Library Notes Week of May 4

I hope you noticed the new furniture in the library? Actually we had the old pieces recovered and they look wonderful. It was made possible by memorial donations made in the name of Corinne Hajek, a former trustee of the library. This was one project she started, but never had an opportunity to finish. She wanted to have the furniture freshened up and I think she would be pleased with the results.

When you come in to admire the furniture, check out the new books shelf. Maybe one of the following would be of interest.

Idea Man by Paul Allen. Paul Allen, best known as the cofounder of Microsoft, has left his mark on numerous fields, from aviation and science to rock 'n' roll, professional sports, and philanthropy. His passions and curiosity have transformed the way we live. In 2007 and again in 2008, Time named him one of the hundred most influential people in the world. While much has been written about Microsoft's early years, Allen has never before told the story from his point of view. Nor has he previously talked about the details of his complex relationship with Gates or his behind-closed- doors perspective on how a struggling startup became the most powerful technology company in the world. Idea Man is the candid and long-awaited memoir of an intensely private person, a tale of triumphant highs and terrifying lows.

The Forgotten Founding Father: Noah Webster by Joshua Kendall. Kendall honors Webster's crucial contributions to early American nationalism, which extended far beyond his primary obsession, the written word. He paints a complex portrait of Webster a man he claims "housed a host of contradictory identities: revolutionary, reactionary, fighter, peacemaker, intellectual, commonsense philosopher, ladies' man, prig, slick networker and loner." In spite of his flaws, Webster, belongs among the ranks of America's notable founders, associating with George Washington and Ben Franklin, among others, to craft an early American identity rooted in national pride and a distinctly American lexicon.

The Best Advice I Ever Got by Katie Couric. What was the tipping point for Malcolm Gladwell? What unscripted event made Meryl Streep who she is? How did Mario Batali cook up his recipe for success? In this inspiration-packed book, Katie Couric reports from the front lines of the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, philanthropy, the arts, and business—distilling the ingenious, hard-won insights of leaders and visionaries, who tell us all how to take chances, follow our passions, cope with criticism, and, perhaps most important, commit to something greater than ourselves.