May 2017 list by Donalee Jacobs
 
Are You Anybody?
by Jeffrey Tambor

An anthology of riotous autobiographical essays by the beloved Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor and star of Transparent and Arrested Development discusses such topics as his formative childhood years, his relationship with his depressive father and his enduring creative process.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
by Neil deGrasse Tyson

The notable host of StarTalk reveals just what people need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.

The Badass Life: 30 Amazing Days to a Lifetime of Great Habits--Body, Mind and Spirit
by Christmas Abbott

The CrossFit superstar and author of the best-selling The Badass Body Diet presents a day-by-day guide to encouraging healthy habits through fun, dynamic tasks designed to challenge the body while engaging the mind and spirit. 

Between Them: Remembering My Parents
by Richard Ford

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Bascombe novels presents a memoir in two parts on the lives of his parents in the Depression-era South that explores their motivations and dreams, his traveling salesman father's early death and the family's transient lives in a series of hotels. 

Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom
by Condoleezza Rice

The former Secretary of State traces her witness to key events throughout the past half century while assessing the evolution of global democracy and how it is under attack in all world regions. 

Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently
by Beau Lotto

The world-renowned neuroscientist, entrepreneur and two-time TED speaker explores how understandings about how the world is perceived can expand humanity's ability to create and innovate. 

The Gift of Anger: And Other Lessons from My Grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi
by Arun Gandhi

The grandson of Mahatma Gandhi shares 10 vital and extraordinary life lessons imparted by the iconic philosopher and peace advocate, sharing Gandhi's particular insights into how emotions like anger can be guiltless motivational tools if properly used for good purposes.

Mind over Meds: Know When Drugs are Necessary, When Alternatives are Better-- and When to Let Your Body Heal on its Own
by Andrew Weil

The Harvard graduate, public health professor and best-selling author of Spontaneous Happiness explores the dangers of over medication while outlining lifestyle changes and alternative treatments for common ailments. 

Mockingbird Songs: My Friendship with Harper Lee
by Wayne Flynt

A portrait of one of America's most beloved authors is presented through reminiscences and letters exchanged with one of her closest friends, describing how their respective experiences with the violent racism of the mid-20th-century American South shaped their families, careers and values. 

Murder in Matera: A True Story of Passion, Family, and Forgiveness in Southern Italy
by Helene Stapinski

A writer gives in to her obsession with the lurid tales about her great-great-grandmother, and travels to Italy to uncover the events surrounding a tragic tale of murder that was also a case of mistaken identity in 1870s Basilicata. 

Never Call Me a Hero: A Legendary American Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers the Battle of Midway
by N. Jack Kleiss

In an eyewitness account of the Battle of Midway by one of its key participants, timed to the 75th anniversary, an American dive-bomber pilot discusses how he sank two Japanese carriers, struck a third, received the Navy Cross and is credited with playing a decisive individual role in determining the outcome of a battle that is considered a turning point in World War II.

A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like
by Ashley Graham

The outspoken plus-sized model and body image activist presents a collection of provocative essays that chronicle her life in fashion and offer insight into how ideas around body image are and are not evolving in today's culture. 

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy
by Sheryl Sandberg

From the Facebook COO and #1 New York Times best-selling author of Lean In, and the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Originals comes a book about finding resilience and moving forward after life’s inevitable setbacks.

On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety
by Andrea Petersen

A compassionate account of living with anxiety, complemented by deep reportage on the science of anxiety disorders, traces the author's personal journey of trying to understand and manage her own case from neuroscientific, spiritual and genetic perspectives.

The Road to Camelot: Inside JFK's Five-Year Campaign
by Thomas Oliphant

A behind-the-scenes account of the 35th President's journey to the White House includes coverage of his failed vice presidential nomination in 1956, the ways his Catholic faith challenged his campaigns and the successful efforts of his team of young advisors to reinvent the traditional party.

The Secrets of My Life
by Caitlyn Jenner

The author chronicles her childhood as Bruce Jenner and rise to fame as a gold-medal-winning Olympic decathlete; her marriages and her relationships with her children; her transition; and her experience as the world's most famous transgender woman. 

Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life
by Terry Brooks

Filled with practical advice for anyone interested in creative writing, the best-selling author of the Shannara series offers a firsthand glimpse of the rewards and requirements of the writing life, in alternating chapters that address his experiences in the publishing world along with discussions on different aspects of the writing craft--research, plotting, characterization, and more.

Undoctored: Why Health Care has Failed You and How You Can Become Smarter Than Your Doctor
by William Davis

The best-selling author of Wheat Belly argues that conventional medicine is not working today, citing unnecessary medications, big-business dietary recommendations and unnecessary procedures before outlining a six-week program for taking control of one's health.

What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything
by Rob Bell

Rob Bell, author of Love Wins and What We Talk About When We Talk About God, goes deep into the Bible to show how it is more revelatory, revolutionary, and relevant than we ever imagined—and offers a cogent argument for why we need to look at it in a fresh, new way. Bell takes us deep into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. He addresses the concerns of those who see the Bible as God’s Word but are troubled by the ethical dilemmas, errors, and inconsistencies in Scripture and recaptures the Good Book’s magic and reaffirms its power and inspiration to shape and inspire our lives today..

Will's Red Coat: The Story of One Old Dog Who Chose to Live Again
by Tom Ryan

The best-selling author of Following Atticus traces the author's adoption of a traumatized, hearing-impaired elderly dog who throughout his remaining years transformed from a hostile and violent canine to a happy, puppy-like companion. 

Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success
by Ivanka Trump

The daughter of President Donald Trump and founder of her eponymous fashion brand counsels women on how to achieve maximum success in all areas of life through a strategic prioritization that includes family, friends and creative pursuits as well as career ambitions.