BOOK REPORTS--

Hollywood Hills by Joseph Wambaugh

A whimsical read about a convoluted art scam.  I hope any Los Angeles cop that reads this book doesn't see much resemblance to his or her real world of police work.  Pure brain anesthesia.


The Ragged Edge of the World by Eugene Linden

Species and cultures are nearing extinction from the polar regions to tropical rain forests and Linden has reported on these events for 40 years.  This book is a compilation of those experiences in Borneo and Machu Picchu, from the Midway Island Atoll to Ndoki, an African pygmy homeland, as examples.  In essence, he takes a peek at what happens when the world's ever increasing march of consumerism collides with pre-historic remnants scattered about the Earth.  I enjoyed the book, both as a travelogue and as a somber reminder of cultural and resource destruction wrought by human presence.


Moby Duck by Donovan Hohn

The book is a true story, part travelogue, part oceanography, part environmental analysis.  It deals with 28,800 bath toys that were lost at sea from a container ship in a storm and Hohn's attempt to measure the environmental impact of plastic products that pollute the world's oceans.  You will learn about the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, a small continent-sized hunk of ocean where currents conspire to trap flotsam in unbelievable concentrations.  His tedious ramblings ultimately drove me to another read...which was


Legacy by James A. Michener

A work of fiction, this book traces the contributions of one family's members from colonial times to the present; in the development of our Constitution and its sometimes not-so-gentle metamorphosis.  It is as it claims to be, an elegant lesson in American history and a delightful story.  Thank you Mr. Michener.