Tulsa Town Hall 2014-2015
The Tulsa City-County Library suggests the following titles as complimentary reading selections for this
season’s speakers. All titles are available at the library. Visit www.tulsalibrary.org to access our catalog.
Jessica Fellowes “Behind the Scenes of Downton Abbey”
If you’re late in coming to Downton Abbey, the library owns seasons one through four on DVD. In addition
to Fellowes’s books, The World of Downton Abbey (2011) and The Chronicles of Downton Abbey (2012),
you might try the following:
Upstairs and Downstairs: The Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey by Sarah Warwick
(2012). A tour of a day in an Edwardian-era manor begins with the work of servants and culminates in a
dinner party, in a text containing accounts from masters and servants and profiles of such individuals as
Winston Churchill and Virginia Woolf (NoveList).
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnarvon
(2011). Examines the life of Lady Almina, the fifth Countess of Carnarvon, and the events in Highclere Castle
during the First World War (NoveList).
Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid’s Memoir That Inspired Upstairs , Downstairs and Downton
Abbey by Margaret Powell (2012) Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants
Margaret Powell’s classic memoir of her time in service, is the remarkable true story of an indomitable
woman who never stopped aiming high (Syndetic Solutions).
“Conversations with Bill Bryson”
Known for his eclectic interests, depth of research, evocative descriptions of landscapes and ideas, and
sometimes outrageous humor, Bill Bryson has become one of the most popular journalist authors. Below is
a small sampling of his work.
One Summer: America 1927 (2013). Recounts the story of a pivotal cultural year in the United States when
mainstream pursuits and historical events were marked by contributions by such figures as Charles
Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, and Al Capone (NoveList).
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (2006). The author describes his all-American childhood
growing up as a member of the baby boom generation in the heart of Iowa, detailing his rich fantasy life as a
superhero known as the Thunderbolt Kid and his remarkably normal 1950s family life (NoveList).
In a Sunburned Country (2000). Bryson shares accounts of his travels in Australia, which has the friendliest
inhabitants, the hottest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife on the planet (NoveList).
Fareed Zakaria “America in a New World”
First read Zakaria’s work, The Post American World: Release 2.0 (2011) and The Future of Freedom:
Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad (2007), then try these other titles about the future of America.
That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back by
Thomas L. Friedman (2011). Makes recommendations for meeting four major challenges currently facing the
United States, including globalization, the information technology revolution, chronic deficits, and
unbalanced energy consumption (NoveList).
Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power by Zbigniew Brzezinski (2012). Explains
America's vital role in achieving global stability, addressing four major areas of concern while outlining
recommendations for a long-term plan to help America to reclaim and maintain global power and support
(NoveList).
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer (2013). Through an examination of
the lives of several Americans and leading public figures over the past three decades, Packer portrays a
superpower in danger of coming apart at the seams, its elites no longer elite, its institutions no longer
working, its ordinary people left to improvise their own schemes for success and salvation (Syndetic
Solutions).
James Bradley “Doing the Impossible”
Bradley has written three compelling books about critical chapters in American history. They are:
The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War (2009). In 1905 President Teddy Roosevelt
dispatched Secretary of War William Howard Taft on the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in history to Hawaii,
Japan, the Philippines, China, and Korea. Roosevelt's glamorous twenty-one year old daughter Alice served as
mistress of the cruise, which included senators and congressmen. On this trip, Taft concluded secret
agreements in Roosevelt's name. In 2005, a century later, James Bradley traveled in the wake of Roosevelt's
mission and discovered what had transpired in Honolulu, Tokyo, Manila, Beijing and Seoul (Barnes and
Noble).
Flyboys: A True Story of Courage (2003). Relates the story of eight American airmen who were shot down
over Chichi Jima during World War II, one of whom was rescued and later became president of the United
States, and the other seven who were captured by Japanese troops (NoveList).
Flags of Our Fathers (2000). Chronicles one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, focusing on the men
who raised the flag at Iwo Jima (NoveList).
Will Shortz “A Morning with the Puzzle Master”
For additional insight into the world of crossword puzzles try the following documentary and books.
Wordplay (2006). This fascinating documentary film explores the world of the New York Times Crossword
Puzzle, its editor Will Shortz, and its devoted fans, including politicians and celebrities. Also included is nailbiting coverage of the annual crossword competition in Stamford, Connecticut.
From Square One: A Meditation, with Digressions, on Crosswords by Dean Olsher (2009). Explores the
history and enduring popularity of crossword puzzles, evaluating a cultural possibility that society's
fascination with puzzles reflects a metaphorical drive to fill psychological gaps (NoveList).
Crossworld: One Man’s Journey into America’s Crossword Obsession by Marc Romano (2005). Chronicling
his own journey into the world of puzzling—even providing tips on how to improve crosswording skills—
Romano tells the story of crosswords and word puzzles themselves, and of the colorful people who make
them, solve them, and occasionally become consumed by them (Syndetic Solutions).
TCCL welcomes your input to our catalog. You can rate books, movies and music, post comments and
reviews, create lists of books, and much more! Visit www.tulsalibrary.org to begin or ask your librarian for
help.