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New 400 - 600 Nonfiction Books 400 Languages 500 Math and Science 600 Health, Pets, Gardening, Cooking, and Technology |
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How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
by Sophia Smith Galer
Languages can be killed in many ways: war, the climate crisis, nationalism, and even quiet choices made at the dinner table. Around the world, an unprecedented shift is drawing speakers toward national and global lingua francas. For some, that means losing the language of parents or grandparents; for many, it is a permanent farewell to
systems that carry knowledge, culture, and belonging. With half of our 7,000 languages due to disappear this century, linguicide is one of the most pressing cultural emergencies of our age. In How to Kill a Language, journalist Sophia Smith Galer travels across continents and generations to chart this phenomenon. In Ecuador, she sees firsthand how shame deters parents from passing Kichwa onto their children. In Oman, she learns about languages with roots older than Arabic but
never officially recognized. And in Italy, she searches for her Nonna's dialet, which is vanishing from diaspora communities and Italy itself.
But languages can also be reclaimed: We meet the Karuk tribe of California, pioneering a grassroots language immersion program, and
the storytellers challenging the criminalization of Kurdish. And in her discussion of Hebrew, Smith Galer reckons with the unintended consequences of raising a language seemingly from the grave. Part investigation, part travelogue from a disappearing world, How to Kill a Language exposes the true costs of this mass extinction event.
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The Ghost of the Mountains: Unraveling the Secrets of the Snow Leopard
by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi
Snow leopards have a special grip on the human imagination, a symbol of the mysteries that still exist on our planet. These elusive predators
live solitary lives in the highest reaches of the Himalaya, moving along rock faces like smoke. They are also the flagship species of Himalayan conservation, key to the efforts to preserve this austere, delicate ecosystem. Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi (or Kullu, as he is widely known) is one of the world's leading snow leopard scientists. In The Ghost of the Mountains he offers an evocative and personal account of his decades of work in this field, from his exhilarating adventures on the high peaks to his efforts to build a community-based, collaborative
model for protecting the snow leopards and their remaining habitat.
That habitat is increasingly under threat as encroaching development, ongoing armed conflict, and rapidly intensifying climate change transform this region. Thrilling, illuminating, and filled with transporting storytelling, this is an important work from a gifted new voice. Kullu brings deep scientific and cultural knowledge to his depiction of this idyllic, remote region. As he describes his work as a conservationist in a rapidly changing world, he conveys an infectious sense of wonder. For Kullu, every snow leopard encounter is still a transcendent experience, offering a renewed sense of meaning and purpose.
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Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World
by Dan Werb
Synanthropes have always been an immutable part of the tapestry of
our lives. They are the reason we hear birdsong in the morning and skittering throughout the day, and why we take such pains to fix lids to our garbage cans. But they are so much more than that, too: epidemic vectors, churners of soil, ecosystem evolvers, spiritual lodestars, and, sometimes, sharp-toothed marauders making their way through our most intimate spaces with cruel intent. But beyond their quotidian
impact on our lives, synanthropes have a critical part to play in how our communities are shaped and how sustainably they function. These creatures are ambassadors from nature, arbiters of our planet's future, and a key influence on our species' ongoing evolution; and recently, something essential has shifted with them. We are in a fraught era of environmental disruption, habitat destruction, and human population expansion that is ravaging formerly wild and untouched habitats. That's caused us to become ever more inundated with synanthropes, which
are bringing delight, chaos and danger to our doorstep. These species, so long dismissed, are forcing us to reckon with them--from the hundreds of thousands of raccoons in urban spaces that spread our refuse no matter how many raccoon-proof bags and bins we invent, to the invasive kudzu plants that grow a foot a day, enveloping houses, telephone poles, trees, and any other structures into their green abyss. Now, as urban spaces increasingly become wild spaces, we have a choice: continue to resist them by any means necessary, or take the opportunity to promote a more harmonious coexistence.
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The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present
by Steve Brusatte
Tens of billions of birds share the planet with us, an astonishingly
diverse array of species that are present nearly everywhere humans call home--and many places we do not. With their flamboyant plumage, joyous dawn serenades, extraordinary aerial feats, they have captivated human imagination for millennia. Undeniably delicate creatures with hollow bones and thin skin protected by downy feathers, how did such
a seemingly fragile species break the bounds of Earth and begin to fly, how have they survived millennia, and how does their legacy shape our world? Hailed as one of the stars of modern paleontology (National Geographic), Steve Brusatte now tells the extraordinary story of the dinosaurs' living legacy: birds. He begins by exploring how dinosaurs gradually developed the trademark features of birds one-by-one--feathers, wings, beaks, big brains, keen senses, and warm-blooded metabolisms. He investigates why birds were the only dinosaurs to survive the cataclysmic asteroid impact 66 million years ago and chronicles how these survivors rapidly proliferated to produce the diversity of avian species we know today. A fascinating scientific history that unearths the origins of birds, The Story of Birds establishes the living legacy of this remarkable species.
