Great Reading: More Excellent Titles

TOTALLY MAD

Edited By John Ficarra

Time Home Entertainment $34.95 Cheap

If you’ve been a fan of Alfred E. Neuman and MAD Magazine during the past 60 years, you’ve probably already stopped reading and are on your way to the bookstore for a copy. Stephen Colbert and Eric Drysdale add to the years of humor, satire, stupidity and … stupidity. I almost spilled my coffee on the table laughing as I paged through this oversized coffee table book. Bonus: A portfolio of Alfred photos is included in each copy.

THE THIRD BULLET

By Stephen Hunter

Simon And Schuster $26.99

It’s 50 years since the JFK assassination, and Bob Lee Swagger has no interest in conspiracy theories contradicting the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. That is until he is handed a clue pointing to the third bullet, the one that killed Kennedy, which unlike the first two, exploded on contact. Obviously, a second rifle (and shooter) was involved, and Swagger begins asking questions not asked before. A former CIA agent takes over the narrative, confessing his involvement in the assassination. Soon, both parties are in a fight to the death. It’s fiction, but plausible.

The MANSION OF HAPPINESS

By Jill Lepore

Knopf $27.95

Harvard Professor Jill Lepore reprises many articles she’s written for The New Yorker magazine that are still as provocative as ever. Do we, as famous physician William Harvey imagined in the early 17th century, originate from eggs? Like chicks? Not so, as we now know, but back in King James I’s time, it was believed conceivable. (No pun intended). As for dying, that used to occur at home until the 1950’s when it moved to hospitals where doctors and machines worked to prolong life, until by the 1960’s, the dying put off death for at least 80 days before passing. “The longer we live, the longer we die.”

THE BIBLE and the Believer

BY Enns Brettler & S.J. Harrington

Oxford University Press $27.95

Three distinguished biblical scholars discuss their Bibles, critically and historically. Jewish biblical scholar Marc Zvi Brettler explains that in the Jewish version, interpretation is crucial, while Roman Catholic biblical scholar Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., states that Christian bibles contain the New Testament, which makes an “enormous difference” and Protestant biblical scholar Peter Enns says that Protestants believe the bible is the supreme religious authority. Each essay is followed by comments from the other two writers, greatly enriching this study.

NYPD RED

By James Patterson & Marshall Karp

Little, Brown $27.99

In this super suspenseful novel, the Special Police Task Force charged with protecting movie celebrities during a Hollywood Festival is strained to the breaking point. And when a famous producer fatally collapses at breakfast, apparently from poisoning, Detective Zach Jordan and his beautiful partner (and former girlfriend) work to find the killer. But this turns out the least of their problems as a psychopathic killer threatens to send all New York into chaos. This is another Patterson thriller hard to put down.

DICTIONARY OF UNENDURABLE ENGLISH

By Robert Hartwell Fiske

Scribner $40

Have you noticed the misuse of words and expressions in emails, newspapers, and conversation? Two frequent examples are the use of “loose” for “lose,” (I hope you don’t lose (not loose) your purse); and “appraise” for “apprise”. (I’ll appraise the property and apprise you of the value.) This dictionary has earned a permanent place on my desk and should be on everyone’s.

THE YAT DICTIONARY

BY Christian Champagne

Lavender Ink $12

If you’re not from New Orleans, you may find some of the language strange, yet charming. Such as, “How’s yo momma an dem?” “Tawk” the tawk, which means, for the uninitiated, “lyin troo ya teet.” With over 500 words and expressions defined in this little book, you’ll be tawking like a native in no time. Get one for your visitors, too, for sho.

“Totally Mad”

John Ficarra, editor of Mad Magazine, is pictured. “Totally Mad,” chronicling 60 years of the magazine’s history, features commentary buy Stephen Colbert and Eric Drysdale in its categorization of “Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity.”

COURTESY LUIGI NOVI

“The Third Bullet”

“The Mansion of Happiness”

“The Bible and the Believer”

“NYPD Red”

“Dictionary of Unendurable English”

“The Yat Dictionary”