Does time seem to pass faster as we age? According to Richard Friedman, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, there may be a way to slow our perception of the speed of time. In a NY Times article Dr. Friedman explained that childhood years seem to unfold more slowly because of the number of new experiences and skills we are forced to absorb in our youth. The greater the learning demand, the longer its duration is perceived to be. Conclusion: If you want to slow down the passage of time, become a student again. Learn something new. Borrow a nonfiction book from the Lititz Public Library.
Out of Order: Stories from the History of the Supreme Court by Sandra Day O’Connor
Pioneer jurist sheds light on the traditions, turning points and inner workings of the Supreme Court.
A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
Each chapter features a handmade object or set of objects from the British Museum that illustrate the story of human societies.
Signing Their Rights Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the United States Constitution by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese
Collected biographies capsulize the lives of 39 men who signed the Constitution, including the mysterious Gunning Bedford and William Blount, a con artist and thief from North Carolina.
Serving Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard
A profile of ladies and gentlemen of the household called on to provide a variety of services for the queen, including lady of the bedchamber, superintendent of the nursery, maid-of-honor and resident medical attendant.
The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds by Julie Zickefoose
A wild bird rehabilitator and nature artist describes her painstaking efforts to rescue injured birds and her experiences when those birds come back to visit.
When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs and Money in the Age of Sail by Eric Jay Dolin
Ancient China collides with newfangled America in 1784, when the ship Empress of China became the first American trader.
Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation’s Treasures from the Nazis by Robert M. Edsel
In May 1944, two Americans began tracking billions of dollars of missing Renaissance art, Vatican treasures and Roman antiquities plundered when Hitler’s armies occupied Italy in 1943.
Here Is Why: Discovering America’s Great Forgotten History by Andrew Carroll
Find out about events that took place in near-forgotten places like a railroad stop in New Jersey where Lincoln’s son was saved from an accident by John Wilkes Booth’s brother or the crash landing of a Japanese plane on a private Hawaiian island in December 1941.
America Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms by Chris Kyle with William Doyle
A crack sniper describes the most important American firearms, from a flintlock rifle to a Colt revolver to the latest high-tech-weapon he used as a Navy SEAL.
Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible: The Fascinating History of Everything in Your Closet by Tim Gunn with Ada Calhoun
A fascinating, meticulously researched study examines everything people wear, including the history of the high heel, the origin of blue jeans, and how t-shirts transitioned from underwear to fashion staple.
Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
The events of the Boston battle that ignited the American Revolution are recounted, tracing the experiences of Patriot leader Dr. Joseph Warren, a newly recruited George Washington and British General William Howe.
Top Gear: The Cool 500 by Matt Master
Learn about the most innovative cars made since Karl Benz first started up his Patent-Motorwagen in 1885.
American Eden: From Monticello to Central Park to our Backyards by Wade Graham
Americans reveal something about their personalities, desires, beliefs and cultural dynamics through the gardens they create.
Railroads and the American People by H. Roger Grant
Lasting from 1830 to 1930, the golden age of American railroads shaped the country and witnessed the birth, life and death of many towns.
Just My Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield
A history of typeface and the lives of great typographers reveals how fonts shaped and helped to define the world.
What Are You Looking At?: The Surprising, Shocking and Sometimes Strange Story of 150 Years of Modern Art by Will Gompertz
Beginning with Impressionism, the author introduces the artists, explains the ideas, describes the techniques and provides insights into the societies that produced modern art movements.
Originally published on August 2, 2013 in the Lititz Record Express.