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PREMIUM
Refugee
With this heartfelt account, Mbolela succeeds in humanizing often-forgotten people trying to live a more fruitful and safe existence. A welcome memoir.
A beautiful exploration of finding hope, humor, and a voice. A must-read for fans of memoirs.
In this lively and admirable study, Stewart offers a balanced and thoughtfully well-written appreciation of George Washington’s life and leadership. A must for fans of biographies.
This well-researched book offers a definitive account of Calhoun, and will appeal to anyone interested in early American history.
Another standout from Lamott that will have wide appeal.
Readers of military service accounts will be absorbed.
Lawson already has thousands of fans, and she’s bound to pick up more with this latest memoir. Recommended for all public libraries.
The author’s book title is a nod to Susan Sontag’s Illness as Metaphor, in which she asserts that there is a “kingdom of the well” and a “kingdom of the sick.” Jaouad does a beautiful job of writing from this place of “dual citizenship,” where she finds pain but also joy, kinship, and possibility.
PREMIUM
The Soul of a Woman
Those looking for in-depth stories of Allende’s earlier life will need to turn to her earlier works, but this passionate memoir presents a vibrant portrait of the current-day author and her thoughts on the future of women, and will be highly appreciated by fans of her works.
This unique book gives attention to Black entrepreneurs and highlights communities that are often missing in popular narratives of business culture. Readers will find it frustrating, inspiring, and revelatory.
This useful distillation of the life philosophy of Navy SEALs can be used by anyone. Combining biography, business, and self-help, Hayes’s account will be welcome in library collections where patrons are looking for personal and professional guidance.
PREMIUM
Kamala’s Way: An American Life
This book will find its audiences among Harris fans and California politics readers. Those seeking more details about Harris’s personal life will relish her memoir, The Truths We Hold.
From the Texas frontier to North America’s tallest peak, this balanced biography of Hudson Stuck offers provide plenty of adventure, setbacks, turmoil, and seeking a way to impact the world, and will engage
PREMIUM
Black Boy Out of Time
An unflinchingly honest assessment of the ways in which the lives and experiences of Black children are devalued. Recommended for readers interested in anti-racism.
PREMIUM
Consent
Springora widens her scope to indict not only Matzneff, but the French cultural elite that so readily enables and excuses his behavior. A fierce account from a woman hoping to wrest her story back. Recommended reading.
Similar to Taraborrelli’s other books, this is a gossipy read for those who enjoy biography.
Emily Levesque discusses her path to astronomy. Jo Marchant considers our stars and skies. Sarah Stewart Johnson explores the history of Mars.
PREMIUM
The Empathy Diaries
This genre-bending memoir is recommended for readers interested in Turkle’s work or in the interplay between technology and self.
While it may be a difficult read for some, this book is a wonderful and redemptive prize to finish. A definite recommendation for those who want to better support their loved ones with mental health issues, and a great start for further discussion.
PREMIUM
Speak, Okinawa
A can’t-miss memoir that will stay with readers after they finish the last page.
A gossipy, yet critical look at the monarchy by a skillful writer who knows his subject well. Fans of The Crown will especially enjoy.
PREMIUM
Sanctuary
A must for fans of Rapp’s previous memoirs and for any reader trying to better understand grief and trauma. This poignant account will be of particular interest for those who have grieved the loss of a child.
A stunning, candid memoir. Those seeking a relatable story as they process grief and fans of personal memoir will appreciate this book equally for its honest, insightful storytelling.
PREMIUM
American Daughter
In this sharp, heartrending work, Plymale reconciles with the truth of her mother’s life, finding forgiveness, hope, and even pride. Her testimony, while painful to read, is vital.
PREMIUM
Thaddeus Stevens
Easily the most detailed and important account of Stevens, this well-written biography belongs in every academic library and all other libraries with an emphasis on American history.
Full of twists and turns, cover-ups and complicity, this gripping historical thrill ride will appeal to fans of John le Carré.
This thoroughly researched and well-written biography of an influential African American preacher and teacher shines a light on the origins of the civil rights movement by concentrating on one who lived and preached his Christian beliefs in his own personal way.
An eloquently written, enjoyable, and important memoir that will have a wide readership. Highly recommended for all collections.
An optional purchase for specialized Mideast collections.
Moran brings readers along during her fallible and human days, showing how we can all relate to feelings of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. A must-read.
This impressively researched biography provides remarkable and reliable details on the first part of Stalin’s life, along with the many fissures among the Left Communists. An important accomplishment.
A perceptive consideration of an often-understudied First Lady and her lasting legacy. For public and academic libraries everywhere.
PREMIUM
Surviving the White Gaze
Though sometimes uneven, this personal account may engage fans of memoirs or readers interested in personal stories of adoptees.
There are no easy resolutions in Cowan’s story, but this title should appeal to readers interested in family histories and complex mother-daughter relationships.
