Did you know that laughing 100 times equals roughly 15 minutes spent on an exercise bike?  And that laughing for 15 seconds adds 2 days to your life span? 

Well, this new display on the 2nd Floor features our favorite books that are sure to put a smile on your face!  Check out this witty and uplifting collection of books and plays, or see the list of books below.

Seven years ago, first-time author Laura Hillenbrand gave us Seabiscuit, a breakout hit that became a major motion picture and re-introduced us to one of the most amazing athletes of the 20th century: a knock-kneed, undersized colt who went on to become perhaps the greatest racehorse that ever lived.

Hillenbrand is finally back with a book that has taken her nearly a decade to write, Unbroken. It's the story of a very different kind of athlete, a human this time. While researching Seabiscuit, Hillenbrand had seen an article about a young runner, Louis Zamperini. Curious about his life, she contacted him and began a correspondence. Zamperini was born in New York, survived a rough childhood, and ran track at USC and with the 1936 US Olympic team in Berlin. This might have been enough to craft an unusual biography, but it's only the beginning.

Just before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Zamperini enlisted in the Air Force. As the war escalated, he survived a harrowing plane accident and was eventually captured and held as a POW. By the time he finally returned home, his family had already given him up for dead. Today, Zamperini has made peace with his past -- meeting with and expressing forgiveness to his captors -- and a film adaptation of his story is currently in development (set to star Nicolas Cage). Unbroken arrives on November 16 and is already receiving outstanding reviews, so place your hold now!

On October 15th, the James Beard Foundation began accepting nominations for the 2011 cookbook awards. These coveted awards, known as "the Oscars of the food world",  are the ultimate honor for chefs in America today. As the days cool down and the nights grow long, now is the perfect time to read or cook your way through a stack of award-winning cookbooks. Bon appetit!

This weekend, the Darien Art Center's Cabaret Theatre, in collaboration with Curtain Call Theatre, will be performing the award-winning musical, 1776. Click here for more information about the event. Then, drop by the Library's 2nd Floor to browse some of the books we have on display that chronicle and analyze this revolutionary period of American history:

Leaf changing season is here and its time to hit the road to see this amazing natural beauty. Check out our list of travel Magazines and books to get you started  such as Yankee which will offer scenic foliage trips for New England and National Geographic Traveler's list of best foliage trips in the USA.

 Fall Leaves (Color Hotline: 1-800-354-4595)

Image courtesy of Flickr user Brandi Jordan

It's the perfect time of year for apple picking, and fortunately we are a close drive to many fantastic orchards.  Spend a day enjoying the October weather, pick your own apples, have some delicious apple cider donuts and even choose a pumpkin!  Then don't forget to go back for your Christmas tree...

Blue Jay Orchards

125 Plumtrees Road, Bethel, CT

"...the farm is open for pick-your-own fun from August thru October.  Our Farm Market Store and Gift Shop is open August thru December, offering baked goods, apple items, produce, baskets and gifts" 

http://www.bluejayorchardsct.com/

Beardsley's Cider Mill

278 Leavenworth Road (Route 110), Shelton, CT

"The Beardsley's have been farming this plot of land in White Hills, Shelton CT since 1849!...In an effort to provide the growing community with a fresh, local commodity, and to preserve the farm land from being developed, we have rejuvenated the existing orchards.  We have over 5,000 dwarf and semi dwarf apple trees in our Pick-Your-Own Orchard."

http://www.beardsleyscidermill.com/

There is a great website which lists all of the orchards and picking schedules in our area: http://www.pickyourown.org/CT.htm

And for more Connecticut day trip ideas, visit our great selection of travel books in the Places section on the 2nd Floor.

Before Hudson was a river, Columbus was a city, and Magellan was a GPS, they were all people -- men from the Age of Exploration (roughly defined as lasting from the 15th to early 17th centuries). This was a time of travel into uncharted areas of the world, when ships undertook voyages with the very real possibility that they would never return.

It might seem hard to imagine in this time when we're never quite disconnected...that men left their homes for years at a time, attempting to create new trade routes and map the globe. Our knowledge of the oceans and continents was changed immeasurably by the many voyages that took place during this time. The Age of Exploration also serves as a bridge between the Middle Ages and our more modern era. Come and discover the amazing stories of these explorers on our 2nd floor display this week!

Photo by Flickr user gwgs.

October is Energy Awareness month, a time to evaluate the amount of energy being used at your home or office. For the homeowner who plans on replacing certain items the federal tax credit will expire on December 31st 2010.

www.energysavers.gov

www.energy.gov

The temperature is dropping which means knitting season is finally upon us! Learn how to stitch your way to toasty hands and feet this fall. Here are a few helpful guides to get you started:

Photo by flickr user LollyKnit.