All Books
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
Q&A with with Alan Mikhail, author of 鈥楪od鈥檚 Shadow鈥�His book about Sultan Selim I restores the Ottomans to their place in the making of the modern world and as a cultural force to be reckoned with.
Q&A with with David Michaelis, author of 鈥楨leanor鈥�America鈥檚 longest-serving first lady brought people鈥檚 everyday concerns to the White House, and made government seem more approachable.聽
Make an October date with Eleanor Roosevelt, Cary Grant, Sylvia PlathThe 10 best books of October make good company, from newly translated fiction to thoughtful and entertaining biographies.
