Book Notes

Bestsellers and New in Paperback

Bossypants, by Tina Fey (Reagan Arthur / Back Bay, $15.99)
Also available as an unabridged audiobook read by Tina Fey (Hachette Audiobooks, $29.98)

What’s the only thing funnier than reading Tina Fey’s new memoir? Listening to Tina Fey read Bossypants! Kick back to hear the inimitable Tina Fey be Tina Fey—with her pitch-perfect deliveries, unedited clips from SNL and side-splitting impressions of the Second City improv troupe and 30 Rock cast and crew. The Bossypants audiobook feels like a glorious mix of top-notch stand-up comedy and after-work gabfest with your wickedly smart, hilarious best friend. I can attest that it will fill hours of highway driving with laughter and delight, but don’t wait for your next road trip to enjoy it! - Elizabeth Sher

David Brooks, the New York Times columnist and TV commentator has written a long, 378-page work about a fictional couple to illustrate discoveries about social psychology. This ambitious undertaking is untraditional non-fiction. Punctuated by excursions into modern research in cognitive science, The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement (Random House, $16) follows two main characters, Harold and Erica, as they pass from infancy to adulthood, including careers and marriage, and are largely unaware of the unconscious forces shaping their lives. Consequently the reader understands them far better than they understand themselves.

Brooks writes: "The people studying the mind and the brain are producing amazing insights about who we are, and yet these insights are having a sufficient impact on the wider culture...This book is an attempt to do that. It's an attempt to integrate science and psychology with sociology, politics, cultural commentary, and the literature of success." - Barbara Meade

With Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (Penguin, $16), Amy Chua follows her economic and historical studies, World on Fire and Day of Empire, with a memoir focusing on her approach to parenting. Eschewing what she sees as the permissive Western style for a more disciplined Asian method, Chua recounts how she and her husband raised their two daughters to meet high academic standards, develop a strong work ethic, and respect authority. – Laurie Greer

In her many books on the history of religion (The Battle for God, The Great Transformation), Karen Armstrong has advocated compassion as one of the greatest virtues. In her new book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life (Anchor, $14), she presents practical ways to practice compassion in everday life, including learning how to apply it to others and to yourself, and how to develop greater mindfulness, sympathetic joy, and concern for everyone.  – Laurie Greer

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Saturday, November 26
Think Local First DC – Shop Outside the (big) Box Challenge

Politics & Prose is a member of Think Local First DC, a consortium of local businesses that encourages us all to shop local. We're getting ready for the Shop Local First tour which takes place on November 26 at venues across the city. Learn about the tour, the Shop Outside the Big Box Campaign, or click here to take the Shop Local Challenge and make a commitment to the local, independent businesses that make DC a one-of-a-kind place to live!

On a similar note, American Express is holding a Small Business Saturday promotion to support shopping at small local businesses. AmEx is offering a $25 statement credit if you use your AmEx card for purchases of $25 or more at small businesses, such as Politics & Prose, on November 26th. Note that you need to register your card before making the purchase to take advantage of this deal. Click here for more information.

Book Donation opportunities

Book Angels for Unity Health Care Pediatrics
Politics & Prose invites you to participate in our annual Book Angel Program.  This year, we are collecting new books to donate to pediatric patients at Unity Health Care. Unity Health Care, Inc. operates a network of 30 sites and provides primary and specialty healthcare services to underserved populations throughout D.C., including 13 community health centers, and two school-based centers. Unity has a strong commitment to the promotion of literacy and serves approximately 18,000 pediatric patients from birth to 18 years old. 

The Book Angel Program begins the Saturday after Thanksgiving and runs through December 31, 2011.  Each book that is purchased for Unity Health Care is discounted 20%.  

The ReadysetDC Book Used Swap for Books for Africa

On Wednesday, November 30, 7:30 – 11:30 p.m., Politics & Prose is partnering with ReadysetDC, an online magazine highlighting arts and culture in Washington, D.C. and locally-owned Read's Clothing Project for The ReadysetDC Book Swap. Please bring additional gently used books to The Dunes Gallery, 1402 Meridian Place, N.W., to either donate, or to participate in the swap. Entry is free, with the donation of one book at the door. All collected books will be donated to Books for Africa, a non-profit dedicated to ending the book famine in Africa. All categories are welcome; children's, non-fiction, fiction, poetry, you name it! The evening will also feature music and a cash and credit bar.

Click here for more information.