The fall publishing season starts….now! Celebrity biographies (and poetry!), memoir, self care and cookbooks feature heavily this September.
In biography and memoir, Charlie Sheen presents how he defied the odds after descending into “a vortex of extracurricular activities” in The Book of Sheen; TLC’s Sister Wives star Christine Brown Woolley pens a memoir about finding the strength to leave polygamy in Sister Wife; Priscilla Presley discusses life after Elvis in Softly, As I Leave You; Lionel Richie chronicles his life from being a painfully shy, ‘tragically’ late bloomer to world-class entertainer and composer of love songs that have played as the soundtrack of our lives in Truly; and Grammy-winning record producer and songwriter Mark Ronson conjures the undeniable magic of New York City’s bygone nightlife in the 90s in Night People. World renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown opens up about reinvention, resilience, and the power of staying real in Still Bobbi while Christian author and podcaster Jen Hatmaker begins a new love story following the traumatic end of her 26-year-long marriage in Awake. David Gelles reveals how Yvon Chouinard built Patagonia, made a fortune, and gave it all away in Dirtbag Billionaire and Jeff Chang delivers a cultural biography of Bruce Lee and the making of Asian America in Water Mirror Echo. Social media star Molly Burke chronicles how she lost her vision but found her voice in Unseen. And Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett reflects on the Court and the Constitution in Listening to the Law.
Cookbooks abound this month. Samin Nosrat follows up Salt Fat Acid Heat with more recipes and rituals to share with people you love in Good Things; Dan Buettner returns with another 100 recipes to live to 100 in Blue Zones Kitchen One Pot Meals; The Great British Baking Show’s Paul Hollywood spreads the joy with 100 recipes for year-round bakes in Celebrate; Sally McKenney returns with 100 accessible recipes for both sweet and savory baked goods in Sally’s Baking 101. Dan Pelosi (aka GrossyPelosi, the hostess with the mostest) turns every day into a celebration Let’s Party; Seattle’s Aran Goyoaga shares groundbreaking recipes for artisanal breads and pastries in The Art of Gluten-Free Bread; Joshua McFadden teaches home cooks how to use storebought dried pasta to create seasonal, restaurant-quality dishes at home in Six Seasons of Pasta; Nikki Russ Federman combines history, tradition and delicious appetizers from New York’s beloved Jewish deli Russ & Daughters; and Jacques Pépin celebrates a life in recipes and paintings in The Art of Jacques Pépin.
In self-improvement, podcaster and TED Talker Brené Brown distills the lessons of daring leadership, the tenacity of paradox, and the wisdom of the human spirit in Strong Ground while Steven Pinker insightfully explains what common knowledge is and its momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives in When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows. Emma Heming Willis, wife of Bruce Willis, pens a deeply personal and richly compassionate supportive guide that helps caregivers care for themselves while they navigate a loved one’s dementia in The Unexpected Journey while CNN’s Sanjay Gupta aims to help readers reduce and eliminate chronic pain with a guide to a pain-free life in It Doesn’t Have to Hurt. Alyssa Blask Campbell helps parents navigate defiance, meltdowns and anxiety to raise confident, connected kids ages 5-12 in Big Kids, Bigger Feelings; the latest from Jean Twenge shows parents how they can stop smartphones, social media, and gaming from taking over their children’s lives in 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World; and Jeffrey Selingo delivers a playbook for finding the right college in Dream School. Former Today host Hoda Kotb shows how to embrace change in every season of life in Jump and Find Joy while Karen Walrond revels in the brilliance of being a total amateur in In Defense of Dabbling. Ingrid Clayton explains why the need to please makes us lose ourselves–and how to find our way back–in Fawning. And from NBA legend Stephen Curry comes a transformative philosophy of success–centered on preparation, constant improvement, creativity, connection, mindfulness, and joy — in Shot Ready.
Can’t get enough news and politics? Check out some of these books about current events. From actor John Fugelsang comes a sane person’s guide to taking back the Good Book from fundamentalists, fascists and flock-fleecing frauds in Separation of Church and Hate while American Federation of Teachers Union president Randi Weingarten delivers a rousing defense of public education as the cornerstone of American democracy in Why Fascists Fear Teachers and Michael E. Mann and Peter J. Hotez reveal the forces behind the dangerous anti-science movement–and show us how to fight back–in Science Under Siege. Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares caution that superhuman AI would kill us all in If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies. Hussein Agha and Robert Malley explain why the Israeli-Palestinian peace process failed, and anticipate what lies ahead in Tomorrow Is Yesterday. And Jill Lepore takes the long view with a stunning new history of the U.S. Constitution, for a troubling new era in We The People while Kamala Harris tells the story of one of the wildest and most consequential presidential campaigns in American history in 107 Days.
Finally, two iconic poets have new releases this month. Ada Limón, the 24th Poet Laureate of the U.S., has a collection of new and selected poems, Startlement, while a posthumous compendium of poetry and prose from the award-winning poet Mary Oliver, Little Alleluias, will delight readers. Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith curate a collection of poems, essays, and art for action and care in the face of uncertainty in The People’s Project. And for some celebrity poetry, consider David Duchovny’s first book of poems, About Time, or “navigate the rodeo of life” with Matthew McConaughey and Poems & Prayers.
And don’t forget to check out September’s Peak Picks!
~posted by Frank