Andreas Elpidorou is a professor of philosophy at the University of Louisville. His piece about boredom, “The Quiet Alarm” appeared in Aeon in July 2015, and sparked worldwide attention. He has been featured in Nature, Fast Company, Business Insider, Psychology Today, and more. He holds a BS in physics from the University of Virginia, and a PhD in philosophy from Boston University. He was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship (2002-6), a Leventis Foundation scholarship (2009-11), and an Earhart Foundation fellowship (2012-13). He was a visiting scholar in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh and a junior visiting fellow at Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen in Austria.

THE ANATOMY OF BOREDOM

Andreas Elpidorou, PhD

Rebecca Boyle is a contributing editor atScientific American, a contributing writer for Quanta andThe Atlantic, and a frequent contributor at theNew York Times, Atlas Obscura, Popular Science,Smithsonian Air & Space, and many other publications. She is a member of the group science blog, The Last Word on Nothing. Boyle was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is the recipient of numerous writing awards throughout her career. Her work has been anthologized multiple times in The Best American Science & Nature Writing. 

Rebecca Boyle

B.A. Shapiro is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Metropolis (May, 2022), The Collector’s Apprentice, The Muralist and The Art Forger, which won the New England Book Award for Fiction, among other honors. Her books have been selected as Community Reads throughout the country and have been translated into over a dozen languages. She holds a PhD in sociology and has directed research projects for a residential substance abuse facility, worked as a systems analyst/statistician, headed the Boston office of a software development firm, and served as an adjunct professor teaching sociology at Tufts University and creative writing at Northeastern University. She likes writing novels the best. Barbara splits her time between Boston and Naples, Florida.

Once again, B.A Shapiro is in a league of her own, this time taking us on a riveting ride into the world of stolen art with her latest page-turner THE LOST MASTERPIECE. Readers of art history will devour this book filled with love, loss, passion, ambition, and resilience, and will especially delight in the cameos of real artists and their art. And Shapiro, with her signature twists and turns and exquisite descriptions and timing, will always have the last stroke.  – Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of WOMAN ON FIRE. 

B.A. Shapiro

Joseph Moldover's YA novel JUST UNTIL has been named a Best Children's Book of the Year (with Outstanding Merit) by the Bank Street College of Education

JUST UNTIL Named a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year (with Outstanding Merit)

LOST ARK DREAMING is a Finalist for the 2025 Ignyte Award, in the Best Novella Category!

LOST ARK DREAMING Finalist for 2025 Ignyte Awards

Barnes & Noble has selected Keith Houston’s THE BOOK (W.W. Norton) as one of the best history books of 2025 (so far), saying: "Bibliophiles, listen up! From writing to printing to binding and more, this is a comprehensive exploration of one of our favorite things.” 

THE BOOK Is a B&N Best Book of 2025

The New York Times featured Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) among “21 Nonfiction Books Coming This Summer,” writing: "In 1928-29, Theodore Roosevelt’s two eldest sons went on a swashbuckling global adventure to prove the existence of the until-then mystical panda bear. Holt chronicles their journey into the Himalayan wilderness — marred by sickness, violence and extreme weather — and what the landmark mission meant for the future of wildlife conservation."

The NYT Highlights THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS

Leila Philip's BEAVERLAND was selected by the Connecticut Center for the Book to be featured at  the 2025 National Book Festival: “it is a masterful work of narrative science writing."

BEAVERLAND Chosen for 2025 National Book Festival

Christopher Moore was the New York Times' "By The Book" interview for the week of May 22, 2025.

Christopher Moore Featured in the New York Times

"Don't Let Me Go is a moving, beautifully written, epic love story (that gets steamy!) about two young men-one gay, one straight (maybe?)-whose vivid dreams of each other turn out to be memories of past lives of when they were lovers. The tragic twist? All their past lives die at a certain point in the love story. As the author of They Both Die at the End, you see why l'm such a fan of this story, right? If you vibe with my book or Robbie Couch's If I See You Again Tomorrow, I trust you'll be obsessed with this book! And the ending is..let's say…..very bold and brave."

DON'T LET ME GO Is The Adam Silvera Book Club’s June Pick

“A surefire hit for baseball fans young and old, and a resource for social studies, history, and language arts."

