Good Reads & Views

Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron
Nonfiction

About the Author: Delia Ephron is a bestselling author, screenwriter, essayist, and playwright. Her novels include Siracusa, The Lion Is In, and her movie credits include You’ve Got Mail and Hanging Up. Her play, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, written with her sister Nora Ephron, ran for two years off Broadway.

Reviewers say: “Ephron’s memoir is a heart-wrenching tale of second chances at life and love” (TIME Magazine).

You might also like: Sister Mother Husband Dog by Delia Ephron or The Most of Nora Ephron by Nora Ephron

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21 Lessons for the 21^st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Nonfiction

What it’s about: The author’s bestsellers Sapiens and Homo Deus dealt with the past and the future of humanity, whereas this book concerns itself with the present and immediate future. Great on audio.

Reviewers say: “Harari delivers yet another tour de force” (Kirkus); “This well-informed and searching book is one to be savored and widely discussed” (Publishers Weekly); “Highly recommended for general readers and academics alike” (Library Journal).

Some quotes: “Humans were always far better at inventing tools than using them wisely”; “We should never underestimate human stupidity. Both on the personal and on the collective level, humans are prone to engage in self-destructive activities”; “So the best advice I could give a fifteen-year-old stuck in an outdated school somewhere in Mexico, India or Alabama is: don’t rely on the adults too much. Most of them mean well, but they just don’t understand the world.”

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Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari 
Nonfiction

What’s it about: In this provocative and thought-provoking tome, Historian Harari (author of the international bestseller Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind) discusses achievements of the civilized world in the areas of disease, famine, and war, and speculates on humanity’s evolutionary goals for the future - immortality, happiness, and divinity.

Reviewers say: "Harari paints with a very broad brush throughout, but he raises stimulating questions about both the past and the future” (Publishers Weekly); “A relentlessly fascinating book” (Kirkus Reviews).

Want a taste?  “Every day millions of people decide to grant their smartphone a bit more control over their lives or try a new and more effective antidepressant drug. In pursuit of health, happiness and power, humans will gradually change first one of their features and then another, and another, until they will no longer be human.”

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You Can’t Be Serious by Kal Penn
Nonfiction 

What’s it about: The star of movies and television recounts why he rejected the advice of family and his high school guidance counselor and, instead of pursuing a degree in the sciences, he majored in theater, film and sociology. He has confronted racism in Hollywood, met his NASCAR loving future husband, and took a sabbatical from acting to work in the Obama administration. Kal Penn narrates the audiobook himself and it’s amusing and candid.

Reviewers say: “An incredibly joyful and insightful experience for the reader . . . Kal Penn’s journey is unique and special and demands respect. He delivers his story with a kind of compassion and humor we simply do not usually see. I recommend this read to anyone and everyone” (Kiefer Sutherland).

You might also like: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey or My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper  

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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Nonfiction

What is it? A narrative history of humanity's creation and evolution that explores how biology and history have defined understandings of what it means to be human. The author uses three revolutions to explain how things came to be as they presently are: cognitive, agricultural, and scientific.

Reviewers say: “provocative and entertaining" (Publishers Weekly); "one of the exceptional works of nonfiction that is both highly intellectual and compulsively readable” (Library Journal); “The great debates of history aired out with satisfying vigor” (Kirkus Reviews).

An aside: This somewhat controversial international bestseller is an excellent choice to listen to on audio or enjoy in graphic novel format.

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A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston
Nonfiction

Reviewers say: “This splendid, moving, heartbreaking memoir is doubly triumphant. It regales and entertains while at the same time providing inspiration and practical wisdom. A truly gifted storyteller, Cranston captures the reader's imagination and emotions from beginning to end” (Doris Kearns Goodwin).

About the author: Bryan Cranston is a television and film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Walter White in the crime drama series Breaking Bad which ran for 6 seasons.

You might also like: Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk or Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda.

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Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Nonfiction

What it's about: Kimmerer is a trained scientist and uses her knowledge of botany and the stories of her ancestors to skillfully point out how we need to listen to the natural world. She covers the indigenous concepts of gift giving and gratitude and how plants and animals have much to teach us, if only we listened.

Reviewers say: “Anyone who enjoys reading about natural history, botany, protecting nature, or Native American culture will love this book” (Library Journal); “A smart, subtle overlay of different systems of thought that together teach us to be better citizens of Earth" (Kirkus Reviews).

Good to know: This is wonderful on audio. The author has a melodic and soothing voice and does an excellent job narrating. This also makes a good choice for nonfiction book groups.

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Today Matters by John C. Maxwell
Nonfiction

What it’s about: John Maxwells’ Today Matters is a power packed book on why today matters and how to live better today so that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. This book has plenty of reading potential to pick it up again and again.

Is it for you? Any person who is looking to grow in any area of life will be challenged, inspired, and stirred up to make some “today changes”.

You might also like: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

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Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Before he ever starred in movies, Matthew McConaughey kept a journal. And lucky for us, he’s continued journaling even during his famous years. This self-improvement / memoir mash-up is entertaining, thoughtful, and inspiring. He tells outrageous stories about his growing-up years, the weird and wonderful tale about being an exchange student in Australia, and the up-and-down (and back-up-again) story of his film career. 

Why you might like it: If you like celebrity memoirs or self-improvement books—and especially if you like both—this book offers stories that will make you laugh, marvel, and think about your own life.

What sets it apart: McConaughey’s creativity and quirkiness infuse every word. My recommendation: listen to this one on audio. He narrates it himself and his intonations boost the humor. This is definitely one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to this year.

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I’ve Got Sand in all the Wrong Places by Lisa Scottoline & Francesca Serritella
Nonfiction

This is the seventh book co-written by author Lisa Scottoline and her daughter Francesca Serritella. It is a collection of humorous and reflective essays about their lives and each other. Lisa writes from her home in the Philadelphia suburbs about her mother, her dogs, writing, home improvements and her love life while Francesca writes about her single life living in New York City with her dog and cat. The stories are relatable and enjoyable. If you like this title you’ll enjoy reading or listening to the other six collections in the series. A new book was released in 2017 entitled I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool. Highly recommended on audio because the authors narrate their own witty, wise and heartwarming essays.

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