|
|
New Biographies & Memoirs Summer 2025 |
|
|
|
The 10 : a memoir of family and the open road
by E. A. Hanks
"In her trusted loaded-up minivan 'Minnie,' E.A. Hanks follows the same route as a long-ago road trip with her mother in an attempt to better understand the complicated woman who gave her life. Along the way, as she follows her mother's diaries and her own recollections of the route, she begins to uncover secrets--some unexpectedly wonderful, and others darker and more violent than she ever imagined--that bring more questions than answers. From the quiet expanses of White Sands National Park to the bustling streets of New Orleans, and the Texas-Mexico border to the swamps of the Florida panhandle, she interacts with the amazing breadth and diversity of the people that call these places home. Reckoning with the past, the present, her memories, and herself, Hanks brings us along a beautiful voyage towards understanding how the stories we tell about the places we're from ultimately become the stories we tell about the people we are"
|
|
|
|
Actress of a certain age : my twenty year trail to overnight success
by Jeff Hiller
A gay actor from 1980s Texas navigates bullying and decades of struggling as an actor before an unexpected Hollywood breakthrough, sharing a hilarious, heartfelt journey of perseverance, identity and the relentless pursuit of a dream against all odds. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Alive Day : a memoir
by Karie Fugett
A young woman, thrust into the role of caregiver after her Marine husband's devastating war injury, struggles with love, addiction and systemic failures in this poignant and darkly humorous journey of resilience, sacrifice, and the hidden costs of war.
|
|
|
|
Alligator tears : a memoir in essays
by Edgar Gomez
This darkly humorous memoir-in-essays explores the challenges of the American Dream and survival in Florida, recounting the author's experiences with poverty, family struggles and resilience as a queer Latinx individual navigating life's path.
|
|
|
|
Angelica : for love and country in a time of revolution
by Molly Beer
Through the extraordinary life of Angelica Schuyler Church, a politically astute and socially influential figure, this story reveals how women shaped early American history through diplomacy, personal networks and a strategic presence in key revolutionary moments.
|
|
|
|
Baddest man : the making of Mike Tyson
by Mark Kriegel
An acclaimed New York Times bestselling author whose coverage of Mike Tyson and his inner circle dates back to the 1980s offers a magnificent noir epic about fame, race, greed, criminality, trauma, and the creation of the most feared and mesmerizing fighter in boxing history. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Becoming Baba : fatherhood, faith, and finding meaning in America
by Aymann Ismail
This deeply personal memoir from the Egyptian American journalist explores identity and faith, the impact of 9/11, his parents' sacrifices and his evolving understanding of masculinity, tradition and the future he hopes to shape for his children. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Becoming Caitlin Clark : The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar
by Howard Megdal
Spanning 100 years and several generations, Becoming Caitlin Clark traces the arc between the revered women who played the wildly popular game of 6-on-6 basketball in the 1920s and Clark in the 2020s, examining her fame and style of play in the context of her predecessors, while telling the story of the basketball-loving community that rallied behind her in college and beyond.
|
|
|
|
Big dumb eyes : stories from a simpler mind
by Nate Bargatze
"Nate Bargatze used to be a genius. That is, until the summer after seventh grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and "my skull got, like, dented or something." Before this accident, he dreamed of being "an electric engineer, or a doctor that does brain stuff, or a math teacher who teaches the hardest math on earth." Afterwards, all he could do was stand-up comedy.* But the "brain stuff" industry's loss is everyone else's gain because Nate went on to become one of today's top-grossing comedians, breaking both attendance and streaming records. In his highly anticipated first book, Nate talks about life as a non-genius. From stories about his first car (named Old Blue, a clunky Mazda with a tennis ball stick shift) and his travels as a Southerner (Northerners like to ask if he believes in dinosaurs), to tales of his first apartment where he was almost devoured by rats and his many debates with his wife over his chores, his diet, and even his definition of "shopping." He also reflects on such heady topics as his irrational passion for Vandy football and the mysterious origins of sushi (how can a California roll come from old-time Japan?). BIG DUMB EYES is full of heart. It will make readers laugh out loud and nod in recognition, but it probably won't make them think too much"
|
|
|
|
Boat baby : a memoir
by Vicky Nguyen
"In a memoir where heroism meets humor, NBC News anchor and correspondent Vicky Nguyen tells the story of her family's daring escape from communist Vietnam and her unlikely journey from refugee to reporter with laughter and fierce love"
|
|
|
|
Brooke Shields is not allowed to get old : thoughts on aging as a woman
by Brooke Shields
The former child star reflects on aging with confidence and empowerment, challenging societal stereotypes about women growing older, while sharing personal experiences and insights to encourage women to reclaim their power and redefine the narrative around aging. 350,000 first printing. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Buckley : the life and the revolution that changed America
by Sam Tanenhaus
This definitive biography is a gripping story of the modern conservative movement as it rose from a formless coalition to a powerful cultural force, its campaigns and crusades defined and advanced on the many platforms Buckley created, bringing to life the era's most important conservative intellectuals and writers. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Care and feeding : a memoir
by Laurie Woolever
This witty and candid memoir of the food writer chronicles her chaotic journey through the food world, navigating toxic dynamics, bold mentors and personal struggles, while seeking purpose and balance between career ambition and motherhood. 75,000 first printing.
