Madison Library District
Choice Awards
Nonfiction NOMINEES FOR 2019
Voting has ended for 2019.
Find all the nominees below.
Winners
1. Educated
by Tara Westover
Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for …
Read the full synopsis
2. Becoming
by Michelle Obama
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of …
Read the full synopsis
3. Where There’s Hope
by Elizabeth Smart
Author. Activist. Victim—no more.
In her fearless memoir, My Story—the basis of the Lifetime Original movie I Am Elizabeth Smart—Elizabeth detailed, for the first time, the horror behind …
Read the full synopsis
4. The Good Neighbor
by Maxwell King
Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and …
Read the full synopsis
5. Girl, Wash Your Face
by Rachel Hollis
Founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Chic Media, Rachel Hollis has created an online fan base of hundreds of thousands of fans by …
Read the full synopsis
6. Magnolia Table
by Joanna Gaines
Magnolia Table is infused with Joanna Gaines’ warmth and passion for all things family, prepared and served straight …
Read the full synopsis
7. Slave Stealers
by Timothy Ballard
Follow two abolitionists who fought one of the most shockingly persistent evils of the world: human trafficking and sexual exploitation of slaves. Told in alternating chapters from perspectives spanning …
Read the full synopsis
8. How to Be a Good Creature
by Sy Montgomery
Understanding someone who belongs to another species can be transformative. No one knows this better than author, naturalist, and …
Read the full synopsis
9. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
by Margareta Magnusson
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of …
Read the full synopsis
10. Fly Girls
by Keith O’Brien
Between the world wars, no sport was more popular, or more dangerous, than airplane racing. Thousands of fans flocked to multi‑day events, and cities vied with …
Read the full synopsis
Other Nominees
The Book of Books
by Jessica Allen
A blockbuster illustrated book that captures what Americans love to read, The Great American Read: The Book of Books is the gorgeously-produced companion book to …
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Grow Something Different to Eat
by Matthew Biggs
Whether you’re a beginner and determined to make the most of limited space with a truly unique and heirloom harvest, or a seasoned grower looking to …
Read the full synopsis
Faith: A Journey for All
by Jimmy Carter
All his life, President Jimmy Carter has been a courageous exemplar of faith. Now he shares the lessons he learned. He writes, “The issue of faith arises in …
Read the full synopsis
Best Bear Ever!
by Liz Climo
Best Bear Ever! follows Bear and Rabbit, along with their other friends (including Otter, Sloth, Skunk, and Turtle), to commemorate special …
Read the full synopsis
A Higher Loyalty
by James Comey
Former FBI Director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in …
Read the full synopsis
The Boy Crisis
by Warren Farrell
What is the boy crisis? It’s a crisis of education. For the first time in American history, our sons will have less education than their dads. It’s a crisis o f…
Read the full synopsis
Making the Monster
by Kathryn Harkup
The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time. Frankenstein: Or, Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on …
Read the full synopsis
Skinnytaste One and Done
by Gina Homolka
Skinnytaste One and Done is the perfect resource for busy home cooks looking for easy, good-for-you dinnertime solutions. #1 New York Times bestselling author Gina Homolka incorporates …
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The Future of Humanity
by Michio Kaku
Human civilization is on the verge of spreading beyond Earth. More than a possibility, it is becoming a necessity: whether our hand is forced by …
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The Library Book
by Susan Orlean
On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who …
Read the full synopsis
A Second Wind
by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo
Born with wealth and privilege, Philippe Pozzo di Borgo was not generally someone in the habit of asking for help. Then, in 1993, right on the …
Read the full synopsis
Peace for a Palestinian
by Sahar Qumsiyeh
Sahar Qumsiyeh was born to loving Christian parents in Beit Sahour, a town on the hills next to Bethlehem. Growing up in a country torn apart by …
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Zero Waste
by Shia Su
We have a worldwide trash epidemic. The average American disposes of 4.4 pounds of garbage per day, and our landfills hold 254 million tons of waste …
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Whiskey in a Teacup
by Reese Witherspoon
Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the …
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Fire and Fury
by Michael Wolff
With extraordinary access to the West Wing, Michael Wolff reveals what happened behind-the-scenes in the first nine months of the most …
Read the full synopsis
1. Educated by Tara Westover
Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag”. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard.
Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent.
Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes and the will to change it.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Bekka rated it ★★★★★ and said “WOW. This is an incredible tale, masterfully told. I was deeply moved by Westover’s story, and am grateful that she chose to share it with the world. Her story is incredibly brave and truthful, and I read it pretty much in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. Part of the engagement for me was that I’m quite familiar both with LDS culture and the area of the world she grew up in, but I don’t think you need that background to understand this memoir. Her writing style is very engaging, and I would love to see what she could do with a work of fiction, or with some narrative non-fiction – history of course! For Westover herself, I hope so much that her life continues on the positive path she’s put it on, and that she will be able to find closure with her family and her childhood. I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone! While there are some hard things to read, the truthfulness of the story and her life path make this a real inspiration for both older teens and adults. Highly Recommended!”
Cathy rated it ★★★★.
2. Becoming by Michelle Obama
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★ and said, “I’m not generally one for biographies. I’d rather take a close look at a key event than take on the whole life. The dramatic structure becomes garbled. That being said, I glad that I took on this memoir. I learned a great deal about a group of admirable and very likeable people.“
3. Where There’s Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up
by Elizabeth Smart
Author. Activist. Victim—no more.
In her fearless memoir, My Story—the basis of the Lifetime Original movie I Am Elizabeth Smart—Elizabeth detailed, for the first time, the horror behind the headlines of her abduction by religious fanatic Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. Since then, she’s married, become a mother, and traveled the world as the president of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, sharing her story with the intent of helping others along the way.
Over and over, Elizabeth is asked the same question: How do you find the hope to go on? In this book, Elizabeth returns to the horrific experiences she endured, and the hard-won lessons she learned, to provide answers. She also calls upon others who have dealt with adversity—victims of violence, disease, war, and loss—to explore the pathways toward hope. Through conversations with such well-known voices as Anne Romney, Diane Von Furstenburg, and Mandy Patinkin, to spiritual leaders Archbishop John C. Wester and Elder Richard Hinckley, to her own parents, Elizabeth uncovers an even greater sense of solace and understanding.
Where There’s Hope is the result of Elizabeth’s mission: It is both an up-close-and-personal glimpse into her healing process and a heartfelt how-to guide for readers to make peace with the past and embrace the future.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Julia rated it ★★★★ and said, “This was a great compilation of interviews about hope from people who have overcome some pretty incredible trials. It was very inspirational.“
4. The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and questions about the world seriously.
The Good Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development. An engaging story, rich in detail, The Good Neighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★.
5. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be
by Rachel Hollis
Founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Chic Media, Rachel Hollis has created an online fan base of hundreds of thousands of fans by sharing tips for living a better life while fearlessly revealing the messiness of her own. Now comes her highly anticipated first book featuring her signature combination of honesty, humor, and direct, no-nonsense advice.
Each chapter of Girl, Wash Your Face begins with a specific lie Hollis once believed that left her feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, or ready to give up. As a working mother, a former foster parent, and a woman who has dealt with insecurities about her body and relationships, she speaks with the insight and kindness of a BFF, helping women unpack the limiting mind-sets that destroy their self-confidence and keep them from moving forward.
From her temporary obsession with marrying Matt Damon to a daydream involving hypnotic iguanas to her son’s request that she buy a necklace to “be like the other moms,” Hollis holds nothing back. With unflinching faith and tenacity, Hollis spurs other women to live with passion and hustle and to awaken their slumbering goals.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Mary rated it ★★★★.
6. Magnolia Table Volume 1 by Joanna Gaines
Magnolia Table is infused with Joanna Gaines’ warmth and passion for all things family, prepared and served straight from the heart of her home, with recipes inspired by dozens of Gaines family favorites and classic comfort selections from the couple’s new Waco restaurant, Magnolia Table.
