A.K. Smiley Public Library has a variety of new non-fiction books waiting to be read. Here are some interesting and random selections for your consideration.
“Tales of Al: The Water Rescue Dog: The Making of a Super Athlete” is written by long-distance swimming legend and author Lynne Cox. Her love of dogs, swimming, and vivid descriptions enhance the story of her experiences learning about Italy’s water rescue dogs at Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio. Dogs at this school learn how to save drowning people in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, often fearlessly jumping out of helicopters to do so. Traveling to Italy to learn firsthand, she follows the training of a young Newfoundland dog named Al and the successful program that has saved many lives in Europe.
Award winning director James Burrows (with Eddie Friedfeld) has authored “Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and More.” James traces his life back to his childhood growing up as the son of a famous playwright. He takes the reader through his early career and behind the scenes of the many sitcoms he has been involved with, including his relationships with the actors and colleagues he has worked with. Aspiring directors will appreciate his insight into some of the technical aspects of his job. Producers, writers, friends, and University of Redlands graduates Glen and Les Charles wrote the book’s forward.
Anyone who enjoys National Geographic films, likes adventure and conservation stories, or who has an interest in filmmaking, will likely find “On Assignment: Memoir of a National Geographic Filmmaker” by James R. Larison intriguing. James photographed, wrote, and produced several environmental films for the National Geographic Society, many times with the assistance of his wife, Elaine. They lived an adventurous life in the wilderness and undersea, eventually including their sons in their travels and assignments. In spite of intense planning and training, risks and danger were always a factor, including surviving a plane crash, a shark attack, and an icefall.