Top 10 Non-Fiction Books

Today, I'd like to present a list of my favourite non-fiction books. This took a bit of thinking - and digging through shelves - in order to arrive at a full ten books. At first I thought I was stumped after just five or six, but as I located hidden gems (I've got them stored two books deep on some shelves), the ideas began to flow again.

My only rule here is NO reference books. And I do have some of those that I love and go to very often. But they don't read as stories by any stretch of the imagination; they serve more as encyclopedias or detailed lists of subject matter. Things like my beloved old copy of Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever (from 2005 - I haven't bothered upgrading the paper copy with all that's on the internet these days), Creature Features: The Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide, the Star Trek Concordance (from 1976, by Bjo Trimble), and the Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies Complete Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. All amazing volumes on their respective specific fields of interest, but they break my one rule for this list.

My list is not in any particular order. These books are like apples and oranges to me; how can I possibly compare them and rank them? Well, I guess I could, but it wouldn't mean much. I'd only want to change the order the next day, next week, and so on. Here we go...

My Top 10 Non-Fiction Books: 

A Pictorial History of Horror Movies, by Denis Gifford - the very first horror movie book I ever bought. I was likely no older than ten years old. Excellent written and photographic examination of the growth of the horror genre in cinema. When I think of certain films, images from this book come to mind. To this day, it's still a go-to for ghoulish knowledge. Yes, it's that good... and fun.

Bossy Pants, by Tina Fey - This hilarious memoir of sorts, written by the SNL alumnus and creator of the award-winning 30 Rock TV show, is so in line with my sense of humour that I've re-read it several times, even just a few pages or a chapter here and there to kill a few minutes. It kills me every time.

Quiet, by Susan Cain - A book all about me! Author Cain extensively researched and here lays out all the facts about introverted people, and how they need to operate in this world of extrovert expectations in order to feel safe, happy, and fulfilled. Between the data and the more people-oriented studies and advice, Quiet serves to assure, calm, and guide the anxious, more reserved people in the world. And maybe even help them prosper.

Grumpy Old Rock Star, by Rick Wakeman - I had tears of laughter in my eyes many times while poring through this one-of-a-kind autobiography. For the uninformed, Wakeman was and still is the brilliant keyboard wizard of the progressive rock band Yes. The band has existed both with and without Wakeman, off and on, since the late 1960's. The completely wacky and unbelievable true stories of his life, both in and out of music, are among the funniest stuff I've ever read. Master musician and primo humourist. And I've got an authographed copy!

On Writing, Stephen King - A highly entertaining and educational memoir-ish book by the master of horror fiction. King imparts valuable knowledge and tips on writing based on his own experiences - both in putting word to paper and simply living life. As an occasional dabbler in knocking out a short story, I found On Writing invaluable and inspiring. And loads of fun.

That's All, Folks!, by Steve Schneider - A colourfully written history of the classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies cartoon shorts of yesteryear. Fascinating information, photos, and artwork from the 'toons make this an engaging read for any fan of animation and their favourite childhood TV characters. I grew up with Bugs, Daffy, and the gang, plus I worked in the industry briefly, so getting this was a no-brainer. 

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott - A user-friendly "guide" to writing, written with smarts and light humour. It was so easy to immediately grasp and put into use the concepts imparted by this very approachable author. A fun and informative book that I've gone through at least a couple of times. I highly recommend it to aspiring writers of any calibre.

Seal Team Six, by Howard E. Wasdin - It's been years since I've read this, so my memory is hazy on the story, but this ex-Navy Seal turns his gruelling experiences getting into and serving with his elite Seal team into a compelling, exciting, and inspiring real-life story. This made me feel like I wanted to become a Seal... yet I knew deep down it was impossible. It takes an extremely tough and committed person to make the grade in Wasdin's world.

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion, by George Thompson - This is among the very few self-help books I've read that really made a difference. Thompson puts his concepts in easy-to-absorb terms so that the reader can immediately begin the journey to more easily navigate verbal confrontations and encourage cooperation. His logic resonated with me and I found it quite do-able to put his ideas to the test. With a little effort, or a lot, I was able to turn things around in some sticky situations and began to build better working relationships.

