Short non-fiction

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, January 2021; written by Lisa Pearson.

For some of us, finding blocks of quiet time to sit and read can be a challenge. Demands of work and family make it difficult to immerse yourself in a novel without being interrupted, and in those circumstances short stories are a great way to read in the time that you do have. But what about folks who prefer nonfiction?

Fortunately, there are many books about science, history, and culture that present information in discreet, stand-alone chapters that make for interesting reading during short breaks.

“A walk around the block: stoplight secrets, mischievous squirrels, manhole mysteries & other stuff you see every day (and know nothing about)” by Spike Carlsen is a fun compendium of the science and history behind neighborhoods. What are the physics behind the formation of potholes? How is psychology involved in designing bike lanes? What are the costs vs. benefits of creating parking spots? And what are the 10 things you should never flush down your toilet? Carlsen covers 26 different staples of everyday life with a light touch, but with plenty of facts and research (there’s an extensive list of bibliographical references). And you’ll never look at the pigeons in the grocery store parking lot in the same way.

“Weird Earth: debunking strange ideas about our planet” by Donald R. Prothero picks apart a number of myths about our planet, including Atlantis, dowsing, and ley lines. He also tackles conspiracy theories such as fake moon landings, UFOs on Mount Shasta, and the Hollow Earth theory. For each chapter, he explains the history behind the myth and some of the variations in the narrative before delving into the science that refutes each claim. For instance, one main theme of the Hollow Earth theory is that there is an opening at the North Pole that leads down into the center of the planet, which is inhabited by herds of prehistoric animals. Prothero presents scientific studies concerning magnetism, gravity, seismology, temperature, and meteorites which refute the idea that the Earth is hollow. While each chapter is self-contained, taken together the book demonstrates how an unwillingness to accept scientific data can lead to outlandish ideas.

For something a little more lightweight, you can read “Matrimony, Inc.: from personal ads to swiping right, a story of America looking for love” by Francesca Beauman. As she points out, Americans were searching for spouses long before the days of Match.com. Her book – which is laid out chronologically – begins in colonial times with an ad placed in the Boston Evening Post in 1759 (although 37 years earlier a fake ad was placed in the New England Courant satirizing the idea of advertising for a wife). Each chapter in the book looks at a different period in American history, and the events and social climate that encouraged people to seek a spouse amongst strangers. Interestingly, the traits that people requested in previous centuries (healthy, wealthy and good-looking) are no different than what people are looking for today. And like modern times, our forbearers were driven by a perceived lack of good candidates in their social circle. It seems that being a new arrival to Boston in 1760 was just as lonely as being a new arrival to Los Angeles in 2020.

These titles are by no means the only collections of nonfiction shorts; there are many books in the nonfiction section of the library that can be enjoyed one brief chapter at a time. Think of them as snacks for your brain. And if you need a further incentive to get in the reading habit this year, our Adult Winter Reading Challenge is running until the end of February, and there is still plenty of time to sign up and earn your chance at lots of fun prizes. You can call the library at 225-3331 for more information or to register.