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The Ups Man: James E. Casey and the Creation of Modern Logistics
by Marc Levinson
Longlist, 2026 FT and Standard Chartered Business Book of the Year Award How a little-known executive revolutionized the delivery business James E. Casey was a most improbable revolutionary. Shy and soft-spoken, in his day he was all but unknown to the public at large. Drawing little attention to himself, he laid the foundation of an industry that is fundamental to the modern world economy--the industry that manages businesses' long-distance supply chains and allows consumers to obtain almost anything from anywhere with just a credit card and a couple of days' patience. In The UPS Man, Marc Levinson provides the first-ever biography of the self-taught executive who started a bicycle messenger service in 1907 and built it into a giant of modern logistics. Casey was associated with United Parcel Service for seventy-six years, introducing innovation after innovation into the stodgiest of industries as UPS conquered the retail delivery market, then reshaped itself into the first company able to collect packages from hundreds of thousands of senders and deliver them when promised to recipients far away, and then changed itself yet again to move parcels around the globe. That more than three hundred thousand packages are delivered somewhere in the world every minute of every day is a monument to Casey's accomplishments. While Casey was an inspiring leader, he was also a ferocious competitor and a demanding boss. Under his leadership, UPS frequently acted in ways that it prefers not to include in its corporate mythology. Some of these actions were dubious. Others were flat-out illegal. Certainly some of these actions might not make current employees proud, yet were indispensable to UPS's emergence as a powerful force in freight transportation. Drawing on previously neglected sources, The UPS Man offers a nuanced portrait of an entrepreneur and executive whose obsession with small parcels still affects our lives today.
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The Best Kind of American: A True Story of Murder, War, and America's Undoing in the Middle East
by Kim Ghattas
A work of true crime following one American family's search for answers after a 1984 murder in war-torn Beirut, where the Iranian revolution collided with the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, setting off the geopolitical conflagration that burns to this day On January 18, 1984, Malcolm Kerr, president of the American University of Beirut, was assassinated by a pair of gunmen outside his office. His murder, in the wake of the bombing of the US Marines' barracks, Palestinian guerrilla warfare, and the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, was just one more shocking headline in a city ravaged by the chaos of nine years of war. There was no investigation. Four decades later, the question of who killed Malcolm, and why, is still not fully resolved. In The Best Kind of American, Kim Ghattas embarks on a quest to shed new light on Kerr's forgotten assassination, weaving together the family's story with that of Lebanon's warlords and peacemakers, Hezbollah hostage takers and Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and American presidents from Reagan to Trump. She also tells the definitive story of how Beirut came to be the point of origin for the policies and people who went on to shape the Middle East for decades, from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was then assassinated in a joint US-Israeli strike in the opening salvo of their 2026 war against the Islamic Republic. With the nuance, clarity, and storytelling that made Black Wave an era-defining work on the Middle East, Ghattas delivers a riveting, deeply human saga--a must-read for understanding why this conflict continues to shape today's world.
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Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State
by Michael Lewis
An inside look at the early days of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, as told by the public servants it targeted and one of America's best storytellers.
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Emperor of Nothing: The Making of Larry David
by Blake J. Harris
The first authorized biography of legendary comedian Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld and star and creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, featuring exclusive interviews with Larry himself as well as his family, friends, and colleaguesFrom Seinfeld to Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David has built a comedy empire on candid observations, endless self-deprecation, and an endearing brand of selfishness--now immortalized into a fictionalized on-screen alter-ego. But who's the actual man lurking behind this legendary television persona? And how has he managed to remain a walking, talking enigma for so long?In Emperor of Nothing, author Blake J. Harris moves past the persona to paint an honest, detailed portrait of the real Larry David. Based on more than five years of meticulous research and exclusive interviews with Larry, his family, and his closest collaborators, this book offers never-before-told stories, never-before-published stand-up bits, and unprecedented access to an otherwise elusive figure, exploring all the nuance behind the neurosis. From his quirky Brooklyn upbringing and temperamental stand-up career to his creative partnership with Jerry Seinfeld and starring in his own show, Emperor of Nothing ultimately reveals where one Larry starts and the other stops, untangling the myriad reasons that Larry became the brutally honest--if accidental--voice of a generation in the process.Whether you're an overthinker yourself or just want to marvel at Larry David's colossal cultural footprint, this definitive biography gives you a front-row seat to the man behind the myth, tracking his rise from punchline to prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ayyy good.
