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. 

Breathing Under Water by Jacqueline Friedland

BREATHING UNDER WATER by Jacqueline Friedland received a starred review from Booklist and Kirkus called it “a touching novel about unexpected connections and found family.”  It is the first book in a while to really grab my attention, and I can readily see book groups finding so much to discuss. Chapter narration alternates between Berry Selinger and McKenna Jamison, two caring women from different generations with a host of issues to face. Berry is an assistant principal hoping for a promotion and trying to balance her career with supporting her sixteen-year-old son, Leo, who is autistic. McKenna is a scholarship college student who relies on her coach and swim team as her grandmother’s dementia worsens. Readers will be surprised by the workplace sabotage, marital strife, anger management issues, and homelessness which also feature in the plot. Yes, it is a lot for either one to handle and the stories intersect when McKenna begins teaching Leo to swim. He really is the pivotal character and obviously dear to Friedland who says her own mother taught her that “every child deserves to be seen, to be challenged, and most of all, to be respected and understood.” BREATHING UNDER WATER is about perseverance, self-reflection, and acceptance, as Berry says, “I don't see the trials and tribulations only as hardships. I can now see the ways they've led to profound growth, making us stronger, more resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.” 

Your Fellow Americans by Peter Santenello

YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS by Peter Santenello is a wonderful collection of “Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home.” Santenello has a YouTube channel with over four million followers and pulled many of these stories from those encounters. He divides the book into four broad sections. In the first, he looks at “groups of people living in the modern world and yet almost alongside the modern world,” travelling to an Amish outpost in northern Florida, to East LA, and to Alaska. Santenello comments on “the thing that keeps hitting me each and every time I find myself somewhere new is how much people here care -- about their families, their towns, their little corners on the map.” Next, he writes about “The Underdogs” with interviews in Central Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta. That is followed by a section with stories about endurance and overcoming obstacles from the Pacific coast of northern California and on to an island in the Chesapeake Bay. The final section, “Pioneering Spirit,” veers towards stories of exploration and adventure; here, Santenello provides insight into one of his first travel experiences, a post high school road trip on a tight budget (in a repurposed van named Vandura) with his best friend Steve. Santenello clearly has a passion for travel and for learning about people and his essays are well presented and generally optimistic. He writes, “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary I think we could all use some stories that leave us feeling good about our country.” Interested readers may also want to pursue Judy Woodruff’s America at a Crossroads, or the Make America Dinner Again movement, or even expand upon the idea of creating connections with titles like David Brooks’ How to Know a Person or Nicholas Epley’s A Little More Social.

On the Street Where You Live by Kathryn Nicolai

ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE by Kathryn Nicolai is self-described as a cozy audio (total length about 5 hours) and is narrated by the author and several other performers. Basically, this is almost like a set of short stories as each section (lightly tied together since everyone lives in the same neighborhood) focuses primarily on one person (baker, book seller with a cat named Alphabet, piano teacher, star gazer, historian, novelist, librarian, puzzle maker, innkeeper). The pace is gentle and slow (the author also crafted Nothing Much Happens, a collection of stories “to soothe your mind and help you sleep”) – one can easily listen to this audiobook at 1.5 speed. The characters generally face limited conflict (e.g., what food to make and bring to neighbor) and their actions (e.g., juicing a lemon, searching through photos) tend to be methodical and described in a deliberate manner. Nicolai cleverly interweaves the stories (e.g., a piano student leaves a book behind and returning it introduces listeners to the next character). It looks as though ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE will only be available as audiobook or audio CD. Look for it (release date is July 28) if you would like a gentle, peaceful listen.

Dyslexia Unlocked by Natalie Brooks

DYSLEXIA UNLOCKED by Natalie Brooks is written for adults and is intended to provide guidance on “How to be successful in work and life.” Brooks is the Founder of Dyslexia in Adults and she herself has dyslexia and ADHD; she shares numerous personal stories of the frustrations she has experienced, particularly in the workplace. I liked that she points out that dyslexia can really be different for each person and that she has made a great effort to provide information clearly, often summarizing and then restating her points in more detail. For example, she writes about “The three areas that every dyslexic needs to focus on in order to achieve success. These are 1) unlocking dyslexic confidence, 2) unlocking dyslexic strategies and 3) unlocking dyslexic strengths.”  The book is organized around those three needs, but I found the initial section on confidence to be a bit disheartening since it documents so many potential negatives. Granted, this seems to be a well-intentioned attempt to convey that millions of people (other dyslexics) are all in this together and therefore some of the examples (push vs pull on a door) may seem familiar to readers. However, she also points out “You need to spend time valuing and focusing on your strengths” and it may have been more helpful to start there. She does suggest a few useful resources (e.g., Grammarly) and provides sample wording to talk about dyslexia at work.

