In Praise Of: Essays

A Handbook of Disappointed Fate offers a refreshing perspective on the human experience, tackling unanswerable questions with a mix of wit and vulnerability. Boyer's unconventional musings on topics like illness, loss, and motherhood are sure to resonate with readers searching for deeper meaning in their lives.

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'I've been wondering who might fill the intellectual void after James Baldwin died. Clearly it is Ta-Nehisi Coates' Toni Morrison'Searing. One of the foremost essayists on race in the West... [He] is responsible for some of the most important writing about what it is to be black in America today' Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good ImmigrantAn essential account of modern America, from Obama to Trump, from black lives matter to white supremacists rising - by the bestselling author of Between the World and MeObama's presidency was a watershed moment in American history. From 2008-2016, the leader of the free world was a black man. In those eight years, Obama transformed the conversation around race, gender, class and wealth - inspiring hope but also attracting criticism and breeding discontent.In this unflinching book, Ta-Nehisi Coates takes stock of Obama's eight years in power, through such iconic, unmissable essays as 'Fear of a Black President' and 'The Case for Reparations'. His account traverses the intersections of the political, the ideological and the cultural, presenting an America in radical flux and yet still in the grip of racial injustice, class warfare and institutional conspiracy. And it reflects on the author's own journey through these eight years, charting the public through the private in passages of startling intimate and piercingly relevant memoir.Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of our most brilliant, most fearless and most essential living writers - and his work is crucial to understanding race in America today.Finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize 2018Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence 2018RAVE READER REVIEWS:'Brilliantly written, incisive, and extremely relevant. Read it with your families, use it in your classrooms, give copies to your friends' (Liz)'Coates thinks more deeply and writes more clearly about the national tragedy and disgrace that is our collective failure to confront the legacy of White Supremacy than just about anyone... I can't recommend it highly enough' (Worddancer Redux)'Every white person who wants to really know how it looks from 'the other side' should take on the responsibility of reading Coates' eye-opening, informative book... A must read for everyone of every colour' (Indy JV)'A masterful understanding of how the USA really works' (shedgirl)'If you want to know the wellsprings of racism in America - then read this book!' (David C. R. Hancock)

A Burst of Light is a powerful collection of essays by Audre Lorde that resonates with contemporary social justice warriors. Lorde's writing tackles the intersections of race, cancer, intersectionality, parenthood, and injustice, calling for a radical politics of intersectionality. Her message of caring for oneself as an act of political warfare is particularly inspiring, and her thoughts on Black women and LGBTQ+ communities organizing, as well as her insights on erotic pleasure, continue to be relevant today. This book is recommended for readers looking to expand their understanding of anti-oppression and resistance through the lens of intersectionality.

The Unspeakable could be a good read for users who enjoy personal essays that bring a fresh perspective to daily experiences. Through her writing, Meghan Daum dissects our culture's illusions and blind spots while retaining her own joy and compassion. With a mix of piercing insight and funny anecdotes, Daum explores the ups and downs of life and pushes back against false sentimentality. Users who appreciate Nora Ephron's humour and Joan Didion's insight would likely enjoy this book.

"Fight of the Century" is a compelling anthology that brings together some of the greatest living writers and their personal takes on a century's worth of landmark civil liberties cases. Written by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman in partnership with the ACLU, this book is perfect for history buffs and those passionate about civil rights and social justice issues. The essays are crafted in a way that educates and entertains, making them accessible to a broad readership. The focus on each of the famous and not so famous cases is unique and offers readers an opportunity to understand how each has influenced modern society.

Naked by David Sedaris would be an enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates humour and enjoys reading personal memoirs. Sedaris has an incredible ability to find the humour in everyday situations and his witty writing style will keep readers hooked. The unique aspect of this book is the honest and vulnerable portrayal of the author's life, making it relatable to many readers. Overall, Naked is a well-written and entertaining book that will leave readers feeling both amused and introspective.

What the Dog Saw: Essays, by Malcolm Gladwell, is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys delving into the intricacies of everyday life. Gladwell's unique style of storytelling paired with his investigative journalism takes readers on a journey of surprising and thought-provoking observations. Through analyzing topics such as ketchup and mustard, personality tests, and homelessness, Gladwell provides answers to questions we never knew we had. Don't miss out on this captivating read that sheds light on the hidden histories of our world.

The Drowned and the Saved is a must-read book for anyone interested in understanding the Holocaust and its long-term impact. Through his honest and powerful essays, Primo Levi challenges the popular narratives about the Holocaust and sheds light on the experiences of both victims and oppressors. His introspective approach to memory and trauma makes this book a valuable resource for students and literary readers alike. His personal experiences as a survivor bring the Holocaust to life and honor the resiliency of the human spirit.

Recommendation: The Irresponsible Self takes a refreshing and amusing approach to critiquing literary classics. James Wood's commentary on authors like Shakespeare and Cervantes is sharp and thought-provoking, making this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in literature and criticism.

A classic of reportage, Oranges was first conceived as a short magazine article about oranges and orange juice, but the author kept encountering so much irresistible information that he eventually found that he had in fact written a book. It contains sketches of orange growers, orange botanists, orange pickers, orange packers, early settlers on Florida's Indian River, the first orange barons, modern concentrate makers, and a fascinating profile of Ben Hill Griffin of Frostproof, Florida who may be the last of the individual orange barons. McPhee's astonishing book has an almost narrative progression, is immensely readable, and is frequently amusing. Louis XIV hung tapestries of oranges in the halls of Versailles, because oranges and orange trees were the symbols of his nature and his reign. This book, in a sense, is a tapestry of oranges, too―with elements in it that range from the great orangeries of European monarchs to a custom of people in the modern Caribbean who split oranges and clean floors with them, one half in each hand.

What If? is a collection of counterfactual essays concentrating on some of the most intriguing military turning points of the last 3,000 years. Twenty celebrated historians, including Alistair Horne and John Keegan, have come together to produce a group of essays that enhance our current understanding of these decisive events.Where might we be if history had not unfolded the way it did? Why, how and when was our future determined? The answers are surprising, sometimes alarming and always entertaining.