All Books
- Around the world in four novels: Newly translated fiction
With settings from Siberia to Seoul, these bestselling novels offer English speakers a taste of the world.
- The ‘anti-grit memoir’: Eddie Ndopu re-imagines disability activism
Disability scholar and activist Eddie Ndopu discusses how his successes – and challenges – made him push for a more disability-inclusive world.
- With Appalachian noir, David Joy unmasks race and history in the South
In a Q&A, David Joy talks about his novel “Those We Thought We Knew” and what it means to love and critique Appalachia at the same time.
- A chef’s story reflects US-Mexico border tensions
In “The Migrant Chef,” author Laura Tillman follows the saga of Mexican restaurateur Lalo García to paint a more humane picture of migrants who cross the border.
- Childhood, mystery, and friendship: Our 10 favorite July reads
Summer books on our list celebrate the memories of childhood, entertain with crackling wit, and honor the importance of friendship.
- In a land ‘shaped by water,’ a family tale of persistence
Tracing three generations of a family living in Kerala, India, Abraham Verghese tackles questions of faith, family, love, and self-discovery.
- How Jefferson’s ‘pursuit of happiness’ phrase came to be
Historian Peter Moore examines six Enlightenment thinkers who influenced Thomas Jefferson’s drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
- Summer picture books: Parent-picked, kid-approved
What to do after a long summer day? Monitor staff writer Husna Haq offers five reads, beloved by parents and kids alike, for those languid sunny days.
- Why a librarian’s debut novel explores forgiving the unforgivable
Debut novelist Terah Shelton Harris used to believe some actions were unforgivable. Then her mind was changed by survivors of a church shooting and a friend who was sexually assaulted.
- A mild-mannered, solitary librarian discovers his powers
Patrick deWitt’s novel “The Librarianist” offers a quirky, affectionate portrait of a retired librarian who discovers friendship and community late in life.
- ‘Burnt’ gives inside view from a top female firefighter
Clare Frank wanted to fight fires more than anything. But first she had to prove herself to her male colleagues. Oh, and do her job wearing equipment sized for big guys.
- Dragons, skeletons, and a pirate queen top our summer beach reads
Our best books for the beach include an irreverent take on U.S. history and a graceful look at grief.
- How the changing world affected Mozart’s music, piece by piece
From the Enlightenment to the French Revolution, the ideas swirling through Europe were absorbed and transmuted by Mozart into peerless music.
- ‘The Wounded World’ probes one of W.E.B. Du Bois’ greatest regrets
Esteemed scholar W.E.B. Du Bois urged Black men to enlist in World War I. As a new book explores, the decision haunted him for the rest of his life.
- Tuck Lincoln, Mozart, and Eleanor Roosevelt in your suitcase this summer
June’s 10 best books make great travel companions, plunging readers into Mozart’s music, Lincoln’s fraught early career, and Eleanor Roosevelt’s friendship with civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.
- ‘Loot’ weaves an epic tale of imperialism, plunder, and autonomy
In this book, a gifted Indian artist pines for recognition, self-determination, and love across decades and continents.
- From MLK to Black Power: Books trace the Civil Rights Movement
Three books delve into the Civil Rights Movement from Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent campaigns to the rise of the Black Panthers.
- ‘After the Miracle’ spotlights Helen Keller’s political crusades
The story of Helen Keller’s childhood is inspirational. As an adult, her uncompromising political views – she was an avowed socialist – made some people uncomfortable.
- Bird migration’s robust history – and fragile future
In “Flight Paths,” author Rebecca Heisman lays out the secrets of avian migration, as revealed over centuries of study by enterprising scientists.
- Eleanor Catton talks about ‘Birnam Wood’ and ‘the seduction of certainty’
New Zealand writer Eleanor Catton brings her reading of “Macbeth” to bear on contemporary politics in her novel “Birnam Wood.”