Abdurraqib, Hanif. There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension. Random. ISBN 9780593448793. CULTURAL & ETHNIC STUDIES

Abdurraqib’s unique book incorporates poetry and prose in his reflections about growing up in Columbus, OH, and witnessing LeBron James’s talent, even as a high school basketball player. But the book isn’t just about that sport; it’s about excellence, outrage when Black boys are killed, community solidarity, and much more. Brilliant and memorable.

Asante, M.K. Nephew: A Memoir in 4-Part Harmony. Amistad. ISBN 9780063275287. MEMOIR

Rap songs, poetry, funeral programs, journal entries, and letters to God combine to create a distinctive and moving memoir. Asante begins his book with a scene in the ICU, where his 18-year-old nephew is after being shot. This heart-rending work expands to discuss generational trauma, family dynamics, redemption, love, and more. Raw, honest, and powerful.

Asleson, Robyn & others. Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939. Yale Univ. ISBN 9780300273588. FINE ARTS

National Portrait Gallery curator Asleson and other scholars introduce 57 remarkable American women who were drawn to Paris in the early 20th century. Some later returned to the States, while others stayed on; the freedom and acceptance they found in Paris transformed them, and they, in turn, transformed Paris during a fertile, creative period. As brilliant as its many subjects, this lavishly illustrated gathering of trail-blazing women is riveting.

Balakrishnan, Chris & Matt Wasowski (text) & Kristen Orr (illus.). How To Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite. St. Martin’s. ISBN 9781250288349. SCIENCES

This book makes STEM topics accessible and engaging to all readers. The authors are the cofounders of Nerd Nite, a live monthly event held in more than 100 cities around the world, in which participants give 20-minute scientific presentations at bars and other venues. The book is a fun and fascinating collection of some of Nerd Nite’s most popular presentations.

Caspar David Friedrich: Art for a New Age. Thames & Hudson. ed. by Markus Bertsch & Johannes Grave. ISBN 9780500028339. FINE ARTS

This volume is the quintessential art history book on the work of 19th-century German painter Caspar David Friedrich, known for his alluring Romantic landscapes. The book presents a captivating show-and-tell of his significant influence and role in European art history and also places his paintings in their appropriate historical contexts. From depictions of glaciers to a rainbow in the background of a field, the renderings of Friedrich’s paintings pull readers in for a visual feast.

Photo by Elke Walford

Coates, Ta-Nehisi. The Message. One World. ISBN 9780593230381. ESSAYS

In three essays, Coates immerses readers into his journeys to Dakar, Senegal; Columbia, SC; and Palestine. His goal for these trips is to probe how the stories people tell themselves and each other affect their realities. Coates succeeds in this mission; his observations and conclusions will make readers rethink and possibly view their own truths a little differently. His book is evocative and exquisitely written.

Cosper, Mike. Land of My Sojourn: The Landscape of a Faith Lost and Found. IVP. ISBN 9780830847341. SPIRITUALITY & RELIGION

Evangelical pastor Cosper left active ministry after a spiritual reckoning triggered by some of his followers’ support of Donald Trump. Cast adrift, isolated, and brokenhearted, he travels to the Holy Land where he gains a renewed understanding of faith. In this memoir, he considers Church disagreements and his own spiritual uncertainty and works his way to a new identity.

Courogen, Carrie. Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius. St. Martin’s. ISBN 9781250279224. PERFORMING ARTS

Writer, director, and actor Elaine May, who has worked tirelessly for nearly 70 years, values her privacy. She became an enigmatic figure by covering her tracks for decades with half-truths and hilarious exaggerations. Courogen’s skillful research and numerous fresh interviews reveal the woman behind the legend in this whip-smart and funny biography that produces a fully realized portrait of a mysterious film genius.

