PositiveBookPageThornton’s research and interviews are exhaustive, entertaining and enlightening ... A revelatory look at many different facets of this oh-so-vital body part.
Geraldine DeRuiter
RaveBookPage\"Memoirs are expected to be intimate, laying the groundwork for an author’s backstory and how they got to where they are currently. But it is less common for a personal account to be rendered in a way that’s hilarious, clever, profound and poignant at the same time, particularly one with food as its focus. Geraldine DeRuiter’s If You Can’t Take the Heat: Tales of Food, Feminism, and Fury provides all these elements and more ... DeRuiter’s divulging is comforting and significant to both women and those who have made a similar culinary journey. Readers will find this witty series of vignettes humorous and enlightening.\
Erika Howsare
PositiveBookPageThrough carefully wrought prose and evocative imagery, Howsare depicts how deer and human populations have both relied on and butted up against one another for eons ... A thorough, eye-opening invitation to ponder our own relationships with the natural world, practically and reverently.
Zahra Hankir
PositiveBookPageA cultural perspective that is eye-opening and surprisingly intimate. Hankir peels back layers of history to reveal how eyeliner became so ingrained in various societies over millennia ... A thorough retrospective of a product that has endured over time and continues to play a significant role for cultures around the globe.
Ben Goldfarb
RaveBookPageA comprehensive guide ... Extensive research ... Will spark conversation around the future of motorized vehicles and transportation in general.
Dan Schreiber
PositiveBookPageHumorous illustrations are featured side by side with historic photographs, and each \"batshit\" story or theory is counterbalanced with a reality check of facts and statistics ... A wild, witty, entertaining ride into the funhouse of the unexplained and the unexplainable.
Andrew Leland
PositiveBookPageThrough eloquent prose, Leland vividly details his experiences with retinitis pigmentosa ... Providing a raw and honest depiction of what it is like to straddle two worlds, Leland lays his feelings and the realities of his condition out on the table ... Does not leave readers with a sense of sadness—quite the opposite. By mixing reality checks with wit, Leland’s prose exudes hope and authenticity.
Amy Brady
PositiveBookPage\"Brady found ice to be an untapped subject and did enormous amounts of research to fill in the gaps in its history. Divided into four parts that each focuses on an aspect of ice—obsession, food and drink, ice sports, and the future—Ice outlines how frozen water \'profoundly has shaped the nation’s history and culture.\' Commentary from food writers, scientists, physicians and historians are interspersed with historic resources such as newspaper articles, diaries and journals, creating unique connections between the past and present. Historical facts and statistics help contextualize the important role ice has played in events like Prohibition, when breweries pivoted to other business ventures that would make use of their existing ice cellars ... Taken all together, Ice makes an important case for securing the future of those freezing cold cubes in a warming world.\
Katy Kelleher
PositiveBookPageKelleher writes candidly about her personal experiences as a home and design writer, which involved crafting descriptive write-ups ... Kelleher skillfully dissects many kinds of things that humans have found desirable over the years. She intertwines these discussions with her personal definition of beauty and reminds readers that beautiful things can be useful for more than their looks. For example, fine dishes are for gathering, feeding and sharing, not just display.
Bryce Andrews
PositiveBookPageAlthough it’s labeled as a memoir, Holding Fire also has many elements of regional nonfiction, natural history and even social science. As a result, it is structured in a fresh and unpredictable way ... As Andrews ruminates on his personal history, he dots his musings with descriptive, emotive prose ... Holding Fire is a meditation on the past, present and future of not only Andrews’ own life but also the lives of all mortal creatures.
Danielle Clode
PositiveBookPage... a thorough and descriptive backstory of the koala ... With her scientific yet accessible writing style, Clode digs deep into koalas’ evolution ... Leaving no stone unturned, Koala makes great strides to advance our knowledge of this largely misunderstood animal.
