In This Life or Another by Melissa Payne

IN THIS LIFE OR ANOTHER by Melissa Payne allows readers to experience an “in-between” place with Rusty Wilson, an almost sixty-year-old man who is shot at a local restaurant. There is definitely an element of magical realism as Rusty is visited by important people (parents, wife, friends, employers and employees) in his life, both living and dead. His reflection on life and its purpose is honestly a bit sad, although it is beautifully written. The novel is a challenge to read, though, since chapters move between several points in the past, the present, and even a parallel life of sorts. Award-winning author Payne explores grief and its harrowing consequences, particularly on parents and spouses and across generations. She also explores second chances and notes, “sometimes the smallest act of kindness can have an impact we never would have predicted. … Maybe it's as simple as being kind to someone who needs it, or Sunday dinners with the family, or giving a girl a chance to support herself…” Book groups would find IN THIS LIFE OR ANOTHER of interest; discussion questions are included.

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

THE PIRATE QUEEN is another amazing work of historical fiction by Ariel Lawhon; my favorite titles by her include Flight of Dreams and The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress. THE PIRATE QUEEN is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for September 2026 and received a starred review from Booklist. This novel tells the story of a storm-born girl with a special affinity for the sea, Grace O’Malley (Grainne Ni Mhaille), an Irish contemporary of Queen Elizabeth I. As such, she lived during violent times and was “a woman who took two husbands and birthed four children; who was taken captive and who took lives; a pirate; a mother; a rebel; a sacker of castles and captain of ships, of battles and blades.” There is much adventure, bloodshed, heartache, and joy in Grace’s story. It is mesmerizing, but a bit difficult to follow as Lawhon purposefully skips back and forth between chapters which recount Grace as a Maiden, a Mother and a Matriarch. She helpfully provides a long list of characters (including fictional servants Ultan, Gutty, and twins Finn and Murray), family tree, and pronunciation guide. Historical fiction fans and book groups will truly enjoy THE PIRATE QUEEN.

Snowed Inn by Valerie Bowman

I recently listened to SNOWED INN by Valerie Bowman with Andi Arndt as the narrator. This festive, small-town romance works as a stand-alone, although it is the second book in the Honeycrisp Orchard Romance series (and a third appears on the way). Maria is a driven New York City public relations professional who is trapped by a blizzard at her best friend’s inn. She finds the bartender, Jesse Butler, to be especially obnoxious until they are thrown together repeatedly after her friend becomes ill and Maria helps to keep the inn functioning. The story is cute and certainly has a holiday flavor (and a Christmas Eve kitten), but the slow burn is really sloooow. Arndt is an excellent narrator, differentiating between speakers, but I found myself listening at 1.5 times regular speed in an attempt to move the angst along. Still, the beautiful cover may grab your attention, especially if you like winter romances like Borison’s Lovelight Farms or Gilmore’s The Christmas Tree Farm or titles from Beth O’Leary. Jesse and Maria have a special chemistry with lots to learn about themselves and each other.

Anger is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo

ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW by Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X) is an emotional story about Lil, a high school student, and her friends and family. Everything, including the beautiful, eye-catching cover, combines to produce an extremely high quality, engaging read. In fact, ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW received at least SIX starred reviews (Booklist, BookPage, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Kirkus (“handles the issues Lil faces with believable sensitivity and insight”), Publishers Weekly (“a striking and nuanced portrait of the realities of juvenile detention and mental illness”), and School Library Journal). Lil (Liliana Teicuh Pantaleon-Ortiz) faces some daunting circumstances, including family economic stresses, a food truck crash and subsequent arraignment, as well as trying to help her older brother through his own mental health crisis. Set in the Washington, DC area, ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW chronicles Lil’s coming of age as she struggles with her impulsivity, building strength from her family, a love of books shared with a supportive school employee, and a new set of friends. Her mixed heritage and cultural myths are woven throughout, but award-winner Acevedo truly excels by using poetry to express Lil’s thinking:

I Am Not From

people who
can fix clocks.
I wish I could touch the big hand
and turn it back,
loop the yesterdays
to a time when things were simple.
Reset the rotating Earth,
and unwind my biggest mistakes.
They say time heals all wounds. 
I am not from people
who can fix clocks,
make it so there was never a wound
to begin with.

ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW is a story of resilience which should be in all high school libraries.

