps and explanations [to] the fastest way to learn tasks and concepts", they don't.
Plan of Attack, by Bob Woodward, Simon & Schuster, 2004, $28.00, 467 pp.
In an effort to do for the Iraq war what he did for Watergate, Woodward sets out to bring to light the real motivation behind the US
invasion.
Player Piano, by Kurt Vonnegut, Laurel, 1988, $4.95, 295 pp.
Imagine a world in which engineers have perfected systems to such a degree
society functions like a well-oiled machine. Karl Marx did, and the outcome was
The Communist Manifesto. Vonnegut imagined it too, and it resulted in Player Piano, Vonnegut's
first novel and own manifesto of sorts. Whereas Marx's tome celebrated the achievement of mankind, Vonnegut's story is a clear
warning against it. In Marx's utopia, individuals are free to pursue their own interests; in Vonnegut's, individualism
is shunned for the greater good of society. His is a world in which everybody watches the same
cable, drinks the same cola, and uses the same computer operating system. Hmmmmm.
Plays By and About Women, edited by Victoria Sullivan and James Hatch, Vintage Books, 1974, $3.95, 426 pp.
The eight plays in this collection were selected for their relevancy to women. All were written in the twentieth century. All were authored by
women. All address women's issues. That said, don't read them for any of those reasons; read them because they're powerful.
The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed, by Racter, Warner Books, 1984, $9.95, 113 pp.
This - the first book ever written by a computer - is a collection of prose and poetry by Racter, the most technologically advanced
artificial writer of prose synthesis in 1984. More novelty than good literature, The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed is
amazing in that Racter thought it up himself; no operator input is required to spin his wheels. Illustrated by Joan Hall.
Politician, by Piers Anthony, Avon, 1985, $2.95, 345 pp.
In this, the third and final installment of the Bio of a Space Tyrant series, Anthony awards success to our hero (Hope Hubris) only
to snatch it from his grasp. Hope has defeated his foes, except those working from the inside. He awakens to find he
has no memory. His mind has been washed clean by an enemy aiming to fill it with its own agenda. No ordinary man, Hope mounts
the psychological fight of his life.
The Power Bright & Shining: Images of My Country, by Rod McKuen, Simon and Schuster, 1980, $8.95, 168 pp.
There's something about McKuen's poetry that falls flat. Perhaps it's because
it comes across as poetry written for the sake of patriotism. Perhaps it's
because when I read it I get the feeling the only other people reading it are
doing so precisely to look patriotic.
A Power Governments Cannot Suppress, by Howard Zinn, City Lights, 2006, $16.95, 287 pp.
The Power in Zinn's title is You. In his latest book, everybody's favorite motivational coach takes on The Man.
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, by Dr. Joseph Murphy, DRS, PhD, DD, LLD, Prentice-Hall, 1988, $6.95, 224 pp.
The basic premise of Dr. Murphy's book is that the subconscious mind is capable of incredible accomplishments, if we teach it. Unlike the conscious mind within which we think and form judgments, the subconscious is pure. "It existed before you and I were born, before any church or world existed . . . [It contains] the great eternal truths and principles of life . . . All you have to do is unite mentally and emotionally with the good you wish to embody, and the creative powers of your subconscious will respond accordingly." A popular international lecturer for many years, the author has volumes of anecdotes, many of which he shares here. Simple and magical.
Powers of Healing, edited by Janet Cave and Sara Schneidman, Time-Life Books, 1989, 144 pp.
Every culture has its own particular approach to medicine. Here, the editors deliver the widest used techniques alongside
some the reader has likely never heard of. It's important that these things be chronicled as new treatments are
being developed everyday through the synthesizing of folk remedies. Even aspirin had such an origin. Volume 13 of Time-Life's Mysteries of the Unknown series.
The Practical Organic Gardener, by Brenda Little, Silverleaf Press, 2006, $15.95, 222 pp.
This compact guide is essential to any gardener who wants to fully benefit from their organic habits. Going beyond the ABCs of organic gardening, Little delivers practical
tips for achieving a pest-free garden without the aid of chemicals.
A Prayer For Owen Meany, by John Irving, Ballantine Books, 1990, $6.99, 617 pp.
Owen Meany is perhaps Irving's most comically genuine character to date. He's a slight fella,
given none of the breaks life has to offer, and speaks only in CAPITAL LETTERS. He's also a patriot and
stands closer to God than anybody you're likely ever to meet. Set in New England, Irving's right at home
sharing this story.
Prelude to a Kiss, by Craig Lucas, E. P. Dutton, 1990, 93 pp.
This gem of a play examines unconditional love, when on his honeymoon, a groom finds
his bride has become cancerous, old and male. Far-fetched? You bet. The play's magic lies
in the lengths the playwright avoids going in order to sell it.
Prick Up Your Ears, by John Lahr, Discus, 1980, $3.50, 302 pp. A biography of
British playwright Joe Orton, this book - like Orton himself - steps to the beat of psycho thrills.
At the pinnacle of success in London's West End, Orton's skull was crushed by his own lover.
It's a tragic tale made interesting by Lahr's attention to detail and respect for his subject, without
which would have seen the story abandoned to the tabloids.
Propaganda and the Public Mind: Conversations With Noam Chomsky, by David Barsamian, South End Press, 2001, $16.00, 256 pp.
In this collection of interviews, world-renowned dissident Noam Chomsky offers his personal brand of insight
into the institutions that shape public opinion. A thorn in the side of public policymakers for going on six decades, this
volume shows no sign of him letting up.
Psychic Powers, edited by Pat Daniels, Anne Horan and Neil Kagan, Time-Life Books, 1987, 160 pp.
This, Volume two of the Mysteries of the Unknown series, spans a period from the mid-1800s to the present. It uncovers
some fraudulent mediums from spiritualism's heyday, and suggests the authenticity of some psychics hard at it today. From the ability of a school of
fish to turn simultaneously to retired policeman Pat Price's remote viewing capabilities, one cannot help but wonder at
the power of the untapped mind.
Psychic Voyages, edited by Jane N. Coughran and Pat Daniels, Time-Life Books, 1989, 144 pp.
Reincarnation, astral projection and near-death experiences all have one thing in common: out-of-body phenomena.
In this addition (Volume 4) to the Mysteries of the Unknown series, the editors dig deep to uncover intriguing - if not
proof conclusive - experiences in psychic travel. Refreshingly, not every previous incarnation documented here are historical figures. Most,
in fact, are just plain folks.
Public Enemy #2: An All-new Boondocks Collection, by Aaron McGruder, Three Rivers Press, 2005, $13.95, 174 pp.
Think of it as Doonesbury for the new millennium.
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