BLACK DIAMOND KINGS Reviewed in School Library Journal

“Combining cogent philosophical explanations with entertaining examples from popular culture (including how Taylor Swift and Muhammad Ali used the power of persuasion), Heinrichs provides a … look at how to harness the power of the mind. It’s a spirited and innovative application of an ancient Greek art.”

ARISTOTLE'S GUIDE TO SELF-PERSUASION Reviewed in Publishers Weekly

"A series of biographical poems that are as sure-footed, smooth, and powerful as the athletes themselves...With the heedless passion of the most ardent sports fan, this book is all about the love of the game, a devotion felt so deeply by some—and clearly by Smith and Brandon—that only the most emotive form of writing could properly give it its due."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Selects BLACK DIAMOND KINGS as their May Big Picture Feature

Mass Center for the Book named WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL by Nancy Nichols as one of its longlisted titles for the 2025 Massachusetts Book Awards.

WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL is longlisted for the 2025 Massachusetts Book Award for Nonfiction

J.T. Falco, author of BLOOD ON THE VINE, on the hustlers, fraudsters, and murderers of the wine world.

J.T. Falco reflects on "Wine and Crime: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made of" for Crimereads

Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) has won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the science and technology category. In her acceptance speech, she said: “The moon, my subject, does remind us that there are cycles. Inherent in the meaning of a cycle or a phase is a return. Things go away and they come back. Fascism went away and now is back. Authoritarianism went away, we thought, and now it is back. But there’s a flip side to that. Every phase that leaves brings something new. There’s also hope and renewal. And I think part of our job — the most important job we have as writers — is to remind us of the positive phases, the return of good, the return of new cycles and hope.”

OUR MOON Wins LA Times Book Prize

Kirkus Reviews gave Anika Burgess’s FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE (W.W. Norton) a starred review, saying: “The book is packed with equally astonishing details, covering the fields of lunar, underwater, and microphotography (great for concealing sexually explicit images), and—long before artificial intelligence—photo manipulation. A scintillating history that’ll have you looking at photography in a new light.” 

FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE Gets a Starred Review from Kirkus

"The metamorphosis of the cousins’ relationship, which starts off prickly and softens into mutual respect and affection, is realistic and relatable, and the explanation behind the mysterious notes is a pleasant surprise... Codebreakers and mystery fans will want to read this fun adventure, tout de suite."

Kirkus Reviews THE HOUSE OF FOUND OBJECTS

Hena Khan's MORE TO THE STORY was included in Kirkus's list of the "Best Books of the 21st Century" 

MORE TO THE STORY Named One of the "Best Books of the 21st Century" by Kirkus

"Deeply rooted in modern middle-school culture, resonant with the online experiences of so many tweens, and paced perfectly, this is a must-read for every kid who has dreamed of being an influencer and a great discussion starter about privacy and sharing online."

Booklist Gives SO OVER SHARING a Starred Review

Anne Ursu's THE TROUBLED GIRLS OF DRAGOMIR ACADEMY was included in Kirkus's list of the "Best Books of the 21st Century" 

THE TROUBLED GIRLS OF DRAGOMIR ACADEMY Named One of the "Best Books of the 21st Century" by Kirkus

Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND is a USA Today bestseller at #117 for the week of March 26.

THE LOVE WE FOUND Makes USA Today’s Best-Selling Booklist

Barnes & Noble has selected Keith Houston’s THE BOOK (W.W. Norton) as a Best Book of April 2025, stating: "Bibliophiles, listen up! We have your next read. From writing to printing to binding and more, this is a comprehensive exploration of one of our favorite things. If you’ve ever wanted the book about books, you need this one on your shelf."

THE BOOK Is a B&N Best Book of April

“Moore offers an absurdist and sardonic sequel, of sorts, to Frankenstein. . . This is a wild adventure through history, art, and literature for Moore’s many fans and those who enjoy historical fiction with a side of fantasy and wry humor.”

Library Journal Gives ANIMA RISING a Starred Review

Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND was included in the New York Times' "24 Works of Fiction to Read This Spring" list. 

