Blood Will Out: The True Story of a Murder, a Mystery, & a Masquerade by Walter Kirn
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids edited by Meghan Daum
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Public shaming is old news, but in the internet age, it’s taken on a new life. In this fantastic book, Ronson examines the culture of shaming using various examples, and addressing the aftermath of shaming. Funny, engaging, and utterly fascinating, this book will make you think long and hard about shaming, and whether you should be doing it. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Plus, he’ll be speaking here on April 10th!
Visions and Revisions by Dale Peck
Visions and Revisions is the lyrical new work by author, ACT UP activist, and highly opinionated. It's somewhat like a memoir, but with reportage sprinkled throughout and less linear. This is an intimate and haunting look into how the AIDS epidemic has permeated the consciousness of a generation. The stories told here are beautiful elegies, dense angers, lonesome howls, and loving memories.
A Deadly Wandering by Matt Richtel
In 2006, Reggie Shaw was 19, on his way to a nice college career and a Mormon mission, when he caused a horrific car crash that killed two rocket scientists. He has no memory of what happened; records would show that he was texting. Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent Matt Richtel follows the aftermath of that life-altering morning, Reggie’s desperate search for redemption, Utah laws that first banned texting while driving, and the alarming neuroscience that reveals how social technology is rewiring our brains. (Shortly after publication, an entrepreneur bought and delivered a copy of A Deadly Wandering to every member of Congress—this riveting book is that compelling and that important.)
Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall
What makes a hero? McDougall’s surprising thesis: Anyone can be a hero, if you care about the people around you and attune yourself to your own natural movement. Tap into that, and you can accomplish extraordinary things. Spanning from Ancient Greece to Bruce Lee, from the history of parkour to World War II, this book is an epicly enjoyable ride. I learned so much and am so inspired, I have to tell everyone: go read this book!
All the Wild That Remains by David Gessner
The Wild West has always captured our imagination, and few writers have evoked its magic like Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner, two very different people who presented distinctive sides of the West and worked tirelessly on conservation efforts. This readable book balances the life of both authors with the author’s Western travelogues, history, and the passionate argument for the need to continue the conservation that Abbey and Stegner fought for.
Spinster by Kate Bolick
With keen intelligence and an exceptional elegance with words, Kate Bolick examines the pleasures and uncertainties that accompany her life-long “spinster wish”: an insatiable craving for solitude, independence, and self-knowledge, more powerful than the desire (and pressure) for romantic partnership. Spinster charts the perception of unmarried women through history, wondering why, still, an unmarried woman past child-bearing age must be making a statement. —Julia
Simultaneously memoir, social commentary, and biography, Spinster made me seriously consider my own desires and the impact society has on them, and inspired me to start reading the work of the women discussed within. I loved this book. —Flannery
Missoula by Jon Krakauer
With his combination of meticulous research and captivating writing, Jon Krakauer is my nonfiction hero. I’ve loved all his books and have been hoping for a new one. My wish has been answered with this painstakingly thorough exposé of a series of rapes and the failure of justice at the University of Montana. Infuriating, deeply human, and addressing an absolutely necessary topic, this is by far my most anticipated book of the year.
Shuffle & Deal: 50 Classic Card Games for Any Number of Players by Tara Gallagher
This beautiful guide to classic and popular card games (blackjack, gin rummy) plus lesser-known ones (dou dizhu, suicide) would be an excellent addition to your vacation cabin or board-game nights this summer. Each of the 50 games is presented with rules and variations, with the objective and course of play clearly laid out. You’ll want to read it cover to cover before deciding which game to try first.
I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son by Kent Russell
Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford
A philosopher-turned-mechanic spectacular manifesto in defense of manual labor is disconcertingly pertinent as our lives become more digitized and our minds more numbed—and lost is the ability to make or repair anything tangible. Working with one’s hands, Shop Class demands, is the key to intellectual stimulation, economic independence, and human flourishing.
The Empty Space by Peter Brook
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The State of Play by Daniel Goldberg
The gaming world is very much in a state of crisis. No one can quite decide the best direction to take this burgeoning art form. Sixteen major players in the industry have some ideas. It was incredibly refreshing to read essays where no one treats the community like glass. We’re big kids, we can take some criticism. At its heart, this collection is a labor of love for a space we all hold dear. --Ivy
The Fish Ladder by Katharine Norbury
The Fish Ladder is a graceful combination of memoir, nature writing and philosophic travel adventure. As a way to cope with the grief of her miscarriage, Norbury and her daughter Evie embark on a quest to walk the rivermouths of Great Britain back to their sources. Infused with stillness, literature and a love of surroundings, this also becomes a journey to trace her own life back to its origins, to her birth parents and the reason for her adoption—a thoughtful meditation on family and self. —Melinda
50 Years, 50 Moments by Jerry Rice
Who better to write a book about the most pivotal plays in Super Bowl history than Super Bowl MVP (and the greatest receiver of all time) Jerry Rice? In 50 Years, 50 Moments, Rice features his list of the most iconic, strategic and record-breaking moments in football history, complete with memories and insights directly from many of the athletes and coaches involved. From unforgettable catches and interceptions to fumbles and touchdowns, this celebration of Super Sunday will thrill any football fan. —S.B.
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe by Chris Taylor
Star Wars is so much more than movies. Chris Taylor dives into the origins of the world’s largest franchise while exploring its current myriad facets. From the origins of modern science fiction, we jump between the story of George Lucas and his influences, and vignettes of the fans, enemies, and true believers who have made Star Wars a way of life. A fascinating and complex exploration. —Jocelyn
Harry Potter: The Character Vault by Jody Revenson
I am an unabashed Harry Potter lover, as my tattoo and multi-set collection of the books would attest to, so I’m thrilled with every new release. In Harry Potter: The Character Vault, the journey of the characters from page to screen is highlighted in glorious detail. Filled with concept art, costumes, never-before-seen photos, and behind-the-scenes stories, this is a treasure trove for any Potter fan. The amazing concept art alone is worth the price! —Flannery
100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write by Sarah Ruhl
Sarah Ruhl is one of the foremost playwrights of our generation, blurring the lines between dreams and reality to explore the truths of our society in new ways. Here she approaches her ideas more directly, writing “essays” (in the loosest and shortest sense of the term) that examine the magic and nature of theatre, writing, art, and being an audience member—and a human. No matter your relationship to theatre, there is something in here for you. —Jocelyn