Situated by Angela Duckworth

SITUATED by Angela Duckworth is her first full length book since 2016’s Grit and she builds on that bestseller by arguing that “grit is necessary—but not sufficient.” Duckworth, a psychologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, encourages her readers to think about the three box problem: the Situation – Thoughts – Response sequence and how changing the situation (e.g., removing tempting foods or keeping your phone farther away when studying) can result in better thoughts and an easier response (less temptation to actively avoid). In fact, SITUATED is subtitled “Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best.” Duckworth references scientific studies (notes and an index comprise roughly twenty percent of the text), but she is more apt to illustrate a point with a story (e.g., Michael Phelps’ development as a winning swimmer). Relying on others and asking for help are key components of her advice, as shown in the recent New York Times article, “I Study Successful People. They Have One Habit in Common.” Want to learn more about her thinking regarding culture, mentors, teammates? Duckworth will be discussing SITUATED with fellow author Nicholas Epley at a Family Action Network event on Thursday, evening October 22, at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

For those who are interested in her earlier work, here is her TedTalk, which has almost 40 million views:

Meals You Can't Mess Up by Shay Spence

MEALS YOU CAN’T MESS UP by Shay Spence is one of several cookbooks I will be reviewing in the near future. Spence, a food and travel writer, delivers “100+ Actually Easy Recipes for Big Flavor with Little Effort.” A few examples are sweet potato & asparagus fri-tot-a, muffin-tin honey-butter ham and cheese biscuits, and lemon chicken tortellini soup or chicken enchilada tamale pie. Most serve a minimum of four and often six or eight. He divides the cookbook into sections labeled for breakfast, soups and salads, sandwiches, pasta & pizza, chicken dinners and other meats, plus seafood & vegetarian, party snacks, and desserts & cocktails. One aspect that surprised me (in a good way) was that Spence did not hesitate to mention brand names or use already prepared ingredients; this reinforced the idea of being “actually easy” and mirrored the type of recipe that one might receive from a friend. In addition, most recipes in this cookbook can be prepared in one pan; plus, none of them has more than ten ingredients. MEALS YOU CAN’T MESS UP includes colorful photos for practically every recipe and a helpful index, although there is no nutrition information.

The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Wellington Rollins

THE THREE GRACES OF PEARL STREET by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins shares the intergenerational story of three women who carry the same name: Graziella. Graziella Valentini, ninety-six years old, is full of purpose as she directs life in her New York City neighborhood, at the church’s food pantry, and within her family. Her daughter Grace is a psychology professor and struggling with her own identity issues after a failed marriage. Granddaughter Ella is a brilliant scientist who lost her way at MIT and, with few options, returns to stay at her grandmother’s home on Pearl Street. At first, this novel was difficult to read due largely to the sadness, despair, and miscommunication experienced by the characters. But gradually, the three women begin to better understand themselves and each other, as told in chapters which alternate perspective. They strengthen a bond while learning new skills, whether it be cooking or using a computer. THE THREE GRACES OF PEARL STREET is a wonderful debut novel and received starred reviews from Booklist (“this comforting family tale is full of heart and humor”) and Library Journal (“With as many layers as Graziella's lasagna, this is a story that will satisfy readers for a long time.”). Readers intrigued by an Italian heritage may also want to look for Adriana Trigiani’s novels like The View from Lake Como; others seeking an intergenerational tale should look for Catherine Newman’s Sandwich or Randy Ribay’s Everything We Never Had.

The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves

THE DYING LIGHT is the latest Detective Matthew Venn novel from prolific author Ann Cleeves (in her fortieth year as a published author). This new mystery follows The Heron’s Cry and The Raging Storm, both of which were also narrated by Jack Holden. Once again, he does a superb job of conveying the emotions and backgrounds of Venn and his team, Sergeant Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May, supplying local accents as needed. In this case, the police are investigating the death of two seventeen-year-old girls, Hannah Armstrong (daughter of a UK politician) and Lottie Cauldwell (who craved attention as her parents are divorced). Cleeves excels at introducing well-rounded characters, including the grieving parents, local business owners, school friends, and Hannah’s boyfriend and his family. It’s a jumble of motives and relationships, laced with resentment and secrets which Cleeves’ many readers will enjoy. I am already looking forward to the next in this series.

