The best 70 Alternative Perspectives books

1
Saving Time

Saving Time

Jenny Odell
Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock
4.1 (277 ratings)

What's Saving Time about?

Saving Time (2023) takes a deep dive into the complicated concepts surrounding time and the multitude of ways it can be experienced. Combining historical research, philosophical ideas, and social commentary, it offers new approaches to perceiving time that can help us learn to truly live in the present while looking toward a more hopeful future.

Who should read Saving Time?

  • Anyone curious about the concept of time
  • People suffering from a lack of time or burnout
  • Fans of history, science, and philosophy

2
Guns, Germs and Steel

Guns, Germs and Steel

Jared Diamond
The Fates Of Human Societies
4.2 (332 ratings)

What's Guns, Germs and Steel about?

Guns, Germs, and Steel (1997) is a short history of humanity over the last 13,000 years. The question it poses is as simple to state as it is hard to answer: Why did some parts of the world develop advanced technologies while others didn’t? It rejects explanations that rely on assumptions about the relative intelligence of different peoples. Instead, it argues that the divergence of human societies is best explained by natural factors such as climate, biology, and geology. 

Who should read Guns, Germs and Steel?

  • History buffs
  • Scientists
  • Anyone interested in the big picture of humanity’s development

3
This Naked Mind

This Naked Mind

Annie Grace
Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life
4.2 (133 ratings)

What's This Naked Mind about?

This Naked Mind (2015) challenges our culture's love affair with alcohol. It offers matter-of-fact, actionable insights that help free drinkers from its perceived hold.

Who should read This Naked Mind?

  • Party animals who want a permanent break
  • Mindful drinkers seeking balance
  • Curious cats who question cultural norms

4
Real Self-Care

Real Self-Care

Pooja Lakshmin
A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included)
4.6 (14 ratings)

What's Real Self-Care about?

Real Self-Care (2023) exposes the dark side of the global self-care industry by connecting the systemic inequality faced by marginalized groups like women and people of color, and the stress, burnout and chronic illness faced by so many. It offers a science-based alternative and cognitive strategies for living with ease and purpose. 

Who should read Real Self-Care?

  • Frustrated self-carers who feel they’re somehow doing it wrong
  • Tired life-optimizers who wonder why they still feel behind
  • Those looking for kinder, gentler transformation from the inside-out

5
Becoming Supernatural

Becoming Supernatural

Dr. Joe Dispenza
How Common People are Doing the Uncommon
4.2 (441 ratings)

What's Becoming Supernatural about?

Becoming Supernatural (2017) explores how everyday people can become supernatural. It references breakthrough studies, ongoing research, and incredible stories from regular people that show how anyone can create incredible mental and physical changes within themselves and others by connecting to the unseen energies of the world.

Who should read Becoming Supernatural?

  • Anyone interested in intentionally improving their life
  • People searching for greater connection with the world
  • Those curious about how humans can directly access the quantum realm

6
The Myth of Normal

The Myth of Normal

Gabor Maté with Daniel Maté
Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture
4.6 (746 ratings)

What's The Myth of Normal about?

The Myth of Normal (2022) unpacks why chronic disease and mental illness are on the rise. Western medicine focuses on individual pathologies, but what if the key actually lies in our culture? Things we consider normal – like stress, adversity, and trauma – are often toxic and breed disease. The pathway back to health rests in identifying and addressing these underlying conditions.

Who should read The Myth of Normal?

  • Health professionals who want the bigger picture
  • Lovers of a good social critique
  • Anyone working through health challenges

7
The Ethical Slut

The Ethical Slut

Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton
A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love
4.0 (48 ratings)

What's The Ethical Slut about?

The Ethical Slut (1997) has long been the trusted handbook for anyone exploring sex, romance, and intimacy outside the constraints of monogamy. An updated 2017 edition combines time-tested strategies for navigating polyamory with advice on how to embrace an even greater diversity of orientations and relationship configurations.

Who should read The Ethical Slut?

  • Pleasure-seekers who’d like to explore a greater variety of sexual partners
  • Seasoned polyamorists who want to make multiple partnerships really work
  • Anyone who lives – or would like to live – outside the strictures of conventional monogamy

8
I Am the Storm

I Am the Storm

Janice Dean
Inspiring Stories of People Who Fight Against Overwhelming Odds
4.0 (29 ratings)

What's I Am the Storm about?

I Am the Storm (2023) is an inspiring dive into what it takes to stand as a David against a Goliath. From a single gymnast who took on a whole abusive system, to a grieving mother who chose to tackle the US opioid epidemic head on, it shows that anyone can make a stand for what they believe in, no matter how big their opponent may seem.

Who should read I Am the Storm?

  • Anyone looking for inspiration to face the challenges in their life
  • People sick of big organizations acting with impunity
  • Believers in the strength of human will

9
How to Change Your Mind

How to Change Your Mind

Michael Pollan
What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
4.4 (281 ratings)

What's How to Change Your Mind about?

How to Change Your Mind (2018) is a fascinating account of one man’s exploration of the psychedelic drug world. Author Michael Pollan takes readers along for the ride as he learns first-hand about the positive aspects of psychedelic drugs, including the healing and restorative effects they can have on people suffering from depression and addiction. Readers will also hear from neuroscientists to learn exactly what is happening in the brain during a psychedelic trip.

