Jenna Schnuer

American Way: Bore No MoreJuly 1, 2010

There's a good chance somebody out there is about to be offended. They'll cry, "What do you mean, you don't find the science of waves instantly and completely fascinating?" For that, we sincerely apologize. But as the saying goes, it's different strokes for different folks, and chances are we aren't the only ones who typically find subjects like classical music history and bread-making techniques a little, well, dry.

Turns out, though, all it takes is a stylishly written guide on these topics to find the "how cool" in the otherwise ho-hum. Here are some books that turn the fascinating factor up full blast.

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American Way: A Graphic RetellingMay 15, 2010

If you were what the book-publishing industry refers to as a young adult anytime after 1967, there’s a good chance that S.E. Hinton played a substantial role in your adolescence. When she was just 18 years old, Hinton published her classic novel The Outsiders, which grabbed hold of several generations of young minds. She followed that up with others, including Rumblefish and That Was Then, This is Now, which also struck a chord with many kids. 

Find out what S.E. Hinton is up to now.

One+: Herd MentalityApril 1, 2010

You'll have to forgive Peter Miller if, when he looks at you and your co-workers, he sees a herd of caribou. Or if, as he watches people heading to a lunch buffet line, fish or chimpanzees come to mind. He's a nice guy. He, most likely, doesn’t think you look like a tuna (or, we assume, he would keep it to himself). And he's not, most certainly, thinking about your individual personality. 

Miller is the author of The Smart Swarm: How Understanding Flocks, Schools, and Colonies Can Make Us Better at Communicating, Decision Making, and Getting Things Done.

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The Book Studio: Book Review: The Lunatic ExpressMarch 8, 2010

 As I started Carl Hoffman's The Lunatic Express: Discovering the World . . . via Its Most Dangerous Buses, Boats, Trains, and Planes, I felt I had, at least, had a taste of what Hoffman experienced (or, it's fair to say, put himself through) for five months. I felt I could, at least, stand in the bus ticket line with him. Wrong wrong wrong.

Read the review on The Book Studio.

American Way: Years in the MakingMarch 1, 2010

 It's hard to believe but it's true: Invisible Man was the first and only novel that groundbreaking author Ralph Ellison published during his lifetime. But Ellison did have plans for a second novel. Lots of plans. The Oklahoma-born Ellison began working on a book about his home state just as Invisible Man was published in 1952. And then he worked on it some more. And then some more. When Ellison died, on April 16, 1994, the novel was still unfinished, but he left behind thousands of pages of manuscripts and notes.

Read about the posthumous publication of Ellison's second novel.

American Way: Fortify YourselfFebruary 15, 2010

February. Blech. It's the most Monday of months. But there are ways to revive your spirit and return your body to its sprightly spring ways, including thumbing through Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life by Dr. Yuan Wang, Warren Sheir, and Mika Ono (Da Capo, $20). It will put an instant spring in anyone's step. "In Chinese medicine, we eat to strengthen ourselves, and to prevent [and] treat illness," Sheir says. Here, six ingredients to turn your February around in one bite.

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American Way: "The End" is Just the BeginningJanuary 1, 2010

The astronomical growth of the self-publishing industry has opened the door for many aspiring authors. But marketing your own work takes some serious energy—and innovation.

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American Way: Talking PointsJanuary 1, 2010

Our conversation took a few side trips down some off-topic tributaries (like growing up in Nyack, New York; teen fights; and more) before we got to the subject at hand—the how-tos and why-it's-worth-its of having an aimless conversation—but as Daniel Menaker, author of A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation (Twelve Books, $20), points out: "Sometimes the best things are in the shadows." Menaker says aimless conversations are a bit of an "endangered species."

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American Way: Guesswork-Free GiftingDecember 15, 2009

Does it seem as though your loved one owns every CD and DVD known to man? Follow our easy-to-use guide to find the perfect present for the entertainment buff in your life.

Get in the flow on the American Way site.

American Way: Reviving VonnegutNovember 15, 2009

Many Americans get their first gander at a Kurt Vonnegut novel early on in high school. That first read seals the deal: Either you’re a Vonnegut fan or you’re not, plain and simple. Those who have fallen on the fan side are still mourning his April 2007 death. Luckily for readers, he left behind a slew of unpublished stories, many of which will be released over the next several years.

Read the piece on the American Way site.