August means back to school for the kiddos, with their new backpacks and sharpened pencils. I’m perpetually enrolled in the School of Life; no more student loans required. Quite the opposite: I use my library card to read and learn to my heart’s content. And, the best thing about being a lifelong learner is that I get to study whatever I want. I could say I spend my school-of-life time reading the latest in leadership practices or improving my financial literacy, and I wouldn’t entirely be lying. But sometimes I want my learning to be entertaining and easily digestible, full of weird-but-true facts that they didn’t teach us in grade school, but that I learned on my own through Ripley’s Believe-It-or-Not (maybe a bad example of “facts”). And, guess what? Books like that for grownups exist. Enjoy!
The Madman’s Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History, opens a new window by Edward Brooke-Hitching
Books written by ghosts. A 15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus. Bindings made of human skin. Alchemist scrolls. Edible books. Anyone who thinks a book is just ink on paper could not be more wrong. Leave it to Brooke-Hitching to provide otherwise examples with his illustrated compendium of the literary world’s weirdest finds.
How to Survive History: How to Outrun a Tyrannosaurus, Escape Pompeii, Get Off the Titanic, and Survive the Rest of History’s Deadliest Catastrophes, opens a new window by Cody Cassidy
Pro tip: before time traveling, pack this handy manual on surviving the most dangerous moments in history. Cassidy uses science and hindsight to equip you with the knowledge to outsmart everything from T. Rex to the Black Death. Learn how to escape Pompeii's lava, survive the Titanic sinking, and even outlast the Donner Party. History is an adventure you can conquer, one chapter at a time.
ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History, opens a new window by Jennifer Dasal
Art history, but make it fun. Curator and ArtCurious podcaster Jennifer Dasal teases out the weird, fascinating, and often scandalous side of art and delivers it in an engaging narrative. Claude Monet and the Impressionists shocked the art world simply by painting outdoors. The CIA used Abstract Expressionism to subtly advance American ideals during the Cold War. And Norman Rockwell, famous for his depiction of everyday American life, created some of the most memorable images of the Civil Rights Era. Whether you’re a novice or expert-level enthusiast, you’ll love Dasal’s take on what could be a very boring subject.
Gory Details: Adventures From the Dark Side of Science, opens a new window by Erika Engelhaupt
If botanical horror and true crime are your thing, this book is for you. National Geographic writer Engelhaupt delves into the stranger parts of science with a unique blend of humor and expertise. Armed with research and interviews with experts from a variety of fields, she uses illustrations and entertaining narrative to explain why weird things happen. Such as? How things can go awry when a person eats a slug, snail, or worm. And, if a stinging insect gets you, your body reacts differently depending on where you’re stung. Just don’t read this book while eating dinner, and you’ll be fine.
The Lost Tomb and Other Real-life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder, opens a new window by Douglas J. Preston
When Preston isn’t busy writing bestselling thrillers with bestie Lincoln Child, he’s being Indiana Jones. Regularly granted access to the world’s most obscure sites, Preston was the first to enter a sealed Egyptian tomb, explored a Cretaceous-era mass grave of animals, and delved into Oak Island’s booby-trapped Money Pit. The Lost Tomb is an exciting account of Preston’s adventures examining the world’s weirdest mysteries, from buried treasure to enigmatic murders.
Learn from bestselling authors and thought leaders with Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Virtual Author Talks. Register for live talks or watch recordings at libraryc.org/crrl, opens a new window.
Tracy McPeck is the adult services coordinator at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. This column first appeared in the Free Lance-Star newspaper.