Who should read How to Change Your Mind?

  • Psychologists and therapists
  • Depressive people and addicts
  • Spiritual seekers

10
The Myth of American Inequality

The Myth of American Inequality

Phil Gramm
How Government Biases Policy Debate
4.0 (68 ratings)

What's The Myth of American Inequality about?

The Myth of American Inequality (2022) corrects widespread misconceptions about inequality in the United States. Taking aim at misleading official statistics, it shows that poverty has all but disappeared in today’s America and that the gap between rich and “poor” isn’t nearly as large as many people assume. 

Who should read The Myth of American Inequality?

  • Politicos and policymakers
  • Historians and economists
  • Anyone interested in contemporary debates about economic justice

11
The Dawn of Everything

The Dawn of Everything

David Graeber & David Wengrow
A New History of Humanity
4.1 (327 ratings)

What's The Dawn of Everything about?

The Dawn of Everything (2021) is a reimagining of the history of humanity, based on new discoveries in the worlds of anthropology and archeology. According to the authors, new findings challenge what we thought we knew about hierarchies, inequality, property, and the state. 

Who should read The Dawn of Everything?

  • Anyone who’s ever shaken their fist at bureaucracy
  • History lovers of all stripes
  • Those who want to be Indiana Jones when they grow up

12
Little Women

Little Women

Louisa M. Alcott
A Coming-of-Age Novel about True Love and Finding One's Place in Life
4.8 (16 ratings)

What's Little Women about?

Little Women (1868-1869) tells the story of the four March sisters, and the struggles and day-to-day obstacles they faced while becoming young adults. While the story takes place in the American Northeast, it’s a universal coming-of-age story that has been appreciated around the world.

Who should read Little Women?

  • Fans of stories told from a female perspective
  • Lovers of classic literature
  • Anyone who likes a good young adult story

13
How Proust Can Change Your Life

How Proust Can Change Your Life

Alain de Botton
Valuable Insights Into Living Your Best Life
4.6 (303 ratings)

What's How Proust Can Change Your Life about?

How Proust Can Change Your Life (1997) melds literary biography with a self-help structure to argue that reading the work of twentieth-century French author Marcel Proust is not only culturally enriching, but potentially life-enhancing. Botton’s close reading of Proust’s masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, offers up surprising and delightful insights into how to live better.

Who should read How Proust Can Change Your Life?

  • Voracious readers who have yet to embark on In Search of Lost Time
  • Reluctant readers who’d like to read more than they currently do
  • Anyone looking to take on a literary challenge

14
This Is Your Mind on Plants

This Is Your Mind on Plants

Michael Pollan
Examining the Human Attraction to Consciousness Altering Plants
4.3 (279 ratings)

What's This Is Your Mind on Plants about?

This Is Your Mind on Plants (2021) is a vivid, intricate probe into the history, chemistry, and effects of three plant-derived drugs: opium, caffeine, and mescaline. These substances – a sedative, a stimulant, and a hallucinogen – represent a large part of the human experience with drugs. It’s time to shed new light on how they’ve shaped our histories, cultures, and minds.

Who should read This Is Your Mind on Plants?

  • Psychonauts and introspective thinkers
  • Botanists, plant lovers, and science geeks
  • Anyone interested in the history of the US war on drugs and its effects

15
The Authoritarian Moment

The Authoritarian Moment

Ben Shapiro
How the Left Weaponized America's Institutions Against Dissent
3.6 (162 ratings)

What's The Authoritarian Moment about?

The Authoritarian Moment (2021) is a plea to preserve America’s foundational freedoms in an era of rising authoritarianism. Rejecting a culture of censorship and conformity, it urges readers to stand up against the intolerance endemic to many modern institutions.

Who should read The Authoritarian Moment?

  • Americans of all political parties who fear for their nation’s future
  • Skeptics of widespread wokeism, ideological intolerance, and cancel culture
  • Anyone concerned with preserving foundational American freedoms

16
Nomad Century

Nomad Century

Gaia Vince
How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World
4.0 (68 ratings)

What's Nomad Century about?

Nomad Century (2022) proposes a radical solution to the looming climate apocalypse, one that’s as practical as it is controversial. To tackle the effects of climate change, we need to migrate and be more tolerant of those who’ve been forced to move.

Who should read Nomad Century?

  • Supranational bodies trying to tackle the climate crisis
  • Governments dealing with climate migration
  • Scientists, communities, and NGOs

17
Walk the Blue Line

Walk the Blue Line

James Patterson and Matt Eversmann
They walk the line between life and death
4.4 (10 ratings)

What's Walk the Blue Line about?

Walk the Blue Line (2023) is a collection of real-life stories from police and law enforcement officers working across the United States. Their experiences detail the good, the bad, the gory, and the lasting influence these events have on their lives.

Who should read Walk the Blue Line?

  • Anyone with an interest in policing
  • Organizations seeking dialogue between communities and law enforcement
  • Citizens trying to understand what it feels like to work as a policeman in the US

18
Woke, Inc.

Woke, Inc.