|
|
|
|
Cellar rat : my life in the restaurant underbelly
by Hannah Selinger
A vivid memoir of a sommelier's rise and fall in the restaurant industry, exploring the glamour, exploitation and emotional toll behind fine dining, celebrity encounters and the decision to leave a career that no longer fulfills. 17,500 first printing.
|
|
|
|
Charles Sumner : conscience of a nation
by Zaakir Tameez
This biography of the principled senator nearly killed for his abolitionist stance shows how we instrumental in ending slavery, shaping Reconstruction and embedding equality into the Constitution while also influencing civil rights, progressive politics and contemporary jurisprudence. 40,000 first printing. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Child X : a memoir of slavery, poverty, celebrity, and Scientology
by Jamie Mustard
"Jamie Mustard was born into one of the most influential fringe movements in the 1970s: Scientology. Raised on a mythology of spaceships and made to believe that it was his life's purpose to help save the world, he was determined to survive-not only neglect but also the physical and psychological gauntlets of extreme poverty and illiteracy. A dark, existential journey, Child X takes readers through Jamie's childhood and adolescence in "the movement," his escape, and his rise into self-possession. This book tells the unfathomable story of a lost generation of children, who endured mass psychological indoctrination and captivity"-- Provided by publisher
|
|
|
|
Clint : the man and the movies
by Shawn Levy
This sweeping portrait of Clint Eastwood's life and career captures his evolution from iconic on-screen tough guy to masterful director while revealing how his persona and choices reflect the shifting tides of American culture and identity. 50,000 first printing. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
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. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Cooler than cool : the life and work of Elmore Leonard
by C. M. Kushins
A master of American crime fiction, Elmore Leonard crafted gritty, dialogue-driven novels exploring class struggle and the pursuit of the American Dream, drawing from his personal battles and screenwriting experience to influence modern literature and filmmaking. 25,000 first printing. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
The dad rock that made me a woman
by Niko Stratis
"In 2007, Pitchfork writer Rob Mitchum described the indie rock band Wilco's new work as "an album of unapologetic straightforwardness. Sky Blue Sky nakedly exposes the dad-rock gene Wilco has always carried but courageously attempted to disguise." The "dad rock" descriptor hit a nerve, as indie peers like The National, Spoon, and the Mountain Goats, as well as generational forebears like Bruce Springsteen, were soon slapped with the same label. Meanwhile, Niko Stratis was 25 years old, a closeted trans woman who cut glass for a living in the Yukon Territory, and her stereotypically masculine environment was so threatening and miserable she contemplated faking her own death. Things would get even worse for Stratis, but she continually found solace and self in dad rock, this "radio friendly rock music with a deep emotional core." She connected with Michael Stipe lyrics alluding to his queer longings, John Darnielle's unabashed nerd-dom, and Springsteen's "very trans" desire to "change my clothes my hair my face." She found some of the same ideas in the work of Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, and Sharon Van Etten--"women who make the same emotionally open and honest music." In this book, she unpacks a label that seems frivolous on the surface in order to reveal "amore complex and varied genre that defies gender in subtle and beautiful ways." A genre that, by her own admission, saved her life"
|
|
|
|
Dear Alyne : my years as a married virgin
by Alyne Tamir
Breaking free from the restrictive expectations of family and faith, a woman embarks on a journey of self-discovery, overcoming trauma, heartbreak and societal pressure to embrace an independent, adventurous life as a digital nomad. 30,000 first printing.
