Although slated as a memoir, this touching work is just as much a love story and travel diary. It processes the pain of loss through the lens of beautiful scenery and will appeal to many readers, but especially fellow Francophiles eager to follow the road less traveled.
While toponymy, or the study of place-names, may appear to be an overwhelming topic, Jelly-Schapiro’s writing is informative, accessible, and entertaining. He is engaging throughout, and will leave readers thinking twice about the place-names they encounter on a daily basis.
A fascinating multidisciplinary essay collection that will appeal to information history junkies as well as history, journalism, and library science students.
Fans of Carcaterra’s novels and reporting will appreciate the background on his life and inspiration, and this reflective memoir gives nuance to the dark world he portrays in his novels.
A varied book that will appeal to armchair travelers and others curious about New York. Highly recommended for public libraries as well as large academic libraries the world over.
Containing an enormous range of knowledge throughout human history, this attractive guide is highly recommended for public libraries.
A thoughtful and well-written memoir, this book will appeal to readers who have difficult relationships with family and those who find craftwork healing.
This engaging book has the potential to become a classic text, thanks to the detailed work and references that have gone into its creation. Recommended for libraries in larger institutions or for others with an interest in New York or urban studies.
Casual readers and science buffs alike will appreciate Tyson’s folksy approach to explaining difficult scientific concepts. An engaging work that will have wide appeal.
A fascinating and well-written mapping of the edges of biology, which will have broad appeal to nonscientists.
Essential reading for everyone working on incorporating more anti-racist thought leaders and perspectives into their collection.
A welcome travel memoir documenting one woman’s journey of discovery and reinvention
This is an invaluable study of all-too-frequently misplaced genealogical and regional venerations. Highly recommended for U.S., antebellum, Civil War, African American, and Southern historians and scholars, and for all readers.
This noteworthy book, the first of its kind, brings an untold history to the forefront and succeeds in showing how land and legacy are interconnected.
Nijhuis does an excellent job narrating the achievements and challenges of individuals, groups, and governments in understanding biological ecosystems and the human impact on them past, present, and future.
An exceptional work that is highly recommended as a cohesive explanation of how small local projects can be pieces of larger efforts.
Kalb’s book should have universal appeal for public and academic libraries but may particularly resonate with readers who are comforted by the notion that accomplishment and discovery come at many different ages.
Readers seeking an academic—but accessible
Similar to his previous works, Isaacson’s latest is another absorbing story of scientific discovery. The final section on the use of CRISPR to combat COVID-19 will only widen the appeal.
An ambitious, impressive debut. The book’s manifold strands will engage all sorts of readers, including bird lovers, science buffs, and eco-adventure fans.
A welcome entry on the subject of thermodynamics that will spark the interest of readers curious about the names and theories behind physics but unsure where to start.
This original work adds an important new voice to conversations about slavery, disability, and medical history. Exceptional analysis of an understudied topic.
Beginning gardeners who are eager to get their hands dirty will find both inspiration and practical information in this accessible, colorful, and highly illustrated volume.
The time Alexander spent embedded in the community gives continuity and depth to the stories of the individuals he connected with and puts a human face on broader issues of social inequality. This expertly reported account will resonate and find a wide audience.
A thoughtful analysis which deserves a place on readers’ anti-racist reading lists. Recommended for those interested in trying to enact systemic change.
An informative, enjoyable work that connects the history of technology to our current world of gadgets and devices. With vivid detail, Metz has crafted an accessible narrative that will keep readers turning the pages.
Brown’s reporting on a variety of such initiatives tempers the gut-punch of stories documenting the ubiquity and ugliness of sexual harassment and the harm of sexual violence to people of all genders. A groundbreaking exploration with clear recommendations on how to better raise and support boys.
Schillace brings her expertise as a medical historian to this carefully researched, pioneering biography of an eccentric doctor. A compelling read that will draw in variety of readers.
Similar to his previous book, the latest by Moss will draw in fans of investigative journalism, and all interested in learning more about the inner workings of the companies we support.
Intellectually curious non-scientists who can’t watch Nguyen-Kim’s explainer videos in their original German and who may find a textbook approach daunting should enjoy this quick tour of everyday chemistry.
Complete with meal plans, this is a practical resource offering advice and suggestions for mealtime variety. An ideal complement to Good Housekeeping Cookbook: 1,200 Triple-Tested Recipes by Susan Westmoreland.