Vivek Ramaswamy
Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam
4.0 (160 ratings)

What's Woke, Inc. about?

Woke, Inc. (2021) explores how the ideology of wokeness has come to infect America’s corporate sphere. While paying lip service to various social-justice causes, major American companies are acting in ways that are anything but just –⁠ and generating major profit in the process. Aside from being a nefarious way for corporations to make money, this strategy is also doing lasting damage to American democracy in surprising ways, and it’s time to snuff it out.

Who should read Woke, Inc.?

  • Conservatives and centrists worried about the excesses of progressivism
  • Liberals who want to hear the other side’s perspective
  • Anyone interested in American social ills

19
The Forgotten 500

The Forgotten 500

Gregory A. Freeman
The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II
4.6 (183 ratings)

What's The Forgotten 500 about?

The Forgotten 500 (2007) tells the story of Allied airmen who were trapped behind enemy lines in World War II and the courageous citizens of Yugoslavia who risked everything to help them get home. For political reasons, the story remained classified for decades until the 1980s. But now, the events leading to the largest rescue operation of the war are available to us all.

Who should read The Forgotten 500?

  • Any and all who are interested in the Balkans or World War II history
  • Serbians and Americans looking to learn more about their nations’ past
  • Everyone who enjoys a riveting story about people overcoming overwhelming odds

20
A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century

A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century

Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein
Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life
3.8 (405 ratings)

What's A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century about?

Hunter Gatherers (2021) explores the mismatch between our evolutionary tendencies and our modern environments. It outlines how seemingly innocuous aspects of contemporary living are harming us, and stifling our true nature and potential.

Who should read A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century?

  • Psychology buffs looking for fresh insights
  • Anyone interested in evolutionary biology
  • Fans of natural history

21
Faith Still Moves Mountains

Faith Still Moves Mountains

Harris Faulkner
Miraculous Stories of the Healing Power of Prayer
3.9 (37 ratings)

What's Faith Still Moves Mountains about?

Faith Still Moves Mountains (2022) is a collection of inspiring real-life stories that reveal God’s presence in our lives. Drawing on the testimonies of people who have triumphed against the odds, it shows that prayer is more than a ritual – it’s an essential spiritual strategy in a world filled with hardships.

Who should read Faith Still Moves Mountains?

  • Believers interested in spiritual practices
  • History buffs
  • Anyone who loves inspiring stories

22
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

Rashid Khalidi
A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017
4.4 (99 ratings)

What's The Hundred Years' War on Palestine about?

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine (2020) is a detailed and rigorous look at one of the most misunderstood regions of the world. This timely text chronicles Palestinian history from the perspective of Palestinians. 

Who should read The Hundred Years' War on Palestine?

  • Outsiders keen to learn Palestine’s complex history
  • Zionists open to alternative perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict
  • Anyone seeking to understand current events in the Middle East

23
You Are Your Best Thing

You Are Your Best Thing

Edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown
Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience
4.2 (90 ratings)

What's You Are Your Best Thing about?

You Are Your Best Thing (2021) is an anthology of original essays that explore Black experiences of living, loving, and parenting in America today. It examines concepts like vulnerability and shame, and shows that the key to personal healing lies in confronting white supremacy and the racist systems that make Black people feel unsafe in their communities. 

Who should read You Are Your Best Thing?

  • Black people looking for tools to heal from trauma
  • Psychology-lovers seeking new perspectives on how the personal and political intersect
  • Those who want to deepen their understanding of the impact of racism in America

24
Dominion

Dominion

Tom Holland
How the Christian Revolution Remade the World
4.4 (70 ratings)

What's Dominion about?

Dominion (2021) is a grandiose look at the impact Christianity has had on the development of the Western mind. From its roots in antiquity to the pop singles of the twentieth century, the story follows the dramatic development of Christian thought over three thousand years.

Who should read Dominion?

  • Lovers of broad-sweep history
  • Those looking for an insouciant take on European history
  • Anyone who thinks they know what Christianity is all about

25
Manufacturing Consent

Manufacturing Consent

Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
The Political Economy of the Mass Media
4.5 (164 ratings)

What's Manufacturing Consent about?

Manufacturing Consent (1988) takes a critical view of the mass media to ask why only a narrow range of opinions are favored whilst others are suppressed or ignored. 

It formulates a propaganda model which shows how alternative and independent information is filtered out by various financial and political factors allowing the news agenda to be dominated by those working on behalf of the wealthy and powerful. Far from being a free press, the media in fact maintain our unequal and unfair society.

Who should read Manufacturing Consent?

  • Anyone who wants to know who sets the agenda of the mass media
  • Anyone who would like to know whose interests the media serve
  • Anyone who wants to understand why the mass media suppress independent voices

26
A Room of One’s Own

A Room of One’s Own

Virginia Woolf
An Essential Literary and Feminist Text
4.5 (213 ratings)

What's A Room of One’s Own about?

A Room of One's Own (1929) is a perceptive rumination on gender and self-expression. This extended essay explores the social and structural barriers women face when creating art.

Who should read A Room of One’s Own?

