November 2026: True Story Time

From walks in nature to moments with family, Avni and her sister Isha discover stories in the seemingly ordinary, inspiring Avni to fill the pages of her new journal.

"An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinations Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see those stakes: what has been, and what might be lost. Evan Friss's history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, catalogs, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by so many-not just as a merchant, but as a gathering place for likeminded people who cherish books. The story begins with Benjamin Franklin's first bookstore in Philadelphia, and takes us to a range of booksellers including The Strand, Chicago's Marshall Field & Co., Gotham Book Mart, specialty stores like Oscar Wilde and Drum and Spear, sidewalk sellers of used books, Barnes & Noble, Amazon Books, and Parnassus. The Bookshop is also a history of the leading figures in American bookselling, often impassioned eccentrics, and a history of how books have been marketed and sold over the course of more than two centuries-including, for example, a 3,000-pound elephant who appeared to sign books at Marshall Field's in 1944. The Bookshop is a book every bookstore will want to carry, as there has never been a more affectionate and engaging celebration of this beloved institution"--

"From her impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Dolly Parton has exceeded everyone's expectations except her own. During a time when the Beatles set the standard for contemporary music, Dolly appeared on a local country music television show that her high school classmates thought was pure cornpone. The day after her high school graduation, she boarded a bus for Nashville, but record executives turned her down. One said her voice sounded like a screech owl. When Dolly finally got her foot in the door, her talent and focus catapulted her to the top of country charts, the pop world, and movie stardom. Yet her success came at a price. Shunned by many in Nashville who saw her ambition as a betrayal of her country music roots, Dolly became the target of death threats, lawsuits, and a judge who threatened to throw her in jail. She nearly collapsed on-stage and later succumbed to depression that pushed her to the brink, but she refused to be counted out and came back stronger than ever developing Dollywood, the amusement park that became the economic engine of East Tennessee, and founding the Imagination Library that provides free books to children around the world. Her philanthropy to health organizations led to creation of the Moderna COVID vaccine. And, finally, she returned to her roots, recording bluegrass albums that became the most celebrated of her unparalleled 60-year career. Ain't Nobody's Fool is a deep dive into the social, historical, and personal forces that made Dolly Parton one of the most beloved and unifying figures in public life and includes interviews with friends, family members, school mates, Nashville neighbors, members of her band, studio musicians, producers, and many others. It also features never before seen photographs and unearthed documents shedding light on her family's hardscrabble life. More than anything, Martha Ackmann's fresh and animated new book proves Dolly Parton knows just who she is and she ain't nobody's fool"-- Provided by publisher.

"With 100 million books in print world-wide and over twenty blockbuster television and film adaptations of his work, Harlan Coben has much to teach us about the creative process. Part deeply personal memoir, part masterclass in storytelling, Plot Twist is a refreshingly honest look at the life of a writer whose stories have thrilled us for decades. Plumbing memories from his suburban childhood and his early years trying to break into publishing, Coben tells his own story for the first time, revealing the real-world inspirations for some of his most beloved characters as well as the innovative plots that drive his propulsive novels. Filled with useful tips and techniques on the creative process, Coben does away with the traditional "categories" of writing -- characters, plot, setting, etc. -- and looks at the process holistically. Plot Twist is a masterclass on the act of being a writer, and everything that comes with it: the self doubt, the hubris, the contradictions, the passion and dedication. At the end of the day, his calculus is a simple one: "If it helps me produce pages, good. If it doesn't, bad." This book will help every aspiring writer produce pages. Honest, funny, insightful, and at times deeply moving, this is both a captivating memoir and an essential guide for anyone looking to master the art of storytelling from one of our most beloved authors." --

"The true story of a girl who fell out of a plane over the Amazon and walked out of the jungle eleven days later"--

Presents the creator of the Muppets and describes the creative spirit, performance talents, and beliefs in the goodness of people that inspired his career and how he helped create the iconic programs Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.