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Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest
by Martin Sorge
When Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith crowned Martin Sorge the winner of The Great American Baking Show in 2023, few would have guessed that his baking journey began with him setting the microwave on fire trying to make a biscuit. But after years spent in the kitchen, he had become a full-fledged baking nerd next door--the perfect guide to explain how to adjust a recipe for rye flour or perfect your pavlova without bogging you down with too many details. In this debut cookbook, Martin shares those tips and many more, in a collection of recipes that highlight the ease and enjoyment of wholesome ingredients and simple flavors, while encouraging readers to try new twists on familiar favorites.
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Now We're Cooking: All-Purpose, Laid-Back Recipes
by Matthew Broussard
A Forbes best cookbook In Now We're Cooking, Matt Broussard--known to millions as @ACookNamedMatt proves that great food isn't complicated. Matt's superpower is making things easy, not just making them look easy. Drawing inspiration from the Texas border to Asia and back again he gives home cooks of all levels weeknight-friendly recipes with punch that can be made efficiently. Here, too, Matt shares the best tricks he's learned in his grandma's kitchen and top restaurants where Matt broke out in Seattle's electric dining scene. Anyone can do this,
and Matt makes you want to learn.
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Cooking Con Omi: A Love Letter to Puerto Rican Home Cooking
by Omi Hopper
Growing up in Puerto Rico, food had as much of an impact on Omi Hopper’s life as the culture. When her family moved to the mainland, Omi began to lose her connection with the island. So, she started cooking con Omi to tie her life as a wife and mother to her desire to keep her culture alive and thriving. Cooking con Omi is a celebration of Puerto Rican cooking with 100 classic and US-influenced Latino dishes that capture the vibrant, warm, and lively essence of Puerto Rican culture. For Omi, cooking is not a task or a chore, but a memory-making experience. It’s the crush of garlic in a pilón, the scent of sizzling sofrito, the bubbling of the caldero alongside the music and laughter of a full house of loved ones settling down to eat. Each section includes an introduction from Omi, sidebars about the origin of ingredients, headnotes with the stories behind each recipe, vibrant full-color photography, and an overall message of love and unity Omi communicates through her food.
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A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving: Lessons on Love, Care, and Survival: A Memoir
by Virginia Eubanks
Someone you love, maybe the person you love most in the world, is drowning. Should you jump in the water? Will you be able to bring both of you back to shore? One night, Virginia Eubanks received the kind of news we all fear. Her beloved partner had been brutally beaten, just steps from their home. She jumped in the water. Eubanks dove into the responsibilities of caregiving. In the weeks, months, and years that followed, she and her partner, J., struggled to stay afloat as they faced wave upon wave of setbacks: police disinterest, suspended health insurance, inadequate medical care, lost income, lost friends, endless paperwork, and, for J., a serious case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Then, a second case. Eubanks herself developed what is known as collateral PTSD, a condition common among caregivers but rarely discussed. She scanned the horizon for help. A reporter and an activist, Eubanks turned to reliable sources for guidance: scientists, therapists, trauma theorists, social movements. But it wasn't until she happened
on an old lifesaving manual that she found advice that actually helped. Inspired by its lessons, she signed up for instruction in wilderness first aid, kayak self-rescue, Winter Survival 101, map and compass navigation, bushwhacking, and lifeguarding. She went out in search of other people's stories and interviewed experts--everyone from neuroscientists to forest rangers. She gathered skills and knowledge
that made her feel strong, competent, better prepared for the
challenges ahead. Disarmingly funny and quietly wise, A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving is the story--heart-wrenching and all too relatable--of how one woman tried to rescue her beloved and learned that she
would also have to rescue herself.
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Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals about Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well
by Daniel E. Lieberman
Drawing from evolutionary biology, physiology, anthropology, anatomy, medical science, and history, Lieberman examines, with brio and wit,
the history and health effects of food from before the invention of cooking up to today's industrially produced diets. He shows how we evolved to eat almost anything, and by evaluating and trying many of these diets (raw food, Paleo, Mediterranean, Blue Zone, intermittent fasting, Atkins, DASH), he helps you understand why none is flawless though some are better than others. Lieberman explores the costs and benefits of cheap, energy-rich, tempting, and often unhealthy ultra-processed foods; the tangled roots of weight gain; how diet influences obesity, heart disease, and cancer; and the claims of benefits offered by high- and low-fat diets, meal replacements, intermittent fasting, carnivorism, vegetarianism, and veganism--while also showing how over centuries most cultures evolved ingenious ways to grow and cook healthy, delicious food. This fascinating and entertaining science-based book on nutrition, digestion, and health will teach you how to be well
fed instead of fed up with dietary hucksterism.