Crosley, Sloane. Grief Is for People. MCD. ISBN 9780374609849. MEMOIR

Crosley’s stunning memoir is one of the most gripping, soul-stirring, tear-jerking—and witty—releases this year. Her friend’s death by suicide leads to a deep probe into the concepts of mourning, consolation, friendship, and more. Through it all, Crosley maintains her characteristic humor, which shows readers how to remember the past without reliving it.

Duralde, Alonso. Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film. Running Pr. ISBN 9780762485895. PERFORMING ARTS

Duralde’s entertaining and essential encyclopedia documents a century of LGBTQIA+ films and pioneers. It spans from Thomas Edison’s 1895 short film showing two men dancing together to 2022’s Strange World, the first gay teen romance from Disney Animation. Chronologically organized, it includes movies, actors, directors, writers, choreographers, and others who made an impact. Exceptionally illustrated and engaging, this well-written book will appeal to cinephiles and historians as a valuable, essential, and much-consulted resource.

Photos courtesy of Turner Classic Movies, Inc.

Edim, Glory. Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me. Ballantine. ISBN 9780525619796. MEMOIR

Edim, founder of the Well-Read Black Girl literary community, spotlights the power of books to change readers’ lives. Her own interactions with the words of Toni Morrison, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and more helped her to bond with others and to find value in herself. Edim’s vital memoir, a work of literary gold in itself, covers family, grit, love, and joy.

Gates Jr., Henry Louis. The Black Box: Writing the Race. Penguin Pr. ISBN 9780593299784. HISTORY

Gates brilliantly shows how Black Americans have used language and written works to depict what it means to be Black in the United States. He expertly backs up his findings—that Black writers contested tropes written about them and debated labels, connections, and more among themselves—by exploring history and writings from the 1500s to the present. Another high-priority read from an award-winning historian.

Graham, Jasmin. Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist. Pantheon. ISBN 9780593685259. MEMOIR

Marine biologist and shark scientist Graham poignantly combines her personal story—what it’s like to be a Black woman navigating a scientific field dominated by white men—with an argument as to why sharks deserve humanity’s respect and understanding. Graham posits that sharks and Black women share the experience of often being mistreated and attacked. An exceptional memoir and natural history book about sisterhood, respect, and thriving in the face of opposition.

Photo by Tonya Wiley/Havenworth Coastal Conservation

Holland, James. Burma ’44: The Battle That Turned World War II in the East. Atlantic Monthly. ISBN 9780802160584. MILITARY HISTORY

Renowned World War II historian Holland offers a standout title, combining engaging prose with heavily researched attention to a less-documented but pivotal battle during which the British won their first decisive victory over Japan. An important contribution to the conversation about a critical moment in the war.

Horton, Michelle. Dear Sister: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds. Grand Central. ISBN 9781538757154. MEMOIR

Horton shines a microscopic light on issues within the U.S. criminal justice system. Her sister’s story about killing her partner in self-defense makes this book read like a suspense novel, but it also brings to light the horrible truth about a system that routinely imprisons survivors and victims. A haunting, important work.

Jackson, Lottie. See Me Rolling: On Disability, Equality, and Ten-Point Turns. Penguin Bks. ISBN 9781529156058. MEMOIR

Jackson’s debut essay collection reveals how society perceives and treats people with disabilities. She shares her own experiences—sometimes with humor—to illuminate the many harmful encounters and obstacles that people with disabilities face, particularly when their needs aren’t considered in the design of public spaces, transportation, clothing, jobs, and more. Jackson wants attitudes and access to change, and her book expertly indicates how to make that happen.

Kimmerer, Robin Wall (text) & John Burgoyne (illus.). The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. Scribner. ISBN 9781668072240. NATURE

Kimmerer, a scientist from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, shares wisdom about nature gleaned from Indigenous peoples in this slim (128 pages) volume, chock-full of valuable gems about how to solve humanity’s bad habits, like resource-hoarding, by learning from the natural world; the serviceberry, for example, shows the value of interdependence. Kimmerer uses lyrical language to urge readers to embrace a rich life of giving and gratitude instead of perpetuating an economy of cutthroat capitalism.

