by Hannah E. Sternberg
Nonfiction
Soft as a Petal: A History of the World, Told through HandkerchiefsJason Smithson
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| Hannah Sterberg |
This elegant little history is an excellent primer for anyone fascinated with the role of textiles in law, love, and literature. Many authors of popular history have hunted for the perfect "frame story" that would inspire general readers to make sense of the long and tangled threads of world civilization. Smithson's
Soft as a Petal puts it in your back pocket. From the hankie's humble beginnings as an all-purpose rag and surrender flag for meek craftsmen on ancient trade routes, to its heyday in Victorian parlors, its near-extinction after the disposable tissue revolution, and its triumphant renaissance alongside the return of the handlebar mustache in the 21st century, the common pocket handkerchief has seen virtually every major turning point of history. Smithson weaves the hankie's story in a humorous, readable style that will make this book one to reach for for years to come.
Runners-up
Eating Will Kill You: The definitive diet book of 2012. Don't miss 2013's
The "Eating Will Kill You" Cookbook: 415 Recipes That Will Leave You Hungry for Less.
Guiscard's Lists: Famous People Who Aren't Dead Yet: Perhaps the most useful
Guiscard list book this year, it will save you from embarrassing mishaps. Sadly, this one only made our runners-up because of our doubts about its enduring relevance.
Continue reading this humorous post at
Hannah's own site here.
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