| Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix by Philip NormanWhat it is: a descriptive and engaging biography of legendary rock musician Jimi Hendrix.
Read it for: fresh insights from Hendrix's family and associates, including his brother Leon Hendrix and British model Linda Keith, who helped discover him.
Book buzz: Published to mark the 50th anniversary of Hendrix's death, this evocative latest from acclaimed rock biographer Philip Norman is an "entertaining, psychedelically tinged portrait" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives by Nancy Pearl & Jeff SchwagerWhat it is: a lively collection of interviews with 22 authors on the books that have touched their lives and influenced their careers.
What's inside: candid reflections from Michael Chabon, Donna Tartt, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Louise Erdrich, T.C. Boyle, Susan Choi, and more.
Want a taste? "One of the best parts of talking about books with people...is discovering that you share a love of the same books." |
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| Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty by Jeff PearlmanWhat it's about: After coaching the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s, Phil Jackson set his sights on transforming the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team to three consecutive championships from 2000-2002.
Why you might like it: This dramatic chronicle offers a richly detailed portrait of a prosperous yet tumultuous era for the Lakers.
Don't miss: juicy details on the feud between teammates Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. |
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| Is This Anything? by Jerry SeinfeldWhat it is: a decade-by-decade collection of memorable bits from Jerry Seinfeld's 45-year comedy career.
Featuring: brief anecdotes on career highlights, including his first time going to a comedy club and his collaborations with Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.
Reviewers say: "essential reading for comedy fans, from a master of the form" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah SmarshWhat it's about: country superstar Dolly Parton's musical and cultural legacy.
What sets it apart: Heartland author Sarah Smarsh's thoughtful exploration of how Parton's music resonates with working-class women and folks from marginalized communities.
For fans of: NPR's Dolly Parton's America podcast, on which Smarsh appeared as an interviewee. |
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| Overtime: Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines at the Crossroads... by John U. BaconWhat it is: a comprehensive you-are-there account of the University of Michigan Wolverines' 2018 season.
Why you might like it: this "must read" (Publishers Weekly) chronicle captures college football's winningest team hoping to reclaim their championship glory.
Author alert: Journalist and New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon has written several books about the Wolverines, including Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Michigan Football. |
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| The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism by Howard BryantWhat it is: a thought-provoking exploration of sports activism and the roles Black athletes play in publicizing social justice initiatives.
Featuring: interviews with Colin Kaepernick, David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, and Chris Webber.
Further reading: Bob Schron's sweeping history Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand: African American Athletes and the Fight for Social Justice. |
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| Northern Lights: One Woman, Two Teams, and the Football Field That Changed Their Lives by Cathy Parker with David ThomasWhat it's about: In 2006, football mom Cathy Parker caught an ESPN broadcast about the Whalers, an Iñupiat high school football team in Barrow (now Utqiagvik), Alaska who played on a gravel field.
What happened next: Parker helped raise more than $500,000 to buy the Whalers a field, but shipping turf to the Arctic Circle proved to be a unique and humbling challenge.
Is it for you? Readers who like faith-based sports stories like The Blind Side will enjoy this inspiring read. |
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| America's Game: The NFL at 100 by Jerry Rice and Randy O. WilliamsWhat it is: a spirited history of the first 100 years of the NFL, co-written by three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice and sportswriter Randy O. Williams.
Why you might like it: This accessible history emulates the structure of a football game by dividing the century into quarters.
Try this next: NFL Century: The One-Hundred Year Rise of America's Greatest Sports League by Joe Horrigan. |
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| Jim Brown: Last Man Standing by Dave ZirinWhat it's about: the life, career, and complicated legacy of fullback Jim Brown, who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957-1966.
Topics include: Brown's political activism and role in the Black Power movement of the 1960s; his post-retirement foray into Hollywood, where he hoped to become the "Black John Wayne;" his turbulent personal life, which includes multiple allegations of violence against women.
Reviewers say: "the definitive biography of Brown" (Publishers Weekly). |
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