Books

From happy Neolithic-era accident to inspiration for student protests to tabletop staple, butter has had quite the ride over the past 10,000 years. A new book tells the story.

Spread The Word: Butter Has An Epic Backstory

by Nicole Jankowski

From its origins as a happy accident 10,000 years ago, to its role as the centerpiece of a school "rebellion," the tabletop staple has had quite a life. A new book tells the story.
Shadow of Mordor won awards for its gameplay, but lacks a compelling narrative.

Reading The Game: Shadow Of Mordor

by Jason Sheehan

As part of our occasional series on storytelling in video games, we're looking at a game where the story fails: Shadow of Mordor, which won awards for its gameplay, but lacks a compelling narrative.
The Alps, by Stephen O'Shea

This Trip Through 'The Alps' Is A Little Bit Bumpy

by Heller McAlpin

Stephen O'Shea's quirky travelogue is packed with facts and history, but it's marred by a few odd choices — for example, why visit the famed skiing town of Val d'Isère at the height of summer?