“Remembrance” by Mary Monroe
For weeks, you’ve been scouring the stores. You have a lot to give. Most of it is wrapped up colorfully, beribboned and bowed. Some gifts are in bags with shiny trim, while others are tucked away in closets. You have a lot to give this holiday season, but in the new novel, “Remembrance” by Mary Monroe, when you give of yourself, you also get.
“Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for the Rest of Us” by Dan Lyons c.2018, Hachette
Round and round and round. That’s how your week goes. Monday morning up, breakfast, work, home, dinner, fall into bed, sleep, do it again ‘til Friday, like a five-day circle. If you’re lucky, those days feel like minutes. If not, well, read the new book “Lab Rats” by Dan Lyons, and you’ll know why they call it the Rat Race.
“Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America’s Most Powerful Mobster” by Stephen L. Carter
Here I am! You raise your hand higher so you don’t go unnoticed. You speak up, so you aren’t overlooked. It’s a natural human need: pay attention, here I am, look this way, see me. For some, it’s easy to get recognition; for others – as in the new book “Invisible” by Stephen L. Carter – years later, it still doesn’t arrive.
“Friday Black: Stories” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
You are the strongest person you know. You can lift and carry a lot of weight and many burdens, because strength comes from within as well as from muscles. So what are you capable of doing when times get strange?
“Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land” by Leah Penniman, foreword by Karen Washington
Your hands are filthy. Dirt lines every crease and covers much of your knuckles. It’s beneath your fingernails, all the way up to your wrists, soiling the edges of your sweatshirt and down your front. Yes, your hands are filthy but once you’ve read “Farming While Black” by Leah Penniman, your smile will be wide.
“My Love Story” by Tina Turner (with Deborah Davis and Dominik Wichmann)
Just wait. Two words that are impossible to hear, especially if you have big plans. Hold on, don’t veer off-course, work the plan, hard as it may be. Just wait. As in “My Love Story” by Tina Turner, good things really do come to those who do.
“Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away” by Ketch Secor, illustrated by Higgins Bond
The flash-flash-flash was bad enough. And then you heard the grrrrrrumble, the wind howled, and you were afraid. But it was okay: it was only a thunderstorm. As you’ll see in the new book “Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away” by Ketch Secor, illustrated by Higgins Bond, when it’s over, the sun – among other things – will shine bright.
“Checking In: Hospitality-Driven Thinking, Business, and You” by Stephen J. Cloobeck
You only want to relax. At the end of a business trip, you just want a hotel bed with the softest pillows. You don’t want a broken coffee maker, hair in the sink, or malfunctioning air conditioning. No loud sounds in the hallway at midnight. No shortage of shampoo. Just good service and helpful staff and, as you’ll see in “Checking In” by Stephen J. Cloobeck, your customers would agree.
We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide” by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden, foreword by Nic Stone
Your blood is red. You were born with the same number of bones, ears, and appendages as everybody else and your requirements are food, air, water, shelter and love. Indeed, you’re just like other humans – but as you’ll see in the new book “We Are Not Yet Equal” by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden, you may’ve been set apart.
“You Are a Mogul” by Tiffany Pham
You’ve been thinking about it for weeks. That idea you’ve got in your head won’t let you go. It’s too intriguing: it solves a problem, helps people, and it could be a money-maker. So what next? In the new book “You Are a Mogul” by Tiffany Pham,you’ll see how to elevate yourself from see-opportunity to C-suite in your own business.
“Washington Black” by Esi Edugyan
You need to get out of here. You don’t know where. You just have to go to another room, maybe, or another building, another town, across the world. You need to get out of here but, as in the new novel “Washington Black” by Esi Edugyan, be careful, and mindful that you don’t run away from yourself. Big Kit was going to kill him.
“American Prison: A Reporter’s Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment” by Shane Bauer
You cannot escape. You’re stuck where you are and, though you’ll rail and squirm, resist and rant, you decide in the end that there’s little you can do but wait the situation out. Whether it’s in mind or in body, welcome to confinement. As you’ll see in “American Prison” by Shane Bauer, you’d best hope you’re on the right side of the bars.
“John Woman: A Novel” by Walter Mosley
Clothes, as they say, make the man. So do his language and demeanor – but what else? Did his parents or teachers make him who he is? Is it income, peer pressure, the movies he sees, jobs he holds, or his favorite music? Or, as in the new novel “John Woman” by Walter Mosley, is a man made purely of his actions – including murder?
