Smart reads: Whether you’re a full-time student or a full-time non-student, some books for your brain

By Dominique Wald dwald@dnews.com

Not only are textbooks extremely expensive, they also can be extremely boring. 

Page after page of mundane information can make life pretty dull. If you’re in the mood for a brain break, check out one of these page-turners, suggested by Lewiston librarian Erin Wallace, that are both a fun read and informative. Alphabet juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips and Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, and Essences; With Examples of their Usage Foul and Savory Author Roy Blount Jr. has spent 40 years making a living using words in every medium and still can’t get over his ABCs. If you ever wonder why the word “wince” makes you wince or why so many h-words have to do with breath, this book is for you.

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth Written by Col. Chris Hadfield, this book takes readers deep into Hadfield’s years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. His experience has taught him some counter-intuitive lessons, such as “do what others think and always sweat the small stuff.” Hadfield teaches readers how to think like an astronaut, and will possibly change the way you view life on Earth.

Back to school: 1,001 Facts you Learned and Forgot in High School Prepare yourself for a blast from the past with this book, written by Benjamin Smith. If you’ve forgotten Sir Isaac Newton’s second low of motion, or are unsure when you use a colon in a sentence, this book has got four years worth of high school crammed into easy-to-read entries.

How We Learn: The Surprising Truth about When, Where and Why it Happens Author and award-winning science reporter Benedict Carey sifts through decades of education research to uncover how our brains absorb and retain information. Carey answers questions like can changing your routine improve your memory and can distractions sometimes be good for you.

Math Geek: From Klein bottles to Chaos Theory, a Guide to the Nerdiest Math Facts, Theorems, and Equations This book is definitely for the biggest of math fans. Author Raphael Rosen gives readers a glimpse of the world through the eyes of renowned mathematicians and how math, can in fact, be applied to almost everything you encounter in life.

Rock Breaks Scissors: A Practical Guide to Outguessing and Outwitting Almost Everybody Written by William Poundstone, this book teaches you how to outguess everything from multiple choice tests to the stock market. Poundstone explains to the reader how to overcome errors and increase the accuracy of your outguessing.

Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation Most of us are familiar with Bill Nye as “The Science Guy,” but with “Undeniable” Nye evaluates the true promise and peril of genetically  modified food, reveals how new species are born and explains why race doesn’t really exist.