  • Artists looking for inspiring words
  • Women exploring the history of feminism 
  • Those struggling to understand social injustice

27
“You Just Need to Lose Weight”

“You Just Need to Lose Weight”

Aubrey Gordon
And 19 Other Myths About Fat People
2.8 (20 ratings)

What's “You Just Need to Lose Weight” about?

“You Just Need to Lose Weight” (2023) takes a deep dive into some of society’s most harmful myths about fat people. By revealing the facts behind these common misconceptions, Aubrey Gordon gives readers the tools to analyze their own internal biases, combat anti-fat discrimination, and support the goal of social acceptance for people of all sizes.

Who should read “You Just Need to Lose Weight”?

  • Anyone who wants to learn about the myths surrounding fatness
  • People interested in confronting anti-fat bias and discrimination
  • Supporters of fat activism

28
On the Fringe

On the Fringe

Michael D. Gordin
Where Science Meets Pseudoscience
4.0 (105 ratings)

What's On the Fringe about?

On the Fringe (2021) delves into what defines a pseudoscience along historical and philosophical lines. With the rise of climate-change deniers and anti-vaxxers, understanding the demarcation between science and pseudoscience has a newfound urgency. By exploring pseudosciences such as astrology, the flat-Earth model, and ESP, we can learn about the nature of science in both the past and the present.

Who should read On the Fringe?

  • Historians, scientists, and philosophers
  • Astrology enthusiasts
  • Climate-change activists

29
The Extended Mind

The Extended Mind

Annie Murphy Paul
The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
4.8 (981 ratings)

What's The Extended Mind about?

The Extended Mind (2021) is an exploration of the power of thinking outside the confines of your brain. It shows that the path to greater intelligence is not locked within your skull. Rather, it's a path through your body, your environment and your relationships with others. 

Who should read The Extended Mind?

  • People interested in the interaction of the body, brain and environment
  • Anyone interested in designing better spaces for creativity and teamwork
  • Anyone who’d like to optimize their working and learning relationships

30
The Quick Fix

The Quick Fix

Jesse Singal
Why Fad Psychology Can't Cure Our Social Ills
4.2 (76 ratings)

What's The Quick Fix about?

The Quick Fix (2021) is a skeptical study of recent trends in behavioral psychology. Academic studies and TED talks may appear to make a convincing case for the power of positive thinking or the impact of implicit bias, but sometimes the evidence just isn’t there. In a complex world, the explanations for human behavior are often more nuanced than some modern psychologists would have you believe.

Who should read The Quick Fix?

  • Psychology skeptics
  • Those interested in societal problems and human behavior
  • Anyone who has ever viewed a TED talk

31
Written in History

Written in History

Simon Sebag Montefiore
Letters that Changed the World
3.8 (89 ratings)

What's Written in History about?

Written in History (2018) takes a look at some of the world’s most important letters. From love letters revealing the intimate sides of Mozart and Stalin to political statements which altered the course of history, these blinks guide you through the personal thoughts of many renowned figures of the past. As you’ll see, letters give us insight into historical events as well as remind us what it means to be human.

Who should read Written in History?

  • History buffs
  • Students of political science or communications
  • Readers interested in the private thoughts of powerful people

32
The Omnivore's Dilemma

The Omnivore's Dilemma

Michael Pollan
A Natural History of Four Meals
4.5 (63 ratings)

What's The Omnivore's Dilemma about?

We face an overwhelming abundance of choices when it comes to what we eat. Should you opt for the local, grass-fed beef, or save time and money with cheap chicken nuggets? Organic asparagus shipped from Argentina, or kale picked from your neighbor’s garden? The Omnivore’s Dilemma examines how food in America is produced today and what alternatives to those production methods are available.

Who should read The Omnivore's Dilemma?

  • Anyone thinking about changing their eating habits – whether by becoming a vegetarian, switching to organic produce or trying their hand at hunting, gathering or growing their own food
  • Anyone interested in sustainability, food policy or food politics

33
Nice Racism

Nice Racism

Robin DiAngelo
How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm
3.0 (286 ratings)

What's Nice Racism about?

Nice Racism (2021) challenges everything we think we know about racism. Most racists don’t belong to the far right, and they don’t consciously support white supremacy. Instead, they’re “nice” progressive white people who commit daily microaggressions because they’ve never properly confronted their own biases. By abandoning niceness and becoming accountable instead, white people can develop into better allies in the fight for racial justice.

Who should read Nice Racism?

  • White activists seeking better tools to fight racism 
  • White would-be allies who are ready to confront their internal biases
  • Black people and people of color interested in learning more about the workings of white supremacy

34
The Soul of a Woman

The Soul of a Woman

Isabel Allende
A personal meditation on life, feminism, and what it means to be a woman
4.4 (64 ratings)

What's The Soul of a Woman about?

The Soul of a Woman (2021) is an honest and personal meditation on life, feminism, and what it means to be a woman. Drawing on experiences from the author’s life, it explores issues around women’s oppression, love, ambition, aging, and abuse. It is at once the story of one woman and the story of all women.

Who should read The Soul of a Woman?