Other excellent resources for people who wish to learn about dyslexia are Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shawitz (a classic) and The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide. Both seem to be much more research and science based than Brooks’ work; also, the Eides generally take a very positive, encouraging approach. Younger students will appreciate titles like Meet the Dyslexia Club by Margaret Rooke. Check them out.

Dad Brain by Darby Saxbe

DAD BRAIN by Darby Saxbe describes “The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives.” Saxbe, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, splits her book into two sections: the Science of Fatherhood and the Practice of Fatherhood. It’s truly interesting to realize that Saxbe is “one of the only researchers in the world to have collected longitudinal neuroimaging research on men as they become fathers,” due in large part to the limited research on men as parents. Still, she points out how fatherhood can benefit society, partners, children, and the men themselves, thanks especially to greater social connection and opportunities for improved mental health. Frequently showcasing a collection of related facts, Saxbe points, for example, to research that shows younger-looking brains for both fathers and mothers and describes some theories as to why this greater cognitive functioning occurs. She offers suggestions for several areas of additional research, and I look forward to seeing more from her. An Appendix with suggested resources, plus an Index and Notes comprise close to twenty percent of the text. 

Read an excellent overview of Saxbe’s thinking in her recent opinion piece at The New York Times: “Ultimately, the traits of a good dad are also the traits of a good man: strength coupled with a willingness to look out for the young and vulnerable, to teach but also listen, to lead by example, to tackle daunting challenges and to persevere with grit.” Happy Father's Day to all!!

Mother Tongue by Sara Nović

MOTHER TONGUE by Sara Nović (Girl at War and True Biz) received well-deserved starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. Nović uses this memoir to share her experiences, reflections, and research about being deaf and the deaf culture. In an effort to teach and inform others, she is willing to be vulnerable, resulting in a poignant tale. Nović explores related history (e.g., Nazi eugenics and Alexander Graham Bell’s campaign against American Sign Language) as well as the prejudice she encountered when trying to adopt a deaf son from another race. The tone is not academic, but the vocabulary often is, in MOTHER TONGUE, a moving and educational work.

What We Ask Google by Simon Rogers

WHAT WE ASK GOOGLE by Simon Rogers is subtitled “A Surprisingly Hopeful History of Humankind.” Rogers, Google’s data editor, does tend to adopt a more positive perspective in recounting examples of questions sent to Google. In particular, he points to patterns – whether daily (like getting a baby to sleep at 2am) or more seasonally (search for “comfort food” in October and other recipe requests around Thanksgiving and December holidays). Many of his comments are extolling the Google Trends dataset; being curious, I tired looking at Google Trends, but most of the current queries were related to sports scores or another aspect of popular culture. Publishers Weekly called WHAT WE ASK GOOGLE “a fun if shallow tour of the modern world’s most burning questions.” That is a fair assessment, but there are some surprising anecdotes and memorable graphs included in WHAT WE ASK GOOGLE. For example, Rogers says that half of the top “how to learn …” searches in the US are about language and the most often translated word across all languages is “beautiful.” In another chapter, he notes that “one in every twenty Google searches is for health-related information.” And he stresses repeatedly how search seems to show our need to help others, such as in the chapter on grief where people ask what to say to someone who is grieving. There is an opportunity to dig deeper: a little over fifteen percent of the text is devoted to notes and sources.

I am Not a Robot by Joanna Stern

I AM NOT A ROBOT by Joanna Stern (former technology writer for The Wall Street Journal) is subtitled “My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything” and looks at a variety of areas (e.g., health, travel, communications) while using real world examples to showcase some potential benefits and downsides of AI. For example, Stern spent time with a very experienced radiologist and AI looking at mammogram and ultrasound images. It was fascinating to hear the health professional praise AI. In contrast, when she went to the dentist, AI was used as a crutch to justify recommending unnecessary and expensive procedures. Bill Gates told her, “The foundation of AI advances for healthcare are both in the discovery side and in the delivery side,” referring to being able to speed up innovation and to offer more and better explanations to patients. In fact, Stern interviewed “nearly two hundred people – from everyday users to some of the most powerful voices in this industry,” including  Steve Mann (the “father” of wearable computing), Sal Khan (educational technology leader), and Mustafa Suleyman (Microsoft’s CEO) amongst others. She shares her thoughts in a variety formats, often essentially bullet pointing ideas as when she describes her experiences with a variety of wearables or her problems with relying on AI only to answer texts and emails (that was a very short experiment). Stern explores potential impacts on education through a visit to her alma mater, Union College in Schenectady, New York, finding that teachers and students share concerns about AI’s impact, especially on critical thinking skills. Stern’s writing style is distinctive, and Publishers Weekly acknowledges that, saying, “Stern’s balanced, clear-eyed assessments and crisp, funny prose (‘I was teetering on the edge of the AI-byss’) make this stand out among the growing crowd of books on AI.” Highly recommended.