"After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine's Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first person given full access to King's archives, a treasure trove of material about the legendary writer's creative process and life, most of it never seen before. Her year of studying the archival materials was guided by one question millions of readers have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King Stephen King? Bicks focuses on five of King's early iconic books--The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and Night Shift--to reveal how he manipulates character, language, and story to cast his remarkable, creepy spells. Through close reading of early drafts, interviews with King, and freshly discovered biographical details, as well as her own personal history as a reader and scholar, Bicks shows King's mastery of storytelling and his enduring imprint on American culture. In the process, Bicks faces her own fears and gets to know the man partially responsible for them"--

"A wide-ranging anthology that shines a light on untold Indigenous stories as chronicled by Indigenous creators, compiled by the acclaimed team behind Turtle Island and Sky Wolf's Call. For too long, stories and artistic expressions from Indigenous people have been written and recorded by others, not by the individuals who have experienced the events. In Ours to Tell, sixteen Indigenous creators relate traditions, accounts of historical events, and their own lived experiences. Novelists, poets, graphic artists, historians, craftspeople, and mapmakers chronicle stories on the struggles and triumphs lived by Indigenous people, and the impact these stories have had on their culture and history. Some of the profiles included are: Indigenous poet E. Pauline Johnson, acclaimed novelist Tommy Orange, brave warrior Standing Bear, poet and activist Rita Joe. With each profile accompanied by rich visuals, from archival photos to contemporary art, Ours to Tell brilliantly spotlights Indigenous life, past and present, through an Indigenous lens. Because each profile gives an historical and cultural context, what emerges is a history of Indigenous people."--

"Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh with this gorgeous picture book about the creation of the World's Most Famous Bear! In 1926, the very first Winnie-the-Pooh book was published. One hundred years later, generations of kids have grown up in the Hundred Acre Wood. How a Bear Became a Book tells the story of how writer, illustrator, and editor came together to craft Pooh's first adventure. But deeper than that, this book introduces our youngest readers to how stories begin and where they can go. As Pooh's voice enters the text, he slowly comes to life in the art. Textually delightful and visually stunning, this is a picture book about the making of picture books, but it is also a masterful exploration of ideas, storytelling, collaboration, art, and most importantly, honey."--

""You don't really have any friends, do you, Dad?" A seemingly innocuous, if direct, question from Andrew McCarthy's son left him reeling. McCarthy did have friends, but like so many other men, the necessities of modern adult life had forced his friendships to the background. At one point his friends had been instrumental in broadening his horizons, bolstering his courage, providing safe harbor. Now, McCarthy found himself questioning what had happened to those friendships, whether he needed them, what he valued, and what he had to offer. A simple question had become a moment that demanded a reckoning. WHO NEEDS FRIENDS charts McCarthy's journey over nearly ten thousand miles behind the wheel, following him on often-unexpected travels through Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rocky Mountains with one driving purpose: to reconnect. Along the way he talks to countless men about their male friendships, from cowboys and blues musicians to preachers and rootless teens. What began as a simple desire to catch up with a few friends turned into a deep exploration of the challenges and rewards that men experience in forming bonds with each other. In McCarthy's own words, "It turns out that guys have a difficult time with friendship." But that's not the way it needs to be"--

"David Sedaris reflects on what it means to be a foreigner, a brother, a lifelong friend. He tries on the role of caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh's hip-replacement surgery, and both succeeds and fails. He buys his sister a cape and discusses his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot. He walks dozens of miles with his friend Dawn and challenges her to eat a truck tire. Ever adding to his list of 'Countries I Have Been To,' he rides a horse named Tequila in Guatemala, buys a bespoke priest's cassock in Vatican City, and goes on safari in Kenya without taking a single photo. There is sadness here -- scrolling through his address book, he realizes how many dear friends are now deceased -- but also delight: he revels in authors' biographies, the malapropism that becomes a decades-long inside joke, and pair of well-made cotton underpants. He is bitten by a dog. A train passenger vomits in his face. A woman on the street late at night either sexually harasses him or doesn't. Look how hard it is to be alive! Throughout these essays, Sedaris shows how much there is to marvel at when you keep your head up and your eyes open, observing with warmth and curiosity this fascinating human species and the lands we inhabit."--

"Charles M. Schulz is the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, and many more wonderful characters who inhabit the world of Peanuts. Now, learn how a shy, young Schulz first became a cartoonist and how he spent nearly 50 years drawing the beloved newspaper comic strip which has captivated the hearts of readers worldwide.