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Food Sense: What to Eat and Why
by Christopher Gardner
In a world flooded with conflicting diet advice, how do we choose what to eat? Renowned Stanford nutrition scientist discusses the findings of his over two dozen studies to end the diet wars, debunk myths, and provide health insights to inform our everyday food choices. Diet is the most under-appreciated, underutilized factor in preventing disease. The food you consume each day has a direct impact on how you feel in the short-term and on your long-term health, but so many of the health claims for food and nutrition can be confusing and contradictory. At the same time, food also means a lot more than sustenance to people. We need to enjoy it, and it needs to align with our sense of who we are; otherwise, the dietary choices we make are not going to last. This includes health, taste and pleasure, culture, and our values such as climate and environment, animal welfare, and the conditions of workers. For decades, Stanford nutrition scientist Dr. Christopher Gardner has been on the front lines of nutrition research, leading groundbreaking clinical trials that cut through the noise and uncover what truly supports long-term health. Now, in this accessible and myth-busting guide, he addresses your nutrition questions on everything from weight loss to cholesterol, seed oils, plant-based meats, ultra processed foods, protein, GMOS, fads, fibers, fermented foods, and much more. Plus, he shows you how to put all this knowledge together in the kitchen by providing some of his favorite recipes. Food Sense will inspire you to change your diet to include more plants and less processed food and sugar and, most importantly--to enjoy your food.
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The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World
by Nathaniel Philbrick
A New York Times Most Anticipated Nonfiction Book of 2026 - A Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Fall National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower, reveals how California's Gold Rush forged the modern United States--and lit the long fuse to civil war In January 1848, a carpenter spotted flecks of gold in a shallow stream at Sutter's Mill in California, triggering the greatest voluntary migration in U.S. history, as hundreds of thousands raced west in pursuit of sudden wealth, reinvention, and power. From the feverish gold-mining camps of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the wharves and vigilance committees of San Francisco, Nathaniel Philbrick renders a combustible, all-world society: Chilean brothers reinventing themselves to outrun prejudice; Native communities navigating dispossession and violence; the merchant-showman Samuel Brannan, drawn into the center of early vigilantism; and the politicians vying for control of California's future--the ambitious Free-Soil political boss David Broderick, who squared off against William Gwin, the Southern power broker intent on tilting the state toward slavery and the Confederacy. In The Rush, Nathaniel Philbrick transforms the Gold Rush from a tale of sudden riches into the origin story of America's modern contradictions--capital consolidated at dizzying speed, democracy in thrall to private power, xenophobia weaponized in the name of liberty--and a stubborn belief in the American experiment that refuses to die. This is the story of a nation tearing at the seams and a republic tested by its own ideals. Not until ayear after the outbreak of the Civil War, when President Lincoln signed legislation that would unite the nation east to west by building a transcontinental railroad, was California's loyalty secured. Philbrick follows the gold as it moves from riverbed to countinghouse to the halls of power, revealing how vigilantism hardened into law and how debates over slavery in the West tipped the balance in Washington. The result is a clear, human story of how a scramble for wealth reshaped ideas of freedom, labor, and belonging--and how California's rise helped push a fractured nation toward war. The Rush is alive with characters whose choices still reverberate: a searing, panoramic epic that captures both the fury and the promise of America.