THE LOVE WE FOUND Featured in the New York Times

“A surefire hit for baseball fans young and old, and a resource for social studies, history, and language arts.“

Dr. Thema Bryant appeared on The Oprah Podcast to promote her new book MATTERS OF THE HEART: Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love.

Dr. Thema Bryant appears on The Oprah Podcast

Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) is a finalist for the 45th Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the category of Science & Technology. Winners will be announced on April 25. 

OUR MOON Is a Finalist for the LA Times Book Prize

LOST ARK DREAMING was selected in the novella category. The Locus Recommended Reading List compiles the best releases in science fiction, fantasy, and horror of the previous year.  

LOST ARK DREAMING on Locus Recommended Reading List 2024

Anne Ursu's NOT QUITE A GHOST was nominated for the 2025 Bram Stoker Award.

NOT QUITE A GHOST Nominated for the Bram Stoker Award

“I know it’s early to call it, but I’m certain Freda Epum’s debut The Gloomy Girl Variety Show will be one of the most important books published this year. Epum examines intersectional identities of being Black, disabled, female, and a first generation Nigerian American through an inventive and brilliant book structured as a search for the safety one can find in home.”

The Chicago Review of Books Names THE GLOOMY GIRL VARIETY SHOW a Most Anticipated Book of 2025

“Ten years after the heartbreaking events of bestseller Santopolo’s The Light We Lost, Lucy Carter Maxwell gets a second chance at life and love in this tear-jerking romance... Santopolo’s layered storytelling brings Lucy’s internal conflict to life while offering the perfect blend of heartache and hope. Readers should have tissues at the ready."

Publisher's Weekly Reviews THE LOVE WE FOUND

"In this lyrical coming of age novel, which follows Laskar’s acclaimed The Atlas of Reds and Blues, a young Indian American teenager feels caught between the traditional Bengali culture inside her house and the culture of the American South outside its doors...When a tragedy occurs on the cusp of adulthood, grief soaks into everything, altering the choices they make and the people they might otherwise have become. Told in second person, the narrative follows the evolution of the friends’ relationship."

CIRCA Is One of Electric Literature's Books by Indian Diaspora Authors You Should be Reading

"Cusick’s riveting and reverent history, packed with fascinating details and archival photos, focuses on often-forgotten players in the Space Race: chimpanzees, aka America’s first astronauts."

THE ASTROCHIMPS Is One of Booklist's Top 10 Sci-Tech for Youth in 2024

Vulture named its best comedy books of the year, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s SO FETCH (Dey Street) came in at #7. Vulture says: "It was no small feat to make a teen movie with substance and a message at the height of superficial 2000s trash culture, and out of a nonfiction self-help book at that. This is all about how an idea can become something much bigger than itself."

Vulture Names SO FETCH a Best Comedy Book of 2024

“This entire graphic novel is begging to be turned into a full-length animated feature. Every page felt like a glimpse into a gorgeous movie universe, and if Disney or Pixar or Sony or somebody doesn’t pick this up, they’re really missing out."

THE NIGHT MOTHER is one of Book Riot's Best Graphic Novels of the Year

"Multiple points of view are used to explore class and disparity through tense action in a brilliant, character-driven story."

LOST ARK DREAMING is Library Journal's Best SFF of 2024

On his @dailydad Instagram, bestselling author and bookseller Ryan Holiday recommended Jessica Lahey’s THE GIFT OF FAILURE (Harper), saying, “This is one of the all-time great parenting books.”

Ryan Holiday Recommends THE GIFT OF FAILURE

Pitchfork selected Sheryl Kaskowitz’s A CHANCE TO HARMONIZE (Pegasus Books) as one of its Best Music Books of 2024, saying: “Vivid and thoroughly researched… A Chance to Harmonize is a nonfiction historical story that unfolds like a gripping thriller, complete with secret goals, compelling missions, and a years-long operation that believed music can build a progressive, cooperative society.”

A CHANCE TO HARMONIZE Is One of Pitchfork’s Best Music Books of 2024

Author/illustrator Tom Toro is the artist of the cover of the December 2nd, 2024 edition of the New Yorker.

NY241202_CVN_Toro_Thanksgiving_Turkey.pdf

Tom Toro on the Cover of the New Yorker

Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE appeared on NPR's yearly "Books We Love" end-of-year list for 2024. 