Lauren Graham
RaveBookPageInsightful ... She’s candid about the demands of show business, too, and the acrobatics that actors have to perform to fit into the Hollywood mold ... These stories and anecdotes are especially raw, real and humorous. Graham’s writing is fresh, sharp and very funny, with fast, staccato sentences that evoke what it must be like to have a conversation with her. Her voice invites the reader in, emanating a refreshing openness that will make them want to be her best friend. Have I Told You This Already? is an enjoyable, amusing revelation.
Douglas Rushkoff
PositiveBookPageNumbing and mind-blowing in equal measure, Survival of the Richest is a true story that seems straight out of a science fiction tale.
Paul Newman
PositiveBookPageRaw, honest, and revealing ... A humble and candid look into the life of a celebrated but often misunderstood man.
Amy Brady
PositiveBookPageA diverse, impactful set of essays that explore the climate crisis ... Each author brings a unique style and focus to their topic, with prose that is in varying degrees lyrical, reflective and urgent ... A warning that commands the full attention of every reader.
David K Randall
PositiveBookPage... thrilling ... Exciting as any action tale, The Monster’s Bones features characters from all walks of life, from cowboys and ranchers to scientists, railroad magnates and university scholars. As with any valuable assets, greed was a big factor driving this race to succeed. However, it also pushed science ahead by leaps and bounds, leading to findings that still inform paleontologists and biologists today.
Brandon Presser
RaveBookPage... it’s easy to assume that nothing new could be unearthed or written about it. But in his debut book, The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific, travel journalist Brandon Presser does exactly that, and brilliantly. By sifting through many of these prior texts, as well as other resources such as captain’s logs and interviews, Presser has managed to create a fact-based book that reads as grippingly as any thriller ... Although some facts remain a mystery (such as the breaking point that made Fletcher Christian snap and take over the ship from Captain William Bligh), Presser’s detailed interpretation allows many of the formerly fuzzy pieces to fall into place. His personal experience on the islands combined with fastidious research make The Far Land such an incredible, unforgettable tale that Presser had to stress in an author’s note that it is \'indeed a work of nonfiction.\'
Dan Saladino
RaveBookPageSaladino traverses the globe to find out what scientists, conservationists and food experts are doing to dial back the increasing sameness in our diets. His journalistic skills are key as he interviews a wide range of people, from food corporation executives and government officials to botanists and farmers ... Fascinating and extremely well written, Eating to Extinction combines comprehensive history with science, culture and geography. At 464 pages, it’s a lengthy tome that undoubtedly could have been much longer, as it just scratches the surface regarding the number of foodstuffs affected by diminishing biodiversity. Saladino raises a serious issue that needs to be addressed with global urgency and cooperation.
Taylor Harris
RaveBookPageTaylor Harris beautifully and heartbreakingly describes how...fear struck like a lightning bolt when her son Tophs began to experience a string of health issues that baffled medical experts ... Harris lays all these cards on the table, telling her story with raw candor and wit ... Honest revelations provide a touchstone to her experiences as an adult ... This Boy We Made is many books in one ... Fusing all these themes together in an entertaining and thoughtful way would seem an exhausting task, yet Harris does it with honesty and grace. With descriptive, poetic prose, her authentic message commands the reader’s full attention.
Matt Siegel
RaveBookPage[A] fascinating debut ... Siegel’s book is as entertaining as it is informative, sprinkled with humorous anecdotes and connections to popular culture. He takes intel gathered from nutritionists, psychologists, food historians and paleoanthropologists and weaves together a tale that moves seamlessly from one topic to the next. Written in a style that is accessible yet scholarly, The Secret History of Food will delight and enlighten anyone looking to find out more about food’s rich backstory.
Daniel Sherrell
PositiveBookPageSherrell is a passionate advocate for the climate movement, which he conveys with urgency and honest, raw emotion, expressing an anxiety he feels has infiltrated the essence of his being. He writes with a frightening sense of gravity that will give Generation X and the baby boom generation reason to take a close, hard look at what’s happening and do something ... This is exactly Sherrell’s message. We need to do something—about fossil fuels, corrupt politicians, global food and water security. The list goes on. Warmth is a pleading, informative call to action.