The Everywhere Millionaire by Owen Zidar & Eric Zwick

THE EVERYWHERE MILLIONAIRE by Owen Zidar and Eric Zwick explores “Who Is Really Rich in America and How They Got There” in a fascinating way. As one would expect from their credentials -- Zidar is a Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University and Zwick is the Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business – the authors rely on economic and government data to portray these American millionaires. Building on over a decade of study and research, they explore so many aspects (inheritance vs. self-made; type of industry; impact of the tax code; human capital associated with the owners) that are truly interesting and somewhat surprising. Just one example: "For every member of the Forbes 400, more than four thousand private business owners each have at least $10 million in net worth [together, more than thirteen times the wealth of that list].” Plus, “the average private business owner in the top 1 percent [of income] made 1.5 times as much as the average public company CEO.” These authors also personalize the data by sharing numerous anecdotes and stories of these individuals, particularly small business entrepreneurs who often experienced income mobility and fulfillment of the American Dream. One such example is Dick Portillo who founded the Chicago-based restaurant chain; another is Karen Bentlage who expanded her wealth through tanning salons and personal care. Both of these millionaires “give back” through donations of money and time, but the authors show that many others use their wealth to influence public policy in an ultimately self-serving manner, saying “We sometimes call them the Stealthy Wealthy because they fly under the radar. … We want to make the rich visible and correct misconceptions about who they really are.”

In addition to being reviewed and summarized by NPR’s Planet Money, THE EVERYWHERE MILLIONAIRE appears on the Next Big Idea Club’s must-read book list for September 2026. As Publishers Weekly says, “At turns inspiring and maddening, this is a vivid depiction of America’s millionaire class.” I, too, found this account to be very readable and would definitely recommend.

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley

MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL by Lucy Foley (The Guest List and others) features Miss Marple, the famous Agatha Christie character. Miss Marple, her friend, and her friend’s companion are vacationing in a Swiss hotel. Also staying there are an English businessman, his wife, his mistress, and his former comrade in arms. Set in 1950, the story is told by alternating narrators (The Help, The Wife, The Friend, and The Star) and harkens back to events during WWII. Almost cutoff from the world, there is a sense of menace and it’s not long before a dead body appears. Evoking a winter wonderland, Foley supplies plenty of suspects and surprises along with sharing many of Miss Marple’s references to the villagers of St Mary Mead. Chosen as a LibraryReads Hall of Fame title for September 2026, MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL is sure to engage and entertain readers. Booklist, Library Journal (“a modern tribute to Christie's classic Marple novels that is perfect for avid mystery lovers or those new to the genre”), and Publishers Weekly all gave well-deserved starred reviews.

Pay Attention by David Pakamn

PAY ATTENTION by David Pakman (The Echo Machine) describes “How the Algorithms and Media Wars Are Suppressing Truth and Rewiring Your Brain.” Pakman is known for his progressive political analysis and is Host and Executive Producer of The David Pakman Show. Although the text feels a bit like a lecture at times, he does raise provocative points. One is “Rather than censoring information outright, massive power sits with the ability to flood the environment so completely that meaning itself collapses. Not the power to ban speech, but the power to make speech indistinguishable from noise. Not the power to force belief, but the power to shape attention, including what people see, what they ignore, and what they emotionally react to before reason has a chance to intervene.” Pakman advocates for nuance over outrage. And laments that “creativity has been subsidized by a system that doesn’t care if you are right, as long as you are loud.” And he writes eloquently about how “a fractured public is the inevitable byproduct of a system that optimizes for engagement above all else.” While descriptive of the current situation, Pakman does not offer an action-oriented plan. His primary solution seems to be the importance of raising awareness (“choose friction over flow”); he will help readers to label and perhaps discuss many of their feelings (What is reality? Who should I trust?) while also scaring them: “We aren't just losing our ability to agree on facts. We are losing our ability to recognize that facts are even a necessary component of reality.”

Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer

ODE TO THE HALF-BROKEN by Suzanne Palmer (Hugo award-winning author) is a work of science fiction that will touch your heart. It is set in the near future after a major conflict between humans and mechs or machines. The main character is a sentient robot that has protected its solitude for roughly twenty years. An act of aggression causes it to start on a journey where it establishes relationships with machines, humans, and other life forms like a cyborg dog named Atticus. Sad and disturbing, but ultimately uplifting, ODE TO THE HALF-BROKEN received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly (“Palmer’s vision for how society might reshape itself after massive conflict is inventive, but where the tale truly shines is its captivating characters and the ways in which they’re willing to work together.”). Highly recommended for fans of Automatic Noodle, Klara and the Sun, and Monk and Robot.

