10 biographies and memoirs for the nonfiction reader in your life
These true stories range from a "meow-moir" of a Siberian cat to an exploration of what U.S. presidents do after the White House. Check out these nonfiction reads recommended by NPR staff and critics.
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Melissa Ludtke details her barrier-breaking legal fight in "Locker Room Talk"
Ludtke filed suit against Major League Baseball to get full access to team's clubhouses — just like her male counterparts — and won. -
‘Morning Pages’ tells a play-within-a-play story of a woman figuring out her many life roles
Kate Feiffer's first novel for adults is a humorous, meta take on a woman in the 'sandwich generation.' -
New book uncovers the history of Black homeownership on Martha’s Vineyard
In the book, “Black Homeownership on Martha’s Vineyard: A History,” authors Thomas Dresser and Richard Taylor trace the presence of Black Americans on the Vineyard back to pre-Revolutionary War, through the Underground Railroad and the Civil War, and into the 20th century and the Great Migration. -
Falling for 'romantasy': BookTok’s favorite genre
In this special edition of “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club,” we’re diving into one of today’s most popular and best-selling genres taking over bookstores — and your social media feeds: "romantasy." That’s romance plus fantasy. -
Author Malia Lazu breaks down the cycle of pushback to DEI efforts
She said many institutions deny the existence of pushback, and as a result, inadvertently legitimize bias. -
In ‘Horror Movie,’ novelist Paul Tremblay explores the legend of a cursed cult classic horror film
"The part of it I just really wanted to dig into is the collaborative process. When do these people go over a line where this group thought, 'Well, we're making decisions that are best for the movie and not necessarily the best for the individuals'?" says author Paul Tremblay. -
NPR staffers pick their favorite fiction reads of 2024
At work: hardworking news journalists. At home: omnivorous fiction readers. We asked our colleagues what they've enjoyed most this year and here are the titles they shared. -
Poet Kwame Alexander shares lessons on love and fatherhood in ‘Why Fathers Cry At Night’
This non-traditional memoir is Kwame Alexander’s vulnerable journey to express his love for the people closest to him, including his children. -
Colson Whitehead channels the paranoia and fear of 1970s NYC in 'Crook Manifesto'
"My early '70s New York is dingy and grimy," the Pulitzer Prize-winning author says. Whitehead's sequel to Harlem Shuffle centers on crime at every level. Originally broadcast July 24, 2023. -
The big list of summer 2024 book recommendations from your local librarians
For Under the Radar's annual summer reading special, three of our local librarians return with their curated lists for summer, including thrillers, histories, young adult stories, romance and mysteries.
