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Popular Nonfiction Book Club Titles June 2025 |
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Supercommunicators : how to unlock the secret language of connection
by Charles Duhigg
A Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, studying supercommunicators—people capable of connecting with anyone, reveals how, everyone time we speak to some, we're actually engaging in one of three conversations, showing us how to recognize which kind of conversation we're having—and teaching us the essential skills for navigating it successfully.
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The book of hope : a survival guide for trying times
by Jane Goodall
Told through stories from an extraordinary career and fascinating research, this urgent book, written by the world's most famous living naturalist and an internationally best-selling author, explores one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature—hope. 300,000 first printing.
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The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness
by Jonathan Haidt
"From New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind, an essential investigation into the collapse of youth mental health-and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the "play-based childhood" began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the "phone-based childhood" in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this "great rewiring of childhood" has interfered with children'ssocial and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the "collective action problems" thattrap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes-communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children-and ourselves-from the psychological damage of a phone-based life"
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Solito : a memoir
by Javier Zamora
A young poet reflects on his 3,000-mile journey from El Salvador to the United States when he was nine years old, during which he was faced with perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions during two life-altering months alongside a group of strangers who became an unexpected family.
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Outlive : the science & art of longevity
by Peter Attia
Drawing on the latest science and challenging mainstream medicine, a visionary physician and leading longevity expert presents a well-founded strategic and tactical approach to extending lifespan while also improving our physical, cognitive and emotional health.
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South to America : a journey below the Mason-Dixon to understand the soul of a nation
by Imani Perry
This intricately woven tapestry of stories of immigrant communities, exploitative opportunists, enslaved peoples, unsung heroes and lived experiences shows the meaning of American is inextricably linked to the South—and understanding its history and culture is the key to understanding our nation as a whole. 150,000 first printing. Illustrations.
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The Wager : a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder
by David Grann
In this tale of shipwreck, survival and savagery, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the events on His Majesty's Ship The Wager, a British vessel that left England in 1740 on a secret mission, resulting in a court martial that revealed a shocking truth. Illustrations.
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Nexus : a brief history of information networks from the Stone Age to AI
by Yuval N. Harari
From the Stone Age through the canonization of the Bible, Stalinism, Nazism and the resurgence of populism today, a historian and philosopher explores human history to consider how the flow of information has shaped us, and our world, addressing the urgent choices we face as nonhuman intelligence threatens our very existence. Illustrations.
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The song of the cell : an exploration of medicine and the new human
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Presenting revelatory and exhilarating stories of scientists, doctors and the patients whose lives may be saved by their work, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, drawing on his own experience as a researcher, doctor and prolific reader, explores medicine and our radical new ability to manipulate cells. Illustrations.
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From here to the great unknown : a memoir
by Lisa Marie Presley
Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, tells her whole story for the first time in a memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough, after Lisa Marie's death. Illustrations.
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The message
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The #1 New York Times best-selling author of Between the World and Me travels the world to explore how the stories we tell—and the ones we don't—shape our realities.
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Framed : astonishing true stories of wrongful convictions
by John Grisham
Exposes 10 harrowing tales of innocent Americans unjustly found guilty and convicted of crimes they didn't commit, shedding light on the flaws within the legal system that led to their imprisonment and the relentless battles for exoneration that ensued.
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The house of my mother : a daughter's quest for freedom
by Shari Franke
Exposes the hidden abuse the author endured from her mother, Ruby Franke, behind the scenes of the popular 8 Passengers YouTube channel, detailing Ruby's strict control, influence from relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, and Shari's path to healing after her mother's 2023 arrest for child abuse.
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I'm glad my mom died
by Jennette McCurdy
The iCarly and Sam & Cat star, after her controlling mother dies, gets the help she needs to overcome eating disorders, addiction and unhealthy relationships—and finally decides what she really wants for the first time in her life. Illustrations.
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King : a life
by Jonathan Eig
Drawing on recently declassified FBI files, this first major biography in decades of the civil rights icon reveals the courageous and often emotionally troubled man who demanded peaceful protest but was rarely at peace with himself, while showing how his demands for racial and economic justice remain just as urgent today. Illustrations.
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Starry messenger : cosmic perspectives on civilization
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Bringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, an astrophysicist discusses the scientific palette that sees and paints the world differently, sharing insights on resolving global conflict to reminders of how precious it is to be alive in a universe stimulating a deeper sense of unity for us all. 500,000 first printing.
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Abundance
by Ezra Klein
A compelling exploration of how systemic scarcity in areas like housing, healthcare and climate action stems from outdated solutions emphasizes the need for a mindset shift toward abundance and proactive systems to drive transformative progress.
