All Books
鈥楾he Upswing鈥�: From personal gain to common good and back againRobert D. Putnam assesses the schisms and swings in 20th-century American politics 鈥� and why there鈥檚 hope for the future.聽
鈥楾he Good American鈥�: One man struggled to make the world rightAs America stepped into conflicts across the world in the late 20th century, one bureaucrat聽took on the thankless task of tallying up the human cost.
Q&A with with James Gardner, author of 鈥楾he Louvre鈥�Among Western art institutions, the Louvre looms as a supreme icon of cultural sophistication. But how did it get that way?聽James Gardner explains.
鈥楬is Only Wife鈥� turns fairytale tropes upside downWhen a poor young woman is offered the hand of a rich young man, the marriage seems like it should solve her problems. What happens when it doesn鈥檛?
鈥楯ames Monroe鈥� is an unclouded look at a complicated legacyBiographers find themselves reckoning with the Founding Fathers鈥� complicity in slavery 鈥� and James Monroe is no exception.
鈥楽imon the Fiddler鈥� explores the redemptive power of musicA musician, conscripted聽into the Confederate Army聽in the waning days of the Civil War, finds reasons for hope.聽
Humorist David Sedaris delivers his choicest material in 鈥楾he Best of Me鈥�A mainstay on the bestseller lists, the often wry and deadpan Sedaris takes a victory lap with this amusing collection of published work.聽聽
鈥楻ed Comet鈥� is the biography Sylvia Plath has always deservedPlath is often reduced to a punchline or mythologized as a 鈥渉igh priestess of poetry.鈥� A new biography paints a more generous 鈥� and human 鈥� portrait.
Poet Ted Kooser鈥檚 鈥楻ed Stilts鈥�: Beauty in small momentsTed Kooser doesn't need much at all, really, to help you see vibrancy and joy. Muddy tire tracks and lumber with a lick of paint will do.
Joining an anti-racist book club? Don鈥檛 get too comfortable in that armchair.Anti-racist book sales and book clubs are booming, with a focus not just on reading and talking but on action 鈥� in workplaces, churches, and schools.聽
Without precedent: Books that shed light on America under TrumpBooks about President Trump have flooded stores over the past four years. These three titles illuminate what鈥檚 been going on in American politics.聽聽
Lincoln brought strength of character 鈥� and backwoods wit 鈥� to governingThe 16th president faced daunting challenges during the Civil War. Two new biographies demonstrate that he was equal to the task.
Martin Amis delivers the 鈥業nside Story,鈥� a sprawling autobiographical novelThe British novelist writes from a position of gratitude 鈥� toward family, friends, and mentors 鈥� rather than from anger or self-pity.聽
Cooking at home? Try new takes on old favorites, or travel the world.Sourdough aside, home cooks looking to experiment beyond 鈥減andemic baking鈥� can find inspiration in cookbooks with cuisines from across the globe.聽
鈥楾he Lehman Trilogy鈥� leads the top audiobooks of OctoberAn epic immigration story that flows like poetry, a kid-friendly adaptation of Shakespeare, and more great audiobooks made our list this month.
Barbara Kingsolver鈥檚 poems gently mock how-to books鈥淗ow to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons)鈥� offers delightful bits of wisdom and humor, a balm during the pandemic.聽
鈥楬omeland Elegies鈥� weaves together a Muslim family and politicsAyad Akhtar orchestrates a fictionalized spinoff of his life, full of digressions, commentary, and a critique of American culture.聽
Korean American experience resonates in 鈥楾he Prince of Mournful Thoughts鈥�The longing for connection, for belonging, is woven throughout a dozen short stories in Caroline Kim鈥檚 superlative debut collection.聽
His appetite was legendary, his influence on food was lastingJames Beard championed American cuisine, mentored chefs, wrote cookbooks. His personal life was a struggle, as biographer John Birdsall explores.聽
Don鈥檛 write off Big Oil: The geopolitics of energy and securityDaniel Yergin鈥檚 鈥淭he New Map鈥� provides a guide through the energy landscape, but gives short shrift to methane emissions and environmental activism.聽