ISABEL AND THE ROGUE Featured on NPR's 2024 Edition of Books We Love

Rob Sheffield's HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM is the cover of the New York Times Book Review (November 24th, 2024 edition)

HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Is the Cover of the New York Times Book Review

Rob Sheffield's HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (Dey Street Books) is #11 on the Hardcover Nonfiction New York Times Best Sellers list. 

HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Is a New York Times Best Seller

The Astrochimps by Dawn Cusick  has been selected as a 2024 Best of the Best Book by the Chicago Public Library. The Best of the Best lists represent the library's choices for the year’s most outstanding titles, books of exceptional quality for a diverse, city-wide readership. 

THE ASTROCHIMPS Named a 2024 Best of the Best Book by the Chicago Public Library

Pediatric emergency medicine physician and author of SLEEP WELL, TAKE RISKS, SQUISH THE PEAS (HCI) gave a TEDx talk based on his book--about the traits toddlers possess that many of us aspire to have in order to improve our personal and professional lives. 

Hasan Merali Gives TEDx Talk

Amazon has selected Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) as one of the year’s best science books. 

OUR MOON Is an Amazon Best Science Book of 2024

The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing has selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as the winner of its Best in Business Book Award in the category of career development. The judges said, “Slow Productivity should be on the fast track for every business manager to read. It offers a tonic that is sorely needed in our overworked, burned-out society. Taking longer to do less seems counterproductive, but when the result is a top-quality product, it makes it all worthwhile. The author lays out his argument clearly and simply, creating a compelling read that should help shift your mindset about work.”

SLOW PRODUCTIVITY Wins SABEW’s Best in Business Book Award

Amazon has selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as one of the year’s best business and leadership books. 

SLOW PRODUCTIVITY Is an Amazon Best Business & Leadership Book of 2024

"[Freitas] invokes food, culture, loyalty, and romance in magical yet utterly human ways... perfect for teen romance lovers who want all of the passion but are not comfortable with the graphic details."

STEFI AND THE SPANISH PRINCE Reviewed by School Library Journal

“The first serious book-length discussion of Swift as an artist and cultural force… short, delightful and interesting.”

HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Featured in Bloomberg

“The book is a rollercoaster to be devoured in one sitting and at the end, he somehow leaves you wanting more”

HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Featured in USA Today

“Sheffield’s book, which unfolds over 30 punchy chapters, zooms in on Swift’s albums, feuds and marketing gambits. Each dispatch is a perceptive close read of Swift’s music and persona, from the symbolic importance of her guitar to her conspicuous use of the word 'nice.' Along the way, Sheffield drops enough of his own backstage encounters with Swift to satisfy fans hungry for new material to incorporate into their own character sketching…inevitably, his book of Swift criticism has been integrated into the Swiftie world-building project.”

HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Reviewed by the New York Times

Kirkus included Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE on their "Best of 2024: Our Favorite Fiction" list: "the book 'has a rich combination of suspense and complex character development.'"

ISABEL AND THE ROGUE Named "Best of 2024" by Kirkus

"SOCIAL CHANGE NOW is a handy resource for anyone trying to make a difference in today’s divided, unfair world, whether your values include speaking out against racism, advocating for reproductive rights, or raising awareness about climate change... What sets this book apart is the reflection prompts (with space to write your responses), which are designed to help you personalize Iyer’s advice to your own life and priorities."

SOCIAL CHANGE NOW named One of the "Best Self-Help Books for Anyone Looking for a Little Inspiration" by Self Magazine

"With vocabulary words, this picture book for kindergarten-age children is more than a dressed-up story; it highlights family cultural ties and sisterhood as Kayra helps her younger sister overcome challenges...An engaging and culturally thoughtful picture book for libraries, especially for a family story time focusing on mirror-and-window encounters with heritage families."

School Library Journal Gives SARI SISTERS a Starred Review

Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) received the second honorable mention in the Rachel Carson 2024 Environment Book Awards. The judges said: "This lively account of botanists Elzada Clover's and Lois Jotter's 1938 journey down the perilous Colorado River is a tale of riveting adventure, pioneering research and intrepid female scientists braving the era's male-dominated profession. Science journalist Melissa Sevigny deftly plumbs letters and diaries to bring these trail-blazing characters to life."

