Blog Posts by Subject: Nonfiction

The Florida School for Boys, which was renamed the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys sometime after the 1960s, is a juvenile detention facility for underage male offenders. Michael O'McCarthy and Robert Straley were inmates in the 1950s and 1960s.

Excerpts, discussion questions and suggestions for further reading based on Predictably Irrational.

Are you interested in the history of free-market health care, classic DC comics, the story of an American bride in Kabul in 1961, or an American divorcee in 21st century Qatar, the pleasures of English gardens, rising Islamophobia, tales from 1940s post-war Germany, creating fashion portfolios, the life of early 20th century mover and shaker Mabel Dodge Luhan, GMO foods, new visions for urban life, or secular humanism?

I have always been fascinated by thieves who could pull off multimillion-dollar heists, steal paintings from museums beefed up with security, etc. However, all of the stories included a ring of thieves. Not this one.

Marc Aronson led a discussion at the library about nonfiction for kids.

I often find myself amazed by how weird humans are, so I appreciate books that prove we're all nuts. In the interest of sharing these hilarious, intriguing, and helpful case studies, this month I will be leading the Reader's Den in discussing the book Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely.

Did you ever consider the notion that mistakes might be a gateway to ingenuity that can propel further breakthroughs, rather than mere blunders? Here is a list of reading recommendations that might help you start to view mistakes in a new light.

Some of my favorite nonfiction books to recommend to teenagers are collective biographies, which provide information about different people who were famous for different reasons. They’re good for homework, good for browsing, and good for spontaneously discovering people you’ve never heard of before.

The phenomenon of experiencing associated senses (a kind of cross-wiring) is an old concept, but it has only been scientifically studied since the second half of the 20th Century.

From rising sea levels worsening the storm surge during Superstorm Sandy to the increase in extreme weather events, effects of anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change are being deeply felt around the world with every passing day. But far from feeling helpless about a global situation, there are positive actions you can take, from the political to the personal, to point us in a better direction. In light of two New York City events, the U.N. Climate Summit this September 23 and the People’s Climate March on September 21, here is a consolidation of some resources on the topic.

You may have been tagged in a social media chain making the rounds in which you are supposed to list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. The goal is not to overthink it; simply take a few minutes and answer.

Whether you're a penny pincher or a big spender, tycoons offer a wealth of fascinating stories. These books, both fiction and nonfiction, dramatize big business. From captains of industry to investment bankers, these money bags characters have stories worth their weight in gold.

Here are some new noteworthy titles that may or may not be receiving the attention they deserve.

Maybe because Kitty Genovese's story conjures up questions of how crimes are committed, and the emotional struggles we live with from such events, this story hasn’t quite come to an end even after fifty years. We talked to the author of a new book about the famous murder.

Any of these subjects pique your curiosity? If so, join us for an Author @ the Library talk this September at Mid-Manhattan Library to hear distinguished non-fiction authors discuss their work and answer your questions. Author talks take place at 6:30 p.m. on the 6th floor of the Library, unless otherwise noted. You can also request the authors' books using the links to the catalog included below.

I love a great memoir, and I noticed recently that I tend towards a certain sub-genre of memoirs, those of the mistfit variety. These memoirs are usually brutally honest, self-deprecating, and describe life at the fringes of society, or at least behavior that most of us would be embarrassed, horrified or shocked by. Most are funny and tend to be insightful, and whether it’s a well-known celebrity or someone I’ve never heard of, I find them relatable and refreshing.

Philosophical inquiry at the movies… a looming retirement crisis… familiar New York landmarks seen from unexpected angles… the birth of NYC’s power system… the language hoax… the hidden history of the mob in NYC… Tomorrow-Land, the 1964-1965 World’s Fair… the great Boston - New York subway race… the Kitty Genovese murder… the inventor of electric traction… the hospice movement… the makers of modern Manhattan…

Hello and welcome to the wrap up of Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt. I hope you enjoy or are enjoying the book as much as I have. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to write below. For August the book is The Circle by David Eggers.

Welcome back to the Reader's Den for part three of Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt. In Part two we discussed the chapters on Roleplaying. In this post we discuss the history of Dungeons & Dragons itself.