Nonfiction
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Round Out Pride Month with These 4 Books from LGBTQ+ Writers
In an often unwelcoming world, many LGBTQ+ people cultivate what they call “chosen family,” creating networks of support that are vital in the best and worst of times. In honor of Pride Month, we recommend four books that speak to the power of queer community as an antidote to hate, intolerance and division. These books,… Continue reading
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Get a Jump-Start on 2024 Summer Book Bingo With These 4 Books
This year marks the Seattle Public Library’s 10th year of the Summer Book Bingo program, in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures. Book Bingo celebrates reading and discovery and incentivizes participation with a drawing for prizes. This year, we have the exciting addition of Teen Book Bingo, offering teen-focused challenges and prizes! And Spanish-language readers can… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – May 2024
George Stephanopolous recounts the inside story of 12 presidents during moments of crisis, from JFK to Biden, in The Situation Room while historian Jon Meacham reflects on the life of George H.W. Bush in The Call to Serve. Former White House Press Secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki shares lessons from work, the White… Continue reading
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Dig Into These Books for Spring
Read the latest column by Reader Services librarian Misha Stone on the Seattle Times website or below, where it’s republished with permission. The Seattle Public Library loves to promote books and reading. This column, submitted by the library, will be a space to promote reading and book trends from a librarian’s perspective. You can find these… Continue reading
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Cook the Books
When you finish a novel that includes a strong food theme, you may want to make a dish that continues those yummy good book feelings. Or maybe you’re part of (or want to start) a combo book club/potluck. Some of the books below already include recipes, but here are some suggestions to go even further,… Continue reading
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Living in the Time of Drought(s)
With the 8th hottest winter on record since 1895, the Washington State Department of Ecology declared a state-wide drought this week. Though there are limited exceptions for Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett metro areas, thoughtful consideration of your household’s water consumption can only help our local water ecologies. Below are some resources to help you consider… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – April 2024
April is the peak of the spring publishing season, and this month’s nonfiction books do not disappoint! Blockbuster author Erik Larson’s latest, The Demon of Unrest, is a saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism at the dawn of the Civil War; Hampton Sides’ newest book, The Wide Wide Sea, tells a tale of imperial ambition,… Continue reading
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Three (more) on a Theme: Tarot for the Future
If my last post on the tarot in fiction piqued your interest in the tarot in general, but you aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry – I’ve got you covered! There are many, many books out there on the tarot, from compendiums of esoteric texts to the late Rachel Pollack’s iconic works. The tarot… Continue reading
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Wonders of the deep
The oceans sing to us, with promises of adventure, wonder, the unknown. And so humans set out to discover what is under the waves. Check out these recent nonfiction books about the history and present of deep sea exploration, some of the awe inspiring things found there, and the compulsion to make a profit. The… Continue reading
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Found in the Stacks: Subversive Stitches
I recently completed my first ever cross-stitch: a bookmark with a Stephen King quote surrounded by moths and floral elements. It was a stunning red thread design on black cloth. I was immediately ready to take on a new project and headed into the book stacks at Central Library for inspiration. I scanned the shelves… Continue reading
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Happy Black History Month 2024: Celebrating African Americans and the Arts
Though we celebrate the accomplishments of the people of the African and Black Diaspora all year, every February provides an opportunity to focus on and highlight the history and contributions of African Americans. Black History Month has a different theme each year, and 2024’s theme is African Americans and the Arts. There is not enough… Continue reading
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Data Privacy Week
Nathan Merrells, Sr. Privacy Specialist of the City of Seattle, is our guest blogger today. He is part of the “small but mighty” privacy program within the City’s Information Technology department. The privacy team works diligently behind the scenes to ensure that the City’s Privacy Principles guide the actions that the City takes when collecting and using personal information. There are… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – February 2024
February is brimming with eclectic essay collections, incisive memoirs, practical tools for self care, and perceptive observations on current events. Check out some of the most anticipated books for the month. MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid traces the lives of civil rights icons Medgar & Myrlie Evers. Katie Rogers considers the transformation of the modern First… Continue reading
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And The Seattle Public Library’s Most Popular Book in 2023 Was …
Now that we’ve turned the page on another year, it’s intriguing to look back and see which titles captured the interest of Seattle’s readers in 2023. Below are The Seattle Public Library’s top 10 checkouts in adult fiction and nonfiction (both print and e-books) and e-audiobooks for the year. How do these titles stack up… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – January 2024
Happy 2024! It’s a new year, and we’ve got plenty of books for those of you looking to start the year off on a positive start, along with compelling histories, stimulating science, and lots more! Judson Brewer (Unwinding Anxiety) examines why we eat when we’re not hungry – and how to stop – in The… Continue reading
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New Year’s Resolutions 2024
Are you a devout resolution-maker, a goal-setter, or just someone who likes to consider new habits? As we ring in the New Year, read on for inspiration; or peruse our more in-depth booklist: New Year’s Resolutions 2024. Eating From Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-cooked Favorites From Cultures Around the World by Maya Feller Nutritionist and… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2023: Adult Nonfiction
Library staff across the city weighed in on their favorite nonfiction books published in 2023 – and what a great, eclectic list we have! Read on for highlights of the excellent nonfiction included (these are books favorited by multiple staff), or jump right into the full 62-item list. Pageboy by Elliot Page “In this timely… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – December 2023
There’s nothing better than a book to get you through the cold, windy, dark days of December. Check out the top nonfiction titles for the last month of the year. Former Republican leader Liz Cheney issues a warning to Americans who ignore the Constitution in Oath and Honor, while Tim Alberta reports on American evangelicals… Continue reading