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 EINSTEIN: HIS LIFE AND UNIVERSE
by Walter Isaacson
I almost didn’t read this book. I do not have a scientific background, and I was intimidated. However, Isaacson does not have a scientific background either, and I’ve liked some of his previous work, so I gave this book a shot, and I’m glad I did. It’s challenging. I had to read slowly and drink a lot of cool water during the science chapters, but I did come away with a better of understanding of Einstein and his significance. No, I still don’t understand relativity, and I only hazily understand quantum mechanics. But I do have a sense of Einstein’s place in the world of physics. I also have a better sense of his cultural significance in the first half of the twentieth century. All in all, this book is not a light read, but it’s rewarding.
 THE MEANING OF EVERYTHING: THE STORY OF THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY
by Simon Winchester
I know what you are thinking. Only an English teacher would read a book about making a dictionary. I understand. Laugh at me if you want to. But honestly, this is a interesting book. Did you ever stop to think about how a massive dictionary comes into being? About the mind boggling effort and intelligence required? This book tells the story. It took the better part of the century. Some odd people made remarkable contributions. There is murder and insanity, but most of all great commitment and creativity. I enjoyed it a lot.
 CHARLES DARWIN: A BIOGRAPHY
by Janet Browne
I am interested in people who transcend their historical moments. Darwin was a typical Victorian in many ways, but in the end he is interesting because of how he transcended 19th century thought. With rich and varied detail, this biography places Darwin in his cultural context. It also demonstrates how hard Darwin worked and how much pleasure and anguish he experienced on his intellectual journeys. Be warned however. This is long. In fact, it’s two volumes. The first is subtitled Voyaging. The second is subtitled The Power of Place. But if you like this sort of thing, both are well worth reading.
 THE MOST FAMOUS MAN IN AMERICA: THE BIOGRAPHY OF HENRY WARD BEECHER
by Debby Applegate
It is interesting to read about how one of the most famous men of the 19th century has become almost unknown in the 20th. The book’s real strength, however, is its portrait of the dramatically shifting social, economic and moral landscapes of 19th century America. The book illustrates well how religion adapts to cultural changes. The book contains a strong narrative thread and vivid portraits of interesting people.
 THE FORGER'S SPELL: A TRUE STORY OF VERMEER, NAZIS, AND THE GREATEST ART HOAX OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
by Edward Dolnick
This book tells an amazing story. I know nothing much about painting, but I learned a lot about Vermeer, about art criticism, about techniques--both modern and historical, and a whole lot else. But mostly this is a book about humanity's tendency to see what it expects to see and wants to see. An enjoyable read.
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