All Book Reviews
Do animals have culture? According to Carl Safina, absolutely.In his latest engrossing book, ecologist聽Carl Safina destroys the myth that humans are the only Earth creatures with cultural traditions.
鈥楳agdalena鈥� meanders enjoyably down Colombia鈥檚 largest riverWade Davis narrates his fascinating, beautiful, and dangerous journey down the聽R铆o Magdalena 鈥� the heart of Colombia.
Senator Joe McCarthy: The original polarizing political figureBiographer Larry Tye draws on copious resources for 鈥淒emagogue,鈥� but McCarthy鈥檚 career remains a cautionary tale of power and unfounded accusations.聽
His name was chosen to bring good fortune. So far, it isn鈥檛 working.Lysley Tenorio鈥檚 novel 鈥淭he Son of Good Fortune鈥� explores the sorely tested bonds of a Filipino mother and her son living in the shadows in America.聽
On a peace mission to the Congo, his plane dropped out of the skyDag Hammarskj枚ld was an idealistic diplomat who sought to do the right thing. Author Ravi Somaiya argues that people in high places wanted him gone.
Fifty years of legal skirmishes have deepened the divide over Roe v. WadeLaw professor Mary Ziegler chronicles the tactics used by abortion foes and abortion rights activists in the years since the 1973 decision.
鈥楬ow is your novel going?鈥� A young woman writer鈥檚 struggle.Lily King鈥檚 novel plumbs the depths of the creative life, and of being true to one鈥檚 calling.聽
Polishing America鈥檚 image in the eyes of its peopleIn 鈥淯nion,鈥� author Colin Woodard examines how expansionist and exceptionalist rhetoric shaped the ways Americans see their country.
鈥楽hakespeare in a Divided America鈥� considers the tug-of-war over the BardJames Shapiro鈥檚 latest book examines key moments in American history in light of the themes and rhetoric of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays.聽
Lively memoir 鈥楾he Watergate Girl鈥� tells a prosecutor鈥檚 storyJill Wine-Banks tells of her role as a young lawyer working with Archibald Cox during the trials of those involved in the Watergate cover-up.聽
鈥楾he Hour of Fate鈥� untangles complex trust-busting historyPresident Roosevelt was determined to break up monopolies. J.P. Morgan was equally set on keeping them. The two men fought a pitched battle.
Humans are a (mostly) kind species. A Dutch historian offers proof.Rutger Bregman鈥檚 鈥淗umankind: A Hopeful History鈥� challenges the Hobbesian notion that humans, left to their own devices, devolve into selfishness.聽聽
鈥業鈥檓 Your Huckleberry鈥�: Val Kilmer鈥檚 candid take on Hollywood and healingIn his memoir, 鈥淚鈥檓 Your Huckleberry,鈥� the actor talks about winning fame, dropping out of Hollywood, and his ongoing spiritual seeking.
鈥楾he Vanishing Half鈥� is a compelling novel on race and homeBrit Bennett鈥檚 newest book navigates difficult truths with clarity and grace, and her vivid characters are hard to forget.
How drones change the risks that nations are willing to takeIn 鈥淭he Drone Age,鈥� Michael J. Boyle provides moral clarity on the question of drone technology, and tops it off with a word of warning.
For the love of language: 鈥極ur Riches鈥� celebrates readingKaouther Adimi鈥檚 newly translated novel weaves together fact and fiction in a story about a famous Algerian bookstore and its fiercely loyal patrons.
The shadow economy that lets the ultra rich enjoy 鈥榝riction free lives鈥�Nelson D. Schwartz explores the perils of a financial system that enables one percenters to move to the head of the line in 鈥楾he Velvet Rope Economy.鈥�
The internet as it is: 鈥楲urking鈥� shows the web鈥檚 wins and lossesUnlike other books on the subject, Joanne McNeil鈥檚 shrewd history of the internet doesn鈥檛 pretend there was ever an online golden age.
Edward Snowden arouses little sympathy in 鈥楧ark Mirror鈥�Barton Gellman鈥檚 biography paints an unflinching picture of the man some consider a spy, and others a hero, for revealing widespread surveillance.聽聽
What are birds doing? David Allen Sibley knows.David Allen Sibley鈥檚 lavishly illustrated 鈥淲hat It鈥檚 Like to Be a Bird鈥� is more for perusing indoors - it鈥檚 too big to fit in your pocket.
