non-fiction

December 14, 2023

compiled by Nicole Tomassi, Marketing & Conference Manager

Seasons Readings!

This is the sixth year for our annual December tradition of presenting books that members of the Westchester staff want to read or gift to others. Get more information about the titles by clicking on the cover images, which will take you to the IndieBound website, which uses the Bookshop.org platform to manage order fulfillment.

Not sure what book someone on your holiday list may want? Send them a digital gift card from Bookshop so that a portion of your purchase supports local, independent bookstores all around the country.

The Woman in White

Author: Wilkie Collins

Publisher: Penguin Classics

I am going to gift Wilkie Collins’, The Woman in White to my daughter. I’m currently reading it and am reminded why the classics have earned their place in history and are still a source of inspiration to modern authors. It is a beautifully crafted page-turner. I picked up my copy in an Oxfam bookshop in Bath. I buy from charity bookshops, Waterstone’s and independent bookshops.

Selected by: Julie Willis, Editorial & Pre-press Director, River Editorial

Book I want to Gift: The Wager

Author: David Grann

Publisher: Doubleday Books

This is a somewhat historical account of the HMS Wager and its 18^th century tale of mutiny on the seas. I almost feel like I can hear the sails whipping in the wind, the groans of the wood from the ship, along with shouts of the sailors just from reading the excerpt of this book. I know the person I’ll be gifting this to will love it.

Book I Want to Read: How to Say Babylon

Author: Safiya Sinclair

Publisher: 37 Ink

I listened to an interview with her earlier this year on NPR as she talked about her childhood growing up in a strict Rasta household and I was immediately fascinated. I know very little about the Rasta culture and I’m eager to read her memoir and learn more. Americans, for the most part, have a misperception about Rastafari culture, their relationship to marijuana, and what American’s think is a Rasta “laid back” way of life. I’m looking forward to reading about Ms. Sinclair’s experiences from her childhood.

Selected by: Deb Taylor, Chief Operating Officer

America Redux: Visual Stories from our Dynamic History

Author: Ariel Aberg-Riger

Publisher: HarperCollins

America Redux won the Kirkus Reviews Teen Award this year, but it’s really essential nonfiction “reading” for every American adult. “Reading” in quotes because it’s a graphic/illustrated book and the presentation of hard truths is so cool that you can’t look away. I can’t wait to give it to my nephew for Christmas: he’s 30, very socially conscious and as fun, caring, and deeply curious as any devoted aunt could hope for.

Favorite bookstore: The Bookshop of Beverly Farms. Genius recommendations.

Selected by: Christina DeYoung, Director, Client Solutions, Westchester Education

Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It

Author: Jennifer Breheny Wallace

Publisher: Portfolio

This was recommended by my wife as a must read for parents of adolescents. It addresses the rise of “toxic achievement culture” and the effects of always having to be the best that are placed on our kids by a variety of sources including culture and media. It offers solutions to best address these fallacies and provide them with resilience and self-confidence to recognize and overcome these messages, and find their own path. With a junior in high school and an eighth grader that face competitive pressure every day at school and in athletics, this seems like a great read.

Selected by: Kevin Schroeder, Director, Client Solutions, Westchester Education

North Woods
Author: Dennis Mason
Publisher: Random House

Pulitzer Prize Winner Daniel Mason’s North Woods plays out the passage of time in a farmhouse in Western Massachusetts over the course of several centuries. Books that examine a single location over the course of a long span of time have always fascinated me. From historical works to literary non-fiction like Tracy Kidder’s Hometown (also about a location in Western Massachusetts), or fiction titles that are more about a place than a single set of events, I’ve always found works that are conceptual about what makes a town or city special to be fascinating. This one’s on its way, and certainly the book that will be at the top of my reading pile at the end of the year.

Selected by: Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer

To learn about additional titles worthy of gifting to others or for yourself, the links below are for articles containing reviews about some of the best titles that were released during 2023:

Publishers Weekly: Best Books 2023

Kirkus Reviews: Best of 2023

National Public Radio: Books We Love 2023

Time Magazine: The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023

Vox Media/Vulture: The Best Books of 2023

May your holiday season be filled with lots of books given and received, along with some quiet time to read them. Wishing you all the best in 2024, when there are sure to be more new books for the TBR pile.