Malone, Sharon. Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. Crown. ISBN 9780593593868. HEALTH & MEDICINE

This must-have title is for any woman, especially women of color, who has ever felt that medical professionals are dismissive of their health concerns and complaints. Malone, the chief medical advisor of Alloy Women’s Health, delivers a practical guide that teaches readers how to advocate for themselves in the health care system. All the chapter names are song titles, offering a fun playlist.

Mather, Tamsin. Adventures in Volcanoland: What Volcanoes Tell Us About the World and Ourselves. Hanover Square. ISBN 9781335080851. NATURE

Geochemist Mather not only delivers a mesmerizing book that tells readers all they want to know about volcanoes, but she also presents it most engagingly. Part memoir, part travelogue, and all science-based, this is a fabulous exploration that readers will remember and talk about long after it ends.

Photo by Kristjan Karlsson

Mithen, Steven. The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved. Basic. ISBN 9781541605381. ANTHROPOLOGY

Archaeologist Mithen’s enthusiasm for words is apparent on every page of this excellent book about the evolution of early human speech into languages. This impressive title brings joy along with rigor, discussing everything from how apes vocally communicate to how human children learn to speak. The book is expansive at 544 pages and full of multidisciplinary research, but it’s also an easy, delightful reading experience.

Nenquimo, Nemonte & Mitch Anderson. We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People. Abrams. ISBN 9781419763779. MEMOIR

Nenquimo, a leader of the Waorani people of the Amazon rainforest, explains how her upbringing led her to climate change activism as she fought the institutions and companies that displaced her people and estranged them from their environment. A gripping tale with intense detail that increases awareness of the injustices levied against generations; too important to miss.

O’Connor, John. The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster. Sourcebooks. ISBN 9781464216633. HISTORY & TRAVEL

O’Connor’s unique investigation of Bigfoot focuses on beliefs about the cryptid’s existence, the cryptozoologists searching for him, and the culture Bigfoot has spawned, including conventions, ancient folklore, and Harry and the Hendersons. He also addresses how white enthusiasts of Bigfoot have appropriated Indigenous mythology. This rare book accomplishes the impressive feat of being an excellent read for both believers and nonbelievers.

Park, Robert Jisung. Slow Burn: The Hidden Costs of a Warming World. Princeton Univ. ISBN 9780691221038. ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS

Environmental and labor economist Park clearly conveys the damage of climate change and offers feasible action steps for managing it. This well-researched and powerfully written volume is an eye-opening and essential call to action urging policymakers to do something about the crisis of global warming.

Prasad, Aarathi. Silk: A World History. Morrow. ISBN 9780063160255. HISTORY

Bioarchaeologist Prasad’s history of silk can only be described as captivating. It threads together elements of history, nature, and culture in a remarkable examination of a resource that exists in numerous varieties and formats and has been used for thousands of years in many different ways. Prasad shows that silk has untapped potential too. An amazing fabric discussed in an awe-inspiring work.

Photo by Aarathi Prasad

Radclyffe, Oliver. Frighten the Horses. Roxane Gay Bks. ISBN 9780802163158. MEMOIR

Radclyffe’s poignant memoir is about finding and accepting oneself during the fourth decade of his life. Assigned female at birth, the author married a man, gave birth to four children, and became a stay-at-home parent. After years of repressed thoughts and denials and developing an illness, Radclyffe eventually recognized and embraced his true self as a trans man. This book is extraordinary, raw, and riveting.

Rushdie, Salman. Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder. Random. ISBN 9780593730249. MEMOIR

In 2022, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times as he was about to give a public lecture at the Chautauqua Institution. The attack nearly killed him, and it left him blind in his right eye. This memoir’s first chapter touchingly chronicles that attack. In one fictionalized section, the novelist imagines several conversations with his attacker, whom he calls “A.” Rushdie’s meditations about life, death, free expression, and love are evocative.