The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright

THE HUMAN SCALE by Lawrence Wright is a suspenseful thriller set in the Middle East. It is a tough read emotionally because of the violence involved and its relationship to real current events. It is also difficult to follow all of the characters, although Wright provides a list. This novel received starred reviews from both Booklist (“profoundly insightful thriller, creating involving, conflicted, and thoughtful characters trapped in horrific predicaments”) and Publishers Weekly (“an uncomfortable and unforgettable plunge into the heart of a devastating conflict.”). For some additional background on Wright’s thinking, see the interviews in which Wright participated at Live from the LBJ Library: Part I and Part II. Overall, THE HUMAN SCALE made me think of how informative it was to read (at another teacher’s suggestion) Fast Times in Palestine by Pamela Olson; written over a decade ago, a new paperback has been released recently. As Wright points out, we need to let go of what he calls “durable stereotypes” and work towards peace.

Off Ramp by Spencer Cox

OFF RAMP by Spencer Cox, the Governor of Utah, offers his take on “How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt.” Cox came to national attention after his rather level-headed and heartfelt response to the 2025 assassination of political activist, Charlie Kirk. In his new book, Cox references that time and argues, “The problem is that we aren't just disagreeing with each other; we're despising each other…. Disagreement says, ‘you are wrong.’ Contempt says, ‘you are beneath me.’ In OFF RAMP Cox combines elements of a memoir, referencing interactions with both the Trump and Biden administrations, with pleas for action by the average American. He notes that “the change we desperately need in our country will never come solely from the Oval Office or the halls of Congress." He advocates for actions with a list of almost a dozen principles that center on building community and forgiveness, including “Lead with Curiosity not Contempt,” “Resist the Urge to Tell People They’re Wrong,” and “Belonging Before Persuasion.” Too bad that our leaders do not show this grace more regularly. Whether actions by the average person will have an impact is certainly debatable, too, although there is widespread concern across party lines. Here are links to a 2020 Pew Research Center study and a more recent one related to the increase in perceived political violence. Cox, ever hopeful, writes, “… you are not alone. Millions of other strong and good citizens are holding the line in churches, schools, and communities across America.” Roughly fifteen percent of Cox’s text is devoted to notes and there is a helpful index.

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman

WE CHASE SHADOWS by Richard Osman is another We Solve Murders mystery featuring a writer, Rosie D’Antonio, her friend and retired cop, Steve Wheeler, and his daughter-in-law, Amy, who is also a bodyguard.  They are hired by Vern Blackwood, a businessman involved with selling fake vitamins, to find out who killed one of his bodyguards, leaving a note signed by his longtime rival, Jakob Eriksson. Together, they supply plenty of cheerful banter – one interaction between Amy and her husband, Adam, is particularly amusing and surprising – although more and more corpses appear. The mystery (described as both “overly convoluted and too easy to solve” by Publishers Weekly) is not Osman’s best, but the character interaction redeems this tale as loyal fans await yet another of Osman’s Thursday Murder Club selections.

Leadership Intelligence by Caroline Webb

LEADERSHIP INTELLIGENCE by Caroline Webb (How to Have a Good Day) offers “Science-Backed Strategies for Mastering 21 Everyday Management Challenges.”  Webb, Senior Advisor on leadership to McKinsey & Company, was recently interviewed in a Family Action Network webinar by Jonathan Haidt (The Anxious Generation).  They discussed her ideas regarding three main themes: Deliberate Wisdom (widen and lighten); Intrinsic Inspiration (competence and connection); and Reasoned Resilience (manageable and meaningful). Her new book covers specific situations (e.g., how to make time for your top priorities or how to handle disagreement well) and offers practical solutions to real-world issues. Managers will find her coaching to be very valuable; here is a link to some suggested reading paths. I want to spend more time with LEADERSHIP INTELLIGENCE and am recommending this text.  