June 9, 2023

compiled by Nicole Tomassi, Marketing & Conference Manager

In a summer season likely to be filled with “revenge travel” as people catch up on trips that were postponed the last few years, it seems fitting that several of the reading selections made by the Westchester staff explore the travel theme in varying ways. Whether your summer plans take you to far-flung destinations on the other side of the world, as close as the Adirondack chair in your yard or somewhere in between, these books will help you pass the time and transport you to another location. Click on the cover images to visit the Indiebound website, for additional details and purchasing information.

Book Title: Hotel World
Author: Ali Smith
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton (A PRH imprint)

Why I want to read this book: My daughter brought this home from college—she was researching Muriel Spark and Smith quotes (and clearly is inspired by) Spark in the outset of the book, so she bought it, read it, and, as our children do, left it lying around the house. Curious, I picked it up and started reading. I’m only a chapter and a half in, but the first chapter was jaw-droppingly good. Smith experiments with form and language and bends reality in an unsettling but “gotta read more” way. The narrative is told by multiple perspectives, so I’m looking forward to seeing how some of the events unfurl through other characters eyes. If you like post-modernist literature, don’t sleep on this one.

Submitted by: Kevin J. Gray, President and Chief Content Officer, Westchester Education Services

Book Title: The Lincoln Highway
Author: Amor Towles
Publisher: Viking/Penguin

Why I want to read this book: This was recommended to me by my wife, and it looks like the perfect summer road trip read. It is the tale of four boys making their way from their family farm in Nebraska out west to San Francisco in search of a better life and their estranged mother. This sounds like a coming-of-age story with all of the detours and wrong turns as well as interesting folks they will encounter along the way. Perfect for passing the time while I am not behind the wheel as we head out on our own summer adventures.

Submitted by: Kevin Schroeder, Director, Client Solutions, Westchester Education Services

Book Title: The Histories – A Norton Critical Edition
Author: Herodotus
Publisher: W.W. Norton – a Westchester client and fellow ESOP company

Why I want to read this book: When I was young, this book had fueled my interest in history and mythology (Herodotus was a little gullible and believed many of the tall tales he heard during his travels). Recently, I found my old copy of this under a seat in my pickup truck, probably packed for a road trip many years ago and forgotten. I feel the need to reunite with it, and have a nostalgia trip as to why I got so excited about the classics when I was younger. Hopefully the well-worn older printing of the Norton Critical Edition I found in the truck can stand up to a trip or two to the beach this Summer.

Submitted by: Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer

Book Title: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn
Author: Mark Lawrence
Publisher: ACE

Why I want to read this book: A lot of times the premise of a book alone can really draw me in. This fantasy includes a huge sequestered underground library, and it follows a character who grew up in the library. As a former librarian, some of my favorite moments were opening the library before any patrons came in. It was very peaceful to be surrounded by the hushed quiet and comforting presence of books. Also, it sounds like this book includes time travel elements and I love time travel!

Submitted by: Christina Jones, Resource Manager, Westchester Education Services

Book Title: Daisy Jones & the Six
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Why I want to read this book: Although I enjoyed the ten-episode fictional series on Amazon, I feel there could have been more to the brief interview segments. Since the book is written exclusively in an interview style between each character, the book is likely to add some texture omitted from the episodes. Taylor is a great writer and really captured what was happening in the ’70s music scene in the series. I’m excited to see how she develops the characters in the novel.

Submitted by: Darryl Keck, Pagination Specialist

Book Title: The Book of Form and Emptiness
Author: Ruth Ozeki
Publisher: Penguin Books

Why I want to read this book: “The Book of Form and Emptiness” is a novel by Ruth Ozeki, who is a Professor of Humanities at Smith College. In addition to being a novelist, Ozeki is also a filmmaker and Zen Priest. Her exploration of contemporary topics and themes in the context of the ancient tradition of Zen intrigued me greatly. This book was recommended to me by a bookseller at Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, MA

Submitted by: Hugh Shiebler, Director, Client Solutions

Book Title: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders
Authors: Lorus and Margery Milne
Publisher: Knopf

Why I want to read this book: I’m a gardener, growing fruits, and vegetables. I need a go-to guide to help me in identifying which insects are beneficial and which are pests. The agricultural extension service used to be a great source of information regarding the latest gardening issues in our area, however, this is no longer the case and I’ve found this guide appears to be the best suited for my purposes.

