All Books
How Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson ended up pitted against each otherAuthor Howard Bryant juxtaposes the politics and power of the two men in 鈥淜ings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America.鈥�
One man held the keys to KGB records. He turned them over to MI6.鈥淭he Spy in the Archive鈥� by Gordon Corera spotlights a KGB archivist whose actions led to the biggest counterintelligence bonanza of the postwar period.
Does the modern world need a mindset shift on 鈥榩rogress鈥�?Samuel Miller McDonald unpacks centuries of conquest and expansion in 鈥淧rogress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens To Destroy It.鈥�
Tennessee songbird: Dolly Parton鈥檚 rise to country music superstardom鈥淎in鈥檛 Nobody鈥檚 Fool鈥� by Martha Ackmann captures Dolly Parton鈥檚 talent, her decency, and her cultural significance.
When the captain鈥檚 wife took charge: The true story of Mary Ann PattenOver two months in 1856, Mary Ann Patten guided her husband鈥檚 clipper ship relying on celestial navigation, her wits, and the crew鈥檚 support.
鈥楿nabridged鈥�: A delightful look behind the making of a dictionaryHow do new words like 鈥渟afe space,鈥� 鈥渄ogpile,鈥� and 鈥渁lt-right鈥� make it into the dictionary? Journalist Stefan Fatsis finds out.
In winter, a murder mystery writer takes a break from cold casesScottish novelist Val McDermid takes a step back from 鈥渢artan noir鈥� to reminisce about her childhood and to revel in the frigid season.
Civil servant or fascist spy? Hunting for the truth about her Albanian grandmother.鈥淚ndignity: A Life Reimagined鈥� charts Lea Ypi鈥檚 attempts to locate information about her grandmother, Leman Ypi, in the declassified records of communist Albania鈥檚 secret police.
A smorgasbord of books enlivens the 10 best of DecemberWhile away the darkest days of the year solving mysteries, enjoying a holiday romance, and catching up with a country-music icon.
Birds, butterflies, botanicals, and coastal wondersA quartet of art and nature books captures the splendor and mystery of the natural world.聽
The top 25 books for 2025From mystery and history to fiction and memoir, these are the titles that captivated Monitor reviewers this year.
Opposed to slavery, but also against a war to end it鈥淭he Boston Way,鈥� examines a group of abolitionists who believed a civil war聽would not only result in bloodshed but also set back the cause of African American rights.聽
A biographer mines the life of Xi Jinping鈥檚 father for clues to China todayJoseph Torigian talks about writing 鈥淭he Party鈥檚 Interests Come First,鈥� which profiles the father of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Four new cookbooks that will help you focus on 鈥楪ood Things鈥�In this roundup of cookbooks, authors like Jacques P茅pin and Samin Nosrat share how their personal creative processes in the kitchen can have a harmonizing, restorative effect.
鈥楢mity鈥� tells a triumphant tale set against Reconstruction鈥檚 harsh landscape鈥淎mity鈥� laces together separate tales of two Black siblings, searching for each other and for their true selves.
The leaves have turned, so turn a page. Here are November鈥檚 10 best.The 10 best books of November bring light to the shortest days, with new titles from Salman Rushdie, Sarah Hall, and Roy Wood Jr.聽
In 鈥楾he Name on the Wall,鈥� Herv茅 Le Tellier charts rise of extremism鈥淭he Name on the Wall鈥� unspools the short life of a French resistance foot soldier, whose ordinary bravery contrasted with the brutality around him.
鈥楾he First Eight鈥�: Jim Clyburn reflects on Reconstruction, civil rights, and todayIn this interview, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina discusses the connection he sees between today鈥檚 politics and the eras of Reconstruction and Jim Crow.
A love of reading fuels a workingman鈥檚 desire for a better lifeBenjamin Wood鈥檚 latest novel 鈥淪eascraper鈥� recognizes the importance of reconciling practical concerns and necessities with spiritual, emotional ones.
Beyond 鈥楢lmost Famous鈥�: Cameron Crowe shows his 鈥楿ncool鈥� side in memoirFilmmaker Cameron Crowe digs into his past as a chronicler of rock 鈥榥鈥� roll idols and explores his pivot to the movies.
