Book ExcerptHere & Now's bookshelf, which includes excerpts of books that we cover on our show.Author Bill Littlefield's new novel asks: What is 'Mercy?' And who deserves it?In the novel, the former Only a Game host muses about no less than the meaning of life in a small town that appears quiet — but where inner lives...Play08:24Aug 3, 2022Author Oscar Hokeah showcases Cherokee, Kiowa and Mexican heritage in 'Calling for a Blanket Dance'Damage and healing are intertwined in Oscar Hokeah debut novel "Calling for a Blanket Dance." Play06:48Jul 28, 2022Advertisement New biography 'Putin' takes a deep dive into the Russian leaderThe book is a close examination of the life and career of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.Play10:44Jul 26, 2022Isaac Fitzgerald writes about finding safety and home when his own home felt unsafe in memoir 'Dirtbag, Massachusetts'Isaac Fitzgerald is known for his cheery take on books for "The Today Show" and on his Substack. But as he writes in his memoir, Fitzgerald's present-day exuberance and self-acceptance...Play10:50Jul 14, 2022In 'The Foundling,' novelist Ann Leary explores a time when women had the legal status of children"The Foundling" takes on the embrace of eugenics, the ugly theory that certain people were unfit to have children. The theory was mainly directed at Black people and people with...Play09:42Jul 5, 2022'Reviving Ophelia' author Mary Pipher's new memoir highlights joy in the bleakest timesIn "A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence," the clinical psychologist examines her own life.Play09:43Jun 30, 2022Nonbinary author Xiran Jay Zhao wants LGBTQ+ kids to have an easier adolescence than they didThe publishing world has not had a great track record when it comes to young adult books that include diversity of race, gender and sexuality. But a new fantasy novel...Play04:10Jun 29, 2022'Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden' tells the story of sisters divided by China's civil warThe book follows Brown professor Zhuqing Lee's two half aunts, who were separated for three decades.Play09:44Jun 22, 2022Comedian, satirist and singer Randy Rainbow gets serious (and not) in new memoirRainbow writes about his rise to success online in “Playing with Myself,” which is as funny as it is poignant.Play11:04Jun 14, 2022Food writer Nicole A. Taylor puts her own spin on traditional foods in 'Watermelon and Red Birds'The cookbook is all about Juneteenth and food.Play09:35Jun 2, 2022How 'The Healing Power of Storytelling' can change patients' livesAfter receiving a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Dr. Anne Brewster found that writing about her story put her back into control of her narrative and her healing.Play10:50Jun 1, 2022For 'The Korean Vegan' Joanne Lee Molinaro, food is all about connecting with loved onesHer debut cookbook "The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma's Kitchen" has been nominated for a James Beard award for Best Vegetable-Focused cookbook.Play09:39Jun 1, 2022Retired Adm. James Stavridis draws lessons from Navy history in new book 'To Risk It All'In his new book "To Risk it All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision," retired Adm. James Stavridis draws lessons from the history of the United States Navy.Play10:37May 30, 2022'Beethoven in Beijing' tells story of Philadelphia Orchestra's groundbreaking 1973 trip to ChinaMusical worlds opened when the orchestra went to China at a time when western music was banned.Play11:05May 27, 2022'It Was All a Dream' explores the Notorious B.I.G.'s life and legacyChristopher Wallace, the rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G., would have turned 50 this month.Play11:05May 23, 2022'Riverman' chronicles the life of Dick Conant, genial nomad of America's riversDick Conant canoed rivers across America before mysteriously disappearing in 2014.Play09:36May 23, 2022Russian dissident mother and daughter discuss art, imprisonment and escape in new memoir"Like a Drop of Ink in a Downpour" is a poignant portrait of Galina and Yelena Lembersky's lives behind Russia's Iron Curtain, their eventual exodus to the United States and...Play11:00May 23, 2022Chef Kwame Onwuachi explores his roots in his debut cookbook 'My America'The cookbook follows the James Beard Award-winning chef's acclaimed 2019 memoir "Notes from a Young Black Chef" about his journey in the food world.Play09:22May 18, 2022Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley is 'Coming Up for Air' in new memoirAs Daley writes, diving is a source of joy but also great anxiety. He chronicles how love and fatherhood have helped him gain some much-needed perspective on life.Play11:04May 18, 2022From immigrant to superhero: Simu Liu tells his own origin story in memoir 'We Were Dreamers'In "We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story," the actor talks about his parents' struggles to make a life for him.Play11:01May 17, 2022Next Page