Sleep, by Nick Littlehales - We all need sleep, and we all need the right amount of sleep. I, like many others, have trouble in this department on a regular basis. It wasn't always this way, but the science presented here helped me discover what my barriers were to a good night's sleep and how to improve that... or at least become better rested even without a full, sound night in bed. Naps are part of the program, but there are rules to doing them. It gets easier with practice and even without following every tip in the book, I know I've benefitted from the enlightening info herein. A small, unimposing book that presents important details in concise chunks. Hopefully, reading this will put you to sleep.

My Western Movie Collection... In A Nutshell

Today is all about the western movie genre. I have seen a fair number of westerns over the years, far more than the piddly few in my home video collection. I enjoyed pretty much every western I've seen (since starting to seriously watch about 25 years ago), in one way or another, but only a handful really stood out for me. And those are the ones I've sought out for my personal collection. I'm very happy with the titles I have, and really only have a couple on my Wishlist (see below).

Gary Cooper as the lawman Will Kane in the legendary High Noon

As I've mentioned elsewhere in my blog (like here), it took me many years to learn to appreciate stories of the Old West. As a kid and teen, I mostly ignored such stuff; it wasn't nearly as sensational as the horror and sci-fi that I loved. The "modern" Hollywood westerns of the 80's and 90's were okay-ish, but I think the only one that really made a mark for me was Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood's 1992 return to the genre. Other than that, it wasn't until into the late 90's and 2000's that I rewatched oldies and saw some newer fare, and developed a true appreciation for the films.

My video collection only contained a few westerns up until the last decade or so, when I began adding more favourites on DVD and especially on Criterion edition Blu-rays. I did, however, own all of the Lonesome Dove TV mini-series and spinoffs since the late 90's/early 2000's... not movies, actually, though the mini-series do play like proper films, with big budgets and even bigger star actors.

The sprawling epics, revenge tales (almost always the case), love stories woven into the fabric of the Old West setting, accounts of hardship and battles fought - these and more  capture my imagination and transport me to the dusty pioneer days of the barely settled plains of America.

The relationship between man and his loyal horse, the earliest American ranches and cowboys, adventures into the wilds of Mexican territory - law-abiding gringos versus desperados and banditos. Just a few of the tropes that became part of the Western in storytelling.

With the law in its most minimal form - usually just a sheriff and his deputy, often poorly qualified for the job - in the small communities, violence and theft was common and often went unchecked. The romance and danger of the era translates so well to the film medium. The beautiful landscapes range from mountains and forests in the northwest States to the desert and rocky canyons of the southwest, and down into Mexico. These lend themselves perfectly to the cinematic treatment: breathtaking sunsets across the picturesque plains, the desert and its mesas and buttes.

The symbolism, metaphors, and subtext in Westerns (at least the ones that bother to work on more than one level) speak to modern world situations, timeless struggles of humanity.

Here is my little list of what amounts to my favourite westerns, a few on DVD, the rest on Blu-ray. It's no coincidence that pretty much all of these are widely considered classics:

My Darling Clementine
Winchester '73 (my favourite film of the genre)
Stagecoach
The Searchers
Rio Bravo
The Wild Bunch
Once Upon a Time in the West
Heaven's Gate
Jubal
3:10 to Yuma (the 1957 original)
The Magnificent Seven
Open Range


And what really started it all for me, these DVDs of made-for-TV series:

Lonesome Dove TV mini-series 
Return to Lonesome Dove
Streets of Laredo
Dead Man's Walk
(all based on the novels by Larry McMurtry)

... and the spinoff regular TV series:

Lonesome Dove: The Series
The Outlaw Years

My Wishlist:

High Noon (the 1952 original), Unforgiven, and maybe another one or two I'm forgetting


That's all for now, pardner... giddyup!

My Most-Watched Movies

Within my sizable collection of films on home video, there are several that have become "go to" movies... the ones that I don't really need a reason to watch, the ones I've seen more than a few times, some even a dozen, or dozens of times.

The movies I've noted below are naturally all-time favourites, but that doesn't necessarily mean I still watch them all the time. Certain ones got a lot more play when I was newer to them, and viewing has tapered off over the years. But they will all remain favourites until the end. As I compiled this list, I considered how many times I'd seen a movie on TV and in the movie theatre... but ultimately, this is about my personal home video collection, whether the VHS tapes of yore, DVDs or Blu-rays.

These aren't in strict order, though the first few entries are definitely top of the list.