  • Anyone who has experienced misogyny
  • Men who want to understand what life is like for women
  • Fans of biographies and memoirs

35
How to be a Conservative

How to be a Conservative

Roger Scruton
Conservative Ideology for Contemporary Times
3.6 (166 ratings)

What's How to be a Conservative about?

How to be a Conservative (2014) presents the case for traditional conservatism in a world that seems inhospitable to its existence. In this short volume, English philosopher Sir Roger Scruton lays out the case for the nation-state, a free market, and a more sensible approach to multiculturalism and human rights.

Who should read How to be a Conservative?

  • Those who walk on the right side of politics
  • Anyone interested in political philosophy
  • Leftists looking for an alternative perspective

36
Wanting

Wanting

Luke Burgis
The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life
4.5 (110 ratings)

What's Wanting about?

Wanting (2021) provides a riveting, philosophical answer to the question Why do we want the things we want? Drawing on theories originally developed by the celebrated polymath René Girard, it reveals an uncomfortable truth: that our desires are all ultimately a product of other people’s desires. The point isn’t to eliminate them,⁠ but rather to choose, carefully and consciously, which ones we should actually strive for. 

Who should read Wanting?

  • Lovers of philosophy, psychology, and literature
  • Dedicated self-improvers
  • Young entrepreneurs and business leaders

37
Cinema Speculation

Cinema Speculation

Quentin Tarantino
Hollywood History Through the Eyes of a Contemporary Filmmaker
4.0 (119 ratings)

What's Cinema Speculation about?

Cinema Speculation (2022) is part personal history, part movie criticism, and part film reporting. It takes a look at several key 1970s movies from director Quentin Tarantino’s perspective. While he discusses each movie, he sometimes also indulges in a few what-ifs.

Who should read Cinema Speculation?

  • Film buffs eager to get inside Quentin Tarantino’s mind
  • Dirty Harry, Taxi Driver, and Escape From Alcatraz aficionados
  • Fans of Don Siegel and Martin Scorsese

38
The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth

The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth

Thomas Morris
And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine
3.6 (52 ratings)

What's The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth about?

The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth (2018) charts some of the most interesting and unpredictable events in the emergence of modern medicine. From tragic operations to bizarre cures, these blinks explore a history of medicine that most doctors would prefer to ignore.

Who should read The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth?

  • Medical workers interested in the hidden history of medicine
  • Science buffs keen to discover some of history’s wackiest medical theories
  • History nerds interested in a fascinating historical niche

39
Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Nicholas Griffin
The Secret History Behind the Game That Changed the World
4.5 (58 ratings)

What's Ping-Pong Diplomacy about?

Ping-Pong Diplomacy (2014) is the tale of how China and the United States ended two decades of diplomatic silence and antagonism. This breakthrough did not originate in embassies or politicians’ offices. Instead, it began at the ping-pong table. These blinks show how a sport shaped by a communist-leaning aristocrat changed politics forever. 

Who should read Ping-Pong Diplomacy?

  • Those with an eye for unusual history
  • People who are interested in ping-pong and politics
  • Sports fans interested in how their passion can change the world

40
The Story of Sushi

The Story of Sushi

Trevor Corson
An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice
4.1 (44 ratings)

What's The Story of Sushi about?

The Story of Sushi (2007) takes a closer look at the classic Japanese dish that has taken the Western world by storm. Discover the secrets behind both the traditional and more modern ingredients of sushi – and find out what kind of rituals and techniques are used to make the perfect nigiri.

Who should read The Story of Sushi?

  • Sushi skeptics wondering what’s so great about tiny portions of rice and fish
  • Foodies who want to know what makes the best sushi
  • Chefs and restaurateurs wishing to add sushi to their menu

41
Napoleon’s Buttons

Napoleon’s Buttons

Penny LeCouter & Jay Burreson
How 17 Molecules Changed History
4.4 (51 ratings)

What's Napoleon’s Buttons about?

Napoleon’s Buttons (2004) is all about the molecules that have guided the course of human history in the unlikeliest of ways. These blinks explore how major geopolitical and social changes can be traced back to the simple bonding of atoms in a molecule.

Who should read Napoleon’s Buttons?

  • People interested in the history of chemistry
  • Students of history who want a different perspective on world events
  • Anyone who’s intrigued by the ways everyday objects have changed world history

42
The Rift

The Rift

Alex Perry
A New Africa Breaks Free
4.3 (53 ratings)

What's The Rift about?

The Rift (2015) is a revealing look at Africa’s emergence as a continent no longer defined by poverty, war, corruption and dependence on the West. Find out how modern farming methods, solar and mobile technologies and new leadership are creating a brighter future for Africa.

Who should read The Rift?

  • Investors looking for new opportunities in Africa
  • Those dubious of the idea that Africa is only about war and famine

43
No Cure for Being Human

No Cure for Being Human

Kate Bowler
(and Other Truths I Need to Hear)
4.0 (241 ratings)

What's No Cure for Being Human about?

No Cure for Being Human (2021) is the thoughtful chronicle of Kate Bowler’s attempts to make the most of her life after a brutal cancer diagnosis at only 35. Part memoir, part critique of the widespread obsession with positivity, No Cure for Being Human is a poignant dispatch from the fragile border between life and death.

