Top 5 Books on Ron Swanson's Book Shelf

Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson may not be a fan of the library...

but his bookshelf is probably stocked with these Swanson-approved titles:

5. The New Case for Gold

by James Rickards, Portfolio, $26.00, ISBN: 9781101980767, Hardcover

Ron's belief in the value of gold is prevalent throughout the series and his hiding places are intricate and nearly impossible to find.

"I've heavily invested in gold which I've buried in several different locations around Pawnee...or have I?" <sneaky look to camera>

4. The Wealth of Nations

by Adam Smith, Modern Library, $26.95, ISBN: 9780679424734, Hardcover

Ron Swanson's love of America is legendary and, after all, what's more American than capitalism?

"Capitalism is the only way.  It's what makes American great, England okay, and France terrible."

3. My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles

by Martin Gardner, Dover Publications, $5.95, ISBN: 9780486281520, Paperback

How much does Ron Swanson love solving riddles?  I'll let him tell you...

"I hate riddles and other such nonsense, I want that on the record."

2. The Furniture Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Identify, Restore & Care for Furniture

by Christophe Pourny, Artisan, $35.00, ISBN: 9781579655358, Hardcover

"After I got home, I drank six more glasses of whiskey and then I finished crafting this small harp, using a band-saw, a spoke-shave, and an oscillating spindle sander."

1. Man Up!: 367 Classic Skills for the Modern Man

by Paul O'Donnell, Artisan, $14.95, ISBN: 9781579653910, Paperback

Above all, Ron Swanson is a man's man and he doesn't take kindly to weakness...

"Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men.  From men into gladiators.  And from gladiators into Swansons."

Click here for more Parks and Rec children's book covers.

Top Five Literary References from FX's 'Archer'

'Archer' is full of random cultural references, some more obscure than others...

A running theme throughout the series, though, has been Archer's many literary references. Below are the top five referenced most often and/or are the ones that made me laugh the most.

5. Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls, Yearling Books, $7.99, ISBN: 978-0440412670, Paperback
Referenced in Season 2 Episode 4: "Pipeline Fever" and Season 5 Episode 6: "Baby Shower"

Synopsis: A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters.

***

Archer: I'll plant a red fern for ya jug.

***

Remy (to his dog, Annie): And some guard dog you is!  Annie!  Annie?  Aw, well that's just great.  Now both my dogs is dead!  (pan to shot of Old Dan's grave)

4. Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck, Penguin Books, $11.00, ISBN: 978-0140177398, Paperback

Referenced in Season 2 Episode 2: "A Growing Concern"

Synopsis: Two laborers, George and Lennie, work from ranch to ranch in the Salinas Valley of the 1930s, frustrated in their hope of having a place of their own.

***

Len: Actually can I have all of it?  And the bunny attached to it?  He is attached, right?  Can I have the bunny and the lettuce?

Archer:

Len: And the lettuce!

Archer: ...sure thing.  Go to town.

Len: Yeah, 'cause you know...they're brothers.

Archer: Um...is he always gonna be like this now because I feel bad.

3. Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street

by Herman Melville, in Billy Budd, Bartleby, and Other Stories, Penguin Books, $11.00, ISBN: 978-0143107606, Paperback

Referenced in Season 1 Episode 6: "Skorpio"

Synopsis: A Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk who, after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to make copy and any other task required of him, with the words "I would prefer not to."  The lawyer cannot bring himself to remove Bartleby from the premises, and decides instead to move his office, but the new proprietor removes Bartleby to prison, where he perishes.

***

2. The Hobbit

by J. R. R. Tolkien, Del Rey Books, $8.99, IBSN: 978-, Paperback

Referenced in Season 1 Episode 8: "The Rock," Season 2 Episode 4: "Pipeline Fever,"Season 2 Episode 13: "Double Trouble," Season 4, Episode 2: "The Wind Cries Mary," and Season 6 Episode 9: "Pocket Listing"

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return.

***

Archer: Let's see, so judging from the shell ejection she was firing at...What I really hope was not an Ent.  Because that is, like, the last thing we need--an Entmoot.

Archer:

Troy: Dude.  Seriously, not that it's gonna matter in thirty seconds...but what is your problem?

Cyril: Well, besides Lana ditching me...

Troy: For what, an Entmoot? Ya know, cause she's got those big-ass tree-hands?

***

Lana: Where's the hobbit guy?

