Nonfiction from our 2018 Summer Newsletter

Every one of Sedaris’s books has made me laugh, but this is the first one to make me cry. Sedaris uses his keen sense of humor to turn mundane activities into sidesplitting stories, and he also applies it as a balm to ease the trials of getting older and the heavy burdens of loss. Most of the stories in this collection focus on his family, all just as funny as he is; because of this, Calypso is Sedaris’s most personal work yet. - Jade

Don’t miss our event with David Sedaris on June 27th, 2018. Tickets on sale now.

Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Pulitzer Prize–winningauthor and refugee himself, has brought together a powerful collection of essays from writers with a myriad of immigrant experiences. Twenty pieces explore the complexities of leaving, of arriving, and of the barriers both seen and unseen that exist far beyond the actual crossing. Reyna Grande, Joseph Azam, Fatima Bhutto, Vu Tran—their stories demand that we see the refugee crisis for what it is, the real lives of so many affected, persevering and thriving in spite of it. - Melinda

Musician, DJ, historian, and writer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson tackles the daunting challenge of investigating creativity. Is it a phenomenon? An in-born characteristic? Something learned? In his humorous and conversational prose, Questlove rallies against the creative self-help book, instead using a series of insightful anecdotes and observations on what it means to be creative in the modern moment. A well-written, funny, and in many ways charming book that is perfect for those trying to understand the creative alter-ego deep down. - Gabe

Women have long slipped between the lines of history. Jason Porath has been working tirelessly to right this wrong, first with his book Rejected Princesses and now with Tough Mothers. The stories of these courageous mothers range from delightful to harrowing. The illustrations of each of the women are as excellent as you would expect from a DreamWorks animator. As an expectant mother, I reveled in each of these women’s tales and can only hope to be as badass of a mom. - Ivy

Roxane Gay has put something together here that is almost indescribable. The very essence of rape culture has permeated our society so subtly that we often don’t think of rape other than in the most physical sense of the word. But in this collection of essays, writers of all backgrounds talk about how their lives have been affected by rape culture. It is a masterful collection, unflinching and relatable. - Karena

It is a treat to come upon writing so lovely and wise as Alexander Chee’s in his new essay collection. Chee’s subjects range from the writing life to tarot readings, a teenage summer in Mexico, and activism during the AIDS crisis, but always they are a thoughtful, personable consideration of being and becoming, of being a gay Korean American in white America and becoming the artist he is today, and it is deliciously well written. - Melinda

When life becomes dominated by multitasking, productivity, deadlines, and copious amounts of caffeine, it can be easy to forget about one of life’s more rewarding and necessary activities—doing nothing. In Hampl’s latest contemplative piece, she examines the importance of letting go, lounging, and thinking, and the historical figures that did it best. The Art of the Wasted Day is for anyone needing an excuse to slow down and smell the flowers. - Aric                              

A music journalist and lifelong classic rock fanatic, Hyden takes a sentimental, occasionally quirky trip through the genre he loves, revisiting the bands that have meant the most to him and to millions of other fans. As he says, he learned more about adult relationships from Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumours than he did from his own father. Now himself a husband and father, he ponders the state of classic rock as it enters its twilight years. Will it last after all its stars have passed on? If so, what will it mean to be a fan? - Rico