Who should read No Cure for Being Human?

  • Those who’ve supporting a loved one through a serious diagnosis, or have received one themselves
  • Critics of the prosperity gospel and impeccably curated Instagram feeds
  • Those grappling with the idea that they, too, might be incurably human

44
Moody Bitches

Moody Bitches

Julie Holland
The Truth About the Drugs You’re Taking, the Sleep You’re Missing, the Sex You’re Not Having, and What’s Really Making You Crazy
4.1 (48 ratings)

What's Moody Bitches about?

Moody Bitches (2015) is your guide to the female body and brain. These blinks explain some of the reasons behind the emotions and fluctuating moods that women can experience and how they can better tune into themselves, embrace their feelings and their bodies.

Who should read Moody Bitches?

  • Women who are frustrated by their mood swings
  • Young girls who want to know more about their brains and bodies
  • Women who want to have better sex

45
We Are Displaced

We Are Displaced

Malala Yousafzai
My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World
4.5 (78 ratings)

What's We Are Displaced about?

In We Are Displaced (2018), international activist Malala Yousafzai shares her story of becoming displaced from her homeland of Pakistan. She also shares the stories of some of the women and girls she has met while visiting refugee camps across the globe. With over 68.5 million people currently displaced from their homes worldwide, these stories are a vivid and important reminder of the individuality and humanity of each and every displaced person.

Who should read We Are Displaced?

  • Anyone interested in the stories of refugees
  • People inspired by the resilience of women and girls
  • Those looking to dig deeper into the causes of displacement

46
A Long Way Gone

A Long Way Gone

Ishmael Beah
Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
4.3 (26 ratings)

What's A Long Way Gone about?

A Long Way Gone (2007) is a story of how, as a young boy in Sierra Leone, the author found himself caught in a civil war and recruited as a child soldier. You’ll travel alongside during his harrowing journey, eventual rescue and recovery guided through the kindness and grace of loving people.

Who should read A Long Way Gone?

  • Anyone interested in modern history of Sierra Leone
  • Students of history exploring civil wars and warfare
  • People curious about the ongoing plight of child soldiers in Africa

47
Narconomics

Narconomics

Tom Wainwright
How to Run a Drug Cartel
4.5 (43 ratings)

What's Narconomics about?

Narconomics (2016) gives us a tour of the business side of the $300-billion global narcotics industry. From human resources to PR to franchising and diversification, these blinks show how drug cartels run their operations not unlike highly successful businesses. By exploring the economic phenomena at work behind the world’s drug problem, the author presents new insights into how governments can defeat it.

Who should read Narconomics?

  • Students looking for fascinating applications of micro and macroeconomics
  • Readers interested in alternative perspectives on social issues
  • Anyone curious as to how the narcotics industry really works

48
Rogues

Rogues

Patrick Radden Keefe
True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks
3.9 (134 ratings)

What's Rogues about?

Rogues (2022) is a compilation of veteran journalist Patrick Radden Keefe’s most famous profiles for the New Yorker Magazine. Keefe delves into the lives of notorious criminals and con artists, exploring their complex motivations. He examines the societies that made them and the systems we have for bringing people to justice.

Who should read Rogues?

  • Fans of long-form journalism 
  • Anyone interested in how the rogues of this world get away with their crimes
  • People interested in psychology and how past events can influence human behavior

49
Playing the Whore

Playing the Whore

Melissa Gira Grant
The Work of Sex Work
3.5 (143 ratings)

What's Playing the Whore about?

Playing The Whore (2014) busts the myths still surrounding the topic of sex work and explores how and why society continues to shame the chosen profession of the sexually liberated. Unfortunately, society’s attitudes and laws often endanger, rather than protect, those who work in the sex industry. Discover why that is and why it’s time to change our perspective on one of the oldest professions in the world.

Who should read Playing the Whore?

  • Sexually liberated people tired of being judged
  • Conservative people curious about the opinion of a sex worker
  • Social workers looking for a different perspective

50
The Triumph of Seeds

The Triumph of Seeds

Thor Hanson
How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses & Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History
4.3 (26 ratings)

What's The Triumph of Seeds about?

The Triumph of Seeds (2015) tells the amazing story of the influence of seeds. Find out how plants have managed to endure and evolve over the course of Earth’s long history and how they manipulated both man and animal into doing their bidding.

Who should read The Triumph of Seeds?

  • Students of biology, ecology or agriculture
  • Botanists
  • Readers who love natural science or gardening

51
The Wellness Syndrome

The Wellness Syndrome

Carl Cederström and André Spicer
Why healthy living isn't all it says it is
3.1 (46 ratings)

What's The Wellness Syndrome about?

The Wellness Syndrome (2015) explains why a health craze that’s sweeping the world may not be all that healthy for you. These blinks get to the root of why we’re obsessed with making ourselves happier, healthier and harder-working – and who is reaping the benefits of this obsession.

Who should read The Wellness Syndrome?

  • Self-help practitioners looking for alternate viewpoints
  • Students of sociology
  • People suffering from work-related anxiety or depression

52
The Light of Days

The Light of Days

Judy Batalion
The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos
4.6 (74 ratings)

What's The Light of Days about?

