Insomniac City
Bill Hayes
After the sudden death of his long-term partner, Bill Hayes moves to New York City, seeking a fresh start in the city that never sleeps. Through a series of poignant observations, intimate journal entries, and encounters with strangers and loved ones—including his burgeoning relationship with the brilliant neurologist Oliver Sacks—Hayes explores themes of grief, love, urban existence, and the profound beauty found in everyday moments. This book is a tender and insightful meditation on finding connection and meaning in a bustling metropolis, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Into Thin Air
Jon Krakauer
A gripping and harrowing first-hand account of the catastrophic 1996 Mount Everest expedition, where a sudden storm claimed five lives. Journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer delves into the perils of high-altitude climbing, human error, and the commercialization of the sport, while grappling with his own guilt and the profound questions surrounding the tragedy. This deeply personal inquiry offers a balanced yet unflinching look at the events, leaving readers to ponder the fine line between ambition and disaster.
Crying in H Mart
Michelle Zauner
In this searingly candid and deeply moving memoir, indie rock musician Michelle Zauner, known as Japanese Breakfast, grapples with the devastating loss of her mother to cancer. As she navigates her grief, Zauner finds solace and a profound connection to her Korean heritage through food, particularly during her weekly trips to H Mart. This is a powerful coming-of-age story about family, identity, the complexities of a mother-daughter bond, and the unexpected ways we find healing in the wake of heartbreak.
One Bullet Away
Nathaniel Fick
From an Ivy League graduate to a Marine Corps officer, Nathaniel Fick's gripping memoir offers a raw and insightful look into the rigorous training, profound challenges, and transformative experiences of becoming a combat leader. Detailing his journey through Officer Candidates School and The Basic School, and his eventual deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq, Fick provides a boots-on-the-ground perspective on the Marine Corps ethos, the complexities of leadership under fire, and the personal cost of war. This is a powerful account of discipline, courage, and the making of a modern warrior.
Invisible Child
Andrea Elliott
From Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Andrea Elliott, this riveting and unforgettable book chronicles eight dramatic years in the life of Dasani, a young girl whose indomitable spirit is tested by homelessness, poverty, and racism in an unequal America. Weaving Dasani's personal story with the history of her family, from slavery to the Great Migration, 'Invisible Child' illuminates the profound challenges faced by countless children in contemporary America, exploring themes of resilience, family, and the devastating cost of inequality.
Bright Galaxies, Dark Matter, and Beyond
Ashley Jean Yeager
This book chronicles the remarkable life and groundbreaking scientific contributions of astronomer Vera Rubin, whose pioneering work provided compelling evidence for the existence of dark matter. From her early fascination with the night sky to overcoming gender barriers in a male-dominated field, the book explores Rubin's relentless pursuit of knowledge, her pivotal observations of galactic rotation, and the profound impact her discoveries had on our understanding of the universe's composition. It's a story of scientific perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and the quest to unravel the cosmos's greatest mysteries.
Square Haunting
Francesca Wade
Delve into the vibrant intellectual world of London's Mecklenburgh Square between the World Wars, where five extraordinary women writers—H.D., Dorothy L. Sayers, Jane Ellen Harrison, Eileen Power, and Virginia Woolf—forged their paths to creative and personal freedom. Francesca Wade masterfully weaves together their intertwined lives, revealing how this unique Bloomsbury enclave became a crucible for groundbreaking work, radical ideas, and enduring friendships amidst a backdrop of profound social and political upheaval. Discover the struggles, triumphs, and unconventional choices that shaped these pioneering figures and left an indelible mark on literature and society.
Stay True
Hua Hsu
From New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, 'Stay True' is a poignant and gripping memoir that delves into the complexities of friendship, the profound impact of grief, and the universal search for self and belonging. It chronicles Hsu's formative years, his unlikely bond with Ken—a friendship built on shared experiences and contrasting identities—and the devastating loss that forces him to confront his memories and identity through writing. This coming-of-age story beautifully weaves together themes of cultural assimilation, the immigrant experience, and the solace found in art and connection, leaving readers with a deep sense of reflection on what it means to truly 'stay true' to oneself.