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Simply Ina: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
by Ina Garten
A brand-new collection of 85 easy yet impressive recipes for every meal of the day, from make-ahead lunches to effortless appetizers and showstopping dinners, from America's favorite home cook Through her years of experience as a home cook, Ina Garten has learned that the best food is often the simplest. With just a little thought and a few good ingredients, you can make truly impressive dishes without spending hours in the kitchen. Simply Ina celebrates the delicious results of streamlined cooking, sharing Ina's expert tips and tricks for achieving the best flavor with the least amount of effort. Each recipe in this book has a secret that makes preparing it easier than you thought. Some dishes rely on smart store-bought shortcuts--like Mashed Potato & Leek Soup so delicious no one will ever guess it's made with packaged mashed potatoes and Bourbon Baked Beans that dress up canned baked beans with smoked bacon, maple syrup, and good bourbon--because sometimes store-bought really is just fine For seamless gatherings, Ina's deeply flavorful Provencal Chicken with Olives & Capers can be made ahead and reheated in its Dutch oven before dinner, and the crispy oatmeal topping on her Cherry Berry Crumble can be prepped in advance for easy assembly in the moment. Elegant dishes like Endive & Avocado Salad and Irish Coffee Affogato involve little more than assembling ingredients, allowing you to serve something special without really cooking at all. Whether you're feeding unexpected guests, pulling together a Tuesday night dinner after work, or hosting a dinner party and don't want to miss all the fun cooped up in the kitchen, you'll be happy to have these simple, satisfying, and completely doable recipes to turn to. Because simple food shouldn't just save you time; it should let you enjoy the people you love.
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American Pope: Leo XIV's Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City
by Daniel Burke
From the co-host of NPR's All Things Considered and NPR's Senior Editor of Religion and Spirituality, a deeply reported, revelatory biography of Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, that offers rare and exciting new insight into the life and times of the man who would come to lead the Catholic Church. On May 8, 2025, eighteen days after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to share the name of the new leader of the Catholic Church. Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Robertum Franciscum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost--qui sibi nomen imposuit Leo XIV. For the first time in its 2,000 year history, the Catholic Church would be led by an American. NPR's Daniel Burke and Scott Detrow, who were in St. Peter's Square that day leading the network's coverage, were among those shocked by the selection. Growing up in the faith as kids and reporting on it as adults, they had been told it was an article of faith, a given, that the Catholic Church would never elect an American pope. And yet, there was Prevost--now Leo XIV--smiling, waving, and declaring to the crowd in Italian, Peace be with you. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who grew up just outside Chicago but had spent much of his adult life in Peru, had been a dark horse candidate to say the least-an unassuming Augustinian who had only recently been promoted to the top levels of Church leadership. His elevation to the most prominent religious seat in the world prompted unprecedented enthusiasm--a surge of Da Pope memes and American tourists flocking to Rome with gifts of deep dish pizza and hats from Villanova (his alma mater)--but despite international media coverage and fascination, the scope of Prevost's journey has yet to be told in full, intimate detail. Now, in American Pope, Burke and Detrow present the first comprehensive, impressively sourced biography of the new pontiff. The two journalists spent the year after Leo's election reporting in Peru, Chicago, and Rome. They tracked down Leo's close confidants, childhood friends, family members, classmates, fellow clergy, and Vatican insiders. They gained unprecedented access to archival documents, letters, emails, and other personal correspondence that provide key insights into Prevost's experiences and views. As a result, readers are introduced to a man at varying stages of his destiny: Robert, a quiet young boy from a working-class parish straddling Chicago's southern border, coming into his faith in Kennedy-era America; Bob, a serious student who writes for his high school paper and spends time in the seminary leading family interventions for alcoholics; Padre and Monsignor Roberto, a stabilizing and hopeful presence in impoverished and terrorized communities of Peru, and who would help lead his diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic; Father Bob, the leader of the Augustinian order at a time of crisis for the Catholic Church; Cardinal Prevost, the unassuming ally of Pope Francis; and, finally, Leo, whose ascension will forever change the Church he serves and loves. Enlightening, engrossing, and undeniably human, American Pope is the key to understanding one of the most consequential figures of our time.
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Cloud Runner: Poems
by Joy Harjo
Three-term U.S. Poet Laureate returns with a moving collection about grief, loss, and how art can transform suffering.
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