Through the years, Neil Gaiman has written on so many subjects, from books to politics to music. This book is worth the price of admission if only for his perspective on genre writing. Collecting these writings together provides a masterclass in how to write non-fiction: widely and often. - Ivy
I found myself telling everyone I knew how much I enjoyed reading this, and how they needed to read it right now! Norris takes us through her interest in all things Greek, from the language to the place to the literature and how she relates to it all. Her genius lies in moving agilely from one topic to another, giving insight and sparking interest while never letting the reader become weary of the subject. Perfect to delight the brain, spice up your dinner conversation, and to transport you to “the wine-dark sea.” - Jax
Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy was the first book that made me cry within the first five pages, and now Burnout is the second, and for the same reason: I've found my people. Burnout strikes that nice balance between easily readable and scientific backing, in addition to recognizing the amount of stress and crap that women are faced with. The authors provide tl;dr "cheat sheets" at the end of each chapter, understanding the need for quick references in high stress times. Burnout and Furiously Happy allow folks to see that they're not alone in their head, burdened with stress, mental illness, self-doubt, and other debilitating thoughts. Everyone goes through those on some level, and Burnout provides the tools needed to thrive during challenging times. - Rachel
What a treat we have been given by one of our finest writers and thinkers – this is exactly the book I have wanted from Barry Lopez. Horizon is a gorgeous tome that is a journey through his own life and travels around the world, as well as those who came before him, reflecting on a greater history of exploration, and offering thoughtful, fervent, hopeful ways forward for all of us in these uncertain times. Personal, powerful, important, this is narrative nonfiction that we both need and crave. - Melinda
Helen Ellis is everything I would want to be if I were a Southern lady instead of a California girl. Her essays have the kind of wit that warms the cockles of my jaded heart. I cackled at every snark. She’s the one you want sitting next to you at the wedding, spilling dirt (and let’s be honest, probably her wine) about all of the groom’s relatives. She’s brilliant and I want to read everything she writes forever. - Karena
When Michele Filgate, the editor of What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, wrote an essay about her stepfather’s abuse, she revealed the fracture that the abuse caused between her mother and her. The essay went viral and Filgate realized that there was much to be learned about what happens in the intimate bond between mother and child when things go unsaid. Filgate gathered 15 writers to explore the topic. Some of the essays are hilarious; others heartbreaking; but there is such strength and resilience in this collection. I kept recalling Leonard Cohen’s line, “There is a crack in everything/That’s how the light gets in.” - S.M.C.
I have been reading (and loving) Brooklyn lifestyle blogger LaTonya Yvette for years and am so excited about this, her first book. In Woman of Color, Yvette beautifully blends memoir with essays on motherhood, love, beauty, grief, identity, and racism. Although her blend of powerful writing, fashion advice, and design inspiration could only come from her, the takeaways are for everyone. “Admire and celebrate other women,” she writes. LaTonya Yvette, it is easy to do so with you. - S.B.
Published just three years after 9/11, this is a powerful meditation on the intention behind and consumption of war photography. Sontag explores the necessary act of acknowledging violence while challenging ourselves to respond to it with empathy, not apathy. Today, when acts of mass violence are as common as the hashtags that represent them, this book feels particularly urgent. - Kristi
Lowry won’t just tell you to stop buying coffee. Step by step, this book helped me understand money and the world of money we live in. I now know how you’re supposed to use a credit card, why a 401K is important, and I even changed my Savings account. As soon as I finished, I recommended this to every millennial I know – and now I’m recommending it to the ones I don’t know. - Jocelyn
Voice computing represents the biggest shift in how we interact with computers since the advent of the smart phone. The changes brought on by Siri and Alexa are affecting every aspect of our lives. This well researched book provides a fascinating account of how voice computing developed the current state of the technology, and the possibilities and pitfalls of its future. - Trey
