Books to Read

  Artificial intelligence is going to change the world as we know it. But the real danger isn't some robot that's going to enslave us: It's our own brain. Our brains are constantly making decisions using shortcuts, biases, and hidden processes—and we're using those same techniques to create technology that makes choices for us. In  The Loop , award-winning science journalist Jacob Ward reveals how we are poised to build all of our worst instincts into our AIs, creating a narrow loop where each generation has fewer, predetermined, and even dangerous choices. Taking us on a world tour of the ongoing, real-world experiment of artificial intelligence,  The Loop  illuminates the dangers of writing dangerous human habits into our machines. From a biometric surveillance state in India that tracks the movements of over a billion people, to a social media control system in China that punishes deviant friendships, to the risky multiple-choice simplicity of automated military a...

  A Theory of Justice John Rawls What’s a definition of justice everyone can agree on? How should wealth and power be distributed in society? What obligations do citizens have to each other? These are some of the questions 20th-century American philosopher John Rawls confronts in his 1971 work,  A Theory of Justice . Rawls tries to determine how government can distribute rights, opportunities, wealth, and power using only reason and logic. The result is a theory of "justice as fairness," which merges liberalism’s emphasis on equal rights and individualism with economic equality and safety nets for the most vulnerable members of society. We’ll explore how Rawls both defends and reimagines classic liberalism in a modern context, as well as how he defines an ideal government. In addition, we’ll examine critiques of his work, the intellectual basis for his arguments, and real-world examples of the politics he discusses.

  Salt A World History Mark Kurlansky Salt is one of the cheapest, most commonplace items: It sells for less than a loaf of bread, and during winter, we scatter it liberally on roads and sidewalks. However, there was once a time when salt was considered rare and valuable. In  Salt , Mark Kurlansky argues that  throughout much of human history, salt was a precious commodity—one that significantly shaped civilizations. In this guide, we’ll present Kurlansky’s history of salt, describing the role it played in nourishing our ancestors, driving innovation, building empires—and even provoking rebellions. You’ll learn why salting food isn’t just about improving its flavor, why salt harvesting causes sinkholes, and how salt played an important role in several independence movements. Throughout this guide, we’ll supplement Kurlansky’s history of salt with relevant concepts in chemistry, food science, and geology. We’ll also update the book’s ideas with recent research on how we ha...

  Bold How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler Despite having promising ideas, most up-and-coming entrepreneurs struggle to bring their innovations to fruition and make a large-scale impact. In  Bold , Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler explain that this struggle is even more intense due to today’s technological revolution. Technology has caused products and industries to develop at an exponential rate, making old ways of innovating and competing obsolete. Consequently, the only way for up-and-coming entrepreneurs to  succeed —to continually produce innovations that change the world in some way—is to adjust their mindset and strategies so they’re always  ahead  of the exponential curve. This guide will explain how to become a successful entrepreneur, and  maintain  your success, by developing an exponential innovator’s mindset and tapping into the power of human networks. In our commentary, we’ll discuss th...

  No Bad Parts Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model Richard C. Schwartz Have you ever felt like a part of you is telling you one thing, while another part is saying the opposite? According to psychiatrist Richard Schwartz, these conflicting internal voices are not only normal, but key to better understanding who we are. Schwartz is the creator of Internal Family Systems (IFS)—a therapeutic practice grounded in the idea that each of us is made up of a complex network of different "parts," each with different needs, emotions, and desires. In  No Bad Parts , Schwartz provides a broad overview of IFS, outlining the theory behind its basic principles and how it can help people to live a more fulfilling life. In this guide, we’ll supplement Schwartz’s explanation with the work of other IFS therapists while also highlighting criticisms of the model. We’ll put Schwartz’s work in historical context, showing how his ideas build on fundamental pr...

  Smile A Graphic Novel Raina Telgemeier Think back to middle school: the mounds of homework, the excitement of crushes, and the changes of puberty. Imagine that on top of all of this, a face-first tumble onto the pavement has lodged your two front teeth higher into your mouth and you’ll need  years  of dental work to correct it. This is what happened to comic artist Raina Telgemeier, who recounts her middle school years in her autobiographical graphic novel,  Smile.  Through her exploration of adolescence, self-consciousness, and the horrors of dental work, Telgemeier sends an uplifting message: that  you can achieve confidence by focusing less on your appearance and more on your interests. In this guide, we’ll take you through Telgemeier’s middle school years and dental struggles. In our commentary, we’ll connect the book’s themes to research on adolescence. Furthermore, we’ll offer strategies for applying the book’s themes to your everyday life, whether ...