Below is a 20 minute video interview dealing specifically with writing and researching I AM NOT A ROBOT, but if you are curious about Stern’s twelve years of tech reporting at The Wall Street Journal, check out a wider variety of videos.

You Can't Hurry Second Chances by Michelle Stimpson

YOU CAN'T HURRY SECOND CHANCES by Michelle Stimpson is about a new life in small town Texas. Joyce Hicks has finally decided to divorce her husband after thirty years of being unfulfilled in her marriage. She moves away from Austin and settles in her grandmother’s house, but finds that her funds cannot cover all of the needed renovations in a timely manner. Her tenant, Gabriella Santos, is a talented chef who also struggles to see her own self-worth. Together the two of them push and pull each other along until Joyce learns to make decisions (including saying No to her daughter and Yes to a date with an old friend) with more confidence and Gabriella becomes brave enough to showcase her talents in public, leading to a new opportunity. Aspects feel like a coming-of-age story involving adults – with a rather abrupt, but happy ending.

Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin

BUMBLEBEE SEASON by Eileen Garvin (Crow Talk) is the sequel to her debut novel The Music of Bees. She provides an update on the progress that wheelchair-bound Jake Stevenson is accomplishing with his bee hives and Queen of G Honey business located near the Hood River in Oregon. But there is much more to the story as Garvin introduces us to other characters. One is Abigail Elizabeth Plue, a young teaching assistant at the local university; she is interested in insects and nature, but she has difficulty with self-regulation and cooperating with others, resulting in a transfer to study bees. Flaco (“skinny”) is the nickname of Sebastian Santiago Luna Lopez; he’s only fourteen and has been sent North (entering the US without papers) by his mother to keep him away from the cartel in his hometown. Along with Jake, each is struggling with personal issues and rejection by a loved one, but Garvin unites them through a shared desire to protect the environment and a growing respect and care for each other. Belonging and community are key ideas in this book which she has dedicated to “anyone who’s ever longed for home.” BUMBLEBEE SEASON received a starred review from Booklist (“Undoubtedly inspired by her own experiences as an Oregon beekeeper, Garvin is a master at creating hive-like communities vibrating with characters readers will enthusiastically embrace.”).

The Secret of Snow by Tina Harnesk

THE SECRET OF SNOW is written by Tina Harnesk and translated by Alice Menzies. This novel takes place in northern Sweden and involves characters across many generations. Most notably, there is an elderly husband and wife who face serious health challenges. These two get a new phone and the woman (Mariddja) believes that Siri is a real person – their conversations are funny and poignant, especially as Siri is the only real friend this woman has. She and her husband do not trust the authorities since as a child he and his family were forcibly relocated. Harnesk explores this important sub-theme and the ideas associated with cultural preservation while also looking at the impact of the trauma on individuals and future generations. Overall, the book was sad and a bit confusing, especially at the beginning where the author flips back and forth between various characters; ultimately, Harnesk does interweave the stories for a satisfying ending. THE SECRET OF SNOW received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly says: “Fans of Fredrik Backman will take to this touching family drama.”  I concur.

The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar

THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE by Maya Shankar is about “Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans.” Shankar is a cognitive scientist and neuroscience expert who describes the life altering changes faced by guests on her podcast. She notes that the book is “part narrative, and part practical guide, rooted in the latest scientific research.” Her first example (“Locked In”) involves Olivia Lewis who becomes paralyzed; it is reminiscent (as Shankar also notes) of events which impacted Jean-Dominique Bauby, author of Diving Bell and the Butterfly, as well as of Allison Pataki’s Beauty in the Broken Places about her husband’s unexpected health scare. Shankar notes how these individuals must confront what they have lost and then “experience an internal transformation that allows them to imagine new and freeing possibilities for themselves.” She also “shows how that sense of possibility can ripple outward” and includes an Appendix titled “Getting to the other side of Change: Your Change Survival Kit” where she summarizes key concepts (e.g., self-identity) from each chapter. Her bibliographic notes and references comprise an additional ten percent or so of the text. Shankar does an excellent job of weaving examples and research, but this is based on numerous conversations, sometimes covering years. I wonder how well a person in the midst of devastating change would be able to comprehend, digest, and implement (without professional guidance) the ideas from this book. THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE received a starred review from Booklist.

