non-fiction

Andrew Busch takes rhetoric seriously – so seriously, in fact, that he authors an entire book exploring how presidential campaigns rhetorically argue about, debate, discuss, and decide on weighty constitutional issues.

The Orwell Prize, Britain's most prestigious award for political writing, has named its winners for 2008. Raja Shehadeh won the Orwell Prize for Books with Palestinian Walks. The book describes, through a series of six walks over 26 years - the destruction of the Palestinian landscape, and how it mirrors the destruction of Palestinian identity and culture.

Lonely Planet said Monday it stands by the accuracy of its travel guides following news reports that one of its authors claimed he plagiarized and invented sections of the books. But author Thomas Kohnstamm later told The Associated Press that his remarks to the Australian newspapers were "taken out of context."

After covering corpses in Stiff and ghosts in Spook, Mary Roach tackled a new (for her) subject in Bonk, sex. In this video from Slate Magazine, Mary Roach discusses the book, including how she and her husband were the first people to be filmed in 4D ultrasound while having sex. Seems up til now, no one knew exactly where the parts inside interacted. Ultrasound pic included.

Frank Zappa’s withering description of rock journalism as “people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read” is not only pithy, but reflects the widely held opinion on the matter.

But there are a few good ones. Kevin Chong outlines the difficulties that make this genre so challenging, and gives The Angel Riots a positive review.

Well, prostitution is the oldest profession, they say, and it’s probably one of the more interesting ones. Here are ten top non-fiction reads about hookers, madams, high-class callgirls and prostitutes, compiled in honor of the Spitzer scandal.

Because everybody has a story to tell, because everyone has a voyeuristic streak and because misery loves the company of someone more miserable. These are the reasons why memoir is now outselling debut novels and makes up 12.5% of non-fiction deals signed. If they’re good, says one publisher, there can never be too many.

The following tips to boost creativity and bust that dreaded writer's block curse came from several sources that I purchased and read. I will tell you exactly why they did not work for me.

Author and Chelsea Hotel resident Ed Hamilton released his book "Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living with Artists and Outlaws in New York's Rebel Mecca." The book, an extension of the Hotel Chelsea Blog started as a chronicle of the outrageous events that always seem to happen at the hotel, but with the removal of the Bards, may be a eulogy of sorts.

Many writers have chosen the time, place and method of their own demise—some with more drama than others. Oddly, Gary Lachman has compiled a collection of extraordinary literary suicides under the title The Dedalus Book of Literary Suicides: Dead Letters. Here is an excerpt featuring ten of the entries.