These nonfiction titles are coming out in February. Follow the link in each title to put the book on hold.
Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary / Viktoriia Amelina
In this devastating posthumous memoir, Ukrainian novelist Amelina (1986–2023) provides a hair-raising account of the war in Ukraine.
Fearless and Free: A Memoir / Josephine Baker
This memoir chronicles the life of Josephine Baker, the groundbreaking dancer, singer, spy, and Civil Rights activist, from her rise to fame in 1920s Paris to her daring role in World War II and her activism during the U.S. Civil Rights movement.
Cleavage: Men, Women, and the Space Between Us / Jennifer Finney Boylan
A candid and insightful exploration of gender identity and body image, reflecting on the challenges and joys of living in two genders, with hope for a future where everyone can embrace their true selves.
Food for Thought: Essays & Ruminations / Alton Brown
A collection of personal essays blends humorous and insightful anecdotes from the renowned culinary figure’s diverse career, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, reflections on food culture and memorable experiences from his work on television and in the kitchen.
Pretty Delicious: Simple, Modern Mediterranean, Served with Style / Alia Elkaffas
Born and raised in the Midwest to parents originally from Egypt, the authors provide over 110 flavor-packed, Mediterranean-inspired, and super simple recipes, all dolled up and plated with style.
Original Sins: The Miseducation of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism / Eve L. Ewing
The author demonstrates that it’s in the DNA of American schools to serve as an effective mechanism maintaining inequality in the United States and argues that there should be a profound reevaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom.
The Lost and the Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family and Second Chances / Kevin Fagan
Seeking to put a human face on the homelessness crisis, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Fagan took to his city’s streets to experience the lifestyle firsthand.
Disposable: America’s Contempt for the Underclass / Sarah Jones
A powerful blend of narrative and reporting reveals America’s systemic racial and income inequality, spotlighting essential workers and vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Shift: Managing Your Emotions-So They Don’t Manage You / Ethan Kross
Presents a research-backed approach to understanding emotions as valuable information rather than simple “good” or “bad” feelings, debunking myths about avoidance and mindfulness, and offering practical strategies—drawn from personal stories and scientific insights—to help readers manage emotions for improved decision-making, resilience, and health.
The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships / Nathan H. Lents
An evolutionary biologist argues that sexual diversity is a long-standing biological phenomenon, not a modern invention, drawing on a wide range of animal examples to illustrate how nature embraces various sexual behaviors, ultimately suggesting that embracing this diversity can enhance our understanding of human sexuality and counteract societal bigotry.
The Stained-Glass Window: A Family History as the American Story, 1790-1958 / David Levering Lewis
The historian embarks on a personal journey to uncover his ancestry, revealing the intertwined narratives of his family’s history, which includes both slaveholding white families and an up-from-slavery Black lineage, illuminating the complexities of race, equity and legacy in America.
Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live / Susan Morrison
Lorne Michaels has become a revered and inimitable presence over his 50 years at the helm of Saturday Night Live, and this volume provides unprecedented access to Michaels and SNL for the definitive story of how he created and maintained a comedy institution.
Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding, Train-Leaping, Road-Racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Stuntwoman / Mallory O’Meara
This biography tells the story of Helen Gibson, America’s first professional stuntwoman, whose daring stunts in early films broke new ground for women in Hollywood, though her contributions were later overshadowed by a male-dominated action film industry.
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s / Charles Piller
This investigative account reveals how falsified data, corporate greed and institutional corruption have derailed Alzheimer’s research, exposing a vast network of deceit while highlighting the efforts of whistleblowers and renegade scientists to challenge the flawed system and seek real solutions.
American Poison: A Deadly Invention and the Woman Who Battled for Environmental Justice / Daniel Stone
A biography of the pioneering public health activist and industrial medicine expert shows how she challenged the booming auto industry in the 1920s, exposing the dangers of leaded gasoline and advocating for worker safety and ultimately saving countless lives.
The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy / Jeffrey Toobin
Examines the contentious events surrounding President Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon, featuring key players such as Alexander Haig and Benton Becker, and explores its long-term impact on American politics and the presidency, arguing that this was not a necessary act of healing, but rather an unwise gift to an undeserving recipient.
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