April

759.06 WOL
The Painted Word by Tom Wolfe
You’re standing in front of a “masterpiece” of modern art and you can’t for the life of you understand what youre looking at. Can it be that you just don’t understand modern art? A multitude of museum patrons and general art enthusiasts have had these very same thoughts when they encounter what the art world christened non-representational art or abstract art (including Minimalism, Dadaism, Neo-Plasticism, Abstract Expressionism). In this short treatise, Tom Wolfe exudes his usual cutting wit, poking fun at the haughty, self-important cliques of the New York art world of the post-WWII, especially the art critics who spearheaded the major art movements of the time. A clear and accessible critique that has one questioning whether the theory attached to art is more important than the art created.

781.63092 WIL
Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Beach Boy’s Brian Wilson by Peter Ames Carlin
There’s the genius of surfin’ rock singles and ornate, orchestrated masterpieces and there is the eccentric recluse gone mad due to late-60s’ excess and emotional instability.  Both of these assessments about Brian Wilson are well-documented in rock ‘n’ roll history’s annals, and Carlin is wise not to gloss over these vital threads in Wilson’s life.  Yet, there was a lot more to the complicated life of Brian Wilson than genius, drugs and madness, as life in one of the world‘s premier rock bands (with brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine) certainly heightened the highs and lows experienced by Brian. The biography succeeds in developing the Wilson brothers’ relationship with their abusive father, the departure of Brian from touring, and years later, from the group itself, when they would become something of a nostalgia act.  What’s particularly interesting is the inclusion of material up until Brian’s triumphant resurrection of the lost Beach Boy’s album, Smile, in 2004.  This is not simply an entertaining read for Beach Boy’s fans, as it also satisfies those interested in music, familial conflict and friendship, and eccentric genius. 

530.1 HEI
Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science by Werner Heisenberg
Neither physics nor philosophy typically makes for a compelling read for those of us outside of the academic disciplines.  Despite this possible deterrent, Heisenberg makes the subject clear for the reader so that they are able to appreciate how the history and progress of physics, specifically during the early 20th century, has fundamentally changed the way we think about life and the world we live in. Heisenberg has an expertise few can claim, being a Nobel Prize winner of physics and one of the founders of quantum mechanics, therefore his perspective is unique and enlightening throughout this work. The book interweaves key ideas and events in the history of physics and philosophy and discusses the interchange of ideas back and forth, simultaneously engaging some of humanity’s most important and lively questions. Admittedly, Heisenberg is dealing with a difficult subject for most, and occasionally one might need to read over a passage a couple of times to get a coherent idea of what he is saying. This should not sway readers from working through this thoughtful and important work that allows a glimpse into a time when the men of physics were turning the world on its head.