This book will appeal to those who enjoy human interest stories and non-judgmental writing about the millennial generation
An excellent resource for the armchair gardener and the environmentally minded.
A wide-ranging academic work for readers curious about how social media has impacted conversation, online and offline, and the increasing overlap of political engagement and technology.
Inspirational reading for environmental crusaders of all walks of life.
Important information in an uneven read. Best suited for avid readers of natural history.
The author’s love of fly fishing is obvious, but this latest book is for limited audience.
Soule’s enjoyable and reflective book will appeal to gardeners and botanists of all varieties. This is a good resource for those who wish to explore the realm of healing herbs and all the growing, gathering, storing, and making formulations that that entails.
While the history Butler shares will be familiar to many scholars, her clear and forceful synthesis provides a useful entry point for evangelicals and non-evangelicals alike seeking to learn the history and contemporary reality of white evangelical political power in the United States.
Though a scholarly work, this account is an important dissection of looking beyond the traumas of the past to find the happiness that existed (and exists) within the Black community.
This engaging natural history will draw in fans of Mark Kurlansky’s Cod and Vince Beiser’s The World in a Grain. It does a fantastic job of elevating humble wood to its rightful place alongside stone, bronze, and iron as a key resource in leading humanity to its dazzling achievements.
A brief medical how-to guide on navigating life and finding answers to common questions. Recommended for public libraries.
Goldstein’s second book is an essential read for anyone interested in caring for their whole pet.
An essential book for bird watchers, especially hummingbird lovers, as well as anyone interested in natural history.
Part introduction to quantum mechanics and cosmology, part memoir, and part sociological study, this work challenges readers to question the nature of how science is done in contemporary society, as well as what it means when everyone has a seat at the cosmological table. For general science readers, gender and feminist studies students, and those concerned about the role feminist and racial politics plays in STEM professions.
A highly entertaining, science-based consideration of what alien life might be like.
A solid read for those interested in biological sciences research, and anyone looking to learn more about aging in general.
Mushrooms are having a moment. In Search of Mycotopia could be a natural sequel for the many readers who enjoyed Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life.
A sobering and realistic look at humankind’s perhaps misplaced faith that technology can work with nature to produce a more livable planet.
Gates attempts to chart a realistic path toward a carbon-neutral future, but remains a techno-optimist at heart. Readers looking for hope in technological and market-based solutions to climate change will appreciate this straightforward analysis.
Despite some flaws, this is a solid introduction to the topic, and physics novices may find that it whets their appetite for more.
A worthy companion to the lauded Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, this is essential reading for all who care about justice in contemporary America.
Those interested in trends in urban planning or ethnic studies will appreciate Baldwin’s thoughtful exploration of urban campus sprawl.
Zanglein comprehensively covers a wide range of accomplished women, and does all of them justice. This book is perfect for those interested in women’s history and adventure stories.
An extensive and definitive account of competing visions of American health care that will be of particular interest to readers curious about the process of creating policy and those interested in reform. Cohn’s accessible writing makes for an absorbing, fast-paced narrative
A searing, yet sensitive account of vulnerability and redemption that will find a wide audience.
The latest from Gurwitch will have readers rolling with laughter one minute and picking up the phone to commiserate with friends or family the next. The author is a delightful eccentric aunt-to-all with her wit, caring, and unbeknown-to-her wisdom. For fans of Nora Ephron and Sloane Crosely alike.
This practical account offers a straightforward rundown of suggestions and solutions for anyone wishing to learn more about public policy in the Unites States and why Medicare for All is such an important topic. It will especially pique the interest of anyone drawn to policy reform.
A simultaneously disheartening and uplifting journey for readers interested in social justice, racial politics, and current events.
It’s time people listen to Black lesbians and utilize that knowledge into action to improve lives. This book is a gateway into that action. An essential component to any social science shelf, this is transformative, vital reading.
A unique blend of memoir and social history that should have broad appeal to anyone who has breasts or has ever worn a bra.
This thoughtful and thought-provoking memoir of family secrets and family lore, like Daniel Mendelsohn’s The Lost, will appeal to readers of family histories.Shorto, Russell
As many of us rethink the power dynamics that shape our jobs and workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaffe’s passionate call to reimagine our relationships with work and one another, and imagine new possibilities, is indispensable reading.
Overall, this fascinating, sometimes brutal, and in a few minor instances, rambling narrative will grasp the attention of readers interested in the Holocaust and modern German history.
This engrossing account, which reads like a novel, offers a combination of riveting personal stories and little-known history, and will draw in readers from the first page. A must-read.