  The Organized Mind Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload Daniel J. Levitin How can we live less stressfully in the modern world, where we have more demands on our attention than ever before? In his bestseller  The Organized Mind , author and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin suggests that the key lies in  sorting and   externally   storing your thoughts and organizing the things around you , which means writing down your thoughts and arranging your physical environment so your brain has less information to manage. Levitin argues that doing so allows you to use your brain power more efficiently and make better decisions. In this guide, we’ll explore how the modern world overwhelms us, why our current approach to dealing with it doesn’t work, and why you should sort and externalize your thoughts and things instead. Then, we’ll discuss strategies for sorting and externalizing your thoughts, things, and relationships—like how carrying a pack of notec...

  A Chance Inheritance By Carolyn Brown Prepare to be wowed by the brand-new charmer from  New York Times  bestselling powerhouse Carolyn Brown! After inheriting their sassy grandmother’s tiny home and bait shop, three cousins move to Catfish, Texas. Can the women forge a new beginning in a small town filled with bittersweet childhood memories?

  Always the First to Die By R. J. Jacobs We dare you not to race through this chilling read that’s “fast-paced, suspenseful, stormy, and definitely not to be missed” ( USA Today  bestselling author David Bell)! When her daughter runs away, Lexi is forced to revisit Pinecrest Estate, a dilapidated mansion in the Florida Keys where, years ago, a horror movie shoot went terribly wrong. And with a disastrous hurricane closing off the islands, Lexi’s life begins to resemble its plot…

  The New Life By Tom Crewe You won’t regret unearthing this “fine-cut gem” ( The Washington Post ), an enthralling January release that the  Boston Globe  calls “nothing less than remarkable.” In 19th-century London, two writers who have never met begin penning a book defending same-sex relationships. It’s a brave act that could change society — and threaten their lives… “Brilliant” (Colm Tóibín).

  The Book Haters’ Book Club By Gretchen Anthony Calling all bibliophiles: This treasure of a read that’s both “humorous and heartwarming” is being called “the feel-good book of the year” (J. Ryan Stradal). After Elliot, the co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookshop, passes, his grief-stricken business partner decides to close the store — but an eclectic group of disparate customers is determined to preserve their sanctuary!

  Sinister Graves By Marcie R. Rendon This atmospheric and “truly gripping” mystery ( Star Tribune ) has Pulitzer Prize–winning author Louise Erdrich exclaiming, “I want a shelf of Cash Blackbear novels!” When a snowmelt uncovers a dead body, Cash Blackbear and her guardian, Sheriff Wheaton, search for answers on an Ojibwe reservation. Could two small graves planted by a troubled church reveal the truth?

  Why Didn’t You Tell Me? By Carmen Rita Wong A “riveting” memoir that “will make readers feel they’re listening to a master storyteller on a long car trip” ( The New York Times Book Review ): After her Dominican mother remarried a white man, mixed-race Carmen’s relationship with her devolved. And years later, Carmen learned the astonishing truth about her own family…  The View  cohost Sunny Hostin puts it best: “Her story broke my heart and filled it up at the same time.”

  Grace Under Fire By Julie Garwood A legendary romance author delivers a  New York Times  bestseller that will send your heart racing in more ways than one! After a close encounter with a shooter, Isabel jets off to Scotland to claim her inheritance. Appointing himself as her bodyguard, Navy SEAL–turned–lawyer Michael follows — and together they face mounting threats and sizzling tension. “Whoever thinks romantic suspense is dead should read a Julie Garwood book” ( USA Today ).

  Cradles of the Reich By Jennifer Coburn Discover a crucial piece of overlooked history in an “unforgettable” novel described as “ The Handmaid’s Tale  meets World War II” (Kate Quinn). As three women’s lives converge at a maternity home in Germany, they realize they’re trapped in a terrifying Nazi breeding scheme. “Every historical fiction novel should strive to be this compelling, well-researched, and just flat-out good” (Associated Press).