Non-Fiction
The 10-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer. "A light read about stay at home mom but written with very erudite voice – I seem to remember it had favorable NYTimes review couple wks ago. Highly recommend!"
10% Happier by Dan Harris “Nightline anchor Dan Harris embarks on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey through the strange worlds of spirituality and self-help, and discovers a way to get happier that is truly achievable. 10% Happier takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America’s spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.”
The 21 Day Sugar Detox by Diane Sanfilippo. “For those looking for a jumpstart to bathing suit season”
50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life by Maria Leonard Olsen. My friend Maria wrote this wonderful guide to overcoming obstacles and becoming the best version of you, even if you're on the "wrong" (I say "right!") side of fifty.
50 Children: One Ordinary American Couple's Extraordinary Rescue Mission into the Heart of Nazi Germany by Steven Pressman. “This non-fiction book is an unbelievable testament to the amazing things that some people will do to help others in desperate times. Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus were a prominent Philadelphia Jewish couple that traveled into Nazi Germany and Austria to save Jewish children. They worked through all levels of US Government to get the appropriate visas and paperwork, and risked their own lives to travel through Europe and meet with Nazi officials. At the time, there was significant backlash from other refugee and Jewish groups that had not been as successful in bringing people safely to the US. An inspiring story at any time, but especially at this point in our nation's political climate when there are so many refugee groups trying to gain entry.”
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. "This is the story of a man who has a car accident and reports his vision of Heaven, and his long recovery following the accident."
A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee by Tom Coyne "The true story of a Sports Illustrated writer who decides to play every links course in Ireland traveling on foot -- he walks the entire coast of Ireland, playing forty courses, carrying a backpack and his clubs and staying in B&Bs along the way. It takes him four months and he meets all kinds of characters. He plays 963 holes of golf at 635 over par, and it seems like he hits every single pub along the way. A very funny, light read with great reviews of all the courses. Makes you want to go play golf in Ireland."
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. I spend enough time in Starbucks (where this has long been on display), I ought to have picked it up by now. But while I have not, one of you had read and recommended it.
A.L.T.: A Memoir by Andre Leon Talley. “The autobiography of a Vogue editor, who leaves the deep South and family traditions to become a gay NYC fashionista, meeting the who’s who of pop culture along the way. (Also, he went to Brown & was art history major so there’s a lot of art stuff in it too) Really well told. Made a big impression on me – e.g., how certain moments in your childhood and little things you take for granted, can stay with you long after you’ve left."
About Alice
The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer. "I’m a sucker for anything related to how people become who they are, and this is a book that would be GREAT to give to a high school or college graduate, regardless of their career path. Jenna writes about doing the very hard work to build her career, and how it took her almost ten years of waiting tables, doing student films, and other odd jobs until she landed the opportunity to be on “The Office.” Love her voice and her self-deprecative look at the wardrobe choices she made in early headshots."
After Long Silence by Helen Fremont. "Fremont's memoir is an incredible tale of survival, a beautiful love story and a suspenseful account of how the author's investigation of her roots shattered fiercely guarded family secrets. Raised Roman Catholic in a Michigan suburb, Fremont knew that her parents had been in concentration camps. Her Polish mother, Batya, was interned in Mussolini's Italy, and her Hungarian-born father, Kovik, was sentenced to life in the Siberian gulag. But her parents refused to talk about their past, and they never let on that they had been born Jews. Fremont, a Boston lawyer and public defender, and her sister, Lara, a psychiatrist, pieced together their parents' hidden past by examining archives and tracking down Holocaust survivors."
After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Also Hamilton The Revolution by Lin Manuel Miranda. "Listen to the Hamilton soundtrack 5-6 times. Then read this book. Then see the show. Then find a 12-step program because you will get hooked." “I’m making my kids read the Chernow biography before we will take them to see Hamilton. This has two benefits: 1) help them appreciate the show more; 2) ticket prices will come down by the time they get through it.” And: "Given the craziness around Hamilton the musical, I decided to re-read Chernow's book on Alexander Hamilton. Hearing Manual Miranda's lyrics from Hamilton the musical practically every morning I drive my daughters to school, I was interested in the translation from book to musical. It is amazing how his lyrics tell the breadth and depth of Hamilton's story as well as the book. To some extent, Hamilton's life was both amazing and a soap opera, making a great story for a biography or a musical. My only complaint is with some of Chernow's writing. On numerous occasions he feels like he has to show off is SAT vocabulary when a more accessible word would do."
Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth. “Ali's 'biography' of sorts -- snippets of her life - - growing up in her privileged DC backdrop but frequently 'shipped off', she details some of her funnier experiences and insights. Entertaining in its brazen confessions, yet I found myself frequently annoyed with her attitude and when I finished the book I liked her less.”
Almost Interesting by David Spade. "Love him or hate him, this book provides a great insight into how to build a successful career. Hard work, shit gigs, persistence, battle with depression and rejection and anxiety, and a general shitty childhood, this book was funny. Even funnier in audio version, with David reading it. Bonus: inside stories about some SNL actors and situations, if you’re interested."
American Kingpin by Nick Bilton. The true story about a programmer-turned-drug czar who started the Silk Road, a billion-dollar online drug empire, and almost got away with it.
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard. "I read it through a book club, the author and book club member both attended Hollins. Charming recount of growing up."
Andy Warhol was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities by Claudia Kalb. From Amazon: "Was Andy Warhol a hoarder? Did Einstein have autism? Was Frank Lloyd Wright a narcissist? In this surprising, inventive, and meticulously researched look at the evolution of mental health, acclaimed health and science journalist Claudia Kalb gives readers a glimpse into the lives of high-profile historic figures through the lens of modern psychology, weaving groundbreaking research into biographical narratives that are deeply embedded in our culture. From Marilyn Monroe's borderline personality disorder to Charles Darwin's anxiety, Kalb provides compelling insight into a broad range of maladies, using historical records and interviews with leading mental health experts, biographers, sociologists, and other specialists. Packed with intriguing revelations, this smart narrative brings a new perspective to one of the hottest new topics in today's cultural conversation."
Angela's Ashes: A Memoir by Frank McCourt. Someone mentioned this as an all-time favorite, as I’m sure it is for many of us. So in case you forgot to read it. Or even if you did, it’s been out long enough now. You can reread it!