Receipts from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham

RECEIPTS FROM THE BOOKSHOP by Katie Clapham is a very clever account of “A Bookseller's Year in an English Seaside Town.” The author, Katie Clapham, and her mother (known as Business Mum or BM in the text) run a bookshop in a small town and Clapham takes great joy in entertaining her readers with accounts of her days. Each chapter covers roughly a month and there are always interesting customers, hunts for titles, and sales (or lack thereof), plus a truly amusing set of anecdotes about the passers-by and their comments on the bookshop. At first, the pace may seem overly slow, but this tale of titles and patrons quickly turns charming. Clapham writes with emotion about book buying: “A book is a beautiful present for almost any person in your life because it is a promise of an experience. It says: I want you to have this thing. I want you to have the time to enjoy it. I want you to be happy.” Or about children’s books: “Books always make great gifts, but I think there's something deeply special about gifting someone a few moments to be young again.” My favorite turn of phrase though, has to do with the English weather: “I guess the rain is due soon because someone is definitely playing with the dimmer switch in the sky.” Avid readers will enjoy RECEIPTS FROM THE BOOKSHOP and will likely find titles to add to their own to-be-read lists. To get a sense of Katie Clapham’s writing style and the ebb and flow of her days, visit her Substack and then be sure to visit your own local book store, too.

Coding Kids by Natasha Singer

CODING KIDS by Natasha Singer (New York Times reporter focusing on technology in schools) describes “Big Tech's Battle to Remake Public Schools.” Described as the “best possible introduction” (Sherry Turkle), a “must read” (danah boyd), and a “necessary book” (Diane Ravitch), CODING KIDS has the potential to be a great “one book one school” choice for adults as it probes questions about the influence of tech companies as well as the purpose of education. Booklist summarizes Singer’s solution as “Stop preparing kids to be cutting-edge tech savvy. Reassert public education's main mission: to teach kids to become independent thinkers.” Isn’t that refreshing? Preparing students for their whole lives, not just for a job. Singer divides the book into three main sections (The New Power; The Big Tech Education Playbook; and AI Literacy for All). For example, she looks back in time at Microsoft’s efforts to mainstream computer science classes in high school and a famous video (What Most Schools Don’t Teach) that prompted wider interest in coding. Singer also describes the evolution and impact of programs like Learning to Code with Google and Apple’s influence on Advanced Placement Computer Science classes. She brings in teacher and student voices by chronicling classroom discussions such as one on surveillance, tackling the question: “would you rather be under video surveillance or audio surveillance every day, all day?” CODING KIDS is based on years of research, and the Notes section comprises roughly ten to fifteen percent of the text. The Kapor Center, a non-profit that Singer references just recently released an updated version of its “Responsible AI and Tech Justice for K12 Education” with six core components. Interested readers may also want to explore the edsurge (iste/ascd) article on “Protecting Student Cognition in the Age of AI” or The Digital Delusion by Horvath.

Ash and Honor by Jeffrey Robinson

ASH AND HONOR by Jeffrey Robinson details “The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11.” Robinson, a prolific non-fiction writer, offers over sixty eyewitness accounts, all while describing the confusion and uncertainty of that eventful day. Because of all of the acronyms and bureaucracy involved this text is difficult to follow at times, but it is well-researched and brings up aspects of which few may be aware. The description of getting all of those planes out of the air and subsequently finding box cutters on some after they landed gave me goosebumps. Publishers Weekly calls ASH AND HONOR “a valuable record of bureaucracies and chains of command operating under extreme pressure” and that does seem to be Robinson’s main focus. Look also for other books related to 9/11 if your interests differ. 

I am grateful that we collected so many contemporary works (such as Understanding September 11 by Mitch Frank and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies’ Collection of Front Pages) so that they could be available for future student research. We also have numerous works of young adult fiction related to 9/11. And the public library offers several relevant documentary videos through the Kanopy platform. Two items on my own to-be-read list are The Only Plane in the Sky by Graff and The Day the World Came to Town by Defede (also commemorated in the musical Come From Away currently playing in Austin). Despite the sad subject, the passing of twenty-five years deserves a respectful remembrance.