“Housegirl” by Michael Donkor
You’re up for this. This next thing is going to be a challenge, but you’re ready. You’ve studied it as much as you can and you’ve thought it through, you’re bringing your best talents and your keenest observation skills, and you got this. You can do it. Still, as in the new book “Housegirl” by Michael Donkor, it won’t be easy.
“Gigged: The End of the Job and The Future of Work” by Sarah Kessler
Your allowance was never enough, as a kid. Oh, sure, it bought you what you needed but what you wanted, well, you had to figure that out yourself. A dime here, a dollar there, little chores-for-pay, tasks for Grandma and you made it work. And as you’ll see in the new book, “Gigged” by Sarah Kessler, some things never change.
“How Not to Get Shot – And Other Advice From White People” by D.L. Hughley and Doug Moe
Put your hands in the air and don’t move. Keep ‘em where they can be seen. Get down, get down, get down, get on the ground! Those are words that nobody wants to hear but read “How Not to Get Shot” by D. L Hughley and Doug Moe, and you’ll know exactly how to react.
“How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace” by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison
In church, you sing a lot of songs. Some are just for Sunday School, and you clap when you sing them. Others make you dance right in your seat. And some songs you sing in church are very old and have a quiet, hidden meaning. In “How Sweet the Sound” by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison, you’ll learn about one song that feels a lot like a prayer.
“Better Late Than Never” by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Life has handed you a lot of chances. You’ve taken some, for good or not. Others, you’ve passed up, and regretted it. Maybe you’d be richer today. Maybe you’d be poorer. For sure, you’d have an existence unlike what you have now and, as in the new novel “Better Late Than Never” by Kimberla Lawson Roby, you wonder what might’ve been…
“Mabel and Sam at Home” by Linda Urban, illustrated by Hadley Hooper
That’s what it said on the side of the box. Don’t shake it, don’t bump it, and whatever you do, don’t drop it. What’s inside there is important enough for careful lifting but, as you’ll see in the new book, “Mabel and Sam at Home” by Linda Urban, illustrated by Hadley Hooper, the box itself isn’t just a box.
“What Truth Sounds Like” by Michael Eric Dyson
“We have to talk.” It’s never good when someone tells you that. Even if it’s said with a smile and a pat on the back, you can feel doom in those words. “We have to talk” never helps anyone except when, as in “What Truth Sounds Like” by Michael Eric Dyson, it does.
“Grandad Mandela” by Zazi, Ziwelene & Zindzi Mandela with Sean Qualls
Please tell me a family story. You never get tired of hearing about your Mom and Dad, and how much fun they had on their first date; or that one tale about your uncle (so funny!); or the story about your cousin’s very first car. Please tell me a story, you ask, and in “Grandad Mandela” by Zazi, Ziwelene & Zindzi Mandela and Sean Qualls, two children hear of their great-grandfather’s heroism.
“I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown
Oh, the things you’ve heard! You’ve been told statements that aren’t true, and that made you sad. Myths kept you from your full potential. Tall tales were told to provoke you. And with the new book “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown, well, sit down. You’re about to get an eyeful.
“Note to Self,” collected and introduced by Gayle King
Pay attention. Eyes forward, ears open. You’ve heard those things before in your life, and now you say them to yourself, your kids, and your employees. But do they hear what you say now… or, as in the new book “Note to Self,” collected and introduced by Gayle King, will your words ring back in the future?
“Black Klansman: A Memoir” by Ron Stallworth
You want no part of that. In fact, the farther away you are from whatever-it-is, the happier you’ll be. Nope, some things are not your friend. Some things are not good for you at all. And as you’ll see in the new book “Black Klansman: A Memoir” by Ron Stallworth, some people can’t resist some things like that.
“The Heavens Might Crack: The Death and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.” by Jason Sokol
One minute. That’s all it can take to change history. Sixty seconds, as long as an average TV commercial or two, a few blinks of your eyes and nothing is ever the same. And things can keep changing, as you’ll see in the new book “The Heavens Might Crack” by Jason Sokol.
“Breaking Up with Busy: Real-Life Solutions for Overscheduled Women” by Yvonne Tally
Your to-do list is a mile long. Every day, you add three things for every one you cross off and you’re starting to resent That List. What’s worse: accommodating everything on the list means there’s no more you for you. In “Breaking Up with Busy” by Yvonne Tally, you’ll see that it’s time for the list to get lost.
