A Brilliant Mind

Milo Andret was a solitary youth growing up in rural Michigan.  A true mathematical genius who comes into his own while at Berkeley in 1970’s. After proving the Malosz Conjecture he finishes his Ph.D and goes off to teach at Princeton. Sometime later he is awarded the prestigious Fields Medal for his work in Mathematics.  A Doubter’s Almanac by Ethan Canin, tells the personal story of this man from his son Hans’ viewpoint. Andret’s struggles, relationships, family life and shortcomings are examined and analyzed. Hans longs to be the man he father was not, although he mirrors his father in almost every way. For an intriguing look into the life of a genius pick up this book. DB

Yes Chef!

What if you could interview award winning chefs and hang out with them as they cooked, went to restaurants that they think are great and talked about food and their journey to becoming a chef? Anthony Bourdain and PBS teamed up and did just that, resulting in a fascinating series. David Chang talks about coming from an immigrant family but growing up in the diverse environs of New York City and how it has influenced his cooking.  PBS's new series The Mind of a Chef combines travel, cooking, history, science, and humor into an unforgettable journey. There are four seasons in this series and we have them all! ML

Take Me home, Country Roads

When trash coal is set on fire it turns rose and orange and lavender. What’s left is called red dog. The road where Drema grew up, in East Beckley, West Virginia was a red dog road. In her new book, Running on Red Dog Road: And Other Perils of An Appalachian Childhood, Drema Hall Berkheimer recalls life with her grandparents. They were devout Pentecostals. Her father was killed in a coal mining accident, and her mother was working in a war plant in New York. Drema writes about everyday life, carefully blending sweet memories with crazy characters and Appalachian charm. If you wish to meet faith healers, gypsies,or snake handlers please pick up this book. DB  

Hand Me a Towel!

Are you looking for a way to jazz up a gift? Or maybe make something special to amuse your kids or grand-kids? Try a creation from The Lost Art of Towel Origami by Alison Jenkins. This fun book includes instructions to make towel animals, a birthday cake, a palm tree and more. Alison started out in fashion design and turned to a career in styling home interiors. She is a very crafty person and has also authored books on knitting, sewing and candle-making. If you would like to try some hands-on creating –sign up for our TOWEL FOLDING CLASS on April 11 at 7PM! DB