Fiction
Enter Nick and Nora
‘The Thin Man’ By Dashiell HammettThe king of the hardboiled detective produced a classic in his alteration of the detective genre with the wisecracking couple Nick and Nora Charles, who solve mysteries in between martinis. Hammett intertwines great humor with this murder mystery. This is a fun read.
A Comic Masterpiece
‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ By John Kennedy TooleLearned in medieval philosophy, junk food connoisseur, and beyond eccentric, Ignatius J. Reilly is in revolt against all things modern. He picks up odd jobs, purveying hot dogs from a cart and working at Levy Pants, where he tries to launch a workers’ revolt. Surrounded by hilarious characters, such as his opinionated mother, the undercover patrolman Mancuso, and the wise-cracking Jones, who sweeps floors in a strip club, Ignatius stumbles from one adventure to another through the streets of New Orleans.
Economics
Examining Risk and Reward
‘Foolproof: Why Safety Can Be Dangerous and How Danger Makes Us Safe’ By Greg IpIs there such a thing as being too safe? Can you really make anything totally safe? This book explores these questions. Ip wanted to understand why financial collapses happen. That meant knowing how risk works everywhere. In numerous activities, he shows the perception of why risk may be more important in assuring safety than actual riskiness. He also shows that overemphasis on safety leads to stagnation. Some risk is necessary.
History
To the Uttermost Depths and Back
‘Opening the Great Depths: The Bathyscaph Trieste and Pioneers of Undersea Exploration’ By Norman Polmar and Lee J. MathersAs humans first reached toward space, they also sought the ocean’s uttermost depths, arriving at those depths before those heights. The authors tell that story with this history of Trieste, fitting the deep-diving research vessel into historical context. Concepts developed for high-altitude balloons were used to create the ocean-plumbing balloon. Informative, entertaining, and fascinating, this book will captivate readers.
Biography
Rousing a Nation’s Conscience
‘And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle’ By Jon MeachamHumble and honorable, hated and hailed, Abraham Lincoln took the helm in 1861 at a time when America was at war with itself. His is a complex rise to power. Illuminating and well-researched, this is an engaging human portrait of a legendary president, revealing his vices and virtues and ultimately his defining voice for justice.
Classics
The Father of Philosophy
‘Socrates: A Man for Our Times’ By Paul JohnsonFor anyone seeking to explore the philosophy of Socrates as given to us by Plato, here’s a wonderful companion for that journey. Johnson presents us with the man who was brave in battle; loved his native Athens; took delight in dialogue; was passionate about education, virtue, and leading a good life; and is considered one of the wisest people ever to grace the planet. Many of us know how Socrates died, but few know how he lived. “Let us meet him,” writes Johnson, who endeavors in this book to make that introduction.
For Kids
A Classic Story of Courage
‘Men of Iron’ By Howard PyleYoung Readers follow Myles Falworth through his quest to become a knight and restore his family’s reputation. Pyle’s 1891 illustrations and writing accurately depict medieval training, chivalry, and ceremonies. This book is suitable for grades six and up.
A Foundational Classic
‘A Child’s Garden of Verses’ By Robert Louis Stevenson and illustrated by Tasha TudorThis simply wonderful classic collection of poems is a must-have for every child’s home library. Paired with the lovely illustrations of the late Tasha Tudor, this edition is a treasure. This book makes a great gift.
