Reread Harry Potter Before the HBO Series Premieres
HBO’s Harry Potter arrives on Christmas Day, with years of seasons to follow. Before a new cast defines these characters for a new generation, reread the first book as an adult – it’s a better mystery than you remember, and every clue is on the page.
Food for Thought by Alton Brown
Alton Brown steps away from the recipes for a collection of personal essays on food, memory, culture, and identity. Required reading for Good Eats fans and food lovers who want their reading with a side of genuine reflection.
Elf Unwrapped by Andy Richter and Aaron Karo
A history of the 2003 holiday film Elf, told by the cast, crew, and creatives who made it. For anyone who's watched it on repeat every December and wants the full story behind the magic.
Take My Word For It by LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton traces a life built on storytelling, from coming of age during the Civil Rights Movement to Roots, Reading Rainbow, and everything the cameras didn’t show. Compassionate, vulnerable, and anchored in family, ancestors, and a lifelong commitment to liberation.
My Pressures by Andy Serkis
I came out of reading My Pressures having laughed (quite a lot) and realizing how important it is to take big risks when you know it’s the right thing to do.
The Book Community Has an Entitlement Problem
Reader entitlement is out of hand. From demanding trigger warnings (to avoid a small bit of discomfort) to misunderstanding literary devices, we’re losing the plot (pun intended).
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Reading Habit (Even With a Busy Life)
Discover how to build a consistent reading habit — even with a busy life. Learn science-backed tips, habit-stacking strategies, and realistic goals to make reading effortless, enjoyable, and part of your daily routine. Reclaim your focus, reduce screen time, and rediscover the joy of getting lost in a good book.
Amplify by Adam Met
Stop thinking in terms of individual action. What most causes need instead are acts of individual leadership that inspire collective action.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
As Mark contemplated his future — his legacy and the coming year’s personal challenge — I think he came to this dark conclusion: if Trump can do it, so could he.
After all, not only does Mark now have Trump’s playbook, he owns the tools and sets the rules. And he has something no one else has, the ability to control the algorithm with zero transparency or oversight.
Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz
There is one indisputable way to identify a cult, one characteristic they all share. It is the notion that anyone who does not agree with the group’s beliefs or choices, who expresses concerns, who simply dares to ask questions, is deemed “unsafe.”
The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain by Tara Swart
We live a life dominated by stress and are too busy to really take notice of who we are, where we are going and what we want from life. We are now at a moment where technology will disrupt our minds and bodies more than we can begin to imagine.
The Danish Secret to Happy Kids by Helen Russell
We bring up kids to make their own choices. We don’t teach them to place all their trust in external authority - political, religious, or philosophical.
How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Birdsong
The American Dream’s narrowly defined paths to happiness and success rely on an acceptance of prescribed roles, and a lot of accumulation and exhibition.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
Whether wicked or well-intentioned, language is a way to get members of a community on the same ideological page. To help them feel like they belong to something big
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
“Why make anything if you don’t believe it could be great?”
The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits. That’s it in a nutshell.” - Twyla Tharp
Best Books of Spring 2022
Halfway through the year already! Here are the best books I read in Spring (or Q2) this year.
The Atlas of Happiness by Helen Russell
“Because who are you to bring someone else down with your bad mood?” The Atlas of Happiness by Helen Russell is a wonderful book to see how countries around the world incorporate happiness into their cultural norms.