Stranger than Fiction

This year I read fewer books than usual, for some reason. Maybe it’s because I did a lot more travelling and I don’t bring books – I prefer to focus on where I am and, of course, books are heavy. I need reading material only in the airport, so I bring a book or magazine that I plan to leave behind for others. In any case, I managed to complete this year’s Nonfiction Reader Challenge, but not as a “Nonfiction Nosher” (reading and reviewing 12 books, one for each category). I read only eight nonfiction books, with one in each of seven of the challenge categories. So that makes me a “Nonfiction Nibbler,” reading and reviewing 6 books, from any 6 listed categories. My choices: Science: The Neanderthals Rediscovered: How a Scientific Revolution is Rewriting Their Story Sport: How the Hell Did I Get Here? Biography: Maria Theresa of Austria: Full-blooded politician, Devoted wife and Mother-to-all Published in 2023: Ashes & Stones: A Scottish Journey in Search of Witches & W...

The final book I read for the 2023 NONFICTION READER CHALLENGE is in the category Health . This book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor, 2020, received fairly good reviews on various blogs and was also positively reviewed by a blogger earlier this year for the Nonfiction Reader Challenge. But I don’t understand what all the praise is about. This book is about Nestor’s personal experiences with different breathing techniques, but with very poorly supported “research.” The book’s blurb claims that “humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. Science journalist James Nestor travels the world to discover what went wrong and how to fix it.”   However, for most of the information he ‘discovers,’ he gives weak or no support. The notes at the end of the book are rather random. So it was hard for me to believe some of his claims. The first aspect of breathing he focuses on is ‘mouthbreathing,’ noting that breathing through the mouth ...

Minoan Crete: From myth to history by Andonis Vasilakis, 1999, is the book I chose for the 2023 NONFICTION READER CHALLENGE in the category History . I didn’t know much about the Minoans, but after visiting Crete in 2022 I was impressed by the archaeological remains and the beautiful landscape and became curious about the people who had lived there in prehistory. I am also intrigued by the idea of Minoan Crete as the “first civilization.” The book is divided into seven sections detailing: information about the land and people; Minoan mythology; and five historical periods, in chronological order, ranging from the Stone Age to the Third Palace Period (1450-1350 BC). Although there is information about the archaeology of Crete, this is not an academic book on archaeology; there are assumptions without support. For example, “Figurines probably had a religious function and the smallest ones were used as amulets.” There is no further explanation of why Vasilakis ‘knows’ this or where...

The book I read in the category Travel for the 2023 NONFICTION READER CHALLENGE is Porcelain Moon and Pomegranates: A Woman’s Trek Through Turkey by Üstün Bilgin-Reinart, 2007. Bilgin-Reinart was born in Ankara, Turkey but lived most of her adult life in Canada, where she worked as a television journalist. After she moved back to Turkey, she spent time traveling around the country to investigate various issues involving social life, politics and history. This book is a compilation of her travels, interspersed with memories of her upbringing and family and her personal view of life in Turkey. But this is not any kind of travel guide; it is her focus on various issues relevant to Turkey and its history, with descriptions of the areas she travelled to. These issues include: Archeological remains; mother goddess; ancient religion Prostitutes & brothels Honor murders Kurds in the southeast Aspects of gold mining & its effect on the environment I particularly liked...