Some Books Considered - Program 080 from TPR: Some Books Considered

Deborah J. Swiss talks with Dan Skinner about The Tin Ticket: The Heroic Journey of Australia’s Convict Women. We know that Australia was originally populated by male convicts from Great Britain, but less is know about the female convicts who were sent there to populate the island nation. Nearly 25,000 women were ship to Australia, sometimes for petty offenses. The book follows the lives of three convict women and a radical Quaker reformer who sought to improve the conditions of the prisoners. Listen to the podcast.

Some Books Considered - Program 074 from TPR: Some Books Considered

Travis E. Poling and co-author Paul W. Hightower’s book is a guide to nearly three dozen breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs across Texas. The book also provides information about the wide variety of beer styles available in the state. Travis Poling talks about the history of beer in Texas, the recent Craft Beer Movement and shares his thoughts about the future of beer making in the Lone Star State. More information is available at beeracrosstexas.com.

Download the podcast here. See also: The Beer Book, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, How to Brew: Everything You Need To Know To Brew Beer Right The First Time, Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink

Some Books Considered - Program 070 from TPR: Some Books Considered

Novelist Kathy Reichs talks about how her series of books about forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan inspired the television show Bones. She discusses her latest book, Virals, the first in a new series of novels for young adults featuring the Torey Brennan, the grand niece of Temperance Brennan. In addition to be great stories, Reichs hopes that young adults and girls in particular will be inspired to study science and pursue careers in science. More information is available at kathyreichs.com.

Download the podcast here. See also: Virals, Spider Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels), Deja Dead: 10th Anniversary Edition (Temperance Brennan Novels), 206 Bones

Some Books Considered - Program 069 from TPR: Some Books Considered

W. Bruce Cameron’s A Dog’s Purpose is a New York Times best seller. The novel is about a dog named Baily that finds himself reincarnated over the years as various types of dogs in a search for his reason for being. Cameron believes the book has struck a chord with readers because it strives to tell the story of what it is like to be a dog and how dogs relate to humans. Baily is not a “magic” dog with the thought process of a human, but instead he is a real dog with limited understanding of human speech and he must learn how to deal with people through physical interaction. More information is available at brucecameron.com.

Download the podcast here. See also: A Dog's Purpose, 8 Simple Rules for Marrying My Daughter: And Other Reasonable Advice from the Father of the Bride (Not that Anyone is Paying Attention), How to Remodel a Man: Tips and Techniques on Accomplishing Something You Know Is Impossible but Want to Try Anyway, 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter

Some Books Considered - Program 061 from TPR: Some Books Considered

Eric Sass talks with host Dan Skinner about the The Mental Floss History of the United States: The (Almost) Complete and (Entirely) Entertaining Story of America. In the introduction to his latest book, Eric Sass notes that while Americans may be patriotic, it doesn’t mean they know their nation’s history. So, the author set out to create the history book you wish you would have had in school. With detailed outlines, charts and “by the numbers” rounds ups, and trivia, the book explores the myths of history and sets the historical record straight. More information is available at mentalfloss.com.

Check the show out here. See also: The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp Through Civilization's Best Bits

Some Books Considered - Program 056 from TPR: Some Books Considered

Gary Lachman was a founding member of the rock group Blondie. Since leaving the group, Lachman has become a respected author about philosophy. Dan Skinner talks with Lachman about his book, Jung the Mystic: The Esoteric Dimensions of Carl Jung’s Life and Teachings. Jung downplayed his interest and theories about after-death survival, clairvoyance, and synchronicity so that his work in mainstream psychiatry would be taken seriously. However his esoteric beliefs have gained him popularity in today’s alternative spiritual culture.

Listen to the Some Books Considered (SBC) program here (download, save as).

Some Books Considered - Program 057 from TPR: Some Books Considered

October 11, 2010 · Dan Skinner talks with author and cooking teacher Nancie McDermott about Southern Pies: A Gracious Plenty of Pie Recipes, from Lemon Chess to Chocolate Pecan. McDermott talks about the sweet, rich history behind the deserts, including George Washington Carver’s recipe for sweet potato pie. The book contains 60 recipes for both old-school and new-fangled pies for bakers of all skill levels. More information is available at nanciemcdermott.com.

Listen to the podcast here.

Some Books Considered - Program 016 from TPR: Some Books Considered

The search for Immortality has fascinated humanity for ages. Dan Skinner talks with Greg Critser about his book Eternity Soup: Inside The Quest to End Aging. Critser is a science and medical journalist who has written for the LA Times, the Times of London and the New York Times. In his latest book, he examines the sociological impact of a growing elderly population and reviews current research on aging including work being done at the Barshop Institute in San Antonio. Comments from Dr. Steven Austad about research at the Institute are also featured in the interview.

Listen to the show here, or download the podcast here.