While serious history buffs may wish for more facts and less supposition, this glimpse into the human side of piracy strikes a chord. Recommend to listeners who enjoy stories about the golden age of piracy and colonial American history.
This audio is for listeners seeking a candid and complex historical biography that is alarming and alluring, though the depth may be daunting to the casual true-crime crowd. Recommended for fans of Erik Larson and Dean Jobb.
Tasker’s (1903–44) unromantic, soul-baring account combines the authenticity of memoir with the stirring progress of a bildungsroman. A worthy revival.
Among Seven Stories Press’s vibrant English and Spanish editions of Che’s complete works, this raw account of his desperate and ultimately tragic final campaign makes a riveting and sobering bookend to the youthful idealism of his cult classic The Motorcycle Diaries.
The technical aspects of kintsugi are best directed to artists interested in learning the Japanese techniques. For the layperson, there are other methods of repairing ceramics that mimic the look of kintsugi without the expense and difficulty.
While one must take care that the costs of project management don’t outweigh the benefits, this work provides tools and examples to provide a solid starting point for interested librarians. Recommended reading for library administrators and technical services librarians.
A beneficial purchase, of particular use for self-published and small-press authors, with information that will be helpful for anyone seeking to boost the visibility of their work.
This visually striking art book will appeal to all who appreciate the beauty of ikebana and might inspire readers to try their hand at creating their own hanaike using Ueno’s techniques.
Vaporis includes scholarly research but writes for the general reader. Interest in samurai culture is significant, and this non-sensational choice emphasizes scholarship.
Youn does an extraordinary job of blending historical themes with haunting modern-day experiences to clarify sense of self. Readers will be captivated.
Burlingame has produced a thorough analysis of music composed for television that will probably remain in readers’ heads. Those seeking more information about these rerunning tunes will find it here.
Limited appeal, as it’s strictly a study of the show’s take on government and its ability to remain relevant. It’s not a homage to the characters or episodes.
This anecdotally rich book is breezily written with extended quotations forming the heart of the story of a still-in-use studio. It will appeal to rock-history fans in search of both musical lore and the stories behind some of rock’s most memorable albums and bands.
This hydra of a book, one head assessing Picasso’s art, the other looking at how he negotiated his position in France in politically tense times, is strongly recommended to all Picasso enthusiasts.
Given the profanity-laced text and graphic sexual descriptions, this is not intended for all readers, but it provides a diverting, insider-y thrill ride for Kevin Smith fans and those interested in the mechanics of the movie business.
Curry combines extensive research with deft writing to reveal the life of a Z-movie director through his unconventional oeuvre. Aimed at cinephiles, the book celebrates an underdog who made movies in Hollywood’s shadow.
A subtle, insightful book likely to be on many readers’ radar for its nuanced look at the consequences of a racial divide with roots that, as Jacobson makes clear, are longstanding, systemic, and institutional.
A work of both spiritual direction and challenge toward social engagement, with welcoming, lambent prose. Curtice is a fresh and intelligent voice in the genre.
A notable book about remarkable women that could have subsequent volumes. Recommended for readers interested in these authors or in 20th-century literature.
Architectural history scholars and advanced students of Latin America will benefit from this work, but the exhibition catalogues Condemned To Be Modern and Access for All: São Paulo’s Architectural Infrastructures will serve most readers better.
The range, both in chronology and subject, of this collection should provide much food for thought to dedicated scholars of auteur cinema and its intersections with queer filmmaking and criticism.
Readers who enjoy W.S. Merwin, Mary Oliver, and Jane Kenyon will feel quite at home with Zagajewski’s poems; like those writers, he is never obscure or tentative but always luminous and alive. Essential for academic libraries and a worthy purchase for contemporary poetry collections in public libraries.
Bernard has a sharp, critical eye and an ability to paint a scene quickly while also coloring it with social resonance. Similar word choices occasionally get repeated from poem to poem, but this collection is a marvel, gifting the reader with new subjects, unique perspectives, and an exuberant musicality that nearly leaps across the page. Highly recommended.
Although some acquaintance with musicology and world history is assumed, the author’s engaging style and the universality of the subject matter will likely have widespread appeal. This title is warmly recommended.
This is an intriguing and insightful look at pro basketball’s critical historical moments and players during the 1970s. It is highly recommended for all collections and should be considered a top purchase.
Students of American government and public policy will gain useful insights from this study, and they may even view American politics in a whole new manner.
This is a riveting read that will be of interest to many, from those concerned with the plight of refugees and the biases built into many American institutions to anyone who loves unconventional memoirs and beautiful writing.
This is a book for a very patient reader, one willing to accept design as the most fundamental of human activities and good design as the panacea for society’s ills.
Readers interested in the Second Amendment’s origins or in assessing arguments about its meaning will likely and deeply appreciate this comprehensive history.
Shapiro’s confident, clear voice and self-deprecating humor, familiar to his many fans, translates well to the written word. His writing will resonate with many and is a treasure for biography readers. Highly recommended.
Parsell’s readable, well-researched biography will bring Scidmore back into the limelight, appealing to readers with an interest in geography, journalism, conservation, and women’s studies.
An important look into the dark past of orphanages globally. It’s also a deep dive into the ways these horrific stories were kept out of the public eye for so long.
Whether readers are looking for the perfect dish to woo or a way to comfort through food, McAlpine provides the tools and recipes to say it with love from a kitchen.
Armchair travelers and fans of the brand will enjoy this title cover to cover, and serious home chefs will delight in the multifaceted, complex yet rewarding recipes. Instructions are in metric measurements, which will detract for some readers but not devotees.
Flynn may be Canada’s best-kept secret, with her laidback attitude, entertaining chops, and deceptively simple dishes. She will be a popular fresh new voice for cookbook shelves.
This book, more than many like it, will entice readers to consult it over and over, consistently finding new information each time they do. Highly recommended for all libraries.
Part memoir, part cookbook, this is a work that readers will devour cover to cover in between trying Boudy’s recipes in the kitchen. Boudy fans will come for the memoir and stay for the food, while other library patrons will come for the recipes and be delighted by Boudy’s journey.
Unique and practical, Adler’s title encourages home cooks to achieve what seems impossible: clean out the fridge, not into the garbage but into an appealing meal.
This book would complement environmental art and nature lovers’ collections. It also pairs well with works about Beatrix Potter’s artwork, Paul Stamets’s contributions to mycology, and Eugenia Bone’s Mycophilia. A beautiful artistic exploration and tribute to mushrooms for their own beauty and value.
Dunphy’s charming, lyrical ode to her special trees will appeal to readers who enjoy natural-history memoirs, books about trees, and reflections on women’s lives and relationships with people, history, current events, and the natural world.
Based on hard science and on personal narratives from 20 people, this book is a comprehensive must-have title for educators, parents, and those who process things through a dyslexic lens.
Comprehensive and encompassing of the many of the struggles teens face today, this book is a must for libraries looking for mental health resources for parents of teens.