American Whiskey Bourbon & Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Favorite Spirit is by Clay Risen. The extremely interesting and informative book covers an array of material. In addition to rating and describing more than two hundred whiskeys, the author gives a brief history of whiskey distillation in America, defines exactly what whiskey is, offers tips on how to read a whiskey label, and how to enjoy a whiskey tasting. The author does not include white (un-aged) whiskey in his recommendations. Risen does give brief descriptions of the different types of whiskey—single malt, bourbon, rye, corn, Tennessee, scotch, Irish, Kentucky. For instance, according to U. S. regulations, “any spirit labeled bourbon must meet the following requirements: bourbon must be produced in the United States (not necessarily in Kentucky), the spirit may not exceed 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume), must be distilled from a fermented mash of no less than 51% corn, and the whiskey must be stored at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume) in charred new oak containers.” This is an interesting guide for anyone; whether or not you choose to imbibe.

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Rock Breaks Scissors: a Practical Guide to Outguessing & Outwitting Almost Everybody is by William Poundstone. According to the author, we are all hard-wired to anticipate the actions of others; however, most people are poor at it and wind up making bad bets on “trends” and “winning streaks” that are merely fantasies. Realistically, though, human behavior is surprisingly predictable—if you know a few psychological tricks. The author gives you the reader these tricks and tips on how to use them to take advantage of everyday situations, from playing the lottery to predicting a department store sale; from cracking a password to spotting an inflated expense account. Poundstone bases his methods on one principle: people are unable to act randomly. We instead display unconscious patterns in our decision making process that a savvy person can outguess.

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Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball is written by John Feinstein. In his latest book, sports journalist Feinstein gives us an intimate look at the colorful and intriguing world of minor-league baseball. All major-league players pass through this portal and hope never to return. The minor leagues are a bit of a conundrum. For some, they are a springboard for years of fame and fortune; for others they become the last resort of those whose injury or poor playing forces them back onto cramped buses and life in obscure ballparks. Feinstein introduces nine unique players at the Triple-A level—one step beneath Major League Baseball. He uses the stories of these three pitchers, three position players, two managers and an umpire to give us a glimpse of a league that is full of gifted men who are only moments away from getting called up—or back—to the majors.

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Victory at Video Poker by Frank Scoblete is billed as “the complete guide to playing and winning at the fastest-growing games in the casinos.” In this user’s guide, the author explains that some video-poker machines are rigged games and can defeat even the most seasoned player. However, Scoblete tells you where these machines are and what to do if you want to play them. He also offers a definitive guide to those games that are on the up-and-up. You will learn which games to play and which to avoid as well as the best strategies for walking away while you’re still ahead. Scoblete also offers strategies for winning at video blackjack, video craps, and video keno. He contends that these games offer a combination of strategy and chance that can yield long-term wins—if you know which machines to play and how to play them.

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A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at One Hundred is by George F. Will. This personal look at Wrigley Field, the home of the unlucky Chicago Cubs, celebrates its milestone centennial anniversary. Will’s book examines not only the beauty of the field, but also the unforgettable stories and the larger-than-life characters that brought both glory and scandal. Will covers everyone from P.K. Wrigley and Babe Ruth to Veeck, Durocher, and Banks. The author uses and engaging style and a sense of humor to explore his own childhood connections to the team, the future of the Cubs and what it is that keeps the long-suffering fans rooting for their home team. This is not just the story of Chicago or of baseball; it is a story about America itself.

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Games Creatures Play is a collection of short stories edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner. This group of fifteen stories features tales of killer competition that would make the most tough, skilled players beg to be benched. In Charlaine Harris’s entry, Sookie Stackhouse teaches Manfred Bernardo all she knows about softball. William Kent Krueger’s “Hide and Seek” proves that life-and-death stakes can make the competition downright serious. In “False Knight on the Road” by Mercedes Lackey, a high-stakes drag race between a crafty young bootlegger and a mysterious stranger is made more perilous by foggy conditions on the mountain. A young girl learns the true story behind a curious bit of neighborhood folklore in Laura Lippman’s “Ice.” Seanan McGuire’s “Jammed” features a chimera set loose upon a Roller Derby match. Just who will the skaters be passing when the buzzer sounds? These supernatural sporting stories plus ten others will keep you rooting for your favorite team.