All Books
Krakens, codes, and cliff-hangers: Six stories to delight young readersImmersive books for young readers include Kate DiCamillo鈥檚 鈥淭he Hotel Balzaar,鈥� Katherine Rundell鈥檚 鈥淚maginary Creatures,鈥� and four others.
John Lewis served as 鈥榯he conscience of the Congress鈥�David Greenberg鈥檚 鈥淛ohn Lewis: A Life鈥� follows the civil rights leader from the Selma march to the halls of Congress. Lewis kept faith with the practice of nonviolence.
Reagan left his mark on the Republican Party, and on the presidencyBiographer Max Boot charts the course of a politician who was famously affable and pragmatic, but who also resorted to racist dog whistles and played loose with facts.聽
Intervene or isolate? America鈥檚 role abroad has long been contested.America First was a rallying cry of isolationists in the 1930s. Charles Lindbergh, a spokesman for the movement, clashed with President Franklin D. Roosevelt over U.S. involvement.聽 聽
Justice delayed: Why it鈥檚 so hard to free the wrongfully convictedIn 鈥淏ringing Ben Home,鈥� Barbara Bradley Hagerty explores the long road toward exonerating Ben Spencer, a Black man imprisoned for a murder he didn鈥檛 commit.
October鈥檚 10 best books add up to a month of great readingThe 10 best books of October 2024 include a thrilling naval adventure, a novel about 19th-century New Orleans, and a history of Handel鈥檚 鈥淢essiah.鈥�
Romancing the tome: How romance writers surprised the publishing worldIn 鈥淟ove in the Time of Self-Publishing,鈥� researcher Christine Larson explores the strength of Romancelandia, the community of mostly women who write romance novels.
In 鈥楾he Message,鈥� Ta-Nehisi Coates urges his students to see for themselves鈥淭he Message鈥� is a collection of commentaries about African ancestry and identity, political power and polarity, and finally, a damning assessment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The art of conversation: Books for going beyond conflictAt a time when civility in politics seems increasingly rare, these books explore how the simple art of conversation can reduce conflict in our own lives.聽聽
How to have better conversations with people across the aisleBob Stains has dedicated his life to helping transform conflicts, urging us to soften our 鈥渉earts of stone鈥� and go beyond 鈥渟imple stories鈥� about others. In a Q&A, he offers tips on how to do it.
First LookHan Kang, author of 鈥楾he Vegetarian,鈥� is first Asian woman to win Nobel in literatureThe Nobel Prize in literature has long faced criticism for its focus on European and North American men. Han Kang, the first Asian woman to win, writes 鈥渋ntense lyrical prose that is both tender and brutal,鈥� said A Nobel literature committee member.
Americans are actually less divided than they think鈥淩emaking the Space Between Us鈥� counters the inclination to feel overwhelmed, angry, or helpless about civic life.聽
First LookWhat鈥檚 in Bob Woodward鈥檚 new book? Private calls, rage, and regrets of Trump and Biden.In his new book, 鈥淲ar,鈥� journalist Bob Woodward reports Donald Trump privately called Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving office, and that Joe Biden鈥檚 anger at Benjamin Netanyahu is boiling in private, among other revelations.
After a violent upheaval, impressionists chose beautyA war and an insurrection upended Paris in the 1800s. Then came the soothing art.聽
This chef is fighting a culinary battle for Ukrainian identityIn 鈥淭he Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes from a Native Chef,鈥� Yevhen Klopotenko celebrates the foods that separate Ukraine from Russia.
His father fled China. It took years for him to talk about it.In 鈥淎t the Edge of Empire: A Family鈥檚 Reckoning With China,鈥� Edward Wong traces the roots of his father鈥檚 flight from China 鈥� and the country鈥檚 evolution.
鈥楾urning off the porch lights鈥� to reveal nature鈥檚 hidden marvelsHow often do you venture into the dark? Author Leigh Ann Henion shares her journey in 鈥楴ight Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark."
Bohemian rhapsody: Two writers celebrate Greenwich Village of the 鈥�60sGreenwich Village in the 鈥�60s attracted musicians like Joan Baez. Novelist Sarah Seltzer (鈥淭he Singer Sisters鈥�) and music journalist David Browne (鈥淭alkin鈥� Greenwich Village鈥�) chat about the Village鈥檚 enduring appeal.聽聽
Kick off fall with the Monitor鈥檚 10 best books of SeptemberAs summer fades into fall, our picks for September鈥檚 best books offer the perfect contemplative page-turners for chilly autumn days.
Five mysteries to savor, from Kate Atkinson to Richard OsmanDeath takes a holiday, as a quintet of cozy mysteries transports readers to far-flung locales, including Italy, France, and the Himalayas.聽