Author Bill Littlefield's new novel asks: What is 'Mercy?' And who deserves it?In the novel, the former Only a Game host muses about no less than the meaning of life in a small town that appears quiet — but where inner lives...Play08:24Aug 3, 2022
Author Oscar Hokeah showcases Cherokee, Kiowa and Mexican heritage in 'Calling for a Blanket Dance'Damage and healing are intertwined in Oscar Hokeah debut novel "Calling for a Blanket Dance." Play06:48Jul 28, 2022
New biography 'Putin' takes a deep dive into the Russian leaderThe book is a close examination of the life and career of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.Play10:44Jul 26, 2022
Isaac Fitzgerald writes about finding safety and home when his own home felt unsafe in memoir 'Dirtbag, Massachusetts'Isaac Fitzgerald is known for his cheery take on books for "The Today Show" and on his Substack. But as he writes in his memoir, Fitzgerald's present-day exuberance and self-acceptance...Play10:50Jul 14, 2022
In 'The Foundling,' novelist Ann Leary explores a time when women had the legal status of children"The Foundling" takes on the embrace of eugenics, the ugly theory that certain people were unfit to have children. The theory was mainly directed at Black people and people with...Play09:42Jul 5, 2022
'Reviving Ophelia' author Mary Pipher's new memoir highlights joy in the bleakest timesIn "A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence," the clinical psychologist examines her own life.Play09:43Jun 30, 2022
Nonbinary author Xiran Jay Zhao wants LGBTQ+ kids to have an easier adolescence than they didThe publishing world has not had a great track record when it comes to young adult books that include diversity of race, gender and sexuality. But a new fantasy novel...Play04:10Jun 29, 2022
'Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden' tells the story of sisters divided by China's civil warThe book follows Brown professor Zhuqing Lee's two half aunts, who were separated for three decades.Play09:44Jun 22, 2022
Comedian, satirist and singer Randy Rainbow gets serious (and not) in new memoirRainbow writes about his rise to success online in “Playing with Myself,” which is as funny as it is poignant.Play11:04Jun 14, 2022
Food writer Nicole A. Taylor puts her own spin on traditional foods in 'Watermelon and Red Birds'The cookbook is all about Juneteenth and food.Play09:35Jun 2, 2022
How 'The Healing Power of Storytelling' can change patients' livesAfter receiving a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Dr. Anne Brewster found that writing about her story put her back into control of her narrative and her healing.Play10:50Jun 1, 2022
For 'The Korean Vegan' Joanne Lee Molinaro, food is all about connecting with loved onesHer debut cookbook "The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma's Kitchen" has been nominated for a James Beard award for Best Vegetable-Focused cookbook.Play09:39Jun 1, 2022
Retired Adm. James Stavridis draws lessons from Navy history in new book 'To Risk It All'In his new book "To Risk it All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision," retired Adm. James Stavridis draws lessons from the history of the United States Navy.Play10:37May 30, 2022
'Beethoven in Beijing' tells story of Philadelphia Orchestra's groundbreaking 1973 trip to ChinaMusical worlds opened when the orchestra went to China at a time when western music was banned.Play11:05May 27, 2022
'It Was All a Dream' explores the Notorious B.I.G.'s life and legacyChristopher Wallace, the rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G., would have turned 50 this month.Play11:05May 23, 2022
'Riverman' chronicles the life of Dick Conant, genial nomad of America's riversDick Conant canoed rivers across America before mysteriously disappearing in 2014.Play09:36May 23, 2022
Russian dissident mother and daughter discuss art, imprisonment and escape in new memoir"Like a Drop of Ink in a Downpour" is a poignant portrait of Galina and Yelena Lembersky's lives behind Russia's Iron Curtain, their eventual exodus to the United States and...Play11:00May 23, 2022
Chef Kwame Onwuachi explores his roots in his debut cookbook 'My America'The cookbook follows the James Beard Award-winning chef's acclaimed 2019 memoir "Notes from a Young Black Chef" about his journey in the food world.Play09:22May 18, 2022
Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley is 'Coming Up for Air' in new memoirAs Daley writes, diving is a source of joy but also great anxiety. He chronicles how love and fatherhood have helped him gain some much-needed perspective on life.Play11:04May 18, 2022
From immigrant to superhero: Simu Liu tells his own origin story in memoir 'We Were Dreamers'In "We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story," the actor talks about his parents' struggles to make a life for him.Play11:01May 17, 2022