|
|
|
|
Desi Arnaz : the man who invented television
by Todd S. Purdum
This biography of the visionary Cuban American entertainer and entrepreneur shows he overcame exile to revolutionize television, popularize Latin music and co-create I Love Lucy, pioneering the multi-camera sitcom format and leaving a lasting impact on American entertainment. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Dianaworld : an obsession
by Edward White
"Over the last forty years, the mythology of Princess Diana has turned the woman who was born Diana Spencer into a symbol for almost anything. From a harbinger of Brexit populism, an all-American consumer capitalist, and the savior of the British aristocracy, to a catalyst for #MeToo and-in the words of one superfan-"the biggest punk that's come out of England," Diana connects with a wider array of people than any member of the royal family ever has. We feel so familiar with Diana that it seems crushingly formal to use anything but her first name"
|
|
|
|
Dirty kitchen : a memoir of food and family
by Jill Damatac
In this memoir a former undocumented immigrant reflects on her Filipino roots, family struggles and search for identity while cooking traditional recipes as she explores themes of immigration, belonging and the power of food to heal and reconnect
|
|
|
|
Edgar Allan Poe : a life
by Richard Kopley
"Written by one of the world's leading experts on the life and literature of Edgar Allan Poe, this biography is a rich and rewarding study for the general reader as well as for the seasoned scholar. Richard Kopley combines a biographical narrative of Poe's enduring challenges-including his difficult foster father, his personal losses, his great struggles with depression and alcoholism, and the poverty that dogged his existence-with close readings of his work that focus not only on plot, character, and theme but also on language, allusion, and structure in a way that enhances our understanding of both. While incorporating past Poe scholarship, this volume also relates unknown stories of Poe culled from privately held letters unavailable to previous biographers, presenting a range of groundbreaking archival discoveries that illuminates the man and his oeuvre in ways never before possible"
|
|
|
|
The Einstein of sex : Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, visionary of Weimar Berlin
by Daniel Brook
"More than a century ago, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, dubbed the 'Einstein of Sex,' grew famous (and infamous) for his liberating theory of sexual relativity. Today, he's been largely forgotten. Journalist Daniel Brook retraces Hirschfeld's rollicking life and reinvigorates his legacy, recovering one of the great visionaries of the twentieth century. In an era when gay sex was a crime and gender roles rigid, Hirschfeld taught that each of us is their own unique mixture of masculinity and femininity. Through his public advocacy for gay rights and his private counseling of patients toward self-acceptance, he became the intellectual impresario of Berlin's cabaret scene and helped turn his hometown into the world's queer capital. But he also enraged the Nazis, who ransacked his Institute for Sexual Science and burned his books. Driven from his homeland, Hirschfeld traveled to America, Asia, and the Middle East to research sexuality on a global scale. Through his harrowing lived experience of antisemitic persecution and a pivotal late-in-life interracial romance, he came to see that race, like gender, was a human invention. Hirschfeld spent his final years in exile trying to warn the world of the genocidal dangers of racism"
|
|
|
|
Free : my search for meaning
by Amanda Knox
"Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn't commit--and became a notorious tabloid story in the process. Though she was exonerated, it's taken more than a decade for her to reclaim her identity and truly feel free. Free recounts how Knox survived prison, the mistakes she made and misadventures she had reintegrating into society, and culminates in the untold story of her return to Italy and the extraordinary relationship she's built with the man who senther to prison. It is the gripping saga of what happens when you become the definition of notorious but have quietly returned to the matters of a normal life-seeking a life partner, finding a job, or even just going out in public. In harrowing (and sometimes hilarious) detail, Amanda tells the story of her personal growth and hard-fought wisdom, recasting her public reckoning as a private reflection on the search for meaning and purpose that will speak to everyone persevering through hardship"
|
|
|
|
Gandolfini : Jim, Tony, and the life of a legend
by Jason Bailey
"More than a decade after his sudden passing, James Gandolfini still exerts a powerful pull on television and film enthusiasts around the world. His charismatic portrayal of complex, flawed, but always human men illuminated the contradictions in all of us, as well as our potential for grace, and the power of love and family. Bailey traces his rise from bit parts to character roles he enlivened with menace and vulnerability, to Tony Soprano, the breakout role that would make him a legend, and onto a post-Sopranos career in which he continued to challenge himself and his audience"
|
|
|
|
The hollow half : a memoir of bodies and borders
by Sarah Aziza
Intertwines the author's account of her recovery from an eating disorder with her look into family secrets tied to Palestinian displacement, exploring how her personal trauma reflects generational struggles with colonization and patriarchy in a journey through memory, survival and self-discovery.