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American Alt: A True Story of Madness and Friendship in a Fractured Country
by Chris Lockhart
On the eve of January 6, 2021, Michael Dodd and his three friends
found themselves in a stolen vehicle on the grounds of the Washington State Capitol, armed to the teeth, and ready to kidnap Governor Jay Inslee. Only there weren't actually three others in the car - Michael was alone. Months later, the violent plan thwarted, Michael sat in a psychiatric hospital and learned that he was struggling with
undiagnosed schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. His knowledge of that fateful day was spotty, fractured by the different personality states he now knew were affecting his reality. Skeptical of a state mental health system, but anxious to find out how his world
turned upside down, he reached out to a longtime friend, the author Chris Lockhart, for help. American Alt is the odyssey of two friends
trying to piece together the fragments of Michael's shattered memory and uncover the truth of what pushed him to the edge. Set against the beautiful but economically fractured Pacific Northwest where both men rambled in their youth, Lockhart delivers a suspenseful, profoundly moving story of discovery and affirmation.
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How to Sound Wine Smart: An Illustrated Guide
by Maryse Chevriere
Have you ever been stumped in a restaurant, when the sommelier asks
if you like a super lean Chablis or a grippy Nebbiolo? Or reading the descriptions in a wine store, hoping to figure out what a hint of red fruit and smoke on the finish of that bottle really means? That's where this book will save you. How to Sound Wine Smart is a one-of-a-kind visual glossary, written and playfully illustrated by certified sommelier and James Beard Award-winning writer Maryse Chevriere. It breaks down
the complicated, often ridiculous-sounding language into its component parts. You'll learn terms to describe what's going on in a glass of wine, from its first impressions, aroma, flavor, acidity, texture and mouthfeel, condition, personality, to its faults and flaws--including sentences to impress people in real life. Even in a wine store And that's not all. Throughout the book are informative sections that explore crucial aspects of the world of wine like unfiltered vs. filtered, old world vs.
new world, and more. There's also a guide to glassware. Cheat sheets for tackling wine pairings, too. To put your knowledge to the test,
Maryse has designed drinking games that will have you smelling and tasting wines side-by-side to understand the quality of dry and sweet German Rieslings. Or the flavor differences between chardonnays that were aged in stainless steel or new oak. She makes this topic less intimidating, more accessible, and, always, enjoyable. Whether you're a longtime wine lover or a curious beginner, How to Sound Wine Smart is
a necessary (and fun, and funny) reference.
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Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity & Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI
by MD Suskind, Dana
As AI enters nurseries, playrooms, and classrooms, parents are being sold a smart childhood at every turn. This book is a guide to protecting the most important label of all: human raised. In her groundbreaking book Thirty Million Words, Dr. Suskind revealed the extraordinary power of parent talk and interaction in building children's brains. Now, with
the advent of artificial intelligence, the stakes of that nurturing interaction have become even clearer. New AI applications demonstrate what technology can replicate--but they also illuminate what it cannot: the capacity of human interaction to build not just children's skills but their very capacity for human connection. Human Raised reveals the possibilities and perils of using AI and related technologies for child-rearing. From monitors that decode cries, to smart cribs that soothe babies to sleep, to interactive chatbots designed to engage an
inquisitive toddler, the parenting landscape is shifting fast--and Dr. Suskind helps parents navigate this uncharted territory with clarity and confidence. Drawing from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and the lived experience of countless families, Human Raised prepares parents
to act as essential guardians to the gateway between AI and their children's developing minds--keeping human connection, in all its beautiful imperfection, at the center of childhood.
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A Horse's World: A Neuroscientist's Journey Into the Equine Mind
by Janet L. Jones
The bond between horses and humans has been treasured for centuries. Horses have served as aids to civilization, subjects of the earliest art, vehicles for global trade, and extreme athletes. Still, their cognitive processes have remained mysterious, even to the humans who love them. A Horse's World is the first book of its kind to explore the fascinating science of how horses think, feel, learn, and connect with their human companions. Neuroscientist and horse trainer Janet Jones provides scientific insight into the miracle of the horse-human connection. She illuminates the ways that equine cognition differs from our own. Whether you're an experienced rider or simply admire equine beauty and grace from afar, A Horse's World is both a window into horses' hearts and minds, and an object lesson in how to build mutual trust with those whose internal worlds differ from our own.
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