Here goes:

Numero uno is undoubtedly Star Wars (AKA: Episode IV, A New Hope). Do I need to explain? I mean, I saw this in the theatre upon its 1977 release... so I've grown up with this as my first nostalgic and impactful memory of Star Wars. It never grows old to watch it, and I even prefer to view the original theatrical cut in all its grainy, rickety glory rather than any slick, modern, digitally altered versions. So there.

Next up are its two sequels, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, both worthy of their high status among my most-watched movies. Again, I opt for the original theatrical cuts over tampered-with re-masters. No latter-day George Lucas messing about for me.

From Russia With Love... well, ALL the James Bond movies, really, but this is my favourite. I'm on a slight hiatus from the 007 flicks, but will likely give them all a look again before the new one hits the big screen. This is the franchise I have embraced the most over the years.

The Wolf Man (1941), my favourite of all the classic Universal horrors. In recent years, it's become a Halloween Eve must-watch. And maybe even another viewing during the year. Beware the full moon...

Creature From the Black Lagoon, my second favourite Universal monster movie, with an incredible creature costume and cinematography

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), the original version rules... the paranoia and thrilling tension are still there!

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), the original, of course. Still an awesome sci-fi classic with a message for the ages.

The Wizard of Oz, seen it dozens of times, I'm sure. This fantasy classic holds up today!

Casablanca, still an excellent classic war-time drama, but I've already done my duty and watched it countless times. I tend to wait a few years between viewings now. 

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, not so much in recent years, but tons back when I was a teen and young man... I can still quote much of its very silly script.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day, this was even a party movie when I was younger... we'd throw it on in the background and tune in and out, mostly in for all the classic Arnie one-liners.

The Thing From Another World, this 50's sci-fi gem continues to entertain me after dozens of viewings... atmospheric and a snapshot of an era

The Thing (1982), I've seen this John Carpenter horror masterpiece almost as much as the original (... From Another World); it's got its own freaky, creepy vibe.

Alien, the king of the sci-fi horrors, this never gets old... still love it - to death

A Clockwork Orange, was a regular in the VHS days... highly quotable ultraviolent Kubrick

The Shining, not so much now but for years it was in regular rotation. Kubrick's renowned supernatural masterpiece.

Connery's commanding presence as 007 is just one of the many

strong points of the second Bond film, From Russia With Love

King Kong, the original 1933 classic... first saw it as a kid and still love the grand adventure and cool (if not totally convincing nowadays) ground-breaking special effects

The Haunting (1963), one of my three favourite ghost horror films of all time. Chilling.

The Changeling (1980), another ghost film favourite... a classy, spooky tale

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, a neat mystery ghost love story... terrific performances and music

Pee Wee's Big Adventure, comedy doesn't get much better than this silly "modern" classic that appeals to the kid in all of us - haha!

Lost in Translation, hey, it's Bill Murray (and Scarlett)... need I say more? My fave of all time. Period.

Amelie, charming and funny French film with enough continental whimsy to capture my heart

Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick's final film has become my favourite of all his work. Creepy and mysterious, enigmatic and visually stunning.

The Ninth Gate, Roman Polanski nailed the eerie supernatural vibe in this Johnny Depp film

Apocalypse Now, the only Vietnam War movie that really made an impression on me. Strong performances, beautiful cinematography, and great use of music make this a vivid experience.

Ip Man, has become perhaps my favourite martial arts film, or modern one at least, since Enter the Dragon must hold the Number One spot. Exciting fight scenes, compelling story, and excellent acting.

Wall-E, the lovable animated robot custodian is a joy to watch, with a heart-warming story that evolves into a cautionary tale to humanity

My Documentary Film Collection... In A Nutshell

Next up, and nearly last up, in my series of genre breakdowns within my home video collection is the documentary. I don't own a lot of documentaries, but as you peruse my little list you'll see a pattern: a lot of music, and a tiny smattering of special interests (like James Bond and Bruce Lee).

Documentaries are not exactly "movies", per se, but let's say "films", since they are, or were, traditionally usually feature length productions captured on film stock with a motion picture camera. Docs aren't stories in the same sense as movies that tell a linear (though sometimes non-linear) tale, a series of dramatized events about characters. So... a documentary is a study of any topic (a person, place, thing, event, or era) and "provides a factual record or report". Okay, enough of the technicalities.

My music documentaries sit intermingled on the same shelf with my concert films, arranged alphabetically by artist name. Yes, for shame, for I am breaking the rules of the Movie Organization Manifesto as dictated by the good people at Film Junk Podcast.

