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| Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas BoggsDrawing on interviews and previously unreleased archival materials, National Humanities Center fellow Nicholas Boggs’ moving and intimate biography of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin examines how his personal relationships impacted his life and career. Further reading: James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen. |
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| Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity by Joseph LeeAquinnah Wampanoag journalist Joseph Lee explores the limitations of Indigenous identity and sovereignty in this “searching and timely” (Kirkus Reviews) blend of memoir and history. Try this next: This Land is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving by David J. Silverman. |
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| Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. MorrisGeorgia Institute of Technology professor Susana M. Morris’ well-researched biography of trailblazing science fiction author Octavia E. Butler thoughtfully places Butler’s works within the sociocultural and historical contexts that shaped her, utilizing correspondence, unpublished manuscripts, and interviews. Try this next: Monster She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror & Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kroger and Melanie Anderson. |
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| Coming Up Short: A Memoir of America by Robert B. ReichFormer United States Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich’s sobering yet hopeful blend of memoir and political analysis incisively explores how the rise of partisanship and tribalism has hindered American economic progress. Try this next: Tailspin: The People and Forces Behind America's Fifty-Year Fall--and Those Fighting to Reverse It by Steven Brill. |
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For fans of: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. |
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Focus on: Sports Biographies
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Baseball Heaven: Up Close and Personal, What it Was Really Like in the Major Leagues by Peter GolenbockIn this sequel to the highly praised Whispers of the Gods, the noted baseball historian brings to life more stories through his timeless interviews with baseball legends who provide inside stories and intimate reminiscences of the sports' golden era. You might also like: Why We Love Baseball : A History in 50 Moments by Joe Posnanski.
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| Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. JacobsFormer Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs' biography of trailblazing tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a Grand Slam tournament, offers a comprehensive portrait of a complex woman who battled racial and gender discrimination, poverty, and abuse in her journey toward stardom. Further reading: Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson by Ashley Brown. |
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Just Add Water: My Swimming Life by Katie LedeckyIn this candid and inspiring memoir of a true competitor, a three-time Olympian, a seven-time gold medalist and a world record-holder in individual swimming events charts her life in swimming, from discovering the joy of the pool to developing a champion's mindset that has allowed her to persevere. You might also like: Find a Way by Diana Nyad.
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| Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe by David MaranissPulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss' well-researched and insightful biography of multi-hyphenate athlete Jim Thorpe, the first Indigenous American to win Olympic gold for the United States, looks at the man beyond the myth, exploring how Thorpe grappled with racist treatment, poverty and alcoholism, and fraught family relationships amid his career triumphs. Further reading: Carlisle Versus Army : Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, Pop Warner, and the Forgotten Story of Football's Greatest Battle by Lars Anderson. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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