Covering similar ground as 2019’s A Marvelous Life, this work by Riesman provides additional insight into Lee’s family dynamic and details about Lee’s business associates. For comics and Stan Lee fans looking for a critical take on this cultural icon.
A shocking, heartbreaking tale of the wars and gender inequality in Afghanistan. This personal story, centered on Qaderi’s unquenchable spirit in the face of overwhelming odds, will appeal to a vast audience.
PREMIUM
Dog Flowers
An introspective reflection on the complexities of family relationships that will engage fans of memoirs.
This compassionate book skillfully introduces three people who have had an important impact on the world but whose lives receive little attention. Readers will complete the book feeling their time was well spent.
With Her Fist Raised: Dorothy Pitman Hughes and the Transformative Power of Black Community Activism
This essential, well-written biography fills a huge gap in the history of American feminism.
PREMIUM
Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights Revolution
A powerful reflection on the influences of family and community and the ability to act justly in tumultuous times. Biography readers, especially those interested in reconciling the past, will be captivated by Archibald’s honest, conversational style.
A stunning introspective memoir recommended for general readers, especially those dealing with grief.
Malcolm X, Rose Pastor Stokes, Natasha Trethewey. The best biographies & memoirs published in 2020.
This useful account will help readers understand Biden’s mindset and suggests a blueprint for the next four years. For more in-depth, but pre–2020 campaign accounts, see Steven Levingston’s Barack And Joe and Jules Witcover’s Joe Biden.
With the recent denigration of journalists by government officials and purveyors of fringe media, stories such as Downie’s are important. Aspiring journalism students and readers of the Post would especially appreciate this biography.
Issac J. Bailey writes a powerful call to action. Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham compile writing and artwork around Black lives. Kenya Hunt tells how Black women survive and thrive.
Ijeoma Oluo's words will resonate with all ready to look inward and enact change. Connor Towne O'Neill writes a powerful meditation on collective memory. Ty Seidule shows how history informs our present.
A must read for anyone interested in humanitarian work, foreign policy, and biography.
This riveting account will appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of immigration and current U.S. policies.
Pankhurst's life is ripe for discovery by new readers and a younger generation. However, this biography is often so dense that her story often gets lost within its pages.
Wilson has long been a footnote in Everest exploration, but this thorough and fascinating biography will remedy that. For readers of exploration, adventure, and Everest history.
A must-read for anyone interested in narratives of front-line responses to the early AIDS crisis as well as personal accounts of kindness and determination.
Terrell is an understudied figure in American history, and this biography is well suited for scholars of history and women’s studies as well as aspiring agents of change.
Quirky and fun, this book offers a combination of practical tips, amusing stories, and moments of whimsy like the author’s list of ways to “add sparks to your marriage” by hiding a plastic snake in the house. A treat for fans of Drummond.
For readers who wish to know more about how history is written, its influencers, their writings, and how figures such as Carson fall from grace. An excellent addition for women’s studies collections.
David Polfeldt, of Massive Entertainment, offers insight on working in the video game industry. Sid Meier tells the story of creating the influential gaming series, Civilization.
Gabler explores the life and legacy of Ted Kennedy. Logevall writes a masterful first volume on the lasting influence of John F. Kennedy.
This striking personal account may serve as an inspiration to anyone facing difficulties in life. For fans of Rinker Buck’s The Oregon Trail and William Least Heat-Moon’s Blue Highways.
A tremendous biography and a great study of philanthropy that will have strong YA crossover appeal.
PREMIUM
The Freezer Door
Those familiar with Sycamore’s writing and activist work will welcome this new installment; those unfamiliar but interested in exploring an unconventional angle on LGBTQ+ issues may find it illuminating.
Recommended to those seeking personal accounts of survivors of sexual violence, and those who have followed Queena’s story.
This thorough account of a remarkable life will have wide appeal.
The thorough and riveting narrative of both Philip and Alexander’s lives and accomplishments makes this an ideal choice for the general reader, with some fresh insights to offer to those familiar with the subjects as well.
While a lengthy first volume, this study is accessible and entertaining. A wide array of history buffs, and readers previously reluctant to consume a Kennedy biography, will enjoy this highly recommended account.
There is much to learn from Egan’s experiences as a man with Down syndrome, his triumphs, defeats, and relentless drive.
This is a model of critical biography that will be appreciated by all lovers of history or biography.
This first dedicated biography of an understudied politician sheds insight into the evolving politics of the 20th century.
While this is primarily a political biography, the book contains plenty of personal material about the Kennedy family to satisfy all levels of readers. An important contribution on this family dynasty.
PREMIUM
The Chiffon Trenches
This memoir of Talley’s life and the fingerprints he’s left on the world of fashion will appeal to fashion lovers and fans of celebrity memoirs, as well as those who enjoy stories of hard-earned, well-deserved success.