Submitted by: Stephanie Nelson, Proofreader

Book Title: Little Monsters
Author: Adrienne Brodeur
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Why I want to read this book: I read Adrienne Brodeur’s memoir, Wild Game, shortly after it was released in paperback in the summer of 2020. I found it to be a compelling story about the deceits family members can entrap each other in and the terrible consequences that often result. This summer, the author is returning to fiction nearly 20 years after the release of her first novel, and I’m hoping the story she tells this time around is as fascinating a page-turner as her memoir.

Submitted by: Nicole Tomassi, Marketing and Conference Manager

Looking for some other interesting books to add to your TBR list this summer? Check out the selections offered up in these lists:

Publishers Weekly Summer Reads 2023

New York Public Library Staff Picks

Kirkus Reviews

Real Simple Best Books Summer 2023

Elle Best Summer Books 2023

These blog posts feature the titles we selected in previous summers.

May 28, 2021

Compiled by Nicole Tomassi, Marketing and Conference Manager

This is the fourth annual edition of this blog post, where I ask my colleagues to share with me (and all of you) what books are at the top of their reading pile for the upcoming summer season. They consistently come through with titles across all genres, whether new releases or beloved favorites, and this list is no exception in that regard. Perhaps your next favorite read is within the list below. Scroll down below these selections to find more information about additional titles that you may be interested in.

To purchase any of the titles shown along with thousands of others while also supporting the efforts of local, independent bookstores, click on the cover image to open up the Indiebound website. I also invite you to drop us a note and tell us what book(s) you will be reading this summer.

How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi

Publisher: Viking (Penguin Random House imprint)

Why I can’t wait to read this book: When messy interpersonal drama meets adventure (and it’s not my own!) how could I resist? Plus I love the representation in this one, it’s a Muslim family, an LGBTQ+ main character, and Rome, Italy for the setting. There’s nothing predictable in that combination, love this fresh POV.

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Why I can’t wait to read this book: This year, and the last especially, have been one trauma after another for someone who looks like me as history continues to repeat itself. The Hate You Give was a powerful and cathartic tribute to this lived experience. So I am eager to give myself time to read the prequel here. Angie Thomas just has a way with words, a way of making you feel seen.

Submitted by: India Barnes, Project Coordinator, Westchester Education Services

The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Why I can’t wait to read this book: I loved the original Hunger Games trilogy but President Snow was always a character I wanted to learn more about. What made him the person he became in the trilogy? So with this book, I’ll see if I’ll get some answers.

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Why I can’t wait to read this book: I was obsessed with the Twilight series and always wanted to know more about Edward’s past since we only got small glimpses from the books and movies. Now with the story being told from his perspective all that is out in the open to explore.

Submitted by: Kenia Gonzalez, Customer Service Representative

Keep Sharp by Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Why I can’t wait to read this book: This book is about brain health and how we can build a better brain at any age. It is a science-driven guide from a neurosurgeon. He engages with scientists around the world as they discover the secrets to cognitive longevity. Sounds very interesting!

Submitted by: Mona Tiwary, Director of Publishing Services, Westchester Publishing Services India

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Why I can’t wait to read this book: Recently, I was talking with one of our clients about our non-work volunteer roles in small communities. When I shared that I had recently become a trustee of my local library, she said “Have you read The Library Book?!?” I’m glad I took her advice and added this fantastic bit of literary journalism to my next book order. Using the story of a fire in 1986 in Los Angeles’ Central Library as a backdrop, the New Yorker‘s Susan Orlean writes a paean to libraries and their impact on communities, weaving in personal anecdotes, character studies, and more. I’ve started this and am looking forward to finishing it as the Summer gets underway.