|
|
|
|
How to lose your mother : a daughter's memoir
by Molly Jong-Fast
A darkly funny and deeply honest memoir exploring a daughter's complex relationship with her famous, elusive mother, the impact of dementia, blending humor, heart and raw reflection on loss, family and identity.
|
|
|
|
Hunger like a thirst : from food stamps to fine dining, a restaurant critic finds her place at the table
by Besha Rodell
"When Besha Rodell moved from Australia to the United States with her mother at fourteen, she was a foreigner in a new land, missing her friends, her father, and the food she grew up eating. In the years that followed, Rodell began waitressing and discovered the buzz of the restaurant world, immersing herself in the lifestyle and community while struggling with the industry's shortcomings. As she built a family, Rodell realized her dream, though only a handful of women before her had done it: to make a career as a restaurant critic. From the streets of Brooklyn to lush Atlanta to sunny Los Angeles to traveling and eating around the world, and, finally, home to Australia, Rodell takes us on a delicious, raw, and fascinating journey through her life and career and explores the history of criticism and dining and the cultural shifts that have turned us all into food obsessives. Hunger Like a Thirst shares stories of the joys and hardships of Rodell's coming-of-age, the amazing (and sometimes terrible) mealsshe ate along the way, and the dear friends she made in each restaurant, workplace, and home"
|
|
|
|
I regret almost everything / : A Memoir
by Keith McNally
This candid and witty memoir from the visionary restaurateur traces his journey from a tough London childhood to creating iconic New York eateries, while reflecting on acting, travel, relationships, a life-altering stroke and unexpected social media fame
|
|
|
|
I'll tell you when I'm home : a memoir
by Hala Alyan
A Palestinian American writer's journey through surrogacy, personal turmoil and family exile intertwines with ancestral stories of displacement as she grapples with love, identity and inheritance while awaiting the birth of her child and confronting the ghosts of her past.
|
|
|
|
In Gad we trust : a tell-some
by Josh Gad
This comedic and heartfelt essay collection from the star of Book of Mormon covers topics such as his parents' divorce, struggles with self-image, career breakthrough and fatherhood, featuring never-before-seen photos and witty anecdotes from the entertainment world. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
The invention of Charlotte Brontèe : a new life
by Graham Watson
Revisits the writer's dramatic life and legacy through the lens of her friend Elizabeth Gaskell's scandalous tell-all, revealing new archival material and reexamining the myths, relationships, and rivalries that shaped Brontë's rise to fame and her complex personal world. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
The jailhouse lawyer
by Calvin Duncan
An account of Charles Duncan, who became a self-taught jailhouse lawyer after a wrongful conviction at nineteen, spending decades navigating a broken legal system, advocating for fellow prisoners, fighting for his own freedom, and ultimately exposing systemic failures.
|
|
|
|
JFK : public, private, secret
by J. Randy Taraborrelli
In this deeply researched presidential biography, a bestselling Kennedy historian tells John F. Kennedy's story in a provocative new way by revealing how public moments in his life were influenced by his private relationships. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
John Hancock : first to sign, first to invest in America's independence
by Willard Sterne Randall
A revealing portrait of the Revolutionary leader, exploring his rise from modest beginnings to wealthy merchant, his pivotal yet overlooked role in the American Revolution, his political rivalries and his influence on key events that shaped the United States. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Joy goddess : A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance
by A'Lelia Perry Bundles
Based on extensive research and personal correspondence, A'Lelia Walker's great-granddaughter creates a meticulous, nuanced portrait of a charismatic woman struggling to define herself as a wife, mother, and businesswoman outside her famous mother's sphere. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Karen : a brother remembers
by Kelsey Grammer
The author's sister was kidnapped and murdered at age eighteen, and he poignantly remembers her and the impact her loss had on his life and family, exploring with raw honesty the devastation after her death and the long and arduous journey toward healing.