Archer: [laughs] A frickin' hobbit works here?

Lana: No, he's just a...

Archer: Lana, they're called "little people," not "hobbits."

Lana: Will you--he's a hobbit enthusiast!

Archer: Ew.

***

Archer:

Bilbo:

Katya: One ring?

Archer: No, don't engage him, from there it's all just orcs and gollums and balrogs.

1. Animal Farm

by George Orwell, Signet Book, $  ISBN: 978-0451526342, Paperback

Referenced in Season 3 Episode 10: "Space Race"

Synopsis:  A satire on totalitarian government where a farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals.  With flaming idealism and slurring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. 

***

Cadãron: Meat is whatever the tiger says is meat,

(Shane the tiger roars)
Archer: Hang on, buddy.  And thank you, George Bore-well, for that clunky analogy in defense of totalitarianism, but I'm not feeding Shane an elephant.

***

Astronaut: I didn't sign up for Animal Farm in space!

Archer: Wait, there are animals?

Lana: Wh--? No, Animal Farm?

Cyril: How do you not get that?

Archer: No, I know what an animal farm is.

Cyril: Not an animal farm.

Archer: Maybe we can stampede a flock of goats down the hall.

Lana:

Archer:

Though I was talking about an actual animal farm, so never mind.

For a mash-up of all literary references from Archer, click here.
For a complete list of Archer's cultural references, click here.

Top Five Books for 'Gen Y' Parents

First off, those born between 1980-1990 ARE NOT 'Millenials'--we are 'Gen Y.'  The term 'Millenial' sounds like we grew up with a cell phone and always had a choice of 8000 TV channels.  Members of 'Gen Y' know what it's like to live in a world where computers were used sparingly and, even then, only used to play Oregon Trail on an Apple IIe with huge floppy discs.

oh sweet, elementary school memories...

Now that that is out of the way, here is a list of books for 'Gen Y' parents looking for something different to read to their children.  These books provide topics you can relate to or are on a topic that has only become more relevant in recent years.  Don't have a kid?  Buy one of these for your friend's kids, because how many copies of Goodnight Moon do you really need?  (Answer: one)


5. Nutley, the Nut-Free Squirrel 
by Stephanie Sorkin, Mascot Books, $14.95, ISBN: 978-1620861585, Hardcover

In a time when every kid seems to be allergic to something, this book fits right in.

4. HTML for Babies 
by John C. Vanden-Heuvel, Sr., Code Babies, $8.99, ISBN: 978-0615487663, Board book

Computer-literacy is more important than ever, so prepare you baby with this clever book about HTML coding.  You may not fully understand what you are reading, but it's a neat way to introduce computer language to your baby.  The companion book is entitled CSS for Babies and other publishers have coding titles for older kids, as well.

3. And Tango Makes Three
by Justin Richardson, Simon & Schuster, $9.99, ISBN: 978-1481449946, Paperback with CD

Two male penguins wish to start a family, but what can they do?  With the help of a zookeeper, these two gents welcome a baby penguin into their family.  Plus, the CD is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris--a 'Gen Y' hero if I've ever heard one.

2. Tell Me a Tattoo Story
by Alison McGhee, Chronicle Books, $16.99, ISBN: 978-1452119373, Hardcover

A story where the father tells his son the stories behind each of his tattoos and how they are a part of their family history.  This is not a book you would have found on bookshelves 10+ years ago--it is the product of the times and relays a story that many 'Gen Y' parents can related to.

1. Tadpole's Promise
by Jeanne Willis, Andersen Press (UK), $12.99, ISBN: 978-1842704264, Paperback

This book is so dark and funny and I seriously love it.  It teaches kids that sometimes love doesn't always conquer all, people change, and disappointment is a part of life.  Sound too heavy for kids?  They will be too busy looking at the pictures and probably won't catch the ultimate meaning, anyway.  In the end, what is more 'Gen Y' than expecting the worst and being cynical about the future?  Did I mention that I love this book?  Because I absolutely, totally do.

***

For more info on 'Gen Y' check out these links:

• For 'Gen Y' readers out there, check out this list from Bustle.
• A handy article with a neat graphic on the spending habits of the Baby Boomers and 'Gen Y.'

"There’s nothing aimless about the choices the Gen-Y non-winner makes. Everything they do is for a single purpose: to avoid engaging with the world around them.”

--Jaye, Wonderfalls

hear me roar...when I feel like exerting myself