This illustrated book presents a biographical account of Louisa May Alcott's childhood and early creative development. It describes her upbringing within a close-knit family of sisters, her interest in writing and imaginative play, and the personal experiences that later influenced her literary work. The narrative highlights the role of family life and perseverance during periods of difficulty. The book connects Alcott's early life to the creation of Little Women, explaining how her family inspired the characters and themes of the novel. Written for young readers, the text combines biographical information with narrative storytelling and illustrations.

"To know the name Judy Blume is to know and love literature. Her influential novels turned classics -- including Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; Deenie; and Summer Sisters -- touched the lives of tens of millions of readers. For more than fifty-five years her work has done something revolutionary: it rewired the world's expectations of what literature for young people can be -- frank, candid, earthy, and unafraid to show the messier sides of humanity. But little is known about the real woman behind the iconic persona, and the unlikely journey of her literary ascension, until now. In Judy Blume, journalist, historian, and longtime Blume aficionado Mark Oppenheimer pens a beautiful, multidimensional portrait of the acclaimed author through extensive interviews with Blume herself, invaluable access to her papers and correspondence, and thoughtful analysis of Blume's beloved novels, including early, unpublished works that shed light on the pathbreaking writer she would become. Oppenheimer goes deep, exploring Blume's middle-class 1950s upbringing, complicated childhood, varied relationships and marriages, unabashed sexual experiences, bouts of heartache and loss, and enduring legacy as a champion of free speech and contemporary literature. Oppenheimer peels back the curtain to reveal the woman behind the literary empire in all her complex, multifaceted glory -- a true gift for anyone who grew up reading and loving these extraordinary books."--

From acclaimed Atlantic staff writer and host of BBC's podcast "The New Gurus" Helen Lewis comes a timely and provocative interrogation of the myth of genius, exploring the surprising inventions, inspirations and distortions by which some lives are elevated to 'greatness' - and others are not. You can tell what a society values by who it labels as a genius. You can also tell who it excludes, who it enables, and what it is prepared to tolerate. In The Genius Myth, Helen Lewis unearths how this one word has shaped (and distorted) our ideas of success and achievement.

Kaleidoscopic culture critic Chuck Klosterman rewrites the history of reality in an "ingenious" ( Kirkus Reviews ) work of speculative nonfiction based on a question that has never been considered or (in all likelihood) even asked: What if The Beatles had only developed a cult following while the Velvet Underground emerged as the most popular band in the world? The Velvet Underground & Nico was released in the spring of 1967. For decades, the cliche has been that it initially only sold 10,000 copies, though everyone who bought it supposedly started a band. It is the definition of a record whose influence outstrips its mass popularity. But what if the opposite had transpired? What if instead of selling 10,000 copies, it had sold...10 million copies? What if it had sold 100 million copies? What would have happened if the Velvet Underground had inexplicably become the biggest group in the history of popular music, and everything about the rest of the 20th century was merely a footnote to that phenomenon? Chuck Klosterman has generated a fictitious universe where almost everything is different, except for the songs. The songs remain the same--the difference is how they are heard and what they now mean. Lou Reed is a messiah, reversing the monoculture and dictating the outcome of presidential elections. The Beatles disappear, though they never break up. The Rolling Stones collapse while Led Zeppelin goes bankrupt. Punk rock fills stadiums, undermined only by insouciant radicals like Boston and Van Halen. Disco is destroyed. Hip-hop becomes country. The 1980s are defined by disposable pop icons (like G.G. Allin) and Christian revivalists (like Madonna). Lenny Kravitz lets love rule, Oasis collides with a wonderwall, and the terrorist attacks of 9/11 are somehow blamed on the Strokes. Presented like The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll if written by Philip K. Dick, Jorge Luis Borges, and Patrick Bateman, Rock* intermixes satiric contrarianism and Spinal Tap-ish absurdity with darker theories about what makes art popular, how success delineates perception, and the inescapable consensus of subjective history.

