New Nonfiction Roundup: May 2019

Genre-busting true crime, tools for unlocking creativity, spirited defenses of liberalism and a whole lot more are coming your way this May!

Aging Backwards Fast Track. Reverse aging with a 30-day program from Miranda Esmonde-White.

All the Way. NFL icon Joe Namath recounts his life on and off the field on the 50th anniversary of leading the New York Jets to an unlikely Superbowl win.

Aloha Rodeo. David Wolman reveals the forgotten story of the paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys who conquered the Wild West.

Art of Noticing. Meditations and inspiration from Rob Walker, workplace advice columnist for the New York Times. 

Becoming Dr. Seuss. The latest biography from Brian Jay Jones examines the radical side of children’s author Theodore Geisel.

The British Are Coming. Historian Rick Atkinson begins a new trilogy with a riveting account of the first years of the American Revolution. Will be at the Central Library June 12!

The Castle on Sunset. Uncover the secrets and scandals behind Hollywood’s famous Chateau Marmont hotel.

Comedy Sex God. Comedian Pete Holmes embarks on a very funny quest for enlightenment.

A Craftsman’s Legacy. The PBS host profiles artisans who work with their hands. Will be at Elliott Bay Books May 30!

Every Tool’s a Hammer. Adam Savage (Mythbusters) inspires readers to build, invent & create. Will be at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park May 15!

Everything Is F*cked. Mark Manson’s follow up to The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck unpacks the pervasive feeling of hopelessness many people experience. A Peak Pick!

The Furious Hours. In Casey Cep’s debut, Harper Lee becomes obsessed with the trial of an Alabama serial killer in this literary/true crime thriller. 
A Peak Pick!

How to Forget. Actress Kate Mulgrew returns to Iowa to care for her ailing parents in this powerful memoir. Will be at United Methodist Church May 23!

In Love With the World. Tibetan Buddhist monk Mingyur Rinpoche embarks on a wandering retreat in this humbling memoir.

The Latte Factor. David Bach’s business parable unveils the secrets to financial freedom.

Let Love Have the Last Word. Rapper Common discusses how love improves both the self and the human condition.

Madhur Jaffrey’s Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook. The “Queen of Indian Cooking” reveals 70 recipes to make in your Instant Pot.

Mr. Know-It-All. Cult film director John Waters combines memoir with advice that can only come from “The Pope of Trash.”Will be at Town Hall May 29!

No Walls And a Recurring Dream. Singer/songwriter/poet Ani DiFranco reflects on her unconventional life and career in this autobiography. Will be at the Neptune Theatre on May 13!

Once More We Saw Stars. Jayson Greene and his wife struggle with the untimely death of their 2-year-old daughter in this unforgettable memoir.

Our Man. George Packer (The Unwinding) looks at the brilliant yet flawed career of diplomat Richard Holbrooke. Will be at Town Hall May 22!

The Pioneers. Beloved historian David McCullough tells the story of the pioneers who settled the Ohio River Valley. A Peak Pick!

Range. David Epstein (The Sports Gene) challenges conventional thinking and says generalists, not specialists, are poised to thrive in work and life.

Riding the Elephant. A memoir in essays from former Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson.

Rough Magic. Lara Prior-Palmer recounts her unlikely win at a 1,000 km horse race in Mongolia in this highly anticipated debut.

Spying on the South. Travel writer Tony Horwitz retraces Frederick Law Olmsted’s journey in the South before the Civil War. Will be at the Central Library on May 18!

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered. Self-help and true crime are a perfect pair for  Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, hosts of the podcast My Favorite Murder. A Peak Pick!’

Surprise, Kill, Vanish. Annie Jacobsen tells the untold story of the CIA’s secret paramilitary units. Will be at Town Hall May 28!

Then It Fell Apart. Moby follows up Porcelain with this memoir that traces his downward spiral following the success of his 1999 album Play. Will be at Town Hall May 10!

A Thousand Small Sanities. Adam Gopnik’s latest is a stirring defense of the liberal tradition.

Things My Son Needs to Know About the World. Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove) shares thoughtful essays on fatherhood.

This America. Jill Lepore’s follow-up to These Truths is a manifesto against nationalism.

Upheaval. Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs & Steel, Collapse) completes his trilogy with an examination of how countries recover from crises. A Peak Pick! Will be at Town Hall May 14!

The Way We Eat Now. Food writer Bee Wilson discusses the contradictions embedded in our global food culture.

Where the Light Enters. Former Second Lady Jill Biden reflects on the joys and sorrows of life with the Biden clan.

~posted by Frank