Sarah Everts
RaveBookPageSpeaking with experts from disciplines such as forensics, chemistry, genetics and even fragrances, Everts takes readers on an entertaining journey into the world of perspiration, including the science behind it and the benefits of a good sweat ... As she tackles a subject that some people deem taboo or even gross, Everts incorporates interesting historical facts, market research and scientific discoveries, skillfully turning science into poetry. And her examples from real-life situations, including her own personal experiences, make The Joy of Sweat even more relatable.
Tyler J Kelley
PositiveBookPageThis escalating situation is presented in vivid detail ... There’s no clear, quick solution to these interlocking problems, but Kelley suggests some interesting possibilities, such as creating more river commissions to plan for worst case scenarios before they actually happen. Holding Back the River is a riveting depiction of an issue that is not going away anytime soon.
Arik Kershenbaum
PositiveBookpageHis expertise in the field of animal behavior adds weight and validity to his arguments ... Helpful definitions and explanations guide the reader through concepts such as chaos theory, natural selection, form versus function and convergent evolution ... Through these examples, which he mixes with humor and even references to science fiction books and films, Kershenbaum relays fascinating scientific concepts in layman’s terms. The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy will appeal to anyone who ponders what life is like among the stars.
Michelle Nijhuis
RaveBookPageAs Nijhuis uncovers and examines these aspects of the movement, her reporting skills shine ... Throughout the book, Nijhuis conveys her thorough research with colorful prose ... She also segues into the challenges facing conservationists today, such as climate change, organized crime and corporate interests. But the main takeaway from Beloved Beasts is a sense of hope for the future.
Simon Winchester
RaveBookPageWeaving together elements of history, geography, geology and science, Winchester paints a raw, in-depth picture of the land that encircles our glorious planet, which is in crisis due to the looming effects of human-induced climate change. He touches on a vast number of topics that have impacted the land since the dawn of civilization, dividing the book into sections that focus on borders, ownership, stewardship, war and restoration ... Ultimately Land is a truthful, revealing exposé, paying tribute to the territory we all share.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
PositiveBookPage... delightful ... Instead of including all the scientific specifics in the book itself (which, quite honestly, could get tedious if you’re reading for pleasure), Barrett handily moves the full explanations and references to her website, sevenandahalflessons.com, and merely includes an appendix with selected details at the back of the book ... Barrett poses some interesting questions ... She writes with precision and clarity ... Barrett uses comparisons to everyday things and practices to help readers understand the brain’s complexity ... interesting concepts such as tuning (strengthening the connections between neurons) and pruning (when less-used connections weaken and die off) are presented in approachable ways ... Some topics are less fun but still worthy of consideration ... sheds some light on our most powerful organ and its intriguing processes.
John Birdsall
RaveBookPage... in his new book, The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard, John Birdsall ... gives foodies a fresh, intimate look at James Beard ... Food lovers will rejoice at this new portrait of one of America’s all-time culinary greats, cheering for Beard’s shining legacy and empathizing with his disappointments.
Jennifer Dasal
PositiveBookPage... what resonates throughout the text,is that art \'is one of the few things that connects us profoundly to one another and reveals our common humanity\' ... unspools like a juicy novel, detailing the backstories of several art history notables, their families, mentors, fellow artists, lovers and more ... Dasal writes with humor and honesty, offering truth mixed with speculation ... All this adds up to a fascinating, lively take on a topic that is too often reduced to dry facts. Art history buffs or anyone who likes a good thriller will find ArtCurious a welcome escape.
Katie Mack
PositiveBookPageThese varying apocalyptic endings sound terrifying, but Mack tackles them with humor and authority. She uses scientific jargon that could be straight out of a science fiction movie, such as \'particle horizon,\' \'cosmic inflation\' and \'dark matter,\' and defines these phrases in layman’s terms for those of us who are more physics-challenged. She also makes complicated theories more accessible by comparing them to relatable scenarios ... Ultimately, Mack takes an otherworldly subject—the death of the universe—and brings it down to earth. She explains her fascination with the topic, which goes back to her childhood, and even references Star Trek episodes to imbue heavy topics and terminology with understanding and connectivity. As a result, The End of Everything will delight both casual science readers and those looking for more in-depth analysis of theoretical astrophysics.