"Eunice Newton Foote was ahead of her time and was the first to identify carbon dioxide as a pollutant and cause of climate change--in 1856 when most people preferred that women were seen rather than heard"-- Provided by publisher.

"Rhetoric once sat at the center of elite education. Alexander the Great, Shakespeare, and Martin Luther King, Jr., used it to build empires, write deathless literature, and inspire democracies. Now it will help you to take leadership over yourself; not through pop psychology or empty inspiration, but with persuasive tools that have been tested for more than three thousand years. In Aristotle's Guide to Self-Persuasion, Heinrichs helps readers persuade their most difficult audiences-themselves-by using techniques invented by the likes of Aristotle and Cicero and deployed by our culture's most persuasive characters. With their help, rhetoric can convert the most negative situations into positive ones. Heinrichs brings in examples from history and pop culture-Winston Churchill, Iron Man, Dolly Parton, and the woman who serendipitously invented the chocolate chip cookie-to illustrate the concepts. But the core of the book tests the tools of self-persuasion and asks: Can the same techniques that seduce lovers, sell diet books, and overturn governments help us achieve our most desired goals? Filled with entertaining and scientific studies that showcase the power of what language can do for you, Aristotle's Guide to Self-Persuasion will teach you how to be the most successful person you can be, just by talking to yourself"-- Provided by publisher.

Malcolm Gladwell returns with a brilliant new work: an incisive investigation into gun violence, America's deadliest and most polarizing crisis. Why, when it comes to lethal violence, is America so different from the rest of the globe? The United States is wealthier, better educated, more technologically sophisticated, more religious than almost any of its peers in the developed world--all of which would suggest that it should also have the lowest levels of violence. Yet the opposite is true. In this bold new book, Malcolm Gladwell investigates the paradox through a series of stories--the miracle of a young gunshot victim in Washington, D.C., the legal travails of a seventeenth-century English knight, a professor in Alabama with a terrible secret, a famous town in Kansas that Americans have been lying to each other about for 100 years, and a prison in Germany that would be unrecognizable to any American, among others. Using original interviews, archival footage, and his trademark insight, Gladwell confronts one of today's most urgent moral dilemmas and examines what's actually being done to fix it.

"Live through American history from earliest times to the present day as breaking news! Immersive newspaper-style articles cover wars, migrations, politics, inventions, disasters, movies, food, books, and so much more. Developed in collaboration with The Washington Post, this groundbreaking family book is the perfect way to celebrate America's 250th birthday."--

We've had the time of our lives as Swifties, and now that story: full of joy, friendship, connection, clowning, and singing at the top of our lungs: is documented in this tribute to the fandom and the reason we're all here, Taylor Swift . We all know how it started: a teenage girl from Pennsylvania moved to Nashville and soon rose to the top of the country music charts. This is where Taylor Swift's story started in 2006, but it's also where our story, as Swifties, began. The Story of Us is a heartfelt journey through Swiftie history, capturing the evolution of a fandom that has stood the test of time. Told through the lens of personal experiences, this book chronicles the rise of a fandom that has remained fiercely loyal through every era. From calling radio stations to request "Tim McGraw," to those unforgettable moments on Tumblr when Taylor and fans felt like friends, to surviving the Ticketmaster war: we've been there. We've learned life lessons, traded friendship bracelets, mastered time zone math to tune into live streams, and created a language only another Swiftie: or Taylor herself: could understand. But beyond all of these shared moments, what truly binds us is how Taylor's lyrics feel like they were written just for us: like reflections of our own stories. This passionate and unique fandom has won awards and been intensely studied, but for the first time, fans can reminisce and celebrate what it means to be part of this life-changing community. A love letter written by a Swiftie, for Swifties, The Story of Us ensures that our story will never be forgotten.