That aside, there are a number of music docs in my modest collection, since I have always been a big fan of the art form. You can see some of my all-time favourite artists and genres here. But not all of my faves are represented, since good documentaries about all musicians aren't always available. That's where my concert films come in... they provide the live show as the main feature, and then in the DVD or Blu-ray extras there are the biographies and behind the scenes/backstage footage and interviews. Maybe not quite as comprehensive as a full-length feature doc, but you take what you can get. And I will not include these here. They are not movies in any sense of the word.

On my shelves, other, non-music docs are separated out from the music-related stuff. Happy now?

So... here is my pitiful little bunch of documentaries:

Anvil: The Story of Anvil (80's Canadian metal band's odyssey from rags to slightly better rags)
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (directed by Ron Howard, a lovingly crafted examination of the early days of the lads from Liverpool)
Bruce Lee: The Legend (an oldie, but still good enough for this chop-socky fan)
The James Bond Story (also an older doc, but a fun ride through 007 land)
Everything Or Nothing - James Bond 007 (a fairly recent look at the fascinating world of Bond)
Metal - A Headbanger's Journey (directed by Sam Dunn, a cool history of metal music)
Global Metal (director Dunn takes his metal fanboy show on the road - loads of fun)
Rush - Beyond the Lighted Stage (Sam Dunn created this excellent and comprehensive doc about Canada's greatest musical export)
Stanley Kubrick - A Life in Pictures (the one, the only... weird, crazy, and genius)
When You're Strange - A Film About The Doors (been a long time, but I loved it)
The Who - The Kids Are Alright (pioneering rock-doc hits all the right notes - my favourite of all?)
YesYears - A Retrospective (for prog-rock fans, this Yes doc excels, exploring all facets of the legendary band's history and music)

My Top 10 Movies of the 90's

Oh, those olden days of the 1990's, when grunge and the Spice Girls ruled the world. And Titanic dominated the box office. Naw, that can't be right.

I had some trouble digging back beyond two decades to sort out my favourite movies of the 90's, but I gave it my best shot. It's possible I forgot and missed some obvious gems that I loved back then (and might still now), so forgive me if my list seems lacking.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day re-defined the action movie,

and set the bar high for those that would follow in its wake

The 90's were responsible for a lot of big, big flicks by big, big directors. Like James Cameron and his Titanic thingy. And Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. Forrest Gump (by director Robert Zemeckis ) was no slouch either. Kevin Costner's Dances With Wolves grabbed Oscars and a healthy paycheque.

This was a decade of a lot of major box-office hits of all kinds, though my personal Top 10 is very genre-heavy. Mostly sci-fi, horror, and action/thrillers.

Oh, yeah.... then Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, snuck in under the wire in 1999. Huge expectations, kinda let down. Cool villain Darth Maul, and great Jedi master Liam Neeson, but boo... that Jar Jar, and that kid Anakin. Too many mixed feelings about the prequels.

Without further rambling, here they are...

My Top 10 movies of the 1990's: 

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (pretty obvious, right? Well, it sure wasn't going to be Titanic)
2. Jurassic Park (forget the story and just feast your eyes on those dinosaurs!)
3. Eyes Wide Shut (a Kubrick masterpiece:  those visuals, music, story, atmosphere... wow)
4. a tie - or a cheat? Sorry, there was no other way: The Double Life of Veronique / Three Colors: Red (both by arthouse film director Krzysztof Kieslowski; both beautiful, moody pieces)
5. Goldeneye (Brosnan's first appearance as James Bond was his best, and it still holds up)
6. Wayne's World, and its sequel... a tie (hey, they're the same hilarious movie, right?)
7. Babe (funny & heartwarming story for the whole family - from the creator of Mad Max!)
8. Bram Stoker's Dracula (weird and chilling re-telling of the legendary tale of the vampire count)
9. The Ninth Gate (cool and freaky mystery-horror with Depp in what I feel is his best role)
10. The Matrix (slick and groundbreaking sci-fi in every way, a visual tour-de-force)

Honorable Mentions - in no particular order:

The Doors

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
The Crow
Rumble in the Bronx
Life is Beautiful
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Wedding Singer
Total Recall
The Iron Giant
Seven
The Silence of the Lambs
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Dumb and Dumber
Stir of Echoes
Point Break