Library News and Notable New Books

The Crawfordsville District Public Library has a helpful collection of books about computers. Two new offerings are now available. Brian Christian tells what talking with computers teaches us about what it means to be alive in "The Most Human Human". "iPads for Seniors for Dummies" and "Laptops For Seniors for Dummies", both by Nancy Muir, look useful too.

"The Shape of Inner Space" by Shing-Tung Yau explains string theory and the geometry of the universe's hidden dimensions. "The Black Hole War" by Leonard Susskind tells about his battle with Stephen Hawking to make the world safe for quantum mechanics. "Alone Together" by Sherry Turkle discusses why we expect more from technology and less from each other (because technology drains us of human purposes). Then, "Dance of the Photons from Einstein to Quantum Teleportation" comes from Anton Zeilinger who tells about his life work in a lively style, relying on simple cartoons, anecdotes, and a sense of humor, rather than abstruse mathematics, to convey his recent findings. The latest DK book is "Starfinder" the complete beginner's guide to exploring the night sky (the book's cover is clever and fascinating in itself). "Super Structures" the science of bridges, buildings, dams, and other feats of engineering features photos of famous examples around the world.

Three books about food lure us. "The One-Block Feast" is an adventure in food from yard to table by Margo True and the staff of Sunset magazine with 100 recipes made from ingredients in your yard. There are garden plans for all four seasons too. "The Skinny on Losing Weight without Being Hungry" comes from Louis Aronne.

"Sugar Changed the World" is Marc Aronson's title for his story of "magic, spice, slavery, freedom, and science." Peter Gleick offers "Bottled & Sold", the story behind our obsession with bottled water. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" delivers James Carroll's research about how that ancient city ignited our modern world. Francis West's "The Wrong War" explains grit, strategy, and the way out of Afghanistan.

Dick Van Dyke's "My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business" is his memoir of work during the golden age of television. He's always been known for his beaming smile, physical dexterity, good timing, ridiculous stunts, and unforgettable roles.

Here are the latest novels on the shelves. Jeff Shaara's "The Final Storm" opens a new front in his gripping chronicle of World War II as soldiers, sailors, and Marines sacrifice all for one final push toward decisive victory in the fierce maelstrom of the Pacific theater. John Sandford's "Buried Prey" is a mystery in which an entire block on the edge of the Minneapolis loop is being torn down for development, when an unpleasant surprise is unearthed: the bodies of two girls, wrapped in plastic, underneath an old house. Another mystery, "The Complaints" by Ian Rankin, reveals a detective division whose sole occupation is to investigate accusations against fellow police officers. A case comes up linking a promising young police officer with a child-abuse ring.