|
|
|
|
The Mèobius book
by Catherine Lacey
Blends fiction and memoir to explore heartbreak, faith, and identity as the author navigates personal upheaval, reflecting on lost beliefs, transformative relationships, and the blurred boundaries between memory and storytelling in a genre-defying meditation on love, grief, and renewal.
|
|
|
|
Mark Twain
by Ron Chernow
"Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, under Halley's Comet, the rambunctious Twain was an early teller of tall tales. He left his home in Missouri at an early age, piloted steamboats on the Mississippi, and arrived in the Nevada Territory during the silver-mining boom. Before long, he had accepted a job at the local newspaper, where he barged into vigorous discourse and debate, hoaxes and hijinks. After moving to San Francisco, he published stories that attracted national attention for their brashness and humor, writing under a pen name soon to be immortalized. Chernow draws a richly nuanced portrait of the man who shamelessly sought fame and fortune and crafted his celebrity persona with meticulous care. Twain eventually settled with his wife and three daughters in Hartford, where he wrote some of his most well-known works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, earning him further acclaim. He threw himself into American politics, emerging as the nation's most notable pundit. While his talents as a writer and speaker flourished, his madcap business ventures eventually forced him into bankruptcy; to economize, Twain and his family spent nine eventful years in exile in Europe. He suffered the death of his wife and two daughters, and the last stage of his life was marked by heartache, political crusades, and eccentric behavior that sometimes obscured darker forces at play. Drawing on Twain's bountiful archives, including his fifty notebooks, thousands of letters, and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, Chernow masterfully captures a man whose career reflected the country's westward expansion, industrialization, and foreign wars. No other white author of his generation grappled so fully with the legacy of slavery after the Civil War or showed such keen interest in African American culture. Today, more than one hundred years after his death, Twain's writing continues to be read, debated, and quoted."
|
|
|
|
Marsha : the joy and defiance of Marsha P. Johnson
by Tourmaline
A Black trans luminary brings to life the first definitive biography of one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQ+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
My childhood in pieces : a stand-up comedy, a Skokie elegy
by Edward Hirsch
"From the award-winning poet, dark comic microbursts of prose deliver a whole childhood, at the hands of a not quite middle-class Jewish family whose hardboiled American brutality and wit were the forge of a poet's coming of age "My grandparents taught me to write my sins on paper and cast them into the water on the first day of the New Year. They didn't expect an entire book," Hirsh says in the "prologue" to this glorious festival of knife-sharp observations. In micro chapters-sometimes only a single scathing sentence long-with titles like "Call to Breakfast," "Pay Cash," "The Sorrow of Manly Sports," and "Aristotle on Lawrence Avenue," Eddie's gambling father, Ruby, son of an iron-smelter, schools him and his sister in blackjack; Eddie's mom bangs potsand pans to wake the kids (to a breakfast of cold cereal); Uncle Bob, in the collection business, can be heard threatening people on the upstairs phone; and nobody suffers fools or gives hugs. In this household, Eddie learned to jab with his left and hook with his right, never to kid a kidder, and how to sneak out at night. Steeped in rage and exuberance, Yiddishkeit and Midwestern practicality, Hirsch's laugh-and-cry performance animates a heartbreaking odyssey, from the cradle to the day he leaves home, armed with sorrow and a huge store of killing poetic wit"
|
|
|
|
My next breath : a memoir
by Jeremy Renner
"The gripping and inspiring story of acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner's near-fatal accident, and what he learned about inner strength, endurance and hope as he overcame insurmountable odds to recover, one breath at a time"
|
|
|
|
The next day : transitions, change, and moving forward
by Melinda French Gates
"In a rare window into some of her life's pivotal moments, Melinda French Gates draws from previously untold stories to offer a new perspective on encountering transitions. "You don't get to be my age without navigating all kinds of transitions. Some youembraced and some you never expected. Some you hoped for and some you fought as hard as you could." - Melinda French Gates Transitions are moments in which we step out of our familiar surroundings and into a new landscape-a space that, for many people, is shadowed by confusion, fear, and indecision. The Next Day accompanies readers as they cross that space, offering guidance on how to make the most of the time between an ending and a new beginning and how to move forward into the next day when the groundbeneath you is shifting. In this book, Melinda will reflect, for the first time in print, on some of the most significant transitions in her own life, including becoming a parent, the death of a dear friend, and her departure from the Gates Foundation. The stories she tells illuminate universal lessons about loosening the bonds of perfectionism, helping friends navigate times of crisis, embracing uncertainty, and more. Each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are in life, is headed toward transitions of our own. With her signature warmth and grace, Melinda candidly shares stories of times when she was in need of wisdom and shines a path through the open space stretching out before us all"
|
|
|
|
Nice girls don't win : how I burned it all down to claim my power
by Parvati Shallow
Becoming famous at 25 after winning Survivor, it wasn't until after a series of painful life events, including the death of her younger brother and a challenging divorce, that the author found herself on a path of healing that would awaken her true power and reset her life.