The Light of Days (2021) tells the thrilling and harrowing story of the Jewish women in Nazi-occupied Poland who served as resistance fighters during World War II. These women took up arms in ghetto uprisings and served as important couriers on dangerous missions to transport guns and supplies across a hostile territory.

Who should read The Light of Days?

  • History buffs
  • Anyone interested in forgotten World War II stories
  • People who are inspired by fearless women

53
Picasso's War

Picasso's War

Hugh Eakin
How Modern Art Came to America
4.7 (186 ratings)

What's Picasso's War about?

Picasso’s War (2022) reveals the fascinating story behind America’s rocky relationship with modern art. It shows how a small group of individuals were able to overcome ridicule and accusations of “degenerate art” in order to turn the country into a haven for the world’s most progressive artists.

Who should read Picasso's War?

  • History buffs
  • Fans of Pablo Picasso and modern art

54
Open

Open

Johan Norberg
The Story of Human Progress
4.5 (65 ratings)

What's Open about?

Open (2020) traces the progress of ancient and modern human accomplishments, and reveals that behind all of our major advancements is a policy of openness, tolerance, and free trade. You’ll see how, from the Phoenicians to the Dutch East India Trading Company, the free flow of commerce and ideas has led to wealth, innovation, and problem-solving that would have never been possible otherwise.

Who should read Open?

  • History buffs
  • Those interested in the Brexit debate
  • People keen to know the secrets of innovation and progress

55
Rain

Rain

Cynthia Barnett
A Natural and Cultural History
3.9 (14 ratings)

What's Rain about?

Rain (2015) tells the story of one of the most valued, destructive and inspiring natural forces on our planet. These blinks trace a journey from rain worship in ancient cultures to the use of weather forecasting throughout the ages – and even the scientific explanation behind raining frogs.

Who should read Rain?

  • Anyone interested in the relationship between the natural world and human civilization
  • Hobby meteorologists seeking some background to the science

56
Built

Built

Roma Agrawal
The Hidden Stories Behind Our Structures

What's Built about?

Built (2018) tells the story of some of society’s unsung heroes: structural engineers. Sadly, structural engineering tends only to enter the news when something goes wrong, like when a building falls or a bridge collapses. In Built, Agrawal gives a fuller picture of what it means to be an engineer, offering a range of stories and engaging tidbits about the structures of our world and the people who built them.

Who should read Built?

  • People curious about how buildings are made
  • Aspiring structural engineers
  • Students interested in the history of engineering

57
Free Speech

Free Speech

Jacob Mchangama
A History from Socrates to Social Media
4.5 (126 ratings)

What's Free Speech about?

Free Speech (2022) traces the history of this world-defining idea. It provides a soapbox for some of free speech’s greatest proponents and highlights key events that pushed the idea forward from ancient times to the present. Offering an evenhanded treatment of the costs and benefits of free speech throughout history, it’s a powerful retort to all those forces that threaten to erode free speech today.

Who should read Free Speech?

  • Passionate defenders of free speech who could use more argumentative ammunition 
  • Students preparing for campus debates on whether free speech should be limited
  • Anyone on the left or right seeking insight into modern-day debates on free speech

58
The Great Race

The Great Race

Levi Tillemann
The Global Quest for the Car of the Future
3.6 (14 ratings)

What's The Great Race about?

The Great Race (2016) is a comprehensive history of the competition to produce electric vehicles. These blinks detail the various roadblocks that emerged in the effort to build electric vehicles, and how different countries and companies sought – and sometimes managed – to overcome them.

Who should read The Great Race?

  • Car enthusiasts
  • Engineering students
  • People curious about the history and development of electric vehicles

59
Dear America

Dear America

Graham Allen
Live Like It's 9/12
3.4 (192 ratings)

What's Dear America about?

Dear America (2021) is a call to action for Americans. It implores them to unite despite differences – and preserve their nation before it’s too late.

Who should read Dear America?

  • Americans of all political stripes
  • Anyone interested in US history
  • People intent on preserving free speech and diversity of thought

60
Touching the Rock

Touching the Rock

John M. Hull
An Experience of Blindness
4.7 (21 ratings)

What's Touching the Rock about?

Touching the Rock (1990) is an account of one man’s understanding of blindness. Having lost his sight as a full-grown man, John M. Hull explores the daily psychological and physical experience of being blind, the tools that the blind use to navigate space and relationships, and the meaning of blindness in a sighted world.

Who should read Touching the Rock?

  • Friends, relatives, or romantic partners of the blind
  • Anyone suffering from depression or a physical disability
  • Students of philosophy or psychology

61
Bourbon Empire

Bourbon Empire

Reid Mitenbuler
The Past and Future of America's Whiskey
4.5 (21 ratings)

What's Bourbon Empire about?

Bourbon Empire (2015) takes you on an exciting journey through time, revealing the complex history of America’s famous corn-based whiskey. Learn how this tipple survived the dry period of Prohibition, numerous corruption scandals and competition from overseas spirits while making its mark in politics and society.

Who should read Bourbon Empire?

