Nonfiction

Getting things done the art of stress-free productivity book cover

Getting things done the art of stress-free productivity

David Allen

eAUDIO
Nonfiction, Business

David Allen reads an all-new edition of his popular self-help classic for managing work-life balance in the twenty-first century—now updated for the new challenges facing individuals and organizations in today's rapidly changing world. Since it was first published more than fifteen years ago, David Allen's Getting Things Done has become one of the most influential business books of its era, and the ultimate book on personal organization. "GTD" is now shorthand for an entire way of approaching professional and personal tasks, and has spawned an entire culture of websites, organizational tools, seminars, and offshoots. Allen has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking his classic text with important perspectives on the new workplace, and adding material that will make the book fresh and relevant for years to come. This new edition of Getting Things Done will be welcomed not only by its hundreds of thousands of existing fans but also by a whole new generation eager to adopt its proven principles.

Melody's picture

Added by Melody

The 7 habits of highly effective people  book cover

The 7 habits of highly effective people

Stephen R Covey

eAUDIO
Nonfiction, Business

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity--principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.

Melody's picture

Added by Melody

Gender : your guide : a gender-friendly primer on what to know, what to say, and what to do in the new gender culture book cover

Gender : your guide : a gender-friendly primer on what to know, what to say, and what to do in the new gender culture

Lee Airton

305.3 /Airton
Nonfiction

"The days of two genders--male, female; boy, girl; blue, pink--are over, if they ever existed at all. Gender is now a global conversation, and one that is constantly evolving. From the differences among gender identity, gender expression, and sex, to the use of gender-neutral pronouns like singular they/them, to thinking about your own participation in gender, Gender: Your Guide serves as a complete primer to all things gender. You will learn how gender works in everyday life, how to use accurate terminology to refer to transgender, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming individuals, and how to ask when you aren't sure what to do or say. It provides you with the information you need to talk confidently and compassionately about gender diversity, whether simply having a conversation or going to bat as an advocate"--

Melody's picture

ICPL staffers have had various conversations about how to navigate pronouns and respecting all patrons' identities in these changing social times. This new book provides some in-depth guidance on modifying one's language and perspective to be more welcoming to all. Recommended for parents of GLBTQ+ youth, public service workers, and just the curious in general! -Melody

Seduction : sex, lies, and stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood book cover

Seduction : sex, lies, and stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood

Karina Longworth

791.43 /Longworth
Nonfiction, Biographies, History

An exploration of "Hollywood's glamorous golden age via the cinematic life of Howard Hughes and the women who encountered him--sometimes at the expense of their minds and souls"--Dust jacket flap.

Anne M's picture

If you are a fan of Karina Longworth's "You Must Remember This" podcast, this is the book for you. Longworth sorta, kinda started this book through her podcast--some of her earlier episodes make up the chapters describing Hughes' time in the 1930's. But this is a much deeper dive. So much so, that I think I now know too much about Howard Hughes' love life. -Anne M

Indecency book cover

Indecency

Justin Phillip Reed

811.6 /Reed
Nonfiction, Poetry

"Indecency is boldly and carefully executed and perfectly ragged. In these poems, Justin Phillip Reed experiments with language to explore inequity and injustice and to critique and lament the culture of white supremacy and the dominant social order. Political and personal, tender, daring, and insightful―the author unpacks his intimacies, weaponizing poetry to take on masculinity, sexuality, exploitation, and the prison industrial complex and unmask all the failures of the structures into which society sorts us."--Amazon.com.

Jason's picture

Winner in the Poetry category -Jason

The new Negro : the life of Alain Locke book cover

The new Negro : the life of Alain Locke

Jeffrey C. Stewart

BIOGRAPHY Locke, Alain
Nonfiction, Biographies

"A tiny, fastidiously dressed man emerged from Black Philadelphia around the turn of the century to mentor a generation of young artists including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jacob Lawrence and call them the New Negro--the creative African Americans whose art, literature, music, and drama would inspire Black people to greatness. In The New Negro : The Life of Alain Locke, Jeffrey C. Stewart offers the definitive biography of the father of the Harlem Renaissance, based on the extant primary sources of his life and on interviews with those who knew him personally. He narrates the education of Locke, including his becoming the first African American Rhodes Scholar and earning a PhD in philosophy at Harvard University, and his long career as a professor at Howard University. Locke also received a cosmopolitan, aesthetic education through his travels in continental Europe, where he came to appreciate the beauty of art and experienced a freedom unknown to him in the United States. And yet he became most closely associated with the flowering of Black culture in Jazz Age America and his promotion of the literary and artistic work of African Americans as the quintessential creations of American modernism. In the process he looked to Africa to find the proud and beautiful roots of the race. Shifting the discussion of race from politics and economics to the arts, he helped establish the idea that Black urban communities could be crucibles of creativity. Stewart explores both Locke's professional and private life, including his relationships with his mother, his friends, and his white patrons, as well as his lifelong search for love as a gay man. Stewart's thought-provoking biography recreates the worlds of this illustrious, enigmatic man who, in promoting the cultural heritage of Black people, became--in the process--a New Negro himself"--