|
|
|
|
North to the future : an offline adventure through the changing wilds of Alaska
by Ben Weissenbach
"At the age of twenty-one, college student Ben Weissenbach set out into the Alaskan wilderness armed with little more than inspiration from his literary heroes and a growing interest in climate change. What meets him there is a landscape both stark and awe-inspiring-a part of the world seen by few outside a small contingent of scientists with big personalities. There's Roman Dial, the larger-than-life field scientist who leads him on a five week journey into the Alaskan backcountry. There's Kenji Yoshikawa, the isolated researcher who leaves Ben alone for eleven days to care for his remote cabin, where temperatures at night drop to -49 degrees Fahrenheit. And there's Matt Nolan, the independent glaciologist who flies planes onto glaciers. As Ben's mentaland physical resilience is tested, he discovers far more than his own limits; struck by the landscape's staggering beauty and sheer indifference to humanity, Ben emerges from each experience with a new perspective on our modern relationships to technology-and a deep sense of wonder for our natural world"-- Provided by publisher
|
|
|
|
Not my type : one woman vs. a president
by E. Jean Carroll
A hilarious, hopeful, revelatory behind the scenes account of the trials that riveted the nation You've heard about the tantrums, the seething, the storming out of court, yes. But what about E. Jean's side of the story? What about the flight suits, the bottle of green Chartreuse, and the bob? Not My Type puts you in a better seat than the jury box.
|
|
|
|
Notes to John
by Joan Didion
"In November 1999, Joan Didion began seeing a psychiatrist because, as she wrote to a friend, her family had had "a rough few years." She described the sessions in a journal she created for her husband, John Gregory Dunne. For several months, Didion recorded conversations with the psychiatrist in meticulous detail. The initial sessions focused on alcoholism, adoption, depression, anxiety, guilt, and the heartbreaking complexities of her relationship with her daughter, Quintana. The subjects evolved to include her work, which she was finding difficult to maintain for sustained periods. There were discussions about her own childhood--misunderstandings and lack of communication with her mother and father, her early tendency to anticipate catastrophe--and the question of legacy, or, as she put it, "what it's been worth." The analysis would continue for more than a decade. Didion's journal was crafted with the singular intelligence, precision, and elegance that characterize all of her writing. It is an unprecedently intimate account that reveals sides of her that were unknown, but the voice is unmistakably hers--questioning, courageous, and clear in the face of a wrenchingly painful journey"--Provided by publisher
|
|
|
|
One day I'll grow up and be a beautiful woman : a mother's story
by Abi Maxwell
Following one New Hampshire family over the course of three years, this heartbreaking, unputdownable memoir finds the author contending with the rural America where she was raised and, years later, where she is now raising her trans child who caught in the riptide of our nation's culture wars.
|
|
|
|
Pieces you'll never get back : a memoir of unlikely survival
by Samina Ali
The author nearly died at twenty-nine, falling into a coma while giving birth, waking up with no memories of her husband or baby, only able to speak her native Urdu, and took years to piece herself together and reconnect with her identity as author, wife, and mother.
|
|
|
|
Raising hare : a memoir
by Chloe Dalton
Through trial and error, the author learns to care for a rescued newborn hare?—?a leveret?—?that had been chased by a dog in the English countryside, and the reader witnesses the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Robert Shaw : An Actor's Life on the Set of Jaws and Beyond
by Christopher Shaw Myers
Robert Shaw unforgettably commanded attention as the weathered seaman Captain Quint in the blockbuster sensation, Jaws . But what came before and after that landmark film is as dramatic as the hunt for the great white shark itself. Capturing the many facets of the vibrant, generous, and sometimes polarizing man is his nephew, Christopher, who explores the forces that shaped a dynamic personality—including Robert's indomitable mother, his deeply troubled father, and his activist sister, Joanna, with whom Robert shared an unbreakable bond.
