Peter Plastrik and John Cleveland’s "Life after Carbon" is a highly engaging, forward-looking study of how modern cities are innovating to survive. This superb book looks at the evolution of the world’s cities and their challenging... Read More

Artists lean toward the eccentric, it’s true—each artist in their own way. When asked about his early decision to exclusively paint still lifes of flowers and fruit, Eric Wert had this to say: “Because I’m not very social, and... Read More

Lisandro Pérez’s "Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution" is a fascinating excursion into nineteenth-century New York, when wealthy plantation owners strolled its streets. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the social, cultural, and... Read More

Genius is as genius does. With fortuitous circumstances, genius can do more. Take Leonardo: The illegitimate son of a notary in the 1450s, he was blessed with paper and ink for playthings, and it became the material he used to express... Read More

Todd Richards’s Soul: A Chef’s Culinary Evolution in 150 Recipes is a thoughtful introduction to African American food, though it is only the launching point for Richards’s inventive cooking repertoire. Chapters begin with base... Read More

Johann Chapoutot’s "The Law of Blood" is a meticulously researched, chilling history of Nazism’s roots and doctrines that clarifies why the ideology was widely accepted for so long. The book is a comprehensive study of the cultural,... Read More

Drawing from her Appalachian roots and degrees in nutrition, Ashley English’s "Southern from Scratch" shows how to stock your kitchen with whole-food goodness, from sweet treats in the freezer to sparkling jars of home-canned pickles.... Read More

A series of serendipitous events, a generous mentor, and lots of hard work made it possible for young Liz Clark to fulfill her childhood dream of sailing and surfing around the world. But sailing "Swell" out of San Diego and watching her... Read More