Cody Cassidy
PositiveBookPage... intriguing ... [Cassidy] gathers expert data to offer opinions from a variety of disciplines, including archaeology, anthropology and engineering, providing a well-rounded vision of each subject ... a fascinating dive into the history of us all.
Conor Knighton
PositiveBookPagePart travel monologue, part heartfelt, healing memoir, the uniquely structured debut book from CBS news correspondent Conor Knighton is essentially a love letter to America, and to himself ... Entertaining, informative and inspirational, Leave Only Footprints will appeal to anyone who wants to learn more about America’s “best idea” and how challenging yourself can help with spiritual, emotional and personal growth.
Ben Cohen
PositiveBookPageCleverly crafted through stories, examples, personal experiences, research studies, expert opinion and theories, The Hot Hand relies heavily on Cohen’s sports reporting expertise, with entertaining illustrations taken from both the basketball court and baseball diamond ... Along with real-life examples are pages of authoritative commentary about the psychological and evolutionary ramifications of hot streaks ... The Hot Hand is an interesting and thought-provoking book on a topic that isn’t often discussed but that impacts many different interests, activities and industries
Matt Parker
PositiveBookPageMath isn’t a subject most people consider humorous or arbitrary. But Matt Parker manages to portray the science of mathematics as both of these things in his brilliant new book ... Parker uses a unique combination of witty prose and factual examples to guide the reader through a series of real-life events in which math didn’t work out exactly as expected ... an entertaining and essential read for both math whizzes and those who consider themselves mathematically challenged.
Daniel J. Levitin
PositiveBookPage... beyond the facts and statistics (although there are plenty of interesting ones), Levitin personalizes his writing, providing dozens of case studies and examples from his research, as well as his own experiences ... [Levitin] covers the most recent research on everything from psychedelic drugs to the length of telomeres (nucleotide sequences at each end of a chromosome), drilling down to what’s science fiction and what’s reality ... With more and more of the population living longer, Successful Aging is a timely and relevant guide that will appeal to all age groups, giving us the motivation to keep our minds active and engaged.
Lindsay McCrae
RaveBookPage... [an] enthralling memoir ... this year of close calls, extreme cold, loneliness and insomnia is interspersed with amazing sights and sounds, incredible splendor and rarely seen penguin behavior, such as a female emperor laying an egg, the long incubation period handled by the males and the egg hatching. A touching story of courage, survival and persistence, My Penguin Year is a must-read for nature lovers and those who enjoy a stirring memoir.
Tatiana Schlossberg
PositiveBookPageSchlossberg’s investigative reporting skills are a huge asset in explaining how we got to this point, why it matters and what we can do about it ... The detailed scientific evidence and statistics she uncovers are mind-boggling and very scary, particularly the complexity of the consumer impact on the environment and how swiftly it’s altering our world. But she does her best to lighten the mood by mixing these cold, hard facts with witty prose ... Inconspicuous Consumption is a call to action for our future success and survival.
Edward Posnett
PositiveBookPageIn this unique curio cabinet of a book, Posnett discusses seven little-known natural wonders ... Posnett’s fascination is evident as he unearths the backstories of these natural objects, comparing and contrasting their similarities and differences ... One theme that runs throughout this book is exploitation—the exploitation that takes place whether you’re making luxury items such as fluffy eiderdown quilts or jackets from fine sea silk or vicuña fiber, or you’re harvesting the nests of certain birds to satisfy the huge market for this delicacy ... This is the takeaway from Strange Harvests: How can we best use the natural resources we covet without exploiting them and damaging the earth?
Ryan Jacobs
PositiveBookPage... riveting ... Jacobs weaves the fascinating scientific and historical backstory of the elusive culinary delicacy known as truffles with the stealthy feel of a diamond heist or spy operation ... Jacobs’ years covering international crime as an investigative reporter translate perfectly, as he drills down into the inner workings of the truffle underground ... an eye--opening tale that brings to light the fact that food items can be just as valuable as any other goods, especially when harvests are uncertain.