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Poverty, by America
by Matthew Desmond
Drawing on history, research and original reporting, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Evicted reimagines the debate on poverty, revealing there is so much poverty in America not in spite of our wealth but because of it, and builds a startingly original case for eliminating poverty in our country.
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Careless people : a cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism
by Sarah Wynn-Williams
An insider account charting one woman's career at the heart of one of the most influential companies on the planet, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them
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Thicker than water : a memoir
by Kerry Washington
In this profoundly moving and beautifully written memoir, the award-winning actor and activist provides an intimate view into both her public and private worlds as she chronicles her life's journey thus far, sharing how she discovered her truest self and, with it, a deeper sense of belonging. 250,000 first printing. Illustrations.
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The backyard bird chronicles
by Amy Tan
Mapping the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions and beautiful original sketches, the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club shares her search for solace which turned into an opportunity to connect with nature in a meaningful way and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired. Illustrations.
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Knife : meditations after an attempted murder
by Salman Rushdie
The internationally renowned writer and Booker Prize winner speaks out for the first time about the traumatic events of August 12, 2022, when an attempt was made on his life, in this deeply personal meditation on violence, art, loss, love and finding the strength to stand up again.
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Night
by Elie Wiesel
A memorial edition of the seminal memoir of surviving the Nazi death camps includes the unpublished text of a speech that the author delivered before the United Nations General Assembly on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as a memorial tribute by President Barack Obama.
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We can do hard things : answers to life's 20 questions
by Glennon Doyle
Explores twenty essential life questions, offering wisdom, personal insights, and transformative lessons designed to help readers confront challenges, find healing, and share inspiration through courage, solidarity, and meaningful conversations. Illustrations.
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And there was light : Abraham Lincoln and the American struggle
by Jon Meacham
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer examines life and moral evolution of Abraham Lincoln and how he navigated the crises of slavery, secession and war by both marshaling the power of the presidency while recognizing its limitations. Illustrations.
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The Anthropocene reviewed : essays on a human-centered planet
by John Green
"The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet - from the QWERTY keyboard and Staphylococcus aureus to the Taco Bell breakfast menu - on a five-star scale. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection that includes both beloved essays and all-new pieces exclusive to the book."
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The boys in the boat : nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
by Daniel James Brown
This book tells the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans. It traces the story of the team that defeated elite rivals at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics, sharing the experiences of their enigmatic coach, a visionary boat builder, and a homeless teen rower
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When the sea came alive : an oral history of D-Day
by Garrett M. Graff
The New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist for Watergate turns his attention to D-Day, one of history's greatest and most unbelievable miliary and human triumphs, exploring the full impact of this world-changing event and offering a fitting tribute to the people of the Greatest Generation. Illustrations.
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The art thief : a true story of love, crime, and a dangerous obsession
by Michael Finkel
This riveting true story of art, crime, love and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost draws us into the strange and fascinating world of prolific art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser, who stole and kept more than 300 objects until one final act of hubris brought everything crashing down.
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An unfinished love story : a personal history of the 1960s
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian reflects on her 42-year marriage with Dick Goodwin, one the shining stars of John F. Kennedy's New Frontier and the journey of going through the letters, diaries, documents and memorabilia he saved over the years.
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Crying in H Mart : a memoir
by Michelle Zauner
The Japanese Breakfast indie pop star presents a full-length account of her viral New Yorker essay to share poignant reflections on her experiences of growing up Korean-American, becoming a professional musician and caring for her terminally ill mother. Illustrations.
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Valiant women : the extraordinary American servicewomen who helped win World War II
by Lena S. Andrews
In this groundbreaking new history of the role of American women in World War II, a top military analyst for the CIA presents the inspiring, shocking and heartbreaking stories of these servicewomen that reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of combat in the war and illustrates important realities about modern warfighting. Illustrations.
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Quietly hostile : essays
by Samantha Irby
In this much-anticipated new collection of hilarious essays, the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author takes us on another outrageously funny tour of all the gory details that make up the true portrait of a life behind the screenshotted depression memes. Original.
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Astor : the rise and fall of an American fortune
by Anderson Cooper
The number one New York Times best-selling authors of Vanderbilt turn their focus on another legendary American family that built a business empire and became the richest family in America. 300,000 first printing.
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Unmasked : my life solving America's cold cases
by Paul Holes
An icon in the true crime world, the cold case investigator who finally caught the Golden State Killer provides an insider account of some the most notorious cases in contemporary American history and opens up to the most intimate scenes of his life. 200,000 first printing.
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These precious days : essays
by Ann Patchett
Turning her writer's eye on her own experiences, the brilliant author transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. 150,000 first printing.
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Pierce County Library System
3005 112th St. E, Tacoma, Washington 98446
253-548-3300mypcls.org |
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