Jo believes there’s no better way to celebrate family and friendship than through the art of togetherness, celebrating tradition, and sharing a great meal. Magnolia Table includes 125 classic recipes—from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to small plates, snacks, and desserts—presenting a modern selection of American classics and personal family favorites. Complemented by her love for her garden, these dishes also incorporate homegrown, seasonal produce at the peak of its flavor. Inside Magnolia Table, you’ll find recipes the whole family will enjoy, such as:
Chicken Pot Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Asparagus and Fontina Quiche
Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Balsamic Reduction
Peach Caprese
Overnight French Toast
White Cheddar Bisque
Fried Chicken with Sticky Poppy Seed Jam
Lemon Pie
Mac and Cheese
Full of personal stories and beautiful photos, Magnolia Table is an invitation to share a seat at the table with Joanna Gaines and her family.
7. Slave Stealers: True Accounts of Slave Rescues Then and Now
by Timothy Ballard
Follow two abolitionists who fought one of the most shockingly persistent evils of the world: human trafficking and sexual exploitation of slaves. Told in alternating chapters from perspectives spanning more than a century apart, read the riveting 19th century first-hand account of Harriet Jacobs and the modern-day eyewitness account of Timothy Ballard.
Harriet Jacobs was an African-American, born into slavery in North Carolina in 1813. She thwarted the sexual advances of her master for years until she escaped and hid in the attic crawl space of her grandmother’s house for seven years before escaping north to freedom. She published an autobiography of her life, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which was one of the first open discussions about sexual abuse endured by slave women. She was an active abolitionist, associated with Frederick Douglass, and, during the Civil War, used her celebrity to raise money for black refugees. After the war, she worked to improve the conditions of newly-freed slaves.
As a former Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security who has seen the horrors and carnage of war, Timothy Ballard founded a modern-day “underground railroad” which has rescued hundreds of children from being fully enslaved, abused, or trafficked in third-world countries. His story includes the rescue and his eventual adoption of two young siblings—Mia and Marky, who were born in Haiti.
Section 2 features the lives of five abolitionists, a mix of heroes from past to present, who call us to action and teach us life lessons based on their own experiences: Harriet Tubman—The “Conductor”; Abraham Lincoln—the “Great Emancipator”; Little Mia—the sister who saved her little brother; Guesno Mardy—the Haitian father who lost his son to slave traders; and Harriet Jacobs—a teacher for us all.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★★ and said, “High marks for the content. Low marks for the delivery mode.
“I started reading this book as an e-book and found the format very frustrating and difficult to follow. Sentences would break mid-way for a portion of someone’s letter and then resume with the main body of the text, again mid-sentence. Then, again mid-sentence, it would jump to a bit from a newspaper article. While the content was fascinating, it was so jolting that I may have given up.
“I was saved by the published hard copy arriving on my desk. I noted that the inclusions here were set off in boxes and added greatly. Going back to the ebook, there were markings which indicated a break, but they were unclear and the breaks poorly placed. For this reason, I strongly advise going with the bound, physical copy of this title rather than the electronic version.
“As for the content, the book itself – I have new heroes. While the stories of historic story of Harriet Jacobs and the current efforts of contemporary warriors fighting enslavement, particularly of children in sexual slavery, may seems only distantly related, the parallels are strong and both accounts will stay with me for life. This is a book that will make you look around and wonder about what you see around you. This is a book that will have you looking for ways to make a difference. There is so much that we take for granted and shouldn’t. This book will make you aware.
“I definitely recommend this book, in hard copy.”
8. How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
by Sy Montgomery
Understanding someone who belongs to another species can be transformative. No one knows this better than author, naturalist, and adventurer Sy Montgomery. To research her books, Sy has traveled the world and encountered some of the planet’s rarest and most beautiful animals. From tarantulas to tigers, Sy’s life continually intersects with and is informed by the creatures she meets.
