New! Adult Nonfiction Staff Picks

The seventy wonders of the ancient world : the great monuments and how they were built by Chris Scarre
The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World
by Chris Scarre

Expanding upon the theme of the traditional Seven Wonders, The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World incorporates marvels from around the globe, spanning the centuries from the first stone monuments of the fifth millennium BC to the Great Temple of the Aztecs in the sixteenth century AD. The shaping of the Great Sphinx at Giza, the raising of the stones at Stonehenge, the laying out of the Nazca Lines on the face of the Peruvian desert, or the construction of the Great Wall of China (probably the greatest building project ever attempted in ancient times) are all described and explained in light of the most up-to-date archaeological research.
Terrorism : a history by Randall David Law
Terrorism: a History
by Randall David Law

In this third edition of his widely acclaimed survey, Randall D. Law makes sense of the history of terrorism by examining it within its broad political, religious and social contexts from the ancient world to the present day. It remains the go-to book for those wishing to understand the real nature and importance of this ubiquitous phenomenon.
Don't build, rebuild : the case for imaginative reuse in architecture by Aaron Betsky
Don't Build, Rebuild: the Case for Imaginative Reuse in Architecture
by Aaron Betsky

In a time of climate crisis and housing shortages, a bold, visionary call to replace current wasteful construction practices with an architecture of reuse.
Matriarch : a memoir by Tina Knowles
Matriarch: a Memoir
by Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles, the mother of iconic singer-songwriters Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles, and bonus daughter Kelly Rowland, is known the world over as a Matriarch with a capital M: a determined, self-possessed, self-aware, and wise woman who raised and inspired some of the great artists of our time. But this story is about so much more than that. Matriarch begins with a precocious, if unruly, little girl growing up in 1950s Galveston, the youngest of seven. She is in love with her world, with extended family on every other porch and the sounds of Motown and the lapping beach always within earshot. But as the realities of race and the limitations of girlhood set in, she begins to dream of the world beyond. Her instincts and impulsive nature drive her far beyond the shores of Texas to discover the life awaiting her on the other side of childhood. That life's journey-through grief and tragedy, creative and romantic risks and turmoil, the nurturing of superstar offspring and of her own special gifts-is the remarkable story she shares with readers here. 
How I found myself in the Midwest : a memoir of reinvention by Steve Grove
How I Found Myself in the Midwest: a Memoir of Reinvention
by Steve Grove

A former tech executive returns to his Midwestern roots, navigating personal and professional reinvention while confronting political, racial and economic challenges while discovering the power of community, resilience and hope in the future of his home state.
Face with tears of joy : a natural history of emoji by Keith Houston
Face With Tears of Joy: a Natural History of Emoji
by Keith Houston

A vibrant exploration of the world's newest language, the language of emojis—where it came from, how it works, and where it's going.
Scream with me : horror films and the rise of American feminism (1968-1980) by Eleanor Johnson
Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980)
by Eleanor Johnson

A compelling, intelligent and timely exploration of the horror genre from one of Columbia University's most popular professors, shedding light on how classic horror films demonstrate larger cultural attitudes about women's rights, bodily autonomy and more.
The peepshow : the murders at Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
The Peepshow: the Murders at Rillington Place
by Kate Summerscale

Delves into the murders at 10 Rillington Place, exploring the life of Reg Christie, the tabloid frenzy surrounding the case, and the possibility of a wrongful conviction, while uncovering the origins of society's obsession with true crime and offering new insights into one of the century's most infamous cases.
The 12 week year : get more done in 12 weeks than others do in 12 months by Brian Moran
The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others do in 12 Months
by Brian Moran

Two leading experts on business execution and implementation explain how to drive productivity and increase results by behaving as though a year was 12 weeks instead of months, resulting in focusing on the more urgent tasks and affording little time for complacency.
Mailman : my wild ride delivering mail in Appalachia and finally finding home by Stephen Starring Grant
Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home
by Stephen Starring Grant

This is an exuberant, hilarious, and profound memoir by a mailman in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, who found that the post office saved his life, taught him who he was, gave him purpose, and educated him deeply about a country he loves but had lost touch with.
The beast in the clouds : the Roosevelt brothers' deadly quest to find the mythical giant panda by Nathalia Holt
The Beast in the Clouds: the Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda
by Nathalia Holt

Recounts the perilous expedition into the Himalayas to find the elusive panda undertaken by the two eldest sons of Theodore Roosevelt in 1928, chronicling their scientific achievements, physical hardships, and the broader impact of their journey on Western conservation efforts. 
The Unexpected Journey : Finding Hope and Purpose on the Caregiving Path by Emma Heming Willis
The Unexpected Journey: Finding Hope and Purpose on the Caregiving Path
by Emma Heming Willis

Draws on personal experience and expert insights to support dementia caregivers with practical advice, emotional validation and strategies for maintaining self-care and resilience while navigating the unpredictable, often isolating and life-altering reality of supporting a loved one with frontotemporal dementia.
Aalfs Downtown Library
529 Pierce Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51101
712-255-2933

www.siouxcitylibrary.org