In 1970, in soundstage on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a group of men and women of various ages and races met to finish the first season of a children's TV program. They had identified a social problem: poor children were entering kindergarten without the learning skills of their middle-class counterparts. They hoped that they had identified a solution: to use television to better prepare these disadvantaged kids for school. No one knew then, but this children's TV program would go on to start a cultural revolution. It was called Sesame Street. Sesame Street was part of a larger movement that saw media professionals and thought leaders leveraging their influence to help children learn. A year and a half earlier, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood premiered. Fast on its heels came Schoolhouse Rock!, a video series to teach kids times tables, civics, and grammatical rules, and Free to Be... You and Me, the TV star Marlo Thomas's multi-pronged campaign to instill the concept of gender equality in young minds. There was more: programs such as The Electric Company, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, ZOOM, and others followed, and captivated young viewers. David Kamp takes readers behind the scenes to show how these programs made it on air. Kamp explains how like-minded individuals found their way into television, not as fame- or money-hungry would-be auteurs and stars, but as people who wanted to use TV to help children.--

"Despite prevailing assumptions, ADHD is still an underdiagnosed condition. Not only is the diagnostic scale subjective , but the hallmarks of ADHD often remain shrouded behind conditions like anxiety and depression. Most individuals with ADHD live through their formative years with symptoms that so powerfully derail their confidence, future, career, relationships, and sense of self. And many of them are not first diagnosed until adulthood despite their struggles. An esteemed psychologist and retired clinical professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Russell Ramsay, has worked with countless patients -- some suffering from severe cases of ADHD, others having experienced the common frustrations of undiagnosed ADHD for most of their lives. With the help of his groundbreaking program, his patients have found ways to support their brain, express their emotions, prioritize what matters, release shame, blame, and guilt, and see the world in the creative, bright, brilliant delight this neurodivergence offers. The solution isn't simply getting back to whatever is considered 'normal.' As Dr. Ramsay presents in this book, there are patient-proven specific solutions to bolstering our executive function and these methods combined with a more comprehensive understanding of the emotional pain-points at the root of ADHD can transform lives. Dr. Ramsay offers a paradigm shift to help us stop blaming and shaming ourselves for our moment-to-moment inattention and instead focus on the behaviors and routines that form the foundation of our lives. It's for anyone seeking a healthier relationship with their to-do list, more positive inner self-talk, and a new perspective on what is possible when we embrace and support our sometimes-unreliable minds"-- Provided by publisher.

"From beloved New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum comes a groundbreaking narrative detailing the fights, egos, drama, and future presidents of reality television. Cue the Sun is a rollicking, deeply reported story about how the early reality TV business metastasized into an industry that now dominates entertainment in the United States. Starting in 1948, Nussbaum pulls back the curtain on the cultural meat grinder that created a generation-defining form of entertainment, examining shows from The Real World to Survivor to The Apprentice. Through extensive interviews, Nussbaum follows the reality TV industry from its inception with shows like Candid Camera to its 90s heyday and 00s aftermath. The book dives into some of the industry's most remarkable stories--for instance, the one where a serial killer on the run once appeared on The Dating Game"--

"A celebration of Tim Curry's life's work--including the iconic Dr. Frank-N-Further in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"--and a testament to his profound impact on the entertainment industry as we know it today, There are few stars in Hollywood today that can boast the kind of resume Emmy award-winning actor Tim Curry has built over the past five decades. From his breakout role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to his iconic depiction as the sadistic clown Pennywise in It to his critically acclaimed role as the original King Arthur in both the Broadway and West End versions of Spamalot, Curry redefined what it meant to be a "character actor," portraying heroes and villains alike with complexity, nuance, and a genuine understanding of human darkness. He's had dozens of roles across movies, tv shows, and musicals; lent his instantly recognizable voice to dozens of voice roles, audiobooks, and videogames; and he's changed the lives of countless fans in the process. Now, in his memoir, Curry takes readers behind-the-scenes of his rise to fame from his early beginnings as a military BRAT with difficult family dynamics, to his formative years in boarding school and university, to the moment when he hit the stage for the first time. He goes in-depth about what it was like to work on some of the most emblematic works of the 20th century, constantly switching between a camera and a live audience. He also explores the voicework that defined his later career and provided him with a chance to pivot after surviving a catastrophic stroke in 2012 that nearly took his life. With the upcoming 50th anniversary of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and the 40th anniversary of Clue, there's never been a better time for Tim to share his story with the world"--