There are other types of reading besides fiction, or more literary works, that we might occasionally enjoy browsing and reading. Other genres include biographies , essays , popular science, entertainment, memoirs, collections of articles, and so on, covering a wide range of topics. This is a selection of six of them, suitable for all tastes. They are works by Stefan Zweig, David González Jara, Mònica Planas, Javier Santamarta del Pozo, Michael J. Fox, and SpainSays.
Messages from a forgotten world —Stefan Zweig
Zweig is one of the key authors of the first half of the 20th century , and this work brings together for the first time in Spanish ten texts — articles , essays , and lectures —that he wrote between 1914 and 1940. Some reflect many poignant memories of a world and experiences that were destined to end with the outbreak of World War II . But Zweig was one of those who raised their voices for peace and unity and rejected the fanaticism of the nationalisms that spread across Europe during an era of unparalleled violence.
A zoo at home —David Gonzalez Jara
In an engaging and humorous style, the author takes us on a tour of the virtual zoo we all have around our homes . He reviews the insects , arachnids , and myriapods , revealing their biology and teaching us about our own. This book might not be recommended for those with obsessive-compulsive tendencies related to cleanliness. Because, as we see, no matter how protected, tidy, and clean our homes are, we'll always have a host of these unsavory creatures keeping us company.
Captain Kirk's kiss — Monica Planas
Who better than a television character of Captain Kirk 's stature to lend his name to this book? It's a journey through the world of television, told in eighty stories and anecdotes. In some of these, we learn how television can be a perfect vehicle for making the world a kinder, more intimate place. But television is also often far from innocent, seeping into our lives more than we can imagine.
There is no better time than the future —Michael J. Fox
Perhaps, and sadly, it is the most representative example and also the one that gave Parkinson's disease the global visibility it enjoys today . In this biography, Canadian actor Michael J. Fox writes his memoirs about the health-related stages of his life, from his early Parkinson's diagnosis to the surgery for a benign tumor on his spinal cord. He recounts them in the first person, reflecting all the health problems he has faced and how they discouraged him at times. He does so in fast-paced chapters, full of memories, reflections, and a great sense of humor , also showing his story of struggle, courage, and resilience as he continues to face the difficult challenges life has dealt him.
Of course, for die-hard fans of the more than mythical protagonist of Back to the Future and so many other titles of the best popcorn cinema of the 80s.
Neither fu nor fuck: English by the face — SpainSays
The folks at SpainSays are a relatively recent phenomenon on social media thanks to their uniquely visual approach to teaching English in the most entertaining way possible. And they've used their signature colors, blue and yellow , for the book's cover. Inside, they've compiled over 300 very Spanish expressions (from all the autonomous communities) which are translated into English in 12, let's call them, learning units. There's also a final appendix that tells the story behind some of the coolest Spanish phrases .
Certainly for all its followers and also to have a good time learning, but above all having fun.
Fake news from the Spanish Empire — Javier Santamarta del Pozo
Javier Santamarta is a political scientist and writer , as well as a lover of history and its dissemination. ABC readers will immediately recognize him because he writes his " Notes from the Chief Spy" column for this newspaper . In this review, told in 10 chapters and with all the sarcasm that characterizes him, he aims to expose the absurd hatred and sectarianism surrounding the history of this country. He does so by highlighting the fact that the use of images and publications to undermine reputations has a long history, and while we now call them "fake news" using the Anglicism , they have always been hoaxes . Here is a thorough examination of that Hispanophobic Black Legend comprised of all those false stories and news reports that circulated from the time Spain became the world's leading power.
For lovers of historical exposition that is entertaining yet informative.