Summer Books: Fresh Nonfiction Picks for the Hot Days
The sun is rising, and so are new books that can keep you company on the beach or in a cool chair.
Food & Justice
An anthropologist explores how Black communities use food to build justice and togetherness.Cryptography & Cold War
A scholar examines the hidden work of black women cryptographers who helped end the Cold War.Political Power & Justice
A political history looks at how a former president used the justice department to target opponents.Soccer’s Story
Another traces the journey of American soccer over thirty‑plus years.Music & Identity
A history of LGBTQ+ songs from the late 1960s to 2000.Chess Scandal
Sports fans can read about a controversial chess scandal involving a teenage prodigy.Art & Dogs
A visual history of dogs in art reveals what these companions mean to humans.Birdwatching Field Guide
A field guide teaches readers how to spot nearly fifty endangered birds and explains why their survival matters.
Road & Vet Memoirs
One follows a writer’s road trip across America in an old van; another chronicles a veterinarian’s visits to every U.S. national park with his grandmother.Cultural War
A historical analysis discusses how art censorship sparked a cultural war in America.Nature Healing
A memoir about walking through Santa Cruz County shows how nature can heal.Chef’s Redemption
A chef’s journey from near‑prison to executive kitchen highlights overcoming addiction through food.Biological Threat
A new book explores the potential aftermath of a biological attack on a global scale.Music Scene Memoir
A memoir from a key figure in the late‑1970s music scene tells the story of women who shaped a cultural movement.Family Hostage Experience
Another book mixes personal memory with criticism, recounting a family hostage experience on a remote island during Christmas.
These selections offer fresh angles on familiar topics and encourage readers to think critically about the world around them.