Schilling, Govert. Deep Space: Beyond the Solar System to the Edge of the Universe and the Beginning of Time. Black Dog & Leventhal. ISBN 9780762487233. ASTRONOMY

This work is a highly visual tour unlike any other. Utilizing hundreds of stunning photographs, Schilling takes readers on an exploration of stars, stellar clusters, supernova explosions, black holes, galaxies, and beyond; there are even new images from the James Webb Space Telescope. This is a coffee-table astronomy book to treasure.

Photo by ESO/L. Calçada

Schlanger, Zoë. The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth. Harper. ISBN 9780063073852. BOTANY

This marvel of a book takes readers into the magical world of plants, as environmental and science reporter Schlanger sublimely shows that they are intelligent beings too. She expertly explains that plants can communicate, hear, and adapt. They’re not trying to mimic humans either; they have their own complex structures and systems.

Schmitt, Armin. The Lost World of the Dinosaurs: Uncovering the Secrets of the Prehistoric Age. Hanover Square. ISBN 9781335081216. PALEONTOLOGY

Paleontologist Schmitt shares the most up-to-date research about dinosaurs. His remarkable book answers questions about their origins, what led to their extinction after such a lengthy reign, contemporary fossil finds, and even cinematic dino depictions like Jurassic Park. There’s lots of research to learn and much to love about this engrossing title about fan-favorite reptiles.

Photos by Armin Schmitt

Schwarcz, Joe. Superfoods, Silkworms, and Spandex: Science and Pseudoscience in Everyday Life. ECW. ISBN 9781770417526. CHEMISTRY

This entertaining read is the perfect book for those whose eyes usually glaze over when they try to learn about scientific findings. Chemist and science writer Schwarcz simplifies—without talking down to readers—the science (or gimmicks and quackery) behind things seen in everyday life, such as frizzy hair, superfoods, James Bond escapades, and more. Essential and fun for fact-seeking, curious people.

Smyth, Adam. The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in Eighteen Lives. Basic. ISBN 9781541605640. HISTORY

Literature scholar and bookmaker Smyth delivers a highly engaging illustrated history of books through 18 people who made them, including designers, binders, and printers. His volume starts with historical facts of the late 15th century and spans 500 years. A fabulous and insightful guide for all bibliophiles.

Left photo from Christoph Weigels, “Ständebuch” (1698); right photo by Folger Imaging Department

Tucker-Sullivan, Lori. I Can’t Remember If I Cried: Rock Widows on Life, Love, and Legacy. Backbeat. ISBN 9781493084142. PERFORMING ARTS

In this moving, healing, and absorbing mix of memoir and music history, Tucker-Sullivan provides 14 spellbinding and inspiring portraits drawn from meticulous research and extensive personal conversations with the widows of musicians. Tucker-Sullivan’s loss of her own husband creates a bond with her subjects and produces deeper sharing. Expertly weaving together candid interviews and perceptive commentary, the book captures the essence of each woman’s journey through hardships and joys, with emotions ranging from despair and anger to gratitude and love.

Tworkov, Helen. Lotus Girl: My Life at the Crossroads of Buddhism and America. St. Martin’s Essentials. ISBN 9781250321558. SPIRITUALITY & RELIGION

Part memoir, part history lesson, this extraordinary book concentrates on the evolution and rise of Buddhism in the United States. Tworkov, a key figure in the movement, chronicles it and her own experience with Buddhism. Told with a wonderful sense of humor, it’s a narrative with the power to transform.

Wideman, John Edgar. Slaveroad. Scribner. ISBN 9781668057216. HISTORY

Wideman’s latest book is a hybrid of memoir, essay collection, and fiction. The nonfiction parts include reflections about his own aging and his younger son’s life sentence for the murder of his summer camp roommate. Then he puts himself in fictionalized conversation with historical figures and employs the word “slaveroad” as a metaphor for the impact of transatlantic enslavement on people, past and present. It’s a wondrous book about the experiences of Black people in the United States.