Jason's picture

Winner in the Nonfiction category -Jason

The art of logic in an illogical world book cover

The art of logic in an illogical world

Eugenia Cheng

160 /Cheng
Nonfiction

"In a world where fake news stories change election outcomes, has rationality become futile? In The Art of Logic in an Illogical World, Eugenia Cheng throws a lifeline to readers drowning in the illogic of contemporary life. Cheng is a mathematician, so she knows how to make an airtight argument. But even for her, logic sometimes falls prey to emotion, which is why she still fears flying and eats more cookies than she should. If a mathematician can't be logical, what are we to do? In this book, Cheng reveals the inner workings and limitations of logic, and explains why alogic--for example, emotion--is vital to how we think and communicate. Cheng shows us how to use logic and alogic together to navigate a world awash in bigotry, mansplaining, and manipulative memes. Insightful, useful, and funny, this essential book is for anyone who wants to think more clearly."--Amazon.com.

Melody's picture

I was very excited to learn about this book. Haven't read it yet but it's definitely on my to-read list! I love listening to reasonable arguments from different points of view and learning how people think about the world. However, the political tribalism times we are living in are definitely driving people mad. I'm looking forward to reading about how a mathematician balances logical and emotional persuasions. -Melody

Alone time : four seasons, four cities, and the pleasures of solitude book cover

Alone time : four seasons, four cities, and the pleasures of solitude

Stephanie Rosenbloom

910.4 /Rosenbloom
Nonfiction, Travel

"A wise, passionate account of the pleasures of travelling solo. In our increasingly frantic daily lives, many people are genuinely fearful of the prospect of solitude, but time alone can be both rich and restorative, especially when travelling. Through on-the-ground reporting and recounting the experiences of artists, writers, and innovators who cherished solitude, Stephanie Rosenbloom considers how being alone as a traveller--and even in one's own city--is conducive to becoming acutely aware of the sensual details of the world--patterns, textures, colors, tastes, sounds--in ways that are difficult to do in the company of others."--

Candice's picture

Stephanie Rosenbloom writes a travel column for the New York Times, and has a breezy, friendly voice. Don't let that fool you, though--she's a thinker. Here she recounts her travels through four different cities, reflecting upon what makes solo travel unique: How does one travel differently when they are alone? How do they experience things? What are the unforeseen benefits? How does travelling alone change somebody? In addition to her own experiences, she references a lot of very current research that relates to the topic. A very interesting and enjoyable book, whether or not you are hitting the road. -Candice

Rome : a history in seven sackings book cover

Rome : a history in seven sackings

Matthew Kneale

945.632 /Kneale
History, Nonfiction

"[This book] tells the story of the Eternal City--from the early Roman Republic through the Renaissance and the Reformation to Mussolini and the German occupation in World War Two--through pivotal moments that defined its history"--Amazon.com.

Candice's picture

Some may feel that there is an overabundance of books on the history of Rome--what more could there be to say?? I think it's a given; in a city where the physical layers of over two millennia still exist, not to mention the cultural heritage and legacy, it's tempting to try and interpret that history in various ways. It's endlessly fascinating. In this case, Kneale looks at seven pivotal attacks on the city, and how they transformed it. So, not necessarily the story of the always-conquering, expanding, empire-creating Rome, but instead. those who tried (and succeeded, at times) to subdue it. -Candice

Making tiny toys in wood : ornaments & collectible heirloom accents book cover

Making tiny toys in wood : ornaments & collectible heirloom accents

Howard Clements

688.72 /Clements
Nonfiction, Crafts

"Miniature woodworking for maximum enjoyment. Create delightful holiday ornaments that double as small toys with this easy-to-follow guidebook. Making Tiny Toys in Wood provides full-size patterns and step-by-step instructions for 15 working miniature masterpieces. From tugboats and tractors to windmills and wagons, these nostalgic moving toys make great Christmas decorations as well as keepsake gifts for family and friends. They're a great way to reuse and repurpose scrap wood, and require only minimal painting. All you need is a scroll saw, a drill, and some glue to create memorable heirloom collectibles. Make your own collectible toy holiday ornaments: 15 full-size patterns and step-by-step instructions ; Charming mini toys with moving parts ; Easy scrill saw projects that don't take a lot of wood or tools ; Great way to reuse and repurpose scrap wood ; Make great keepsake gifts." -- back cover.

Beth's picture

If you have basic woodworking tools and want to learn to make wooden toys this book is a good start. -Beth