Submitted by: Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Publisher: Celadon Books

Why I can’t wait to read this book: Summer reading requires a good page-turner, and I’m hopeful this is the one for me. A novelist-turned-professor who is struggling steals a previous (now deceased) student’s sure-thing book plot for a bestseller—massive success results, and then the threatening emails arrive. Who could possibly know that the plot is stolen?

Submitted by: Kim Giambattisto, Senior Production Editor

The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

Publisher: William Morrow, An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Why I can’t wait to read this book: After receiving a copy of The Woman in the Window last Christmas, I am finally getting around to reading it. I saw the end of the trailer for the new film on Netflix and would like to read the story before seeing the adaptation. It sounds as if it will be a fast-paced psychological thriller with many plot twists. I enjoy reading stories centered around mysterious predicaments that will keep the reader guessing.

Submitted by: Darryl Keck, Layout Specialist

The Federalist Papers by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Edited by Clinton Rossiter

Publisher: Signet Classic

Why I can’t wait to read this book: I am excited to revisit the thoughts behind the founding documents, especially concerning the presidency.

Submitted by: Tim Yetzina, Senior Supervising Editor for Science and Social Studies, Westchester Education Services

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy

Publisher: Timber Press

Why I can’t wait to read this book: The North American bird population has declined by almost 3 billion since 1970*. Three billion birds. Gone. When I learned this, I vowed to reduce my lawn and replace the useless turf with native plants that provide shelter, nesting, and food for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. While tuning in to our local public radio station, I heard Professor Tallamy speaking about his newest book. “Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats.”

* Bird population declines by nearly 3 billion

Submitted by: Rosemary Dannin, Project Manager, Westchester Education Services

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Publisher: Atria Books

Why I can’t wait to read this book: Buzz for this book has been circulating in my writing groups. It combines two of my favorite things—horror and publishing—and the author says Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” was one of the inspirations behind the book’s flavor of horror. I have no doubt it will be a page-turner!

Submitted by: Megan Overman, Senior Supervising Editor for Literacy and SEL, Westchester Education Services

Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan

Publisher: Random House

Why I can’t wait to read this book: A political science professor friend who was a founding team member of University of Dayton’s Human Rights Center recommended this book. He explained that in it, MacMillan deftly probes and reveals how the decisions made during the 1919 Paris peace talks that ended WWI directly set the stage for many of the world’s most enduring and complicated foreign policy challenges, including the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Submitted by: Kevin J. Gray, President and Chief Content Officer, Westchester Education Services

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Publisher: Viking

Why I can’t wait to read this book: Ah…summer reading. I have a few books on my radar for this summer. I was intrigued by The Midnight Library by Matt Haig that I believe came out in the fall. I love the idea of a mystical library with curated books just for you that let you see what that path may have looked like if you took it at some point. It sounds like it’s a twist on A Christmas Carol without the ghosts, but perhaps still with some of the regrets. A little mystical wishful thinking can be a fun read for the summer.

The Sagas of Icelanders edited by Örnólfur Thorsson

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Why I can’t wait to read this book: Also on my list is a large tome that isn’t meant to be read from cover to cover, The Sagas of Icelanders. Ancient tales of Vikings! Kings! Explorers! I received this as a gift and I’m looking forward to transporting to times of old.

A Good Horse Has No Color by Nancy Marie Brown

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Why I can’t wait to read this book: Lastly, also related to Iceland, but more contemporary is A Good Horse Has No Color by Nancy Marie Brown. Here, she shares her personal journey to Iceland in search of the perfect horse to bring back home. There’s more to it than that of course – but this sounds like a wonderful book for the summer.

Submitted by: Deb Taylor, Director of Market Research

Here are a few additional resources for new titles you may want to add to your reading list during the next few months:

Publishers Weekly Staff Picks – Summer 2021 and for the children in your life, PW’s selection of the best titles for pre-readers, middle grade, and young adults releasing this summer

Vulture – Summer Books Preview 2021

Chicago Tribune – Best Summer Reads 2021

SheReads – The Best Beach Reads of Summer 2021

Books We Want to Gift or Read: Holiday 2023 Edition