The Success Trap by Stuart Slavin

THE SUCCESS TRAP by Stuart Slavin is subtitled “How the Pressure to Stand Out Is Fueling Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout in Teens--and the Fundamental Fix They Deserve.”  Slavin, a pediatrician, researcher and educator, has set himself an ambitious task and he works hard to describe the research (his own and from others) that is relevant to this topic. For example, he quotes numerous experts including Vicki Abeles, Jonathan Haidt, Jean Twenge, and Jennifer Breheny Wallace.  Sadly, the factors involved (e.g., unhelpful mindsets, social media, excessive homework, limited choice and control, lack of sleep) are generally well-known, but we still see increased levels of anxiety and depression (Slavin would argue since the 1950s). He tries to not only document the science (notes comprise about 10 percent of the text), but to also offer practical solutions, particularly for parents. In a section labeled “Supplemental Resources” he writes, “Fundamental change is desperately needed in our education system along with strong parent advocates for reform, as the system is unlikely to change unless pressure is applied.” From there, he outlines suggested steps (e.g., raise awareness, push initially for changes that require little financial cost). THE SUCCESS TRAP is a text that deserves to be read and discussed widely; I do wish that it was less dense and contained more chapter summaries or even checklists, plus links to exemplary programs like Erika’s Lighthouse. Having an educators’ version or perhaps an abridged version for high school students themselves (think The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens) could also be helpful.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Westbury

THE OXFORD GUIDE TO SCANDAL AND LIES by Kate Westbury is a wonderful historical and cozy mystery debut set in the early 1950s.  The main characters are very different from each other: Ginevra Bishop (estranged daughter of a viscount and former debutante, trying to find purpose) and Sidney Braithwaite (former soldier, recovering from wartime emotional trauma) although they are both students at Oxford. It is at the university that they witness the death of a beloved librarian and are recruited by the security services (Rook is their handler) to investigate further. The handful of suspects (both professors and students) provides multiple scenarios for the dual to unravel, all while fighting a romantic attraction.  Westbury’s THE OXFORD GUIDE TO SCANDAL AND LIES was a LibraryReads selection, a September 2026 Indie Next Pick and received a starred review form BookPage (“The chemistry is delightful, the setting is academia personified and the story itself encourages propulsive page-turning―a heck of a debut novel indeed”). Enjoy!

Always have Enough by Maria Melchor

ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH by Maria Melchor, founder of FirstGenLiving, covers “How to Build Wealth When You Don't Come from Money.”  Melchor writes in a very accessible, understandable tone and offers numerous insights, including a 6-Week Kickstart Plan, to her readers. She focuses on habits to develop like savings goals and smart borrowing. I found this book to be quite helpful, especially for younger people who are struggling to understand the world of finance. Melchor writes about the AHEM (Always have Enough Money) system and encourages budgeting and planning. She frequently references her own experience as an immigrant and writes with empathy for those who are seeking to balance their personal needs and those of cultural, familial obligations. This text is designed to improve understanding and encourage reflection; for example, several chapters include homework exercises (e.g., creating a financial toolbox with simple steps related to banking and credit cards or strengthening one’s safety net). It might take someone who is less familiar with the system longer than her six-week program goal, but the checklists are very useful and a great first step towards more financial stability. 

The Next Journalism by Tom Rosenstiel

THE NEXT JOURNALISM by Tom Rosenstiel is subtitled “How the Press Must Change to Serve Democracy.” Obviously, that is a difficult and controversial question. Being the co-author of The Elements of Journalism, Rosenstiel offers a unique perspective and in this latest publication he is intent on describing future actions for journalists. The book itself is divided into ten chapters, each of which outlines a “fundamental way” (e.g., applying behavioral psychology or thinking of news as collaborative intelligence) that journalism must change. Probably the most interesting chapter is the one where he offers suggestions on a new interview structure building on open-minded inquiry. Throughout the book, Rosenstiel stresses the importance of considering how a story would serve the public and working with the community. Much to consider here, particularly for practicing journalists. 

For related research on this topic, see several studies from Pew Research, the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center, or The Conversation. More of an international Perspective is available from Media & Journalism Research Center. 

The Time Tax by Annie Lowrey

THE TIME TAX by Annie Lowrey is subtitled “How the Government Wastes Our Time—and How to Fix It.” I think the colorful cover alone, plus the general annoyance about red tape will prompt readers to pick up this text. However, it has also been the subject of reviews at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly (“Equal parts distressing and galvanizing, it’s a trenchant case for reform”), and, amongst others, Ron Charles (formerly with The Washington Post) in his Substack newsletter. Lowrey (a journalist at The Atlantic) argues persuasively that change is needed and her voice is a call to action: “Americans should be mad about the time tax. They should be angry about how unfair and how unnecessary it is. They should be furious at how it increases inequality, wastes money, diminishes public health, erodes political participation, degrades civic trust, and allows politicians to hide their policy goals behind reams of paperwork, …. We deserve better than the DMV. We deserve the services this country is capable of. We deserve to get our time back.”