This restorative memoir reflects on the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals–Sy’s friends–and the truths revealed by their grace. It also explores vast themes: the otherness and sameness of people and animals; the various ways we learn to love and become empathetic; how we find our passion; how we create our families; coping with loss and despair; gratitude; forgiveness; and most of all, how to be a good creature in the world.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★★ and said, “A touching and heartfelt memoir of influential creatures. I wish I’d known them all.”
9. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter
by Margareta Magnusson
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★.
10. Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
by Keith O’Brien
Between the world wars, no sport was more popular, or more dangerous, than airplane racing. Thousands of fans flocked to multi‑day events, and cities vied with one another to host them. The pilots themselves were hailed as dashing heroes who cheerfully stared death in the face. Well, the men were hailed. Female pilots were more often ridiculed than praised for what the press portrayed as silly efforts to horn in on a manly, and deadly, pursuit. Fly Girls recounts how a cadre of women banded together to break the original glass ceiling: the entrenched prejudice that conspired to keep them out of the sky.
O’Brien weaves together the stories of five remarkable women: Florence Klingensmith, a high‑school dropout who worked for a dry cleaner in Fargo, North Dakota; Ruth Elder, an Alabama divorcee; Amelia Earhart, the most famous, but not necessarily the most skilled; Ruth Nichols, who chafed at the constraints of her blue‑blood family’s expectations; and Louise Thaden, the mother of two young kids who got her start selling coal in Wichita. Together, they fought for the chance to race against the men — and in 1936 one of them would triumph in the toughest race of all.
Best Bear Ever! by Liz Climo
Best Bear Ever! follows Bear and Rabbit, along with their other friends (including Otter, Sloth, Skunk, and Turtle), to commemorate special days throughout the year, while also embarking on fun adventures to celebrate the seasons. When you have good pals like these, any time of year can be the BEST EVER!
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★★.
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey
Former FBI Director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.
Mr. Comey served as Director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. He previously served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. deputy attorney general in the administration of President George W. Bush. From prosecuting the Mafia and Martha Stewart to helping change the Bush administration’s policies on torture and electronic surveillance, overseeing the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation as well as ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey has been involved in some of the most consequential cases and policies of recent history.
Making the Monster: The Science Behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
by Kathryn Harkup
The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time. Frankenstein: Or, Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on gothic horror and science fiction genres. The name Frankenstein has become part of our everyday language, often used in derogatory terms to describe scientists who have overstepped a perceived moral line. But how did a 19-year-old woman with no formal education come up with the idea for an extraordinary novel such as Frankenstein? The period of 1790-1820 saw huge advances in our understanding of electricity and physiology. Sensational science demonstrations caught the imagination of the general public, and newspapers were full of tales of murderers and resurrectionists.
It is unlikely that Frankenstein would have been successful in his attempts to create life back in 1818. However, advances in medical science mean we have overcome many of the stumbling blocks that would have thwarted his ambition. We can resuscitate people using defibrillators, save lives using blood transfusions, and prolong life through organ transplants–these procedures are nowadays considered almost routine. Many of these modern achievements are a direct result of 19th century scientists conducting their gruesome experiments on the dead.
Making the Monster explores the science behind Shelley’s book. From tales of reanimated zombie kittens to electrical experiments on human cadavers, Kathryn Harkup examines the science and scientists that influenced Mary Shelley and inspired her most famous creation, Victor Frankenstein. While, thankfully, we are still far from being able to recreate Victor’s “creature,” scientists have tried to create the building blocks of life, and the dream of creating life-forms from scratch is now tantalizingly close.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual fire alarm. As one fireman recounted, “Once that first stack got going, it was ‘Goodbye, Charlie.’” The fire was disastrous: it reached 2000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed four hundred thousand books and damaged seven hundred thousand more. Investigators descended on the scene, but more than thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who?
In The Library Book, Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago.
