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New Nonfiction September 2025 |
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Not that wheel, Jesus! : stories from a faith that went off-road in the best (and worst) possible ways
by Mary Katherine Backstrom
Jesus, take the wheel. But wait...not like that! Mary Katherine Backstrom grew up the most basic of all youth group kids--pH level 14--and her faith only grew as she led youth ministry, served as a missionary, and went on to become a bestselling Christian author. She knew all the practiced, perfect Sunday school answers and was driving happily down the straight and narrow, until one day her young son asked a simple question: will my Jewish best friend go to hell? In the months and years that followed, that single question continued to snowball. MK challenged and reconsidered every part of the faith she'd been raised to accept so completely. Not That Wheel, Jesus! is Mary Katherine's hilarious journey from certainty to doubt to going nuclear on the socials ("it was my heresy era"), and then of slowly and painfully finding her way back to a different, less defined sort faith. It's the heartfelt and achingly honest story of a spirituality that went off the road and crashed and burned in spectacular fashion, right before God and everybody. And then, slowly, through grace and plenty of therapy, grew richer and deeper than she ever could have imagined.
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Baldwin : a love story
by Nicholas Boggs
Drawing on new archival material, original research and interviews, a new biography reveals how profoundly James Baldwin's personal relationships shaped his life and work.
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Tonight in Jungleland : the making of Born to Run
by Peter Ames Carlin
Born to Run. Marks the album's 50th anniversary with an exploration of the creation of the iconic album through exclusive interviews and detailed song histories, revealing the emotional, artistic, and technical struggles that shaped one of rock music's most enduring statements.
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Augustine the African
by Catherine Conybeare
An extraordinary work of revisionist history that centers Africa in the life of one of our greatest philosophers.
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The Missionary Kids : Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism
by Holly Berkley Fletcher
With penetrating research, sly wit, and an empathic gaze, Fletcher lays bare complicated emotions and troublesome truths. She investigates how calling, multiculturalism, saints, and indispensability can distract white American Christians from their own tradition's sins and failures. Drawing on her experience as a Southern Baptist MK in Kenya, on conversations with other missionary kids, and on the work of psychologists, historians, missiologists, and researchers, Fletcher paints an intricate portrait of family life on the front lines of the missionary movement.
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Black genius : essays on an American legacy
by Tre Johnson
An insightful exploration of Black ingenuity, resilience and cultural influence, weaving historical analysis, personal narratives and pop culture to challenge traditional definitions of genius and highlight the everyday brilliance that has shaped American innovation and identity.
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Mid-faith crisis : finding a path through doubt, disillusionment, and dead ends
by Catherine McNiel
Navigating the Storm: Understanding the Crisis of Faith Many of us embarked on our spiritual journeys filled with hope and certainty, only to find ourselves questioning the very foundation of our beliefs as life unfolded. The faith that once seemed unshakeable may falter in the face of broken trust, unanswered prayers, and the harsh realities of worldly suffering. But you're not alone-mid-faith crises are a shared human experience that can feel isolating yet are a crucial part of our spiritual journey. In Mid Faith Crisis, authors Catherine McNiel and Jason Hague provide a compassionate exploration of this challenging phase. With backgrounds in theology and personal narratives of their own spiritual upheavals, they guide readers through the complex landscape of doubt and disillusionment. Mid Faith Crisis candidly addresses the often-unspoken realities of faith's evolution, offering solace and practical insights for navigating through turbulent waters. Through storytelling and reflection, McNiel and Hague offer practices and disciplines that help reclaim what is genuine and discard what is not. They reassure us that the crisis of faith is not an endpoint but a transformative stage that can lead to a more sincere and robust belief system. If you're in the midst of a spiritual reevaluation, Mid Faith Crisis will serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us that while the road may be rocky, the destination holds the promise of deeper faith and connection.
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Positive obsession : the life and times of Octavia E. Butler
by Susana M. Morris
Places Butler's story within the cultural, social, and historical context that shaped her life—the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power, women's liberation, queer rights, and Reaganomics—revealing how these influences impacted Butler's personal and intellectual trajectory and shaped the ideas central to her writing.
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Monopoly X : how top-secret World War II operations used the game of Monopoly to help Allied POWs escape, conceal spies, and send secret codes
by Philip Orbanes
The creation and consequences of Monopoly X remained a deep secret through the war and for decades after, until now. For the first time, Phillip E. Orbanes tells the full story of the people behind this clandestine program—how it was devised, implemented, and used to great success. A tale of derring-do as compelling as the World War II classic, The Great Escape, Monopoly X is an amazing war story of Allied intelligence services, resistance forces in Europe, heroes and heroines, a notorious traitor, and the pivotal role a seemingly innocent board game played in secret codes and espionage.
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Coming up short : a memoir of America
by Robert B. Reich
The former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton tracks decades of political, economic and cultural shifts and attacks rising inequality, corporate power and democratic decline while offering a hopeful vision for a more just and inclusive American future.
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How not to miss the point : the Buddha's wisdom for a life well lived
by Khandro Rinpoche
Distills the Buddha's core teachings into accessible guidance for cultivating wisdom, compassion, and personal responsibility, offering a clear path for anyone—regardless of background—to develop inner clarity and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of others and the world.
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The sleep room : a sadistic psychiatrist and the women who survived him
by Jon Stock
Uncovers the disturbing history of the Sleep Room run by psychiatrist William Sargant, through survivor testimony and investigative reporting, revealing how experimental treatments, institutional power, and psychiatric zealotry left hundreds of patients traumatized, erased, or dead in postwar British medicine's darkest corner.
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I just wish I had a bigger kitchen : and other lies I think will make me happy
by Kate Strickler
In a social media saturated world where it's all too easy to believe we'd be happy "if only," popular mentor of moms offers practical advice, tips, and her trademark philosophy of home to help you identify and dismantle the 10 most common lies about time, friends, money, and home life-- to truly enjoy the life you already have.
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The mission : the CIA in the 21st century
by Tim Weiner
Tracing the CIA's post–Cold War decline, its transformation after 9/11, and its efforts to reclaim core espionage functions, this investigative account draws on unprecedented interviews to reveal the agency's internal struggles, strategic missteps and renewed focus on adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.
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Morton Grove Public Library
6140 Lincoln Ave
Morton Grove, Illinois 60053
(847) 965-4220www.mgpl.org |
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