This moving, relatable story is sure to resonate with patrons who, if not already serving as a caregiver, may find themselves taking on that role soon enough. A recommended purchase for library collections.
This thoughtful and thought-provoking memoir of family secrets and family lore, like Daniel Mendelsohn’s The Lost, will appeal to readers of family histories.Shorto, Russell
This work will prove valuable for teachers and parents with its hands-on activities.
A slow, scholarly read, this work provides insight into a segment of the population rarely explored in the literature.
Parents who resonate with this philosophy will find this book a must-read.
This recommended title has insights and practical tips for raising change-making girls.
A helpful resource for the many children (and parents) who struggle during these anxious times.
Though a slow read at times, this title shows the value of music education on brain development and includes practical tips for harnessing melody and rhythm to increase learning in all areas.
Though much of the development information provided is basic, it may be helpful to newer moms, and parts II and III contain useful hints and resources.
This volume will provide help for communicating with middle schoolers about the things that matter.
Straight-talking and practical, this book is a quick read with guidance on many of the topics parents “google.”
Though well-researched, this compressive history reads more like a dissertation and the dense chapters and occasional jargon means it will likely appeal primarily to those in academia.
A must-read that will have Black women feeling seen and heard, and will allow others to better understand the effects of racism. With YA crossover appeal, this is also an excellent choice for book clubs.
This interesting work is often troubling to read, yet it’s important in showing how people can compassionately care for the animals that share out planet. It will especially appeal to animal rights activists and readers who enjoyed Carl Safina’s Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel.
A crash course on human evolution and more specifically, the myriad influences that shaped the development of our brain. Recommended for anyone interested in understanding the pivotal moments in the evolution of our species that contributed to creating the humans we are today.
Lovato’s revealing story enables us to look within minds and hearts that have been molded by immigrants’ experiences in their home country and their adopted one. A worthwhile account that brings a personal face to a complex, nuanced issue.
Emily Levesque discusses her path to astronomy. Jo Marchant considers our stars and skies. Sarah Stewart Johnson explores the history of Mars.
An extraordinary story of compelling narrative nonfiction that is recommended for those interested in space travel or for anyone looking for an exciting read.
A thoughtful, informative account for readers interested in public health and sexual health as well as those with an interest in the history of medicine. Park brings the right amount of care to an often-stigmatized subject.
This book is an excellent read for those interested in the history of medicine and those who enjoy a well-written biography.
Recommended for those interested in geology and geography, adventure travel readers, and those considering science careers.
An engaging read for all, especially for anyone curious about the details of space exploration.
Kenny’s historical assessment of humanity’s handling of infectious diseases, including both successes and failures, is a testament to the remarkable progress made in modern medicine and is a well-rounded overview of the history of plagues.
This engaging, accessible book will appeal to anyone interested in medical ethics, genetic disease, and the use of cutting-edge science and technology within the field of medicine. Recommended for all libraries.
A clear, no-holds-barred account that will be useful both to those coming to grips with their own chronic illness and also to the people in their lives.
While there are some confusing segues, overall, this is an absorbing, extensively researched book for fans of popular science and those who appreciate stories about polar bears, both captive and wild, as well as behind-the-scenes work at zoos. Readers interested in learning more about polar bears and their changing habitats should also try James Raffan’s Ice Walker (2019).
Recommended for readers of food and diet history and those interested in the future of agriculture and sustainable farming.
A fascinating book for those interested in this amazing human capacity.
A must-read for curious minds, trivia fans, and crime drama enthusiasts.
This book will provide readers with a deeper appreciation of the diversity of the Western landscape and inspiration for creating and cultivating gardens adapted to challenging and sometimes unforgiving sites.
One last fond look at a favorite place? A swan song of a prolific author? Roberts adds inviting details throughout this must-read book, adding poignancy to an already fascinating read.
Readers who appreciate slim books packed with a social punch and science anecdotes (prickly pears and lichen are especially interesting) will enjoy this offering. Another recommended, thought-provoking read from Mancuso.
Both tragic and uplifting, this title will be of particular interest to readers seeking more information about ME/CFS and anyone curious about medical mysteries.
Winchester’s large audience will enjoy this well-worded, interdisciplinary look into the relationship between humans and the land.
Although narrated as advice for incoming immigrants, this personal, yet practical account is intended to challenge misconceptions and biases that native-born U.S. citizens have toward documented and undocumented immigrants. It is highly recommended for all.
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