On a related note, I recently attended a conversation between Kelly Corrigan and Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Wallace's new book titled MATTERING. The event was sponsored by Family Action Network and a recording is available:

According to the publisher: Wallace argues that mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have the chance to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. ... MATTERING shows how lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small but intentional ways, that we are seen, valued, and needed. Wallace identifies the essential components of what she calls a “mattering core”: recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. ... Wallace shows how to strengthen our own sense of mattering—and how to build cultures of mattering in our homes, workplaces, and communities—at a moment when it has never been more urgent.

The New Geography if Innovation by Mehran Gul

Named a Financial Times Best Book of the Year for 2025 and one of Forbes’ Best Business Books of 2025, THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF INNOVATION by Mehran Gul was just published in the US. Gul writes about “The Global Contest for Breakthrough Technologies” by sharing anecdotes from eight countries across three regions: China, Singapore, and South Korea in Asia; Switzerland, Germany, and United Kingdom (London) in Europe; and Canada and Silicon Valley in North America. He bases his comments on extensive interviews with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other researchers.  Gul’s emphasis on cultural and historic factors is particularly interesting and informative. Although he does not appear to argue for specific policies or an overarching theory, he does point to trends like increased efforts to bring products to market more quickly and, according to the Asian Review of Books, to “the various components necessary for large-scale, ongoing technical innovation: a government providing public goods like education and infrastructure, functioning capital markets, investors with a tolerance for failure, a culture that encourages start-ups, openness to immigration, and enough consumers to scale up.” The Wall Street Journal concludes its review by noting that THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF INNOVATION is “a thoughtful discussion of how economic geography is changing. If you’re concerned that the U.S. is losing its capacity for innovation, Mr. Gul suggests, you shouldn’t worry. But if you’re concerned about maintaining U.S. technological dominance, maybe you should.”  This is an accessible read with a global perspective. 

Parenting Anxiety by Meredith Elkins

PARENTING ANXIETY by Meredith Elkins is about “Breaking the Cycle of Worry and Raising Resilient Kids.” Elkins, a clinical psychologist, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and the co-program director at the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP) at McLean Hospital, is well-regarded in her field. She draws on her work and education as well as her personal experience as a parent. Elkins appeared recently at a FAN (Family Action Network) session where she was interviewed for an hour by a local school superintendent. There, she repeatedly pointed to the idea that well-intentioned attempts to “protect” children can instead foster an environment where anxiety is allowed to thrive. As in her book, she encouraged parents and educators to approach, rather that avoid, uncomfortableness. Other chapters explore concepts such as Overparenting, Exposure Therapy, and “Finding Your Way.” At the end of each chapter is a helpful set of bullet points “to take home with you.” Over the years, we have commented on numerous books dealing with anxiety, particularly as relates to teens, although Elkins’ work applies to children of all ages. A glossary, list of resources, and notes make up over ten percent of PARENTING ANXIETY and there is also a lengthy appendix which covers “Decoding Diagnoses.”

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU by Libby Page came to my attention because of being a LibraryReads pick for February and I am SO glad it did. In contention for my favorite book of the year, the heartwarming story centers on Matilda (Tilly) Nightingale whose husband, Joe, has recently died. While battling a fatal diagnosis, Joe arranged with the local bookstore owner, Alfie, to give Tilly a book a month after his death. Each title prompts Tilly to take a step forward and, to me, Libby Page was “spot on” in her characterization of the feelings of grief and loss: “There's a darkness to her that wasn't there before, that sometimes feels like a fog and others like a stone lodged in her chest. She carries the darkness with her everywhere, all the time, even if on the surface she might look the same as before.” A new friend who is further along in her grief journey says, “My grief is un regalo -- a gift. He gave it to me. it is our memories. Our love. I don't want to put it down. I carry it gently.” Described as a “love letter to bookstores,” THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU is truly a joy to read, featuring friendship, sisterhood, a sense of wonder, romance, and, importantly, growth by several characters. Plus, it reinforces the power of reading to transform us (“‘But isn't that one of the great things about fiction?’ he says. ‘It's an escape. Somewhere to go when you don't want to be where you are.’”) and this story is full of ideas for other books to read, including monthly themes and recommendations from Alfie’s bookstore.