|
|
|
|
Saving five : a memoir of hope
by Amanda Nguyen
This brave and imaginative memoir from a Nobel Peace Prize nominee details her healing journey and groundbreaking activism in the aftermath of her rape at Harvard. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Self-sabotage : and other ways I've spent my time
by Jeffery Self
The author's debut book for adults is a personal exploration of his life that asks the profound question of how you become the person you want to be when so much of yourself is a secret?—?and how to accept yourself when it's not.
|
|
|
|
Sonita : my fight against tyranny and my escape to freedom
by Sonita Alizadeh
Follows Afghan rap artist and activist Sonita Alizada as she recounts her experience narrowly escaping forced marriage, fleeing her homeland, and using music and advocacy to challenge oppressive norms and fight for a future of freedom and self-determination. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Surreal : the extraordinary life of Gala Dalâi
by Micháele Gerber Klein
"From the author of Charles James: Portrait of an Unreasonable Man, the long-awaited biography of Gala Dalâi, whose face is known been many and whose story is known by few, until now. SURREAL presents the riveting life story of Gala, Salvador Dalâi's wife, partner, and muse. A charismatic, uninhibited, very human woman, she was a force majeure in pre-war Paris' legendary Surrealist circles where she was idolized as 'the mother of Surrealism.' As Dalâi's great love, artistic collaborator, and the genius behind his vast fortune, Gala inflected the cultural history of the twentieth century. But despite her influence on Western art and literature, very little is known about her life. Gala was a paradoxical figure, with a charisma that drew people to her but a reserved nature that kept her secrets hidden. She was a survivor of two World Wars, the Russian Revolution, and the Spanish Civil War. She was miserly, but also a brilliant promoter and marketing virtuoso who made millions for herself, her husband, and their entourage. Despite her notoriety, Gala was never properly acknowledged or understood, and records of her life story and accomplishments remain fragmented. SURREAL brings her life into focus and assembles the full picture of this fascinating and powerful woman"
|
|
|
|
Tart : misadventures of an anonymous chef
by Slutty Cheff
After leaving a corporate career to chase her culinary passion, a woman navigates the grueling yet exhilarating world of London fine dining, navigating gender dynamics, long hours, and personal awakenings as she seeks fulfillment, connection and purpose in and beyond the kitchen.
|
|
|
|
There's No Going Back : The Life and Work of Jonathan Demme
by David M. Stewart
Explores the life and career of the filmmaker, highlighting his artistic range, humanist vision, and enduring commitment to social justice, while drawing on interviews and archival insights to illuminate his collaborative spirit and his impact across five decades of narrative and documentary filmmaking Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
This happened to me : a reckoning
by Kate Price
A scholar confronts repressed memories of childhood abuse and trafficking through trauma therapy, embarking on a decade-long search for proof and healing that leads her back to her Appalachian roots, where she channels her personal pain into advocacy for vulnerable children.
|
|
|
|
Toni at Random : the iconic writer's legendary editorship
by Dana A. Williams
Examining Toni Morrison's influential editorial career, this book explores how she reshaped American publishing by championing important voices, guiding authors, and expanding the literary landscape, highlighting her lasting impact beyond her own celebrated writing.
|
|
|
|
Trailblazer : perseverance in life and politics
by Carol Moseley-Braun
Recounts the author's groundbreaking career as the first Black woman elected to the Senate and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, sharing stories of overcoming adversity, making history, and advocating for civil rights and justice.
|
|
|
|
The trouble of color : an American family memoir
by Martha S. Jones
Explores the author's personal and ancestral history, tracing generations of her family as they navigated the shifting complexities of racial identity, belonging, and the color line from enslavement to contemporary America.
