Rob swears that 99 out of 100 librarians recommend Proofiness by Charles Seife

Potemkin Numbers|Cherry-picking|Fruit-packing|Regression to the moon

In the OJ Simpson murder case, lawyer Allan Dershowitz took Simpson’s previous arrest for battering his wife and used it as an argument against Simpson’s guilt as murderer. How? By producing the statistic that only 1 batterer in a thousand ends up killing his wife.

Women who have had abortions are up to six times more likely to commit suicide. Assuming that the abortions led to the suicides, South Dakota enacted a law requiring women be warned about suicide risk before having an abortion.

In 2005 anthropologists published a study in Nature showing that Olympic athletes who wore red tended to win over athletes who wore blue.

Numbers do lie! Find out how in Proofiness.

Sue Recommends Broken by Karin Slaughter

Broken brings together characters from two of Karin Slaughter's mystery series--the Atlanta with Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (2 book series) and Grant County with Dr Sara Linton and Police Officer Lena Adams (8 book series)--in an intriguing search for who and why a college student is stabbed and thrown into the local lake. The action is fast and the deaths keep coming as Will Trent tries to uncover secrets within the walls of the Police Station.

Will Trent is such an unusual character--an extremely bright, articulate investigator who is hiding secrets of his own (dyslexia, an unhappy marriage, and a "crush" on Dr. Sara Linton). He seems so mild mannered but is able to outwit suspects and witnesses through his easy interview style.

I enjoyed this novel so much that I am anxious to go back and read the other Will Trent books--Triptych and Fractured.

If you enjoy audiobooks, I felt that Natalie Ross performed well in her reading of this novel. SH

Megan recommends: Joe College

Joe College by Tom Perrotta

I've always been a big fan of Tom Perrotta. Joe College is probably my favorite novel of his, with The Wishbones running a close second. Every time I see a "roach coach," I think of this novel. I saw a lunch truck yesterday, so there you go. Yale junior Danny is going back to his working class family's home in New Jersey for spring break. His plans? Take over his father's lunch truck route so his dad can have a hernia operation while simultaneously trying to avoid running into his old high school girlfriend, Cindy. The book is full of wry observations about social class issues that students face at elite private universities.

Sue Recommends Mullah's Storm by Thomas W. Young

Mullah's Storm is the most realistic and compelling novel that i have ever read. Suspenseful and electrifying from the beginning to end, and as close to reality as it could possibly be.--General Carl Stiner U.S. Army(Ret) Former Commander in Chief U.S> Special Operations Command

The Mullah's Storm is the first novel written by Thomas W. Young and I hope that his subsequent ones will offer the adventure, suspense, thrills, and vivid as life experiences that I found in this one.

Knowing the author's background--4,000 hours as a flight engineer for the Air National Guard in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and elsewhere...(from cover)--you find that he has written about thoughts, fears, and characters taken from his own experiences as well as those of colleagues from military engagements.

The author allows you to walk in the shoes of a downed pilot and an army translator in the Hindu Kush as they try to outmaneuver the Taliban; survive the extreme conditions in these snowy, frigid, and dangerous mountains; and keep control of a radical Muslim cleric who is their prisoner. You will not regret giving this book a chance and will not want to put it down.

For audio fans, I just found out that Scott Brick reads the audiobook. I plan to listen to it next as Mr. Brick transports you to the extreme conditions and situations of Mr. Young's story. SH

Romance Award Winners--RITA Award

The Romance Writers of America annually recognize the best romance novels and novellas published in 12 categories with the RITA Award.

If you enjoy romance, see if you agree with their 2010 winners for the following categories:



Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
Too Good to be True by Kristen Higgins


Best Historical Romance
Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas


Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal


Best Regency Historical Romance
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn




SH

Best Book about the Vietnam War

Our Vietnam : The War 1954-1975
by Langguth, A. J.

Historian and journalist A. J. Langguth delivers an authoritative account of the war based on official documents not available earlier and on new reporting from both the American and Vietnamese perspectives.

In Our Vietnam, Langguth takes us inside the waffling and deceitful White Houses of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. Langguth documents the ineptness and corruption of our South Vietnamese allies, and recounts the bravery of soldiers on both sides of the war.

With its broad sweep and keen insights, Our Vietnam brings together the kaleidoscopic events and personalities of the war into one engrossing and unforgettable narrative.

Langguth was a New York Times Vietnam Saigon bureau chief during the war. His narrative style allows him to tell the story of America's involvement in Vietnam like an exciting political thriller. What sets his book apart from other Vietnam books is his interviews with important but lesser known American and Vietnamese eyewitnesses. If you want one book to learn about the Vietnam War this is it.

TB

Mike sez: you gotta check out Beasts of Burden

Beasts of Burden by Evan Dorkin & Jill Thompson

You need to read this--seriously, it's that easy of a review to read, just go out, find the book in our library and sit down and read it. You will thank me for it.

What, that's not enough? All right, all right--for those of you who don't follow my recommendations with blind obedience, here's a quick run-down of the book: this is a world where a band of dogs and one cat (who has been allowed to tag along by the reluctant dogs) who come on some scary stuff going on in their neighborhood. The story quickly turns into a good-versus-evil plot line with magic and murder as the dominant drivers. But it's not as easy as all that--Evan Dorkin (of Milk & Cheese fame) and Jill Thompson (famous children's illustrator) have done a smash-up job of creating a group of animals that the reader quickly identifies with and cares about. Jill's ability to render anthropomorphic animals through her artwork is amazing, lending a depth to the animals' expressions that I haven't seen in comics or children's art before; and Evan's stories are thrilling and heart-breaking throughout. I can't wait for the next round of stories from this team--hopefully there's plenty in the works!