YouTube may be able to teach me how to do just about anything, but I’m still drawn to well-designed, thoughtfully edited, instructional books. Two I’ve consulted repeatedly over the years:
The New Victory Garden by Bob Thomson. I acquired this how-to guide back in 1987, when I was planting my first vegetable gardens, and it’s been a trusted resource ever since. It approaches gardening as a yearlong campaign, with each chapter presenting a month’s tasks. My only quibble is it doesn’t offer psychological counseling to help with gardening’s inevitable, soul-crushing disappointments.
You Can Teach Hitting by Dusty Baker (and others). A quirky pick, I realize, but one that baseball coaches and players will appreciate. I bought my now dog-eared copy 20 years ago when I was enlisted to coach my son’s Little League team. The design, photography, and clear language throughout all help ease the pain of what every kid (and creaky old-timer) soon discovers: hitting a baseball consistently is very difficult. Baker’s MLB success makes him a voice of authority, but what comes across even more strongly is his compassion for those of us whose love for the game far exceeds our ability to play it.
Other books that have left an impression:
Straight Man by Richard Russo – has hilarious resonance for anyone living in a college town.
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby – let me hang out with characters who are even more neurotic and obsessed with music than I am.
Growing Up by Russell Baker – showed me how a gifted journalist can sift significance from life’s everyday moments.