Essays

No Straight Road Takes You There

By Rebecca Solnit

For two decades, author, historian and activist Rebecca Solnit (Hope in the Dark, Men Explain Things to Me, The Faraway Nearby, among many) has been an incisive interpreter of the modern age, with a particular talent for laying bare current social and political crises while providing actionable advice to effect positive change. With No Straight Road Takes You There: Essays for Uneven Terrain, Solnit homes in on climate change, prison abolition and more to explore how to harness the lessons of the past to forge ahead with courage and intention.

For two decades, author, historian and activist Rebecca Solnit (Hope in the Dark, Men Explain Things to Me, The Faraway Nearby, among many) has been an incisive interpreter of the modern age, with a particular talent for laying bare current social and political crises…

Pure Innocent Fun

By Ira Madison III

Pop culture maven, TV writer and podcaster Ira Madison III serves his cultural critiques with a side of spit take-inducing humor. His debut essay collection is like a brunch date with your sharpest, most hilarious friend—the one who never holds back their opinions. Here, Madison riffs on everything from the bewildering appeal of Tom Cruise to his identification with Daria to boy bands of yesteryear (err . . . the early aughts). Pure Innocent Fun promises to be a worthy romp.

Pop culture maven, TV writer and podcaster Ira Madison III serves his cultural critiques with a side of spit take-inducing humor. His debut essay collection is like a brunch date with your sharpest, most hilarious friend—the one who never holds back their opinions. Here, Madison…

A Small Place

By Jamaica Kincaid

Everyone living in our so-called “post” colonial world, especially anyone who’s ever been a tourist, should read Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place.

Everyone living in our so-called “post” colonial world, especially anyone who’s ever been a tourist, should read Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place.

Night Magic

By Leigh Ann Henion

In Night Magic, Leigh Ann Henion investigates the wisdom and wonder to be found in darkness, writing about bats, lightning bugs, bioluminescent mushrooms and much more.

In Night Magic, Leigh Ann Henion investigates the wisdom and wonder to be found in darkness, writing about bats, lightning bugs, bioluminescent mushrooms and much more.

The Memory Palace

By Nate DiMeo

The Memory Palace collects stories from Nate DiMeo’s award-winning podcast about historical people—famous and unknown alike, all breathtakingly human.

The Memory Palace collects stories from Nate DiMeo’s award-winning podcast about historical people—famous and unknown alike, all breathtakingly human.

My Pisces Heart

By Jennifer Neal

Jennifer Neal’s essential memoir and travelogue, My Pisces Heart, proves that Black people exist all over the world and, in many cases, always have.

Jennifer Neal’s essential memoir and travelogue, My Pisces Heart, proves that Black people exist all over the world and, in many cases, always have.

An Image of My Name Enters America

By Lucy Ives

An Image of My Name Enters America shows Lucy Ives’ magpie brilliance in essays that weave together My Little Pony, childbirth, her family’s immigration story and much more.

An Image of My Name Enters America shows Lucy Ives’ magpie brilliance in essays that weave together My Little Pony, childbirth, her family’s immigration story and much more.

This Is How a Robin Drinks

By Joanna Brichetto

Naturalist Joanna Brichetto uncovers the beauty of urban landscapes in her wonder-inducing debut, This Is How a Robin Drinks.

Naturalist Joanna Brichetto uncovers the beauty of urban landscapes in her wonder-inducing debut, This Is How a Robin Drinks.

Magically Black and Other Essays

By Jerald Walker

In Magically Black and Other Essays, Jerald Walker unfurls poignant cultural critiques about parenting, Blackness and American life with laugh-out-loud humor.

In Magically Black and Other Essays, Jerald Walker unfurls poignant cultural critiques about parenting, Blackness and American life with laugh-out-loud humor.

Want

By Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson asked women to send her their sexual fantasies. The result is a provocative, original volume that will help women and genderqueer people feel more empowered and less ashamed.

Gillian Anderson asked women to send her their sexual fantasies. The result is a provocative, original volume that will help women and genderqueer people feel more empowered and less ashamed.

How to Be Awkward

By Amanda Turner

Embracing her inner misfit, Amanda Turner mines her own peculiarities to wonderful effect in essays about childhood mishaps, odd health issues and her devotion to David Sedaris.

Embracing her inner misfit, Amanda Turner mines her own peculiarities to wonderful effect in essays about childhood mishaps, odd health issues and her devotion to David Sedaris.

Crying in the Bathroom

By Erika L. Sánchez

Crying in the Bathroom is a memoir-in-essays about growing up in Chicago in the 1990s and raising hell, in a good way.

Crying in the Bathroom is a memoir-in-essays about growing up in Chicago in the 1990s and raising hell, in a good way.

She’s Nice Though

By Mia Mercado

Cultural critic Mia Mercado trains her keen observational eye on her identity as an Asian American woman from the Midwest, tackling gender and cultural stereotypes.

Cultural critic Mia Mercado trains her keen observational eye on her identity as an Asian American woman from the Midwest, tackling gender and cultural stereotypes.

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