Surely, we can all agree, for example, that “Enrollment forms are written in impenetrable High Bureaucratese and are loaded up with fine print.” Plus, we often have to repeat the effort annually (like requesting a mail-in ballot in Texas, even if it is based on age). Lowrey’s statistics are astounding, too; she references a report by The American Action Forum which estimates that filling out various government forms takes about the equivalent of six workdays per person, or roughly 12 billion hours a year. Lowrey also cites how the time tax falls disproportionately on the poor and people of color. Sadly, her examples, such as those across four types of administrative costs go on and on and on:

(1)   Learning or research costs (e.g., or varied impact of the 2022 Supreme Court decision regarding Roe v. Wade)

(2)   Compliance costs (time to actually fill out forms like Louisiana’s application for SNAP which asks about baptismal certificates and income from 24 possible sources)

(3)   Redemption costs (time and effort to exercise a benefit or use a right) and

(4)   Psychological costs – emotional burdens like waiting for your spouse to join you in the USA; these may be particularly high for people who are already ill, disabled, or traumatized and trying to navigate the system.

Read Lowrey’s book to learn more about this topic and about her thoughts on reform. THE TIME TAX is very well-researched. Notes comprise at least twenty-five percent of the text.

The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly by Bivald

THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE QUIETLY by Katarina Bivald (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and more ) is the third book in Bivald’s series about Berit Gardner and her friend, DCI Ian Ahmed. I have developed real affection and even affinity for Berit’s character who loves her time alone: “she could have been fond of cities if it weren't for all the people in them.” In this cozy mystery, she is in Sweden at her grandmother’s cottage on an archipelago near Stockholm where she spent many happy summers. It’s late fall and winter, though, so the environment is cold and dark and Bivald deftly employs descriptions of the physical environment to add to the sense of menace and reflection. Berit and Ian are invited to a nearby island to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Margrethe Cullberg-Franzen, an especially abrasive woman who still leads her family’s art gallery business. That celebration ends in a tragic death leaving behind many family suspects and motives (revenge, greed, fear). More adventures - and another death - follow, as Berit and Ian and local police try to solve this puzzle. Publishers Weekly gave THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE QUIETLY a starred review (“Bivald excels at surprise and misdirection, and she buttresses those mystery fundamentals with a psychologically complex lead and intoxicating Scandinavian atmosphere.”). A Reading Group Guide and Conversation with the Author are included. Enjoy!

Just sharing quotes from the preview, part of Berit’s rather comforting outlook:
“Even the most difficult things became more manageable if you faced up to them. Apprehension and unease only grew if you tried to escape them.”

“If nothing lasted forever, then that was part of what made having lived and existed so wonderful: the fact that the people she loved had lived, and that nature and the world around her would continue to do so even after she was gone.”

Golden Boy by A. J. Symon

GOLDEN BOY by A. J. Symon is a young adult novel with a strange supposition. It has a wonderful cover which mirrors the story of a dog (Hudson) being turned into a high school boy (Bud Golden). Emma Branch is a lonely high school student who ended up taking care of her brothers (Chip and Buckhead – who act like their names) and her rather obnoxious, opinionated, and prejudiced father, Wayman, after her mother dies. Emma’s dream is to study science, and she has developed an injection to prolong the life of fruit flies. No one is really interested, though, until in desperation she injects her dog. Suddenly there’s a star player for the football team that Wayman coaches, and the adventure (filled with deception) begins. There is some suspense and high school relationship drama which could appeal to readers. As all gets resolved, the author is not afraid of explicitly highlighting the value of scientific experimentation (“Flying machines. The telephone. Landing on the moon. All crazy ideas until they weren't. Magic is just science no one can explain yet.”) and quality parenting (“It's amazing what a kind word from a parent will do.”). Thankfully, the father character does mature, but it’s not a subtle transformation. School Library Journal (starred review) and Booklist suggest GOLDEN BOY for grades 6 thru 10, and these less mature students may appreciate the hijinks, although the animal experimentation could be triggering for some. I am more apt to agree with Kirkus: “An interesting premise that suffers from clumsy execution.”