An icon for generations of women who fought for equality, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was known for her fiery dissents and thoughtful opinions. The following are recent books and media sources about this remarkable jurist, to recommend to readers of all ages looking to learn about or revisit her legacy
PREMIUM
I’ll Be Seeing You
With these reflections, Bergs sheds insight into the experience of caring for a parent. This eloquent book will especially appeal to those in an eldercare role.
PREMIUM
Eleanor
Roosevelt’s life does not necessarily lend itself well to concision. Blanche Wiesen Cook’s excellent volumes remain the definitive record.
In turn both entertaining yet serious, this informal biography will especially engage political buffs but also general readers of excellent biography.
PREMIUM
Aftershocks
Owusu’s yearning for a maternal figure and acceptance of her identity surround this moving memoir. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories of identity and multiculturalism.
Tracing the growth of Louverture from revolutionary leader to mythic figure, this engrossing read reveals and recovers the historic place both he and the country of Haiti deserve to occupy in the story of the Atlantic world’s creation and re-creation.
PREMIUM
Hitler: Downfall: 1939-1945
A cogent retread of old ground, much of this densely detailed volume is about World War II and not Hitler personally; readers expecting a psychological deep dive should look elsewhere.
This overdue biography will thrill gaming fans, and belongs in all major public and academic library collections.
Because of the current relative lack of stories by video gamers, this book will not only appeal to gaming enthusiasts, but will make an excellent addition to an academic library's business section. Recommended as well for large public libraries.
A candid memoir that reminds readers how much work we need to do to ensure that maternal care and mental illness are divested of stigma.
A well-crafted testament to a tumultuous time in American history and to one of the brave men who helped shape the world we know today. Essential for all collections.
An uneven biography, but a worthy addition to World War II and Holocaust memoirs.
For general readers interested in Washington as an individual, Henriques’s efforts should be lauded. Despite presenting his subject as flawed, one who succeeded in gaining fame across the ages in spite of them, the author’s high admiration of Washington is palpable. His analysis and narrative style, however, fall short of Joseph Ellis’s Founding Brothers.
Fans of Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs books will appreciate the connections she draws between her childhood and themes throughout the series. Yet the book will appeal well beyond Winspear’s fan base as a literary memoir deeply linked to history and as a meditation on place and family. Readers of literary memoir and coming-of-age stories may also enjoy Frances Mays’s Under Magnolia.
This memoir is a delicious media investigation in itself, but will be valued by all who love a good success story.
Ambitious, comprehensive, and highly recommended for public and academic libraries.
This story will resonate with readers grappling with similar crises in their hometowns and is a recommended addition to memoir collections.
Tecumseh's life and the wider struggle for the Great Lakes and Ohio River valley now has a current, solid work by an accomplished author.
Day offers an incredibly relatable story that is both open and unflinching in its honesty and self-reflection. Parts of the narrative are utterly gut-wrenching, but those same parts are also what makes this an essential book that is well worth reading.
This gripping read, essential for anyone interested in the man or his times, delivers penetrating explanations and fresh insights into previously unexamined dimensions of Malcolm X and his becoming and being El-hajj Malik El Shabazz within the context of Black life. Highest recommendation.
An exciting look into the life of the privileged for curious readers.
This story of a unique bond between two friends deserves wide readership in public libraries and is an ideal choice for book groups and discussions.
PREMIUM
Memoirs of a Kamikaze: A World War II Pilot’s Inspiring Story of Survival, Honor and Reconciliation
Odachi provides personal insight on the last days of empire, and his stories of crime in Tokyo give this memoir life. This book deserves a spot next to Yasuo Kawahara’s classic autobiography Kamikaze.
An additional purchase for large collections where expat memoirs are in high demand or where Carlson’s previous work has circulated well.
PREMIUM
The Erratics
Similar to Maya Shanbhag Lang’s What We Carry, this account is a touching portrayal of grief, family, and what is best left unspoken.
This richly detailed investigation will find an appreciative audience among Cold War scholars and current history readers. See Barry Gewen’s The Inevitability of Tragedy for more insight into Kissinger’s political underpinnings.
This moving, well-written book is recommended to readers who enjoy dark family memoirs.
PREMIUM
Inventory
A poetic and brutal reflection on the ways the unspoken past haunts the present, the construction of histories from fragments and secrets, and the physical, mental, and emotional traumas that result when violence becomes part of the daily landscape.
Exploring issues of gender, religion, and culture, as well as the tensions between tradition and modernity, this wonderful account is highly recommended for readers interested in gender, immigration, and Judaic studies.
Lloyd offers an inspiring account for women entering the field of journalism and a deeper understanding of life under Jim Crow segregation, as well as a fuller picture of diversity in 21st-century newsrooms.
A quick, fascinating read about a former Mardi Gras queen trying to find her path in life. Recommended for all memoir collections.
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