Modernism in China: Architectural Visions and Revolutions
by Edward Denison and Guang Yu Ren



I hate the Chinese, but I'm oddly attracted to their modernism. It's so modern. With its modern moderns and their modernist modern things. Incidentally, was James Joyce Chinese, because all his books are incomprehensible to me?

World War I: The African Front: An Imperial War on the Dark Continent
by Edward Paice



The title of this book has not one but two colons in it. That means not only is it twice as good as any one-colon book, but it gets to have a doctor stick his finger up its ass twice as often as usual. Yes, that was obvious and dumb. Also obvious and dumb: that we only think of France when we think of WWI.

Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America
by editors



The medium is the message of God. Too bad it only focuses on print media, because print is boring. I want God with laser shows and rock music and that guy from Creed shouting at me. And a big-ass subwoofer attached to a car that bounces up and down whenever there's a black guy in it. Religion, fool: get it.

Race, War, and Remembrance in the Appalachian South
by John C. Inscoe



A look at how what we remember may not be what was and the ways in which the differences, whether intentionally created or not, affect the present and the future. Historical memory is an interesting field and this book looks interesting. So put down that Oprah Book Club selection (I know you buy them religiously) and read a real book for once. You know: one you have to concentrate on somewhat and will probably not enjoy reading on the can.

The Revolution Continues: New Art From China
by The Saatchi Gallery



Books about China sure are popular in these pre-Olympic, post-Chinese ascendancy days. Here's one about Chinese art that has a funny cover. That man, he so red. He so red, he hurt my head. Go China. Go China.

Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer
by Tim Stark



I wonder if books like these are popular because people still want to believe it's possible to toss away their own 9-5 jobs in the city and settle down successfully performing a romanticized version of work that's "close to the earth". Either that, or it's the eco-trend. Either way, this guy's life seems like it was written by a Hollywood producer in between meetings on a paper napkin in red crayon.

The Man on Mao's Right: From Harvard Yard to Tiananmen Square, My Life Inside China's Foreign Ministry
by Ji Chaozhu



I don't trust politicians, but sometimes they inadvertently tell the truth. Whether that happens in this memoir by a Chinese guy who held posts in both the Chinese government and the UN is hard to say (actually, it's not: the answer is no). But even if you don't learn anything true, at least your heart will be warmed, for this book "recounts the heartfelt struggle of a man who loved two powerful nations that were at odds with each other." How romantic. I wonder which country gets the girl and if they all learn to get along.