Ruth Kassinger
RaveBookPage... Kassinger will change your mind, taking an obscure topic that might seem boring, perhaps even gross, and making it fascinating and relevant ... As Kassinger finds unique nuggets within algae’s backstory and possible future, she unravels amazing, microscopic details of this vital resource ... where it gets really interesting is her detailed explanation of the large role algae played in the complicated, multistep process of human evolution ... Kassinger has penned a wondrous story of this multifaceted, often misunderstood microorganism whose existence is vital to our own. Algae’s numerous uses, benefits and even its potential harm provide a wake-up call for humanity to find more ecological solutions to reverse climate change and help support our growing population.
Lara Prior-Palmer
RaveBookPage... a stunning debut ... In witty, open and revealing prose, Prior-Palmer details a slew of obstacles—from searing heat and pelting rain to food poisoning, uncooperative ponies and, most importantly, a lack of experience and preparation ... Her tale could be pulled from the pages of a Hollywood script, with its sweeping, scenic descriptions of the Mongolian steppe and the allies and fierce competitors who emerge among the unique cast of characters ... a true page-turner, told in gorgeous, descriptive prose that readers will tear through like the ponies racing across the plain.
Adam Rutherford
PositiveBookPage\"Incorporating the latest genetic research with data gathered from other scientific fields including anthropology, molecular biology and ecology, Rutherford’s detailed book is fascinating and even enlightening, such as his revelation that a tidied-up Homo sapiens individual from 200,000 years ago would not look out of place today. Who knew? He discusses how culture has changed, not DNA, and writes about the different types of humanoids that were the basis for our current existence ... Rutherford writes with clarity, authority and humor. His research is thorough and so current that most readers will be wowed by all the new information he provides. It’s both humbling and reassuring to know that \'all life on Earth is related by common ancestry, and that includes us.\'\
Christina Thompson
RaveBookPageChristina Thompson weaves together history, science, folklore and the islands’ ancient oral traditions, archeology and genealogy, creating a mesmerizing, page-turning account of Polynesia. Thompson includes an intriguing cast of characters ... Thompson’s personal interest in the subject was piqued by her Maori husband and sons, who are direct descendants of Polynesians. This deep curiosity shines through in the meticulous background and details she provides ... Thompson’s book sheds light on a fascinating region. Sea People is a revelatory summation of this vast area steeped in culture and tradition.
Roger McNamee
PositiveBookPage\"... Roger McNamee... informatively outlines his concerns regarding Facebook privacy and information-sharing policies, and its contribution to political polarization ... Drawing on his years as a Silicon Valley insider, McNamee provides a fascinating background of the tech industry, explaining concepts such as Moore’s Law, metadata and cloud sharing services ... The result is a nonfiction book that reads like a thriller, particularly since the story is still unraveling in real time.\
Peter Laufer
PositiveBookPage\"Laufer focuses on a variety of these stories, making connections in a voice that is both engaging and scientific ... This colorful dialogue is interspersed with illustrative facts and statistics, while humorous stories involving Laufer’s own pet turtle, Fred, provide comic relief ... after reading the enlightening and well-researched Dreaming in Turtle, hopefully more people will be moved to sit up and take notice of the importance and allure of these fascinating creatures.\
Rose George
RaveBookPage\"George tackles a squeamish subject in a manner that is eloquent and witty, making Nine Pints a factual, scientific book that reads like a novel with a colorful cast of characters ranging from medicinal leeches to groundbreaking scientists and innovative inventors. This fascinating book will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about blood and its role as a wondrous, renewable human resource.\
John Kaag
RaveBookPage\"Kaag cleverly connects Nietzsche’s musings with his own experiences both past and present, detailing how his understanding of Nietzsche has evolved and changed over the 17 years between his trips to Switzerland ... As Kaag notes, philosophers \'have always thought on their feet,\' citing examples of \'great wanderer-thinkers\' such as Jesus, Rousseau, Wordsworth, Emerson and Thoreau. With Hiking with Nietzsche, Kaag can now add his own name to the list of thoughtful wanderers.\
Catharine Arnold
PositiveBookPageIn Pandemic 1918, historian Catharine Arnold provides a detailed and chilling look at the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak, explaining what has been learned in the 100 years since this deadly epidemic, which killed more than 50 million people ... Arnold gives firsthand accounts from those who witnessed and survived the Spanish flu’s deadly grip while examining its impact. By exploring family memories, journals and medical documents, she is able to focus on these personal stories that have been preserved and handed down over the years.