|
|
|
|
Uncommon favor : basketball, North Philly, my mother, and the lessons I learned from all three
by Dawn Staley
For the first time, Dawn Staley shares her inspiring life story. A three-time Olympic Gold medalist, six-time WNBA All-Star, and the first person to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award as both a player and coach, Staley has shattered expectations at every level of the game. While her name resonates with both longtime WNBA fans and newcomers, she has kept her personal life private. Uncommon Favor reveals the journey that led to Staley's success, including the challenges she faced. From dealing with sexism on the court to feeling isolated in new environments, Staley honed her skills and learned valuable life lessons about mental fortitude and maturity that have grounded her throughout her career. Beginning with her humble origins on the NorthPhiladelphia basketball court and her rise to national fame at the University of Virginia -- where she led her team to three Final Fours -- Staley recounts the key moments that shaped her winning mindset. Her iconic career in the WNBA and her groundbreaking coaching journey at the University of South Carolina highlight the milestones and turning points that have defined her success, both on and off the court. Fearless and authentic, Uncommon Favor shares the rewards of leading with conviction and the courage to redefine the limits of what is possible
|
|
|
|
Uptown girl : a memoir
by Christie Brinkley
Although the popular model and actress has lived more than 50 years in the public eye, the full story of her roller-coaster life has never been told—until now. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
The wanderer's curse : a memoir
by Jennifer Hope Choi
"When Jennifer Hope Choi first stumbled upon the "curse" known as yeokmasal--an allegedly inheritable affliction causing one to roam farther and farther from home--she immediately consulted her mother. "Oh yeah," Umma quipped. "I have that." Technically this wasn't a revelation. Since 2007, the no-nonsense open-heart surgery nurse had moved suddenly from the Golden State to the Last Frontier, shuttling over the next decade through seven states. For much of her adulthood, Choi had fancied herself nothing like her immigrant mother, late-blooming vagabond spirit and all--until life in Brooklyn imploded, spurring her to relocate to South Carolina and reckon with startling truths. Artmaking had left her in debt, single, and jobless. Questions hovered, gathering ragged like fractus clouds: Was it time to give up writing? Would she ever have a place of her own to call home? Or was she doomed to bunk up with Umma in the Deep South indefinitely? This probing memoir follows Choi through her many former homes, froma crumbling Chinatown tenement to a haunted museum in Georgia. Connections emerge, between her curious trajectory and idiosyncratic Korean identity narratives: a mystical Korean dog breed, pro golfers, modern Korean cults, the four pillars of destiny, and Korean American art. One question lingers throughout her search: What might be gained from living in residence with uncertainty?"
|
|
|
|
The warrior : Rafael Nadal and his kingdom of clay
by Christopher Clarey
"Nadal has won big on tennis's many surfaces en route to becoming one of the greatest players of all time: securing two Wimbledon titles on grass and four U.S. Open titles on cushioned acrylic hardcourts. But clay, the slowest and grittiest of the game'splaygrounds, is where it all comes together best for his tactical skills, whipping topspin forehand and gladiatorial mindset. Clay is to Rafael Nadal what water is to Michael Phelps, which helps explain one of the most impressive individual sports achievements of the 21st century"
|
|
|
|
We might just make it after all : my best friendship with Kate Spade
by Elyce Arons
Follows two women from college dreams to entrepreneurial success, tracing the decades-long friendship behind a groundbreaking fashion brand, and exploring their creative journey, personal struggles, and the lasting impact of a partnership that shaped their lives and transformed the accessories industry. Illustrations.
|
|
|
|
Yet here I am : lessons from a Black man's search for home
by Jonathan Capehart
"MSNBC anchor Jonathan Capehart is one of the most recognizable faces in cable news. But long before that success, Capehart spent his boyhood growing up without his father, shuttling back and forth between New Jersey and rural Severn, North Carolina, contemplating the complexities of race and identity as they shifted around him. It was never easy bridging two worlds; whether being told he was too smart or not smart enough, too black or not black enough, Capehart struggled to find his place. Then, an internship at The Today Show altered the course of his life, bringing him one step closer to his dream. From there, Capehart embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Yet Here I Am takes us along that journey, from his years at Carleton College, where he learnsto embrace his identity as a gay, black man surrounded by a likeminded community; to his decision to come out to his family, risking rejection; and finally to his move to New York City, where time and again he stumbles and picks himself up as he blazes apath to become the familiar face in news we know today. Honest and endearing, Yet Here I Am is an inspirational memoir of identity, opportunity, and of finding one's voice and purpose along the way"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|