‘Elements of Surprise’ and the Pleasures of Being Had
Vera Tobin's work helps dispel 20th-century Freudian notions that we are made up of many inexplicable facets, that our motives are unknown to us, and that we repress all that we cannot deal with.
non-fiction
Did Women Writers Change the 20th Century New York Intellectual Scene?
Michelle Dean's Sharp challenges readers to consider what we gain from reading the lives and works of women writers and how they shaped cultural and socio-political thought in the 20th century and beyond.
Shelter from the Norm: Umbrellas Aren’t Always What They Seem in ‘Brolliology’
Mary Poppins, Mrs. Gamp, Egyptian deities, a Japanese umbrella spirit, and a supporting cast of hundreds of brollies fill Marion Rankine’s lively history, Brolliology.
‘Designed for Hi-Fi Living’: The Vinyl LP in Midcentury America by Janet Borgerson, Jonathan Schroeder
A colorful new book celebrates the midcentury rise of the vinyl format and its attempt to reflect and inform modern American life.
‘Imaginary Cities’ Is a Book to Enjoy Getting Lost In
In charting the cities of human fancy, Darran Anderson has created the opposite of an atlas.
‘Calcutta’ Is a Vivid, Sensitive, and Perceptive Literary Portrait of the City
The author presents a balanced, if occasionally slow-paced, portrait of his birthplace, detailing his travels and memories of Calcutta over a two-year period.
‘The Science of Kissing’ Does Not Diminish the Magic of Kissing
Romantic films, robots, and cooties – The Science of Kissing takes readers through pop culture, technology, and biology to explore the magic of kissing.