“Well, That Escalated Quickly” by Franchesca Ramsey c.2018, Grand Central Publishing $27.00 / $35.00 Canada 256 pages
You sat down to check your email. And there you were an hour later, still logged on. Your email was checked but then you watched a newsfeed, four kitten videos, posted three opinions, RSVP’d to two grad parties, and wasted sixty minutes. And judging by the new book “Well, That Escalated Quickly” by Franchesca Ramsey, you got off easy.
“The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row” by Anthony Ray Hardin with Lara Love Hardin
You always keep your eyes on the prize. You’ve given yourself no other options and your steadfastness is your compass. What you believe will happen. What you know is truth. Say it enough, and everybody else will know, too – especially when, as in the new book “The Sun Does Shine” by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin, the truth is one of innocence.
“The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl!” by C. Alexander London, illustrated by Frank Morrison
You are a pretty super kid. Mom and Dad say that all the time because you’re kind, smart, and you always like to help others when they need an extra hand. Even so, there are times when you might help too much and in the new book “The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl!” by C. Alexander London, illustrated by Frank Morrison, mistakes happen.
“Putting Your Employees First” by Michael Bergdahl
Your office looks like Grand Central Station at rush hour. Like that iconic location, you see many people who are older and have been around the block enough times to know the work-score. You also have younger, less-experienced people whose career journeys are just beginning. So how do you best manage a diverse group of employees like that? Read “Putting Your Employees First” by Michael Bergdahl and find out.
“Harriet Gets Carried Away” by Jessie Sima c.2018, Simon & Schuster
You wear Mommy’s shoes, too. You love that clomping around, the wiggly-wobbly feel, and the fun of pretending that you’re someone else. Dressing up is great but be careful. As in the new book, “Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima, things could quickly get out of hand.
“Bad Men and Wicked Women” by Eric Jerome Dickey
Blood is thicker than water. That’s what they say: your relationship with family – blood – is stronger than any connection you’ll have with someone unrelated. Blood is thicker than water – except, perhaps, as in the new novel “Bad Men and Wicked Women” by Eric Jerome Dickey, when the blood shed is your own.
“Soon: An Overdue History of Procrastinaton, from Leonardo and Darwin to You and Me” by Andrew Santella
Just do it. That’s a demand that comes from everywhere. Sneakers say it, your spouse says it, the law demands it, your diet may say it; your boss does, for sure. Just do it. Buckle down and get it done because, as in the new book “Soon” by Andrew Santella, delaying and dawdling are not so delightful.
“All the Women in My Family Sing,” edited by Deborah Santana
Spoken or unspoken, serious or in jest, you get asked that question all the time. Where are you from? Who are your parents? Have you been here before, and what do you do? In “All The Women in My Family Sing,” edited by Deborah Santana, the questions stand: who are you and what is your story?
“Down the River Unto the Sea” by Walter Mosley
Something’s wrong. It may look just fine, but you know better. Call it intuition, call it plain-as-day, but there’s something off, something not-quite-right about a situation and it’s gotten under your skin. You can’t ignore it and you can’t let it be. As in the new novel, “Down the River Unto the Sea” by Walter Mosley, it’s time to set things right. The last thing Joe King Oliver needed was that letter.
“Grandma’s Purse” by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
What’s in the bag? It looks like it could be a surprise. Lots of things that come in a sack that size are good things. Maybe it’s a doll or a truck or a bar of chocolate. Maybe it’s a whistle or a puzzle. Or maybe, as in the new book “Grandma’s Purse” by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, it’s a whole lot more than that...
“Black Fortunes” by Shomari Wills
A dollar doesn’t buy as much as it used to. Once upon a time, you could get a good steak and a drink for under ten bucks. You could buy a house for less than five figures, and it was big enough to raise a good-sized family in it. A dollar used to stretch farther, last longer, buy more, and in the new book “Black Fortunes” by Shomari Wills, it took fewer dollars to make someone rich.
“The Self-Discipline Handbook” by Natalie Wise
Take your pick. Television, or getting that project done. Finishing tax-prep, or cruising online? Burritos, or bananas? Take your pick, life always has choices… but read “The Self-Discipline Handbook” by Natalie Wise first, and you may gain more willpower. Take a look at the closest dictionary, and you’ll see that self-discipline is basically “passion and purpose” and “doing what we think is right.” So now you know what it means… but does that make it any easier?
