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Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise February 2021
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| Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine MayWhat it's about: The importance of retreat and reflection during trying times and the healing to be found in periods of "hibernation"
Why you might like it: Katherine May pulls thoughtful observations from a wide variety of sources like mythology and the natural world which could provide solace during periods of isolation and upheaval.
Want a taste? "When everything is broken, everything is also up for grabs. That’s the gift of winter: it’s irresistible. Change will happen in its wake, whether we like it or not." |
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| Do Right By Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Spaces by Valerie I. Harrison and Kathryn Peach D'AngeloWhat it is: A compelling and candid conversation for white parents of Black adopted children and how best to raise them with a strong, healthy relationship with their own identities
Reviewers say: Do Right By Me is a "timely examination of discrimination and privilege" that is "packed with insight" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Social Chemistry: Decoding the Patterns of Human Connection by Marissa KingWhat it's about: Science-based strategies for improving your social communication skills and building stronger, more rewarding professional connections
Topics include: Different approaches to network building and real world examples of each, from Vogue editor Anna Wintour (a "convenor") to cellist Yo-Yo Ma (a "broker") to Mad Money host Jim Cramer (an "expansionist")
Read it for: The approachable tone, thorough research, and robust annotations that include plenty of recommendations for further reading |
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| Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding by Daniel E. LiebermanWhat it is: A comprehensive yet accessible study of exercise through a social lens, which looks at the changing role of physical activity as part of the human experience
Why you might like it: The engaging writing; the author's ability to condense and simplify complex scientific concept and studies
Don't miss: The non-judgmental exploration of the social and evolutionary obstacles to prioritizing exercise in modern life |
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| Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love by Nina Renata AronWhat it is: The compelling, heartwrenching memoir of the author's tumultuous affair with an addict
Read it for: The candid writing; the examination of how codependency and enabling behavior are often heavily gendered
Reviewers say: Good Morning says it is a "gorgeously narrated memoir of destructive codependency" that will "captivate" readers (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Ordinary Girls: A Memoir by Jaquira DíazWhat it's about: Jaquira Díaz's experiences growing up in an environment of neglect, mental illness, and omnipresent drug abuse
Why you should read it: Despite the heavy topics, this moving story is narrated from a place of empowerment and self-assuredness.
For fans of: Other well-rendered memoirs about the adverse experiences of women of color like Roxane Gay's Hunger or When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago |
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| Strung Out: One Last Hit and Other Lies That Nearly Killed Me by Erin KharWhat it is: A candid and reflective memoir of childhood trauma, heroin addiction, and rebuilding from both
Read it for: The author's moving description of how becoming a mother helped her find the strength to get sober
Reviewers say: "This heartbreaking yet heartwarming memoir puts a human face on the drug crisis and the factors that lead to addiction" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction by Maia SzalavitzWhat it is: A thought-provoking argument in favor of radically reframing our understanding of substance abuse as a disorder with developmental underpinnings
Is it for you? Maia Szalavitz has potentially polarizing criticisms of common recovery strategies like 12-step programs that may not be for everyone.
Want a taste? "About here's where I'm supposed to tell you that I'm different, that I wasn't your 'typical addict.' The American media repeatedly assures us that such an addict certainly isn't white, female, educated, or middle class. But I'm not going to do that." |
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply with a list of the next five books you should read -- all ages of readers welcome!
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Want to keep up-to-date on new books at the library? on everything from Horror to Home & Garden!
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NoveList Plus is a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. DCL cardholders can access NoveList Plus from any computer.
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