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| He was sentenced to life in prison — but an encyclopedia changed everything |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- Staring down life behind bars due to mandatory drug sentencing laws, Chris Young used books to educate himself in everything from art and philosophy to politics and coding, eventually arguing in court for his freedom
- “A memorable and convincing account of how an exceptional individual contested an unjust sentence and formed an emancipating understanding of his own plight” (Kirkus Reviews)
- Started in solitary confinement and completed by a free man, this is “a stunner” of a memoir (Publishers Weekly starred review)
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| Get to know the King of Calypso, a legendary performer and civil rights icon |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- Named one of the best books of 2026 by The New Yorker
- A “masterful biography” (Booklist starred review) of Harry Belafonte — a trailblazer who became the first Black Emmy Award winner, the first person in history to release a million-selling LP, and an influential political activist
- “Daylight Come takes us to places no biography in recent memory has… This book fills the heart and mind, and is essential reading for our times” (Hilton Als)
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| A ‘witty, razor-sharp exposé’ (Kirkus Reviews) from an ex-Googler turned Big Tech dissenter |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- Claire Stapleton was key in weaving the mythic story of Google from the inside — but as the company’s ideals and reality diverged, she became the face of employee revolt
- “The author’s blend of righteousness and gallows humor will resonate with readers who are disenchanted with big tech or their own high-pressure work environments” (Publishers Weekly)
- Asks probing questions about power, purpose, and identity
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| A hilarious memoir about being obsessed with work — and what it costs us |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- From playing VP of Sales as a child to becoming Executive Producer of Podcasts for ABC News, Laura Mayer always knew she had what it takes to be on top. But what if there’s more to life than being the boss?
- “Funny, brutally honest, and compulsively readable… I read Mayer’s memoir almost without stopping” (BookPage starred review)
- “This catalog of compulsive perfectionism leaves a mark” (Publishers Weekly)
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| Meet the eccentric Snakeman in this ‘undeniable page-turner’ (Natural History) |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- Raymond Hoser has named thousands of species of snakes — but is his achievement a feat of taxonomy or a dangerous rebellion against the establishment?
- Hoser’s one-of-a-kind story blends with greater questions about what it means to create names of living things and how language influences our view of the world
- “Snake lovers will revel in this singular, offbeat read” (Kirkus Reviews)
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| An eighth-generation Appalachian wrestles with the beauty and brokenness of her childhood home |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, says, “Devastating and hopeful in turn, All That’s Unseen exquisitely captures a complex and contradictory world”
- Emilee Hackney recounts being engaged at 19, getting caught up in extremist religion, attending Harvard, and reinventing her relationship with home
- Fans of Educated will be spellbound by this “gripping exploration of identity, class, religion, and a large swath of American life that is fighting with all its might to survive” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
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| What if practicing ‘good’ grief can help us live more fully? |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- Through stories about their cats, a National Magazine Award–winning journalist explores navigating the stages of grief in a society that fears mourning
- “Both a grief book that doesn’t read like a clinician’s notes and a memoir wrapped around a bigger subject” (Booklist)
- Draws on interviews with dozens of experts, including death doulas, psychologists, and funeral home directors
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| ‘This shrewd and complex group portrait’ of three conservationists ‘should not be missed’ (Booklist) |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- In the 20th century, outdoorswomen Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, and Dolores LaChapelle protected endangered species, spearheaded conservation efforts, and more
- Perfect for anyone who loves learning untold stories of women who impacted history
- “Hansman weaves history, biography, science, and memoir as she crafts thoughtful, nuanced portraits of these women… A compelling, often thrilling read” (BookPage)
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| A young woman’s murder revealed the dangerous workings of a psychopath and his accomplice |
| WHY IT’S READWORTHY: |
- When the body of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe was found in Wilber, Nebraska, authorities were led into the disturbing world of Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell
- Trail, assisted by Boswell, presented himself as an all-powerful being and manipulated women into a twisted cult of theft, sex, and obsession
- “An engrossing story about human depravity” (Library Journal) hailed as a “terrifying true crime thriller” (Casey Sherman)
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