BRAVE THE WILD RIVER Is Honored by the Society of Environmental Journalists

In People, trauma therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis recommended her favorite books about grief and included Mary-Frances O’Connor PhD’s THE GRIEVING BRAIN (HarperOne). Jarvis said: "This book is my personal favorite because it explains the mechanisms of how grief impacts the brain and, consequentially, the body. I find the information comforting and am so grateful to O’Connor for finding a way to make neuroscience approachable."

People Magazine Highlights THE GRIEVING BRAIN as a Great Book About Grief

Goodreads revealed to Parade magazine that its members' most popular self-help title of 2024 (so far) is Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio). 

SLOW PRODUCTIVITY Is Goodreads’ Most Popular Self-Help Book

Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was included on Publishers Weekly's 2024 holiday gift guide.

ISABEL AND THE ROGUE Included on PW's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

Liana De la Rosa's ANA MARÍA AND THE FOX was included on Woman's World's "10 Must-Read Royal Historical Fiction Books" list: “Emails, texts, video meetings…my weekdays are draining, but unplugging by reading a tale set in a time before all the tech noise always does the trick...I loved this slow-burn romance!”

ANA MARÍA AND THE FOX Named "Must-Read Royal Historical Fiction" by Woman's World

Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) appears at #13 on the Mountains and Plains Trade Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers list for the week ending September 15.

BRAVE THE WILD RIVER Is a Mountains and Plains Indie Bestseller

“The caring acts of loved ones are the focus of this first-person work that models how affection can be relayed by actions…Conveying close-up images of family pairs caring for each other, Kuo’s sharply drawn digital illustrations use a graphic style with flat planes of color to suggest a depth of love expressed.”

Publisher’s Weekly Gives WHEN LOVE IS MORE THAN WORDS a Starred Review

“With joy and tenderness, Chung and Kuo convey an important truth; young people whose families express love in different ways will feel seen, heard, and embraced…Readers will feel the love—in every well-chosen word and each exquisite image.”

Kirkus Gives WHEN LOVE IS MORE THAN WORDS a Starred Review

Next Big Idea curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink have handpicked Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as one of the club’s two favorite nonfiction books of this season. They say: “From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity reveals how to escape overload and arrive at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment." Club members will receive a complimentary copy by mail. 

SLOW PRODUCTIVITY Is the Next Big Idea Book Club’s Season Pick

Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND was included on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books for Fall/Winter 2024–2025.

THE LOVE WE FOUND Featured on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books List

Jane Tara's TILDA IS VISIBLE was included on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books for Fall/Winter 2024–2025.

TILDA IS VISIBLE Featured on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books List

Rebecca Boyle’s first book, OUR MOON: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are (Random House), has been named to the longlist for the National Book Awards 2024 for Nonfiction. 

OUR MOON Longlisted for the National Book Award

"An excellent book for exploring neurodiversity through an engaging story about one child’s everyday experiences."

THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS SOMETIMES Reviewed in School Library Journal

WAXING ON: The Karate Kid and Me

WITH MY LITTLE EYE

SEINFELDIA: How a Show about Nothing Changed Everything

TILDA IS VISIBLE

MARLEY & ME: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

THE 5TH WAVE

THE MAN THE MOMENT DEMANDS

PLAYING THE WITCH CARD

THE LOVE WE FOUND

POSTSECRET: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives

ANIMA RISING

BEAVERLAND

THE ADDRESS BOOK: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power

FAST & RECKLESS

THE SKIN AND ITS GIRL

EAT TO LIVE: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Revised Edition

START WHERE YOU ARE: A Journal for Self-Exploration

JUST UNTIL

Monster is now a major motion picture starring Jennifer Hudson, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Nas, and A$AP Rocky.

Named one of The 100 Best YA Books of All Time by TIME Magazine

New York Times bestseller, 2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2000 Michael L. Printz Award, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Hornbook Fanfare 2000, 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers)

This bestselling novel from acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial.

Presented as a screenplay of Steve's own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives.

Monster is a multi-award-winning, provocative coming-of-age story that was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist.