Library News: August 17th, 2023
Blinkist.com defines nonfiction as “anything that has a basis in fact. That means reports, textbooks, manuals, self-help, memoirs, history, guidebooks, and so on, all come under the umbrella of this almost-too-broad term. Its very breadth, however, lends it a richness that has allowed it to dominate a large part of the global book market. In recent years, sales of nonfiction have been outpacing fiction year-to-year. Where fiction can help people understand the feeling of the moment, nonfiction helps people understand the hard facts of it. And in a world that finds its news sources increasingly unreliable, a widespread hunger for truth is reflected in rising sales of nonfiction books.” Fortunately, the Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library has a diverse collection of nonfiction books. This week, we're highlighting two such books currently available in the library.
Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health by Anupam B. Jena, MD., Ph D. & Christopher Worsham, MD. Anupam Jena is a University of Chicago-trained economist, a Harvard medical school professor, and physician. Christopher Worsham is a critical care doctor at Massachusetts General and a health care policy researcher. In this groundbreaking book, these authors reveal the hidden side of medicine and how unexpected but predictable events can profoundly affect our health. They delve into questions such as whether timing, circumstance or luck impacts our health care, if there is a good time to have a heart attack, why kids born in the summer get diagnosed more often with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and if marathons are harmful to our health even when we're not running. In their singular work of science and medicine, Jena and Worsham show us in an animated and enlightening way how medicine really works and its effect on all of us. They rely on ingeniously devised natural experiments--random events that unknowingly turn us into experimental subjects and help us see the way our health is shaped by forces invisible to the untrained eye. Should you choose the veteran doctor or the newbie? Do you really need the surgery that your doctor has recommended? These are significant questions and their answers can be life changing. By reading this book, you'll be empowered to see past the white coat and find out what really makes medicine work-and how it could work better.
The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts. Fast friends and gifted, Monica and Darci grew up working-class poor in the town of Clinton, Arkansas. The girls bonded over their shared love of reading and learning, even as they navigated the challenges of their declining town and dysfunctional family lives--broken marriages, alcohol abuse, and shuttered stores and factories. They pored over a giant map in their middle school classroom, tracing their fingers over the world that awaited them, vowing to escape. Monica did leave Clinton for college and fulfilled her dreams, but Darci, as well as many of their friends, did not. Years later, when Monica was working as a journalist covering poverty, her research confirmed what she already knew about the women of Arkansas: their life expectancy had steeply declined the sharpest fall in a century. Monica returned to Clinton to report the story, trying to comprehend the societal factors driving the disturbing trends in the rural south. When she reconnects with Darci, Monica finds that once talented and ambitious Darci is now a statistic: a single mother of two, addicted to methamphetamine and prescription drugs, jobless and nearly homeless. Painfully aware that Darci's fate could have been hers. Monica retraces the moments of decision and chance in each of their lives that led similar women toward two very different destinies.
Upcoming events:
Biggest Book Sale of the Year, runs through August 26th! Name your price - you choose how much to donate to the library during our biggest book sale of the year!
Support Group for Parents of Challenging Kids. Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. If you are feeling overwhelmed, join others to gain valuable support, coping strategies, and information about community resources.
August Crafternoons, Wednesdays, drop in from 12 NOON-2 PM to make crafty creations! All ages are encouraged to attend. A different project will be featured each Wednesday.
Preschool Story Hour, Wednesdays 10:15 AM starting September 13th! Stories, music & movement for ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers.
Nutrition and Medical Classes by Dr. Larry Jackson, MD, and Debbie Jackson, MS, RD. Third Wednesday of the Month at 6 PM. Next class will be on September 20th at 6 PM: How to Lower Cholesterol Through Diet.
Game Night AND Movies & Popcorn, the last Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM. We'll have fresh popcorn and a movie during game night! All ages are welcome!
First Thursday Book Club 2023, September 7, 2023, 12 NOON-1 PM. Join others to chat about what you have been reading or to get suggestions from others
Growing Edible Flowers & Herbs, Thursday, Sept 14 at 6 PM. Farmer & chef, Austin Kane from Huss Project/CINO will be here every other Thursday through October 26th to present on nature, gardening and cooking.
Nature and Gardening Series for Middle School! Thursday, Sept 21 at 4 PM. Abby David from Huss Project/CINO will bring unique nature and gardening activities for students in 5-8 grades every other Thursday through November 2nd. Snacks will be provided!
Home Arts Club First Friday Bake Off, September 1 from 5-7 PM. This year’s bake-off features the best cookies in town! To enter, bring a minimum of 60 small cookies to the library with a list of ingredients by 2 PM on September 1st. To sample & judge, join us between 5-7 PM during First Friday at the library to purchase tasting tickets & cast your vote!