Nonfiction

LJ’s first memoir preview looks at the trends in this season’s bumper crop of life stories.

These titles focus on voting rights and elections in the United States. They introduce readers to voting and basic civics, and cover major historical events and issues in the struggle for voting rights. 

LJ talks with Justin Tinsley about his new biography It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him.

With increased attention to the needs of sober and sober-curious drinkers, Dry January, and a growing respect for individual dietary restrictions, bartenders and spirit makers alike have taken note of the demand for non-alcoholic cocktails offering the same level of sensory and social experience as their higher proof counterparts. They go by many names, meant to evoke respect and innovation in the drinks and spirits industry: zero-proof, no-proof, alcohol-free, virgin, teetotalers, soft drinks, temperance drinks, neutral, 0% ABV (alcohol by volume), and more.

Intimate lyrics, focused visions, and forceful, arresting lines illuminate the best poetry of 2021.

Music across decades, women observed, and the legacy of Lolita. The best arts books of 2021.

Black foodways, Middle Eastern ingredients, and treats from Chinese bakeries. The best cookbooks of 2021.

A poetic life, a fractured family, and a tale of second chances. The best memoirs and biographies of 2021.

Dark matter, seashells, and CRISPR feature in the best science and technology books of 2021.