Welcome to Litsy!

This book tells the story of how white Americans drove the buffalo to the brink of extinction then a few individuals helped save enough animals to allow the species to survive. It‘s well done with interviews from many sources, including Native voices. It has many illustrations, which I appreciated. Apparently there‘s an associated documentary if you want to check that out.

This was an interesting, if dry, look at the initial creation of the polygraph, early cases, and how lie detection devices have evolved. It is also a tale of injustice, of guilty people going free and innocent people being executed, based on a device proven inaccurate. The polygraph won't die, but people do because of it. I found this to be heartbreaking and anger-inducing. It's one more example of how the justice system in the US is unjust.

Epic storytelling

This is more of a coffee table book. Brief bios of the presidents from Washington to Biden. Completed with pictures and even briefer bios of the First Ladies and vice presidents. Good for very general reference.

One of my favorites by Erik Larson. As always well-researched and well-written and Will Patton‘s narration evokes a mental movie-reel. Crazy historical parallels and ahhhh Easter Egg references.

Read this in two days. I couldn‘t put it down! It‘s a great example of narrative nonfiction which is why I couldn‘t stop turning pages. A look at the lives and world of the men that were responsible for the “lie detector” test and the cases that made this a household name despite its flaws. Really well done. #MCBC pick for February.

Best laid plans …

My holds came in on Challenger and Intermezzo, so I‘m bumping them ahead of my bookspin picks and reading them next.

For the last 7 years I‘ve read a biography based off a list The Washington Post published of the best bios for each president. I was eager to read about Jackson who is almost mythic in American history, &I was interested to see the presumed strengths of his presidency weighed against the weaknesses of his character.This book, unfortunately, didn‘t deliver that.Really disappointed in this rose-colored-glasses view of a man who didn‘t deserve them.

Yes. I was fascinated.