By Paul Birkhead

Rowan Public Library

Did you know that one of the fastest growing book categories in the United States happens to be biographies/memoirs? I tend to believe that because from what I see being checked out at the library, biographies are pretty popular right now in Rowan County.

Why are biographies so popular? The simple answer would be because they give us insight into the mind of a person we don’t know personally and who we might admire or just be curious about.

Another reason could be that biographies give us a wider view on the world. It helps to see things through the actions and experiences of another person, especially if that person was a witness to history, a celebrity or simply someone who lived in another culture or time period.

There is quite a mixture of new biographies/memoirs on the shelves at Rowan Public Library. One book cover that will surely catch your eye is “Perfect is Boring: Tyra and her Mama.” Tyra Banks wrote this book with her mother, Carolyn London. In it, they talk about what it was like to experience Tyra’s journey from ordinary to extraordinary. In between the witty back-and-forth are life lessons for succeeding in whatever you put your mind to.

Another American celebrity with a new memoir is Nick Nolte. In “Rebel: My Life Outside the Lines,” Nolte tells the story of how his life changed when he left the Midwest as a shy athlete and discovered acting. During his decades-long career, Nolte has played many roles and not all were on film. His string of marriages and relationships, as well as his infamous mugshot, have made his life interesting to read about.

The American prairie spawned these next two biographies. In “A Prairie Girl’s Faith,” author Stephen Hines writes about the Christian life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Little House on the Prairie series is beloved by many and this book explores the deep spirituality found in those books and in anecdotes about Laura Ingalls’ real life. Fans of Little House or pioneer life in general are sure to enjoy this book. They may even wish to try their hands at several recipes found inside.

“The Man Who Caught the Storm: The Life of Legendary Tornado Chaser Tim Samaras” is a new biography and the debut of author Brantley Hargrove. This book chronicles the life of storm chaser Tim Samaras, and how his obsession with twisters led him to cross paths with a monster storm.

When you see an actor on television week after week, he or she begins to feel like family. That’s why biographies of television personalities can be so interesting. If you’re of a certain age, you will remember the TV sitcom “Happy Days.” The show centered on the lives of the Cunningham family, particularly son Richie (played by Ron Howard) and family friend, Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. Well, the woman who played Richie’s mother, Mrs. C., was Marion Ross. In her book, “My Days: Happy and Otherwise,” Ross tells about her experiences on the show and in real life.

A very popular television show today is NBC’s “This Is Us,” and one of its stars is Chrissy Metz. Her character, Kate Pearson, continually struggles with her weight on the show. In her book, “This is Me,” Chrissy talks candidly about personal weight struggles and how pain from the past has made her the person she is today.

Come by Rowan Public Library and check out some of our new biographies. Going on a trip and want to listen in the car or on your phone? Some biographies are available as audiobooks in CD form or digital downloads.

Ramble Through Rowan: May 22, on Tuesday mornings at 10, an episode of the “Ramble Through Rowan” films will be shown at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. S. in Salisbury. There will be exhibit and discussion time after each screening. Series ends June 19. Open to the public.

Friends of RPL and Cheerwine Concert Series: Headquarters, May 22, 7 p.m. Neil Cribbs. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A blues and soul-soaked Americana musician, Cribbs’ songs present an eclectic mix of Americana, blues, soul, rock, folk and swing. Born in Wilmington, Cribbs has recently returned to N.C. after 10 years based in Atlanta. He is touring with his recently released fifth album, “The Moss and the Stone.” This event is free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome. The Friends of RPL and Cheerwine Concert Series will be on hiatus until the fall after this performance. Look for information about our next concert in August.

Closings: Headquarters, East and South Rowan Regional will be closed Saturday, May 26, and Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day. Regular hours resume May 29.

Rowan Arts and AG film: “Farmers for America,” May 22, 5:30 p.m., East. The documentary traces the extraordinary changes coming to America’s food system as more and more consumers flock to farmers’ markets and embrace farm-to-table lifestyles. With the average age of today’s farmer at 60, and rural America losing population as the cost of land and equipment soars, farms in America face a crisis. At the center of the film are the farmers, young and old, who provide the spirit and energy to bring urban and rural America together over what both share in common: food. This screening is part of the Rowan Arts & AG program.

NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Traveling Exhibit: North Carolina in World War I (HQ). In honor of the centennial of World War I, this traveling exhibit contains panels with information on both the soldiers abroad and the home front here in North Carolina. It shares information on the various military installations in the state, discusses U-boat activity off the coast, and seeks to put the war in context. View the exhibit in headquarters’ lobby, during business hours through May 20.

Displays: Headquarters, quilt display by Three Friends Quilting and PBS’s Great American Read by RPL; East, vintage lunchbox collection by Sharon Ross; South, student art exhibit by South Rowan High School art classes.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.