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU received starred reviews from Kirkus (“The perfect cozy read for book lovers, sure to break and heal hearts.”), Library Journal (“Readers of all kinds will be captivated by this tender exploration of loss, healing, and the enduring connections that books create”), and Publishers Weekly (“Page crafts a taut plot and makes her characters achingly real”). ENJOY!!

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

YEAR OF YES by Shonda Rhimes (whose credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder) was originally published a decade ago and the new 10th anniversary edition offers extra chapters and insight from an extremely talented writer. Rhimes was challenges by her sister about her tendency to say “no” and she chose to battle her introvert tendencies (“This is who I am. Silent. Quiet. Interior. More comfortable with books than new situations. Content to live within my imagination.”) and to begin to say “yes.” That meant she found a way to combat her fear and go on Jimmy Kimmel’s show as one example.  In addition, she gave a commencement speech at Dartmouth which is an amazing chapter – well worth the time to read. Rhimes is inspirational and informative (e.g., sharing studies about standing like Wonder Woman).  This is a book to which readers can return again and again. It’s exciting to think of the transformation which she achieved: “I do often say no. I can't do everything. But I am no longer saying no out of fear. The reflexive, knee-jerk, panic-induced ‘absolutely not’ that used to be my default setting has been rewired.”

Paper Girl by Beth Macy

Geraldine Brooks (Horse and Memorial Days) says, “If you want to know why our nation is so divided read Beth Macy's PAPER GIRL.” This new text is subtitled “A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America.” As such, it is extremely relevant today and while being very informative, is also a difficult read emotionally. Best-selling and award-winning author Macy (Dopesick) returned to Urbana, Ohio where she grew up and attended high school in order to document the changes in the past forty years. Macy returns to familiar themes about drug addiction, decline of unions (“One in three full-time workers carried union cards when I was coming of age, but now that number is one in ten”), and the lack of local journalism. Readers will empathize with a promising student who is motivated to overcome a dysfunctional family situation, but who struggles to attend college on a scholarship which doesn’t cover transport, room or board. Macy is a gifted writer who shares information about her community and her family in a straightforward, insightful manner. She asks, for example, how communities lose faith in their schools; pointing out “the more divided our education levels, the more divided our nation.” There is so much to consider that I read this book over several months. Macy writes, “The more time I spent back in my hometown, the more I recognized the unprecedented forces that were actively turning the community I loved into a poorer, sicker, angrier, and less educated place.” Still, like Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett in Upswing, Macy is hopeful in this recent text (and in real life where she is running for Congress in the 2026 midterms). PAPER GIRL received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“a welcome salve for a festering social wound. It’s a sobering journey into America’s splintered heartland”), is a Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and is one of Barack Obama's favorite books of 2025. 

Heart of a Stranger by Angela Buchdahl

HEART OF A STRANGER by Angela Buchdahl is certainly in contention for my favorite book of the year. That is a surprise because this is the story of an Asian American female Rabbi. Other than female, I don’t check any of those boxes, but I truly loved her “Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.” At the end of each section, she offers a mini-sermon of sorts, exploring a concept, like this: “Faith is a noun, something you can have or possess, as ‘I have faith in God.’ Trust, on the other hand, is a verb. It is something you do or act upon. It is a choice and a deliberate response as in ‘I trusted, so I followed.’” HEART OF A STRANGER received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The Washington Post review says, [our] “nation … has long rewarded those who chase opportunity and embrace pluralism. Today those ideals are more fragile than ever, and Buchdahl’s story now feels like an example of what once worked in America but may soon be lost.” This is an amazing, inspiring story for people of all faiths. Highly recommended.

Nations Apart by Colin Woodard

NATIONS APART by Colin Woodard recounts “How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America,” building on his research and earlier writing including American Nations, originally published in 2011. His earlier text used history to explain the development of regional differences. His latest focuses more on specific issues like gun control, abortion, and climate. Woodard is clearly biased in his views on where America is heading (“Our democracy is backsliding.”), but also optimistic: “the American people are not nearly as polarized as our political leaders on the hot-button issues and are remarkably united around our ideals.” However, he writes in a scholarly, rather dense format and that may be difficult for the average reader. The most interesting part to me was the final chapter which is filled with graphs and charts based on polling done for Woodard’s Nationhood Lab. A helpful resource for researchers, approximately fifteen percent of the text is devoted to notes and references. NATIONS APART is a selection for The Next Big Idea Club’s November 2025 Must-Read Books and received a starred review from Booklist. Possible read-alikes (although older) include: Big Sort (2008) by Bill Bishop Bowling Alone (2000) by Putnam; Prius or Pick-up (2018) by Hetherington; and Fault Lines (2019) by Kruse.