By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library
The Last Men: New Guinea, by Iago Corazza
New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world, located north of Australia, from which it was separated after the last ice age. The island has a complicated history, and presently is split into two halves: the west side is divided into two provinces of Indonesia, (Papua and West Papua), and the eastern half is the independent country of Papua New Guinea. Amazingly, the just over 7 million people on the island are divided up into almost 1,000 different tribes, each with its own language. It is the most linguistically diverse spot on the planet. Corazza’s book focuses on the unique photographic depiction of these endangered cultures, with succinct commentary. Some of it just seems truly bizarre, as if the author had dropped in on another planet altogether, but maybe that’s what they would say about us. In any case, Corazza provides unforgettable images for the armchair traveler.
Caring for Your Parents: The Complete Family Guide,by Hugh Delehanty
The title says it all: this is an excellent guide put together from AARP. It covers the full gamut of important areas, from the physical, to emotional, financial, legal, support systems, living arrangements, and more. This book is a really good one to start with if you are looking ahead, or if you are involved in caregiver issues now.
The Complete Legal Guide to Senior Care, by Brette McWhorter Sember, ATT
No one wants to deal with legal issues as we or our parents get older, but we need to do it. Once you’ve taken care of some of these legalities, you’ll feel much better, and this guide will help you to understand in plain English, the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones as we/they age.
Essential Do’s and Taboos: The Complete Guide to International Business and Leisure Travel, by Roger E. Axtell
Whether you are traveling for business or fun, this is a handy guide. The New Yorker says, “Roger Axtell is an internationalist Emily Post.” He’s written nine other books on this subject, and travels and lectures extensively on up-to-the-minute protocol and civility for other cultures.
Insects & Flowers: The Art of Maria Sibylla Merian, by Maria Sibylla Merian
Born in 1647, in Frankfurt, Maria grew up to become a renowned botanical and entomological artist. When the J. Paul Getty Museum hosted an exhibition of her work last summer, they published a small, delightful book that reproduces some of the color plates in her larger works. It’s like looking at separate tiny pieces of an amazing world. You’ll want to know all about this unusual woman and her work after taking a peek at this lovely book.
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl, by Stacey O’Brien
Just couldn’t put this one down! Who knew that owls were so interesting to read about? Not just another “me and my pet” story, but filled with insights into animal life and intelligence. When Stacey was working as a student researcher at CalTech, she brought home a four-day owlet to raise, and it turned into a 19-year relationship, as she went on to become a research biologist. Her memoir, written after her own extreme health crisis, and the final, peaceful death of Wesley from very old age, was cathartic and healing for her, and as a completed work is fascinating for us to share. Professional reviewers and Amazon readers gave it 5 stars.
Deer World, by Dave Taylor
The only improvement here would be if this book were even bigger! It really is about a deer’s whole world, and all the other animals in it, for an entire year. For example, in the May 13th entry, Taylor begins, “The name ‘moose’ is an Ojibwa-Cree term meaning ‘twig-eater’, followed by what moose are up to in mid-May, and several photos. The photographs of deer, bear, opossums, foxes, coyotes, wolves, wild hogs (to name just a few) are very good ones, maybe because the author has written 35 books on wildlife, has guided many photo-safaris, and presently works in wildlife education in Ontario. Taylor’s many fans will delight in this new book.
The Primate Family Tree: The Amazing Diversity of Our Closest Relatives, by Ian Redmond
A beautifully illustrated guide to the more than 270 species of primates from the four main groups (prosimians, New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and apes), and a great starting point to learn more about them. Redmond’s text condenses a lifetime of experience into interesting commentaries on each animal, and it’s place in the ecosystem. His descriptions are accessible and thought provoking. For instance, he talks about primates as the “gardeners of the forest,” and all that that entails, which was a very new way of looking at primates for me. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to know a lot more about primates, and getting many more books on them, after reading this one.
