Book Nook

Euphemistic language is a staple of polite conversation. We use euphemisms to dance around delicate subjects. We say someone has "passed away" when we don't wish to say that they have died. We refer to the "restroom" when we don't want to say that we are headed off to the toilet. The term "friendly fire" is a military euphemism for the unfortunate occasions when soldiers have killed their fellow soldiers by mistake.

Only two American presidents have ever endured an impeachment trial: Andrew Johnson, and Bill Clinton. One other president, Richard M. Nixon, resigned from office before the terms of his impeachment could be drawn up.

Andrew Johnson was Abraham Lincoln's Vice President. After Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson became President. Those were strange times. Lincoln was a Republican. Johnson had been the only southern U.S. Senator who opposed the secession by the southern states which led to the Civil War. Johnson was a southern Democrat. He didn't have any major quibbles with slavery.

Tony Shaffer's publisher was all set to release his memoir when the Department of Defense stepped in and demanded that the entire first edition be destroyed. They pulped it.

This action was most unusual in light of the fact that Shaffer, a former US intelligence agent in Afghanistan, had previously obtained all the proper clearances to publish his book. The DOD then proceeded to censor significant portions of it. The book was eventually published in a heavily redacted version. Why is the DOD so worried about what Shaffer has to say?

Amanda Hesser spent the last six years sifting through the archives of the New York Times to search out the best food recipes that have appeared in that newspaper over the past 150 years. The result is "The Essential New York Times Cookbook-Classic Recipes for a New Century." This massive cookbook could be destined to become a classic.

Most WYSO listeners are probably familiar with the work of Bill Felker. Bill is the creator of the WYSO program "Poor Will's Almanack."

Bill has been observing the natural world for decades. His observations, reflections, meditations, and anecdotes appear regularly in a number of publications including the Yellow Springs News.

Every year he publishes a new edition of "Poor Will's Almanack." His 2011 edition was just published. In this Book Nook interview Bill explains his process for devising these annual almanacks.