So You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
It’s all there in front of you. Plain as day. Plain as the nose on your face with nothing left to tell, it’s all in black and white – or is it? When it comes to racism, says author Ijeoma Oluo, it’s complicated and in her new book “So You Want to Talk about Race,” there may be shades of gray.
“When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir” by Patrisse Khan-Cullors & asha bandele, with a foreword by Angela Davis
You can’t look any longer. Whatever it is, it’s just too painful, too scary, so you hide your eyes and pretend that nothing’s happening. You can’t look any longer, so you don’t… but after awhile, you notice it again. That’s when you realize that you saw all along. That’s when, as in the new book “When They Call You a Terrorist” by Patrisse Khan-Cullors & asha bandele, you realize that you never really could look away.
“Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, A Monumental American Man” by Tonya Bolden
You’re not backing down. There’s a line in the sand and nobody’s crossing it on your watch. When something isn’t right and you can fix it, you’re going to defend it, too, even if it costs you. As you’ll see in “Facing Frederick” by Tonya Bolden, if you lived in the mid-1800s, you’d be in good company.
“Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL” by Dr. Jen Welter with Stephanie Krikorian
At first, it was tennis. When little Jen Welter’s mother suggested that her daughters pick just one after-school activity, Welter chose tennis and became obsessed with it. She practiced non-stop and ultimately beat players much older than she, but a coach’s dismissive words caused her to give up the game.
“You Get What You Pitch For” by Anthony Sullivan with Tim Vandehey
Throw it out. That’s what always seems to happen to your best ideas, your finest interviews, the proud moments that fall flat as pavement. Ugh. When it comes to The Big Ask, what are you doing wrong? Read “You Get What You Pitch For” by Anthony Sullivan with Tim Vandehey; the answer is no throwaway.
“Dear Martin: A Novel” by Nic Stone
What if your entire future was mapped out for you? All you’d have to do is show up, keep your nose clean and your mouth shut. But what if you couldn’t? What if the color of your skin had some bearing on it, and your outrage and need for understanding made you speak up? As in the new novel, “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone, WWMLKD?
“We’re Going to Need More Wine” by Gabrielle Union
Here’s to us. A toast to our years together, our friendships, things we’ve done and laughs we’ve had. Here’s to us – together forever. We need to do this more often. We need to stay in touch. As author Gabrielle Union says, “We’re Going to Need More Wine.” When she was still a small child, Gabrielle Union knew how life kept score.
“Time for Kids: Heroes of Black History” by Editors at Time for Kids Magazine
Who is the person you most want to be like when you grow up? The one you go to when you need advice, a kind word, or new direction? Is it a parent who puts your head on straight? Or a teacher that always knows what to say? Do you look up to someone close to you now or, as in “Time for Kids: Heroes of Black History,” is it someone much bigger than that?
“Bound to the Fire: How Virginia’s Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent American Cuisine” by Kelley Fanto Deetz
You’ve been cooking up a storm for days. Soon, the whole family will be sitting at your table, which will be loaded down with everybody’s favorites. The turkey will be golden. The bread, warm and soft. Pies line your kitchen counter because you’ve cooked for days. At least, as you’ll see in “Bound to the Fire” by Kelley Fanto Deetz, you didn’t cook ‘round the clock, too.
“Encyclopedia of Black Comics” by Sheena C. Howard, foreword by Henry louis Gates, Jr., afterword by Christopher Priest
“Draw, Sheriff.” Oh, how you loved to do that. It started with spider-legged people and crooked houses. As you got better, you replicated and created worlds, invented characters, and expanded your tool use. Even today, with sharp pencil or fine pen, you can still make a respectable doodle; in the new book “Encyclopedia of Black Comics” by Sheena C. Howard, you’ll see how you’re right in ‘toon.
“Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
“Lookin’ great, man!” Those three words can make you feel ten feet tall. You want to strut when someone says you’re fly because it’s true. You are, and in “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James, you’ll see it happen.
“Keep Your Airspeed Up: The Story of a Tuskegee Airman” by Harold H. Brown with Marsha S. Bordner
In things of great importance, you stand on the shoulders of giants. Those who came before you gave you a boost to get you where you are. They cleared your path and knocked aside obstacles. You stand on the shoulders of those giants even if, as in the new book “Keep Your Airspeed Up” by Harold H. Brown (with Marsha S. Bordner), the giant was once kinda scrawny.
