bobby fischer goes to war (2005)

Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time (David Edmonds, John Eidinow)

for you chess fanatics out there, yes, all three of you, this is a must-read. along with fred waitzkin's two books (searching for bobby fischer and mortal games) of course. similar to waitzkin's book, bobby fischer goes to war is just a story told through the prism of chess and not an instructional manual. in fact, even those who couldn't identify a rook versus a bishop should get sucked into the drama.

poplorica (2004)

Poplorica : A Popular History of the Fads, Mavericks, Inventions, and Lore that Shaped Modern America (Martin J Smith, Patrick J Kiger)

twenty or so short chapters about how things like nylon stockings, air conditioners, tv dinners, dr j's dunk, and the betty ford clinic started and have influenced our lives. incredibly interesting but in the end, not exactly a book you'd re-read or have reason to own.