Books about focusing are something that we all need more of — at least, it often feels that way. In our current world of instant information and short-form entertainment, there is frequent commentary on how we’re all losing our attention spans and that our brains can’t deal with the information overload we experience every day. This is partly true — our current world gives us access to more information than we’ve ever had before, with much greater ease than previous generations, and it can often feel that our focus is suffering as a result, especially for those of us whose brains work a little ..read more

The act of reading is generally thought of as how we cozy ourselves up on a cold or rainy day, how we tune out busy commutes, and how we connect through book clubs. Reading on my break at work is especially satisfying, as it provides a distraction while also letting me silently recharge. Still, why is reading associated with feeling restful and safe, especially since you can have so many different reading experiences? It can make us feel uplifted and wistful, but also anxious and full of dread. Still, no matter what sensations the book might invoke in you, it’s also incredibly healthy for your ..read more

Let’s talk about octopus books. Octopuses (don’t get me started on Octopi) make some of the best literary subjects for fiction and nonfiction alike. As animals who live everywhere, from intertidal zones to the deepest ocean, they’re paradoxically common and deeply mysterious. What do you mean it has mini-brains that control each of its arms? What do you mean they can recognize — and antagonize! — people? And they’re building cities?! They seem like the ultimate nature in a man vs. nature story because they present a true challenge of wits. Did you know octopus wrestling used to be a thing?&nbs ..read more

Set in the Spanish Golden Age, during a time of high‑stakes political intrigue and glittering wealth, The Familiar follows Luzia, a servant in the household of an impoverished Spanish nobleman who reveals a talent for little miracles. Her social‑climbing mistress demands Luzia use her gifts to win over Madrid’s most powerful players but what begins as simple amusement takes a dangerous turn. Luzia will need to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even the help of Guillén Santángel, an immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo ..read more

Rainy April days are perfect to spend inside with a cup of tea and a great book, especially anything nonfiction. At this time of year, I love to curl up on my oversized couch with my Corgi, Gwen, draped across my lap. An avid Hobonichi Techo fan, I often find myself doodling while I listen to my audiobook of choice. On other days, I spend my time cleaning up the showers of pollen South Carolina receives every spring. When the sun is shining, I sit out on my porch, relaxing as I watch the Corgis run around the yard. But always, I have a story playing through my headphones. In celebration of tru ..read more

There’s a whole lot to love about science fiction and fantasy (SFF): fabulous world-building, epic adventures, fantastical creatures, awe-inspiring technology. Surely no nonfiction title could live up to the excitement that a good SFF book can deliver? As a devoted nonfiction reader, I can assure you that is not true! Nonfiction can weave a tale just as irresistible as anything that sprang from a fiction writer’s imagination. A skillful nonfiction author uses the same methods that make fiction so entertaining and applies them to events that happen in real life. And, in some cases, nonfiction b ..read more

Welcome to Read this Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that needs to jump onto your TBR pile! Sometimes these books are brand new releases that I don’t want you to miss, while others are some of my backlist favorites. This week, I’m talking about one of my most anticipated memoirs of the season! Splinters by Leslie Jamison I’ve read just about everything Leslie Jamison has put out, and while her writing has matured and changed over the course of time, she still writes some of the most incredible prose. She has a way of writing a sentence that reads like magic. Previously, she h ..read more

Sleep is one of those things you don’t think about at all until you think about it all the time. And if you’re in a thinking-about-it-all-the-time phase, it’s not because things are going great. Here’s a variety pack of books to help you figure out where sleep and rest are going wrong for you and how you can get back to a healthy baseline. Let’s start with the nitty-gritty. In Why We Sleep, neuroscientist Matthew Walker provides a state-of-the-science overview of how and why sleep is connected to just about every aspect of our health. For something we spend a third of our lives doing (#go ..read more

Today’s pick is the newest nonfiction from Ijeoma Oluo, the #1 New York Times—bestselling author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America. Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—And How You Can, Too by Ijeoma Oluo The level of oppression and injustice that people of color face in the United States is overwhelming. It can be difficult to know where and how to stand up, fight, and add your voice to the call for justice, equality, and safety. Many of the books I’ve read on social justice are prescr ..read more

Refugees from the Vietnam War, Susan Lieu’s family escaped to California in the 1980s. Upon arrival in California, Susan’s mother was their North Star—until Susan was eleven and her mother died from a botched tummy tuck. After the funeral, no one was ever allowed to talk about her or what had happened. “I have been stuck running in place going nowhere. And that can make a person do crazy things, like join a cult, track down the killer’s family, seek justice through the help of spirit channelers, and put on a touring one-woman show about my family tragedy. I am the manicurist’s daughter, an ..read more