  • People interested in what makes a “true” bourbon
  • Students curious about the role whiskey played in American history
  • Bartenders, mixologists or anyone exploring the popularity of bourbon

62
Live Wire

Live Wire

Kelly Ripa
Long-Winded Short Stories
3.1 (101 ratings)

What's Live Wire about?

Live Wire (2022) is a compilation of humorous essays by actor and talk show host Kelly Ripa. She opens up about her 30 years in showbiz and shares the challenges and joys of getting ahead in a male-dominated industry while raising a family. 

Who should read Live Wire?

  • Fans of Kelly Ripa looking for the inside scoop
  • Memoir-lovers who want to learn about one of the power players in media
  • Women looking for inspiration on how to thrive in a male-dominated industry

63
Minor Feelings

Minor Feelings

Cathy Park Hong
A Reckoning on Race and the Asian Condition
3.8 (49 ratings)

What's Minor Feelings about?

Minor Feelings (2020) is poet Cathy Park Hong’s searing account of life as an Asian American. Drawing on her own experiences alongside penetrating insights, it paints a picture of the purgatorial status that Asian Americans still face.

Who should read Minor Feelings?

  • Those looking to explore what it means to be Asian in the United States today
  • Memoir lovers
  • People who want to expand their understanding of racial issues

64
Disability Visibility

Disability Visibility

Alice Wong
First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
4.1 (76 ratings)

What's Disability Visibility about?

Disability Visibility (2020) is a compilation of original essays by people with disabilities. There are too few stories about what it’s like to be a disabled person navigating environments designed for the nondisabled. This collection brings visibility to some of these diverse experiences, and shows how limiting our ideas about disability really are.

Who should read Disability Visibility?

  • Disabled people looking for stories that represent diverse experiences of living with disabilities
  • Nondisabled people interested in confronting their prejudices about what it means to be disabled
  • Activists wanting to strengthen their movements by making them more intersectional

65
Fooling Houdini

Fooling Houdini

Alex Stone
Adventures in the World of Magic

What's Fooling Houdini about?

Alex Stone is a magic-enthusiastic and Ph.D. candidate in Physics at Columbia University. He's written for several magazines and newspapers. Fooling Houdini is his first bestselling book.

Who should read Fooling Houdini?

  • Magicians and mentalists
  • People who’ve been fooled by magic or mentalism

66
Falling Upwards

Falling Upwards

Richard Holmes
How We Took to The Air
3.9 (12 ratings)

What's Falling Upwards about?

Falling Upwards (2014) details the surprisingly rich history of hot-air balloons. It begins with the first successful human attempts to take to the air using balloons and goes on to chronicle their clandestine role in escape attempts and military ventures. From daring balloonists from the golden age of ballooning to the literature they inspired, it’s all covered here.

Who should read Falling Upwards?

  • Anyone with a taste for exploration and invention
  • Science enthusiasts
  • Historians of science

67
The Big Necessity

The Big Necessity

Rose George
The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters
4.9 (10 ratings)

What's The Big Necessity about?

The Big Necessity (2008) takes a detailed look at the issues surrounding human excrement. Most people would rather ignore these issues – but turning a deaf ear is precisely what’s led to the sanitation crises plaguing the world today. Sanitation is too important to dismiss; a lack of it is causing thousands of needless deaths worldwide. Find out what can be done to help in these blinks.

Who should read The Big Necessity?

  • Anyone who’s ever had a bowel movement
  • Anthropologists interested in city-planning, urban design and living
  • Activists interested in global health and saving lives

68
Social Media is Bullshit

Social Media is Bullshit

B.J. Mendelson
Why social media is overhyped.
3.4 (25 ratings)

What's Social Media is Bullshit about?

Social Media Is Bullshit puts a damper on the hype around social media by unveiling the economy behind it and addressing the commonly held misconceptions about the value of social networks for business. While social media can be a valuable asset for certain companies, it is not the cure-all that marketers and social media gurus would have you believe!

Who should read Social Media is Bullshit?

  • Anyone who is considering promoting themselves or their business on social media
  • Anyone who believes that social media has somehow revolutionized marketing
  • Anyone wondering why their social media strategy isn’t working

69
Go Like Hell

Go Like Hell

A. J. Baime
Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
4.4 (24 ratings)

What's Go Like Hell about?

Go Like Hell (2009) tells the remarkable story of a high point in automotive racing: the mid-60s rivalry between Ford and Ferrari, two very different car manufacturers that wanted to win at all costs. The pinnacle of this rivalry was the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most gruelling endurance race in the world as well as the most prestigious.

Who should read Go Like Hell?

  • Fans of the Ford vs. Ferrari movie
  • NASCAR and racing enthusiasts
  • Anyone who loves a good sports story

70
Factory Man

Factory Man

Beth Macy
How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local and Helped Save an American Town

What's Factory Man about?

Factory Man unveils the dark side of globalization; that is, the horrific impact it has had on American business and the lives of factory workers. In its detailed examination of twentieth-century furniture manufacturing, it reveals how to fight against the death of the local economy and, more importantly, why this fight is worth it.

Who should read Factory Man?

  • Anyone whose industry has been impacted by globalization
  • People in the furniture business
  • Anyone interested in geopolitics and offshoring

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