In this little book, ornithologist Philippe Dubois and philosopher Elise Rousseau help us navigate the difficulties of human life by learning from birds. You don't have to be a hobbyist bird-watcher or student of Nietzsche to grasp the messages packed into these concise chapters. A quick and enjoyable read that will leave you pondering in a good way.

Did you like the miniseries, Roots? If so, you'll also love this book by Bettye Kearse about her own family tree. This woman who leaves no challenge unmet (got a PhD and then, meh, why not--became a pediatrician) guides us through the task of becoming her family's griotte (keeper of stories). This is a responsibility handed down from generation to generation, and it is serious business. Well, her mom chose well. I enjoyed every page of this family history, although I'm sure pulling back the curtain into the past was painful for the author. She does a great job of making you feel that you were there in some small way, and sheds light on an accepted, but deplorable part of our nation's story. Dive in and learn how James Madison's family partook in this practice, and meet the scions that resulted. Proud to be Madisons? Maybe. But proud to have come from such strong African roots, for sure.

This captivating narrative by John Elder Robison ("John Elder", to his family) surprised me. I was expecting a somewhat dry but informative recounting of the author's experiences with "the system", and frustration with society's collective ignorance regarding the autism spectrum. While he did detail his life, some systemic assumptions, etc., it was a rollicking good read, filled with his quirky take on life and the adventures he's had along the way. I loved every page, and laughed a lot. Enjoyable, entertaining, and really educational. Makes one feel a bit of a clod to realize the trade-off our brains make when we're not on the spectrum.

During our brief sojourn in Denmark about 30 years ago, we learned these things: Danes love a party Danes drink a LOT, and can really hold their liquor Danes smoke a lot too Danes leave their babies outside in the stroller when they shop Visit Denmark and you'll be hungry--Danes love herring and red cabbage-- oh yeah, and eels "Best thing since sliced bread" has real meaning Denmark is cold Danes are very eco-conscious Danes don't love tourists Danes love a drinking slogan (or two) According to Helen, Denmark hasn't changed a whole lot in the last few decades. Charming, quirky, somewhat rigid, the Danes are proud of their country and their traditions. This book is charming, too, and lightly outlines the peculiarities that make this a great country, and the home of the happiest people. She gives lots of reasons this may be so, and plausible though they are, she leaves out the one that she glosses over pretty quickly--Danes take more antidepressants. Interesting. But her writing style is light, the anecdotes entertaining, and you may find yourself wanting to visit this country way up north. Just maybe pack a box of cookies for emergencies.

If you like the backstories of the Olympics, then this is the book for you. Arranged by categories (History, Legends, etc.), this collection of vignettes takes the reader comfortably through centuries of Olympic happenings. It's all there--upsets, heartwarmers, and the athletes who just wouldn't quit. People who beat the odds and some who just couldn't. The ultimate for armchair athletes, this read will have you wishing you were (or glad you aren't) an Olympian.

Holy moly. The cover specifies an assertion by the New York Times that this is "Waugh's finest achievement." Thank you, New York Times for saving me from ever reading one of his other, lesser achievements. It's not that the guy can't write, because he's, you know, Evelyn Waugh. It's just that I didn't care about any of the characters. Not a one. And then there was the naming. Julia, Cordelia, Celia, Cara--I was alternately confused by them and dismissive of them, because none of them seemed at all plausible. Mix up lifetimes of selfishness with the occasional sprinkle of religious fervor, and there you have it. Sorry, Dude, just not feeling it.

Two friends of different political ilks founded a podcast called "Pantsuit Politics" to show that it is, in fact, possible to discuss differing political views in a rational way. For those of us who are weary of the venom often spewed when discussing all things political these days, this book provides a calm, step by step plan for launching those political discussions you've been avoiding. Or botching. Spoiler alert: gotta give up the desire to "win" and focus on bridging those gaps. They found that they often have very similar goals, but just different ideas of how those goals should be reached. While controversy and contention make for good tv/radio ratings, those don't translate to peace and sustained friendships. For the truly determined, this book will help you grow up, speak up, and reach out.

This little book efficiently catalogues some of the venom that has been spewed at all of our presidents, chronologically. Seems that vitriol is as old as politics, and was just as nasty 200 years ago as it is now. Fun for the political nerd in your life, it's a quick and easy read, and helps us keep our eyes on the fact that nobody in that job has made everybody happy.

For white people, this mind-blowing spotlight of a book pierces the shadows of what we've all been comfortable and complicit with for our entire lives. With what, in fact, our parents and grandparents were comfortable with, and on and on back from the time white folks stepped foot on this land. If only this were a required course in 9th grade, with continuing education beyond, things might start to change. However, the author cites numerous examples of groups of "enlightened" people (white) who came voluntarily to a course to learn more about how to diminish the effects of racism at work, school, etc. only to find that these people are more interested in pointing fingers of blame at others than examining their own shortcomings. The truth is, the problem is in the bedrock of our society and it will take a nuclear blast to unhinge it. That, or years and years and years of slow erosion of the system we have now. 100% recommend this book, although it is a bit painful at times. But that's where we start--by getting a little less fragile.

We've all heard these stories of how elders were left behind to fend for themselves (translation: die) when times were hard for Native American peoples back in the day. Are things really any different now? When oldsters can no longer gainfully contribute, they often get shuttled off to the "home". This book relates the traditional lore of such an abandonment in the harsh Yukon River Valley. When two old women are left behind at the cusp of winter, they have some serious choices to make. Do they surrender to the elements and die? Or do they fight and use the skills they honed as young women to change their fate? And what happened to the people who left them behind? There's a lot packed into this little book. It's a great, quick read, with layered lessons for all of us.

Trump was elected with help from the religious right, and that includes self-proclaimed "evangelical" Christians. If you're curious about this distinction, the word is defined as: "of or according to the teaching of the gospel or of the Christian religion". Sounds kind of like a "round circle" to me. Anyway, for almost four years now, as we watch 45's parade of cruel acts, statements, and executive orders, slews of Americans have been stumped by how this base continues to support Donald Trump, while maintaining that their faith supports this ongoing preference for him over an alternative. This collection of essays by 30 evangelical Christians challenges his supporters to take a true look at what the Bible says and how their leader is behaving. Although the positions were generally more conservative than mine, I found the array of perspectives presented here interesting and enlightening. The problem is that these clear explanations of how Trump pretty much does the opposite of what is taught by parents, churches, temples, etc. will not ever reach the eyes of those who could benefit from this information, because it seems they're not searching for answers. They're searching for the justification of what they (and Trump) are doing. So therein lies the rub, folks.

The horror of 9-11 has seared in most of us memories and images that we wish we could forget. It's easy to get lost in the agony of the event, but this book reminds us that there were miracles on that day, too. Blind from infancy, Michael was only a teen when matched with his first guide dog. His job at the World Trade Center found him there on September 11th, 2001, along with his dog, Roselle. We go through that day with the two of them, and you can imagine how tense that all is. This remembrance of a horrific day in the lives of so many is artfully written (with co-writer, Susy Flory) in such a way that when you feel yourself starting to panic, the narrative switches to Michael's childhood or the nuts and bolts of being blind. There are several subtexts, and it was quite edifying. If the only thing you come away with is that blind people are just folks, that's a good outcome. But you won't. You'll be moved by the story of the Twin Towers, you'll be grateful for guide dogs, and will probably reconsider what you previously thought was a limitation.