One book, one conference (nonfiction)

[Joyce Valenza]

Hi all,
Let's get that conversation going about the possible nonfiction conference discussion books.

[Joyce Valenza]

Just got this suggestion via Twitter:

@joycevalenza Brain Rules by John Medina [ http://www.brainrules.net ]http://www.brainrules.net. Great book of ONE book, ONE conference for AASL
from infolibrarian on Twitter.

Mardy McGaw

[Ernie]

These might make for interesting and challenging discussion -
True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society by Farhad Manjoo

The Cult of the Amateur: How blogs, MySpace, YouTube, and the rest of today's user-generated media are destroying our economy, our culture, and our values by Andrew Keen (Paperback - Aug 12, 2008)

[Alison Follos]

Hi Everyone:

If I were to select a single title, it would be The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This book is his childhood/YA memoir slated as fiction. A fascinating account of the miracle of digging his way out and springing free of the oppressive Native American reservation environment. The story is inspirational, the book's format is creative, the voice is genuine. I recommend this book only if Sherman is able to participate in our conference. We hope to hear about his availability soon.

[Alison Follos]

If Sherman can't attend, my second recommendation is Jack Gantos' Hole in My Life, his YA memoir about the wayward path of chasing a get-rich-quick scheme. At 19 Gantos is living his bohemian dream and following his intellectual ambition. Then a pirate comes along with a ship load of hash and Gantos takes the bate. After an adventurous sail up the coast, the boys get busted. Gantos lands his memoir in the bleak reality of inmate life. The beauty of this book is that it is readable, at times laughable, cautionary, and ultimately, powerful.

[Ernie]

another nonfiction book for consideration - Born Digital:Understanding The First Generation of Digital Natives - http://www.amazon.com/Born-Digital-Understanding-Generation-Natives...

[Jay Bansbach]

Friends --
I think we have to have our pick for One Book, One Conference if we are going to do that.

Here are the selections to date:

Non-Fiction

Brain Rules by John Medina (Joyce)
Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Rules-Principles-Surviving-Thriving/dp/...
http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2008/05/brain-rules-...
http://www.mindtweaks.com/wordpress/?p=772

True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society by Farhad Manjoo (Ernie)
Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/True-Enough-Learning-Post-Fact-Society/dp/047...
http://www.nehrlich.com/blog/2008/07/24/true-enough-by-farhad-manjoo/

The Cult of the Amateur: How blogs, MySpace, YouTube, and the rest of today's user-generated media are destroying our economy, our culture, and our values by Andrew Keen (Ernie)
http://www.amazon.com/Cult-Amateur-Internet-Killing-Culture/dp/0385...
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/09/14/125506.php
http://www.lessig.org/blog/2007/05/keens_the_cult_of_the_amateur.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/books/29book.html

Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos (Alison)
http://www.amazon.com/Hole-My-Life-Jack-Gantos/dp/0374399883
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2005/feb/12/featuresreviews.guardia...

Born Digital: Understanding The First Generation of Digital Natives by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser (Ernie)
http://www.amazon.com/Born-Digital-Understanding-Generation-Natives...
http://www.experientia.com/blog/book-born-digital-understanding-the...
http://www.hastac.org/node/1603

Fiction

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Alison)
http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-True-Diary-Part-Time-Indian/dp/031...
http://www.fallsapart.com/truediary.htm
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14871881

Thanks to everyone that has contributed to date -- looks like we are going to need to make a decision -- take a look at the reviews and let's take a vote!

Thanks.
Jay

[Ernie]

Jay Bansbach said:

Friends --
I think we have to have our pick for One Book, One Conference if we are going to do that.

Here are the selections to date:

Non-Fiction

Brain Rules by John Medina (Joyce)
Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Rules-Principles-Surviving-Thriving/dp/...
http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2008/05/brain-rules-...
http://www.mindtweaks.com/wordpress/?p=772

True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society by Farhad Manjoo (Ernie)
Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/True-Enough-Learning-Post-Fact-Society/dp/047...
http://www.nehrlich.com/blog/2008/07/24/true-enough-by-farhad-manjoo/

The Cult of the Amateur: How blogs, MySpace, YouTube, and the rest of today's user-generated media are destroying our economy, our culture, and our values by Andrew Keen (Ernie)
http://www.amazon.com/Cult-Amateur-Internet-Killing-Culture/dp/0385...
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/09/14/125506.php
http://www.lessig.org/blog/2007/05/keens_the_cult_of_the_amateur.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/books/29book.html

Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos (Alison)
http://www.amazon.com/Hole-My-Life-Jack-Gantos/dp/0374399883
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2005/feb/12/featuresreviews.guardia...

Born Digital: Understanding The First Generation of Digital Natives by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser (Ernie)
http://www.amazon.com/Born-Digital-Understanding-Generation-Natives...
http://www.experientia.com/blog/book-born-digital-understanding-the...
http://www.hastac.org/node/1603

Fiction

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Alison)
http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-True-Diary-Part-Time-Indian/dp/031...
http://www.fallsapart.com/truediary.htm
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14871881

Thanks to everyone that has contributed to date -- looks like we are going to need to make a decision -- take a look at the reviews and let's take a vote!

Thanks.
Jay

I vote for Born Digital