Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou. The amazing story of a startup that razed millions of dollars from investors, with the intent developing new blood testing technology that was intended to revolutionize the industry. However, it turned out to be a multi-million dollar, multi-year scam that ruined quite a few people's careers. This involved a lot of very high profile individuals, and not only fooled wealthy investors but media outlets also.

Last Days of the Concorde

Last Days of the Concorde: The Crash of Flight 4590 and the End of Supersonic Passenger Travel by Samme Chittum. Using the 2000 crash of the Air France Concorde outside Paris, the author tells the story not just of the crash but of super sonic flight, the develop of the Concorde as the only super sonic passenger carrier ever developed and of the end of Concorde as a passenger plane in 2003. This is partly a detective story and he traces the processes that the investigators used to figure out the reason for the crash that filled over 100 people and that was the beginning of the end for Concorde. But it also is the story of a much loved and admired airplane that was a national symbol of pride for both Britain and France.

Can You Ever Forgive Me by Lee Israel

Can You Ever Forgive Me by Lee Israel is the memoir that outlines Lee's career as a letter forger. Having been a best selling author, she never thought she would end up for desperate, but her services as a serious author were not longer in demand. As a biography writer she had spend lots of time researching famous people and lots of time in archives, so her route to crime was already paved by her. Her writing is absolutely charming and delightful, funny and insightful. It is especially interesting to see some of the letters the forged to be included in the book. She forged Louise Brookes, Noel Coward, Fanny Brice and Dorothy Parker among others. It is very interesting to see her process of writing these forgeries. She researched famous people's actual letters, in some cases using exact phrases or slightly altered phrases that they actually wrote. She also used biographies and the timing of real events to make her letters seem real. Definitely a thought provoking book where you wonder how much a crime is this, and how much fulfilling the wishes of collectors, by giving them what they want.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Library Book by Susan Orlean, using the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Central Library as the jumping off point, the author pay homage to libraries and librarians in this wonderfully written book. Orlean remembers going to the public library with her mother when she was a young girl, something she remembers fondly and that sets the stage for this love story of the library. Using the 1986 fire as the anchor of this book, she toggles between the history of public libraries, book burning and the future of libraries. But what the author does best is describe the people involved with the library, specifically the Los Angeles public library system. Her mini-biographies are told with affection and detail, her outline of the personalities is charming. This memoir coming from a non-librarian provides a great story of affection for the institution and its people that is all the more effective because it comes from an outsider.

The Language of Kindness by Christie Watson

The Language of Kindness: A Nurses Story by Christie Watson, the memoir of Ms. Watson who spent 20 years as a nurse. She grew up and lives in the UK and is now a successful novelist. She spent much of her time as a NICU and oncology nurse. She tells how she came to nursing, basically by accident, the many ethical issues faced by nurses and healthcare workers, and many stories from the trenches. She also includes some scholarly information on the history of healthcare and nursing.

Fly Girls

Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds And Made Aviation History, by Keith O'Brien. Taking place mostly in the 1920s and 1930s, this book follows the careers of 5 women flyers, and illustrates the hurtles they over came to compete in a male dominated world. Amelia Earhart is the name we still recognize, but at the time there were other women who were more famous and accomplished. Earhart's legacy survives because she was married to George Putnam, publisher and publicist who kept her legacy going. This is a great story of a time when flying was sometimes extremely dangerous as the technology was pushed in competitions to its limit.

Fire Season

Fire Season by Phillip Connnors. When Connors wrote this book, he was in his 8th year as a fire lookout in the Gila National Wilderness. This books outlines the ecology and political history of the Gila, along with documenting his personal story of his relationship with wilderness and various humans. Quite well written and thoughtfully put together.