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."
“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."
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.”
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.”
Author/illustrator Tom Toro is the artist of the cover of the December 2nd, 2024 edition 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.
Rob Sheffield's HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM is the cover of the New York Times Book Review (November 24th, 2024 edition)
Rob Sheffield's HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (Dey Street Books) is #11 on the Hardcover Nonfiction New York Times Best Sellers list.
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.
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.
Amazon has selected Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) as one of the year’s best science books.
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.”
Amazon has selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as one of the year’s best business and leadership books.
"[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."
“The first serious book-length discussion of Swift as an artist and cultural force… short, delightful and interesting.”
“The book is a rollercoaster to be devoured in one sitting and at the end, he somehow leaves you wanting more”
“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.”
"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."
"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."
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."
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."
Goodreads revealed to Parade magazine that its members' most popular self-help title of 2024 (so far) is Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio).
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was included on Publishers Weekly'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!”
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.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND was included on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books for Fall/Winter 2024–2025.
Jane Tara's TILDA IS VISIBLE was included on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books for Fall/Winter 2024–2025.
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.
"An excellent book for exploring neurodiversity through an engaging story about one child’s everyday experiences."
"[Rosner's] expansive, fluid meditation on so-called third-ear listening—a deeply attuned, intuitive way of perceiving the world that transcends the physically audible—is rooted in personal experience, but the contemplative vignettes explore our sonic universe. . . . This poignant exploration of the hidden depths of the soundscapes around us reveals the importance of listening with more than just our ears."
"A haunting yet poignant story with a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers hungry for more."
"Giving off vibes of a gothic version of Ponyo crossed with A Wrinkle in Time, this fantasy from a Buffy comics writer and a Lumberjanes artist takes place in a coastal town stuck in eternal eve. Ages 9–12."
"[A] richly satisfying tapestry . . . the scintillating volume of knowledge put forth is well worth the reading journey."
"In this tale that’s packed with nonstop action, the events of the War of 1812 are told through a human lens that eschews the glorification of battle and includes the role of Black people in the British and American armies. While the rollicking narrative is full of humor, it doesn’t shy away from hard questions. As Marissa contemplates the phrase 'we the people' in the opening line of the U.S. Constitution, she asks, 'Did Madison think that meant all the people?'...Timely and wildly entertaining."
“Relatable for kid readers, nicely nostalgic for adults, and all-around wonderful.”
“Young and old readers alike will recognize themselves or someone they know in Max. THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS SOMETIMES is a delightful book guaranteed to bring on both laughs and greater understanding of the many Maxs in the world.”
"A book packed with perceptions and revelations. Science and art meet in this eloquent study of the aural world around us."
Liz Rosner's THIRD EAR: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening was included on Lit Hub's list of the Most Anticipated Books of 2024: "To masterfully blend memoir with science writing is to create one of the most compelling kinds of book—one whose insights are both cerebral and emotional."
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE appeared on the USA Today's bestsellers list for June 2024.
Amazon Editors have selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as their #1 pick among business and leadership books of 2024 so far. Lindsay Powers writes: “A refreshing read that urges us to focus on quality over quantity, lean out, and find meaning in our every day.”
NPR staffers chose their favorite books of the year so far, and Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) was among them. Copy editor Preeti Aroon said: "If you’re the typical knowledge worker, your life is overwhelmed by a dizzying flurry of emails and Slack messages breaking your focus every few minutes. You breathlessly ricochet from task to task yet never get enough real work done. Stop. Take a deep breath. Then read Slow Productivity.... If enough knowledge workers embrace slow productivity, we can revolutionize the world of work.”
The New York Times asked time-management experts which productivity books they use, and Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) was second on the list. “Several experts recommended books by Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University.”
Melissa Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon (W.W. Norton) has won the 34th Annual Reading the West Book Award in the biography/memoir category. Watch Melissa’s award and acceptance starting at the 2:20 mark.
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was selected as one of the 6 Steamy Summer Romance Novels by Oprah Daily: "De la Rosa cracks open the stuffiest of Victorian ballrooms, showing that the world is much bigger than England and that history is made by acts of hero- and heroine-ism, both small and large. This book stands on its own, but if you’re a series completist, why not start with the wonderful Ana María and the Fox?"
Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) debuted on the Pacific Northwest independent booksellers trade paperback nonfiction bestseller list at #12.
Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) debuted on the Northern California independent booksellers trade paperback nonfiction bestseller list at #15.
Science Friday’s SciFri Book Club has selected Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) as their July pick.
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was selected as one of the eight "Great Fiction Books for Summer Days (and Nights)" by Kirkus: "Our starred review says this book will delight fans of historical romance; if you’re not one already, this is a fine place to start."
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was included in Kirkus's "24 Hottest Summer Reads of 2024."
Liana De la Rosa's ANA MARÍA AND THE FOX was recommended as a historical romance for fans of Bridgerton: "A perfect mix of slow-burn romance, geopolitical maneuvering and sisterly antics"
"The story of three characters from different social classes learning to work together remains compelling"
The Skimm featured Meera Lee Patel’s HOW IT FEELS TO FIND YOURSELF (TarcherPerigee) in its roundup of Best Products to Support Your Mental Health: "In addition to the stunning watercolor illustrations in this book, Patel beautifully breaks down each section into clear themes related to navigating change…. If you or someone you know is entering a new life chapter and feeling daunted by it, this book is a solid companion."
