by Donovan Hohn (2010)
When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories. *Moby-Duck* is a journey into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable. With each new discovery, Hohn learns of another loose thread, and with each successive chase, he comes closer to understanding where his castaway quarry comes from and where it goes. In the grand tradition of Tony Horwitz and David Quammen, *Moby-Duck* is a compulsively readable narrative of whimsy and curiosity.
Michael D. Yates
Retiring from 32 years as a professor of economics, the author and his wife sell most of their possessions and travel the United States. This is an account of their adventures and an examination of work and inequality , race and class, alienation and environmental degradation in the small towns and big cities of the contemporary United States.
Barry Lopez
"Apologia is a story that gives our vague sense of apprehension about brutality in the modern world a focus, and, because the narrator actually does something on behalf of animals killed on the road, it gives us reason to believe that we can retrieve our dignity and a sense of purpose from the indifferent circumstances of everyday life." "It has long been a habit of writer Barry Lopez to remove dead animals from the road. At the conclusion of a journey from Oregon to Indiana in 1989, he wrote Apologia to explore the moral and emotional upheaval he experienced dealing with the dead every day. On the highway he encountered dozens of animals - raccoons, jackrabbits, porcupines, red foxes, sparrows, spotted skunks, owls, deer, gulls, badgers, field mice, garter snakes, barn swallows, pronghorn antelope, squirrels - all victims of vehicular destruction. Stopping for each body he saw, he gently removed each one from the road." "Lopez's eloquent prose is accompanied by Robin Eschner's dramatic woodcuts. By turns violent, raw, and tender, they provide a stunning counterpoint to a reverent testimony." --Book Jacket.
Graeme Smith
This is a detailed, user-friendly, and up-to-the-minute guide to Beijing, China's capital and its major gateway city. We'll take you to the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall, and show you how to plunge into the city's shopping scene and discover the best local restaurants. It can be difficult for Western visitors to communicate and find their way around in such a vast, fast-paced, and bewildering city, but we've made it easy for you to explore on your own, with detailed directions, accurate maps, practical logistical advice, and etiquette tips. We've also included a handy appendix of useful Chinese phrases, and establishment names are listed in both English and Chinese characters, making it easier for you to get around and find the places you're looking for. Our author, an experienced China traveler who has written about the country for years, offers valuable insights and paints a vivid picture of a city that's undergoing one of the most fascinating cultural a...
Alfred S. McLaren
The story of the brave officers and men of the nuclear attack submarine USS Queenfish, who made the first survey of an extremely important and remote region of the Arctic Ocean, covering 3100 miles over a period of some 20 days at a laborious average speed of 6.5 knots or less. The unpredictability of deep-draft sea ice, shallow water, and possible Soviet discovery, all played a dramatic part in this fascinating 1970 voyage. Inspired by this polar experience, Captain McLaren later became one of the world's foremost Arctic scientists.--From publisher description.