Earl Swift
PositiveBookPageIn Chesapeake Requiem, journalist Earl Swift recounts his experiences living on Tangier for a year, tracing its history, getting a firsthand look at the environmental impact on the island and discovering what makes the islanders tick ... Swift details both the joys and difficulties of life on Tangier, coming to the realization that its sinking situation makes it \'an island both literal and metaphorical.\'
Ben Goldfarb
PositiveBookPageIn his intriguing debut...environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb details the multitude of ways beavers impact the landscape ... Through interviews with experts in the field, scientific studies, statistical analysis and his own experiences crisscrossing the U.S. and the U.K. to witness beavers up close and personal, Goldfarb explains how restoring these \'ecosystem engineers\' to their natural habitat can save tens of millions of dollars each year and help combat drought, climate change and other environmental issues ... As Goldfarb reinforces, beavers are \'nothing less than continent-scale forces of nature, in large part responsible for sculpting the land upon which we Americans built our towns and raised our food.\' It’s a wake-up call that needs to be answered.
Adam Frank
PositiveBookPageAdam Frank cleverly links Earth’s current climate change with the possibilities of life on other planets ... What is revolutionary is Frank’s contention that other worlds have likely evolved enough to create intelligent civilizations, and the knowledge gleaned from studying other planets can be used to reach the necessary level of maturity to face our future ... Providing multiple levels of fascinating science, Light of the Stars proposes a novel theory of how astrobiology and the study of life on other planets can help us understand climate change and civilization on Earth.
Michael Pollan
PositiveBookPageAs Pollan describes, this altered state of consciousness can be spiritually enlightening, mind-opening and life-changing. It can also be terror-provoking. How to Change Your Mind chronicles the unusual power of these substances, instilling a better understanding of their capabilities in helping to discover, heal and change our minds. It’s a trip worth taking.
Yunte Huang
PositiveBookPage\"Throughout the book, Huang provides historical perspective by noting other global events of the time, such as a slave uprising in New Orleans the year the twins were born and the political upheaval in 1830s America when the twins were taking their show on the road. Many of the subjects are timely today, such as the racial injustices the twins faced as Asian immigrants, often doubly worse for them due to their conjoined state ... Inseparable is an engaging look at the lives of two singular people.\
Carl Hoffman
RaveBook PageHoffman charts the engrossing backstory of both men, and through meticulous research, interviews and personal visits, he paints a vivid character portrait of the two adventurers while detailing the incredible splendor of the unique region.
Peter Wohlleben, Trans. by Jane Billinghurst
PositiveBookPageThe book is laid out as a series of short chapters, each focusing on a different emotional state and how it relates to animals ...lays out his opinions and reasoning of his belief that animals are similar to people in the way they interact with their surroundings. For animal lovers, his fascinating, enjoyable prose serves as affirmation that their furry friends are complex beings ...scientifically minded might be a little more skeptical, since it is commonly thought that animal behavior is instinctive ... Wohlleben raises other interesting connections, resulting in a narrative that is both entertaining and provocative ...insightful observations will hopefully help build a better understanding of animals and their emotional world.
Ted Genoways
PositiveBookPageA Nebraska native, Genoways tells the story with genuine honesty and historical awareness, explaining how the 'American farm underwent a period of unmatched innovation in the early twentieth century' with the introduction of gas-powered tractors and harvesting combines. But big corporations have now taken over, forcing cross-pollination 'to produce robust seed corn' and promoting pesticide-heavy crops, which are more resistant and have higher yields. Genoways delivers a close-up look at what farmers face today and their efforts to accomplish their goals.
