Hello readers! This week’s newsletter is heavy on news and lighter on books, but it’s always good to have balance. Let’s dive in!
Book News!
Over a Book Riot, Cassandra offers an essential Anthony Bourdain reading list. Reading about all of his books, in an impressive array of genres, just makes me even more sad that he’s gone.
As part of Season 2 of our podcast series Annotated, we are giving away 10 of the best books about books of 2017. Go here to enter for a chance to win, or just click the image below:
Bustle has rounded up nine nonfiction books for fans of Harry Potter, which is a Harry Potter-related list that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. It has books about witches, activism, mythology, and more that definitely piqued my curiosity!
I very much enjoyed this Twitter thread about the considerations that go into writing a nonfiction book for kids/young adults by author Martha Brockenbrough. She’s currently working on a biography of Donald Trump – Unpresidented, out November 13 – and, in the thread, talks about writing a book that is both accurate, fair, and age appropriate. Admittedly, I don’t know the cultural conversation that prompted the thread, but I still thought it was interesting.
This is a little tangential to the world of books, but still interesting. Dr. Atul Gawande (author of excellent books like Being Mortal and Better) has been named CEO of a joint healthcare venture created by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan. The nonprofit organization is looking to find “ways to address healthcare for their U.S. employees, with the aim of improving employee satisfaction and reducing costs.” The scant details on the hiring process in the linked NPR are pretty intense!
Bustle again! This time, 20 books as inspiring as TED Talks, recommended by people who have given TED Talks. There’s a mix of fiction and nonfiction on this list, but I love all the nonfiction recommendations so it makes the newsletter!
Missing the Obamas as much as I am? Then I’ve got a couple of Book Riot posts for you. Yaasmeen offers a list of books to read while we wait for Michelle’s memoir, which isn’t coming out until November. If you want to read like Barack, then check out his recent reading list, which includes intriguing titles like The New Geography of Jobs by Enrico Moretti and Futureface by Alex Wagner.
Actress Priyanka Chopra is writing a memoir, set to be released in 2019. Unfinished, a collection of essays, stories, and observations, will be published simultaneously in the United States, India, and England.
Need a little quick inspiration or entertainment? These graduation speeches that are also books might just do the trick. Or, peruse this excellent list of 50 nonfiction audiobooks you can listen to in less than 10 hours.
New Books!
And finally, I’ll close out this newsletter with three quick takes on new books out this week:
Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom – A look on the pleasures of solitude and the benefits of traveling alone, even in your own city, to boost creativity and mental space.
The Ambition Decisions by Hana Schank and Elizabeth Wallace – Female journalists dig into data and interviews to see what modern women feel like is the best course to navigate a big decisions that have been made possible by second wave feminism.
Old in Art School by Nell Painter – A memoir by a noted historian who decides to return to school in her sixties to earn a BFA and MFA in painting.
Thanks for checking in this week! You can find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot. Happy reading!