Brimming with her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, The Library Book is Susan Orlean’s thrilling journey through the stacks that reveals how these beloved institutions provide much more than just books—and why they remain an essential part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country. It is also a master journalist’s reminder that, perhaps especially in the digital era, they are more necessary than ever.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★★ and said, “What a lovely work! It’s the story of a catastrophic fire, of a suspected arsonist, of a historic building, of the colorful people that created its wonder, and the controversies that have surrounded it from the beginning . Ultimately, it’s a love letter to libraries and librarians, and I recommend it to anyone who likes to read.”
Grow Something Different to Eat by Matthew Biggs
Whether you’re a beginner and determined to make the most of limited space with a truly unique and heirloom harvest, or a seasoned grower looking to spice up your cooking with gourmet flavors, the step-by-step instructions give you the confidence to grow some unusually tasty crops. Choose from fruiting vegetables such as orange eggplants and hyacinth beans, salad greens such as fiddlehead ferns and sushi hostas, grains such as quinoa and chia, and luscious fruits such as honeyberries and white strawberries. All plants can be started indoors and transplanted, grown outdoors in the garden, or kept as houseplants. With versatile gardening advice for growing in a variety of spaces and situations, plus cooking suggestions and preserving options, a weird and wonderful harvest is guaranteed.
Peace for a Palestinian by Sahar Qumsiyeh
Sahar Qumsiyeh was born to loving Christian parents in Beit Sahour, a town on the hills next to Bethlehem. Growing up in a country torn apart by political and religious upheaval, Sahar struggled with feelings of hopelessness and anger as she watched schoolmates, friends, and loved ones be persecuted, tormented, and even killed.
As a young adult, Sahar received a scholarship to a university in a place called Utah and, acting on an incredible desire to further her education, traveled to the United States. While attending Brigham Young University, Sahar was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, with no previous intentions of changing religions, she was baptized months later.
But staying faithful and true to her new relationship with the Savior was immediately put to the test when Sahar returned home to Palestine. Attending the branch in Jerusalem, where she served as Relief Society president, meant hours of travel, risk of being arrested, and enduring harassment from Israeli soldiers at checkpoints, often only to be denied entrance to the city.
In Peace for a Palestinian, Sahar Qumsiyeh shares her experience as a Christian Palestinian who desperately searched for peace for her and her family, only to find that her true peace lies not in external resolution but in her personal willingness to follow the Savior. As she explains, “We may still live in a place with barriers, checkpoints, and restrictions, but we can feel liberated by His Atonement.”
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Patty rated it ★★★★.
The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It
by Warren Farrell
What is the boy crisis?It’s a crisis of education. For the first time in American history, our sons will have less education than their dads. It’s a crisis of mental health. As boys become young men, their suicide rates go from equal to girls to six times that of young women. It’s a crisis of sexuality. Sex is a minefield for our sons. They’re bombarded with mixed messages, afraid of being either too sensitive or not sensitive enough. It’s a crisis of fathering. Boys with less-involved fathers are more likely to drop out of school, drink, do drugs, become delinquent, and end up in prison. It’s a crisis of purpose. Boys’ old senses of purposes, being a warrior, a leader, or a sole breadwinner, are fading. Many bright boys are experiencing a “purpose void,” feeling alienated, withdrawn and addicted to immediate gratification. Compounding this issue are addicting video games that lead to distraction and ADHD.So, what is The Boy Crisis? A comprehensive blueprint for what parents, teachers, and policy-makers can do to renew our sons’ sense of purpose to help them become men, fathers, and leaders worthy of our respect.
A Second Wind by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo
Born with wealth and privilege, Philippe Pozzo di Borgo was not generally someone in the habit of asking for help. Then, in 1993, right on the heels of his wife’s diagnosis of a terminal illness, a paragliding accident left him a quadriplegic. He was forty-two-years-old and unable to do anything—even feed himself—without the help of another person.
Passing his days hidden behind the high walls of his townhouse, after his paralysis Philippe found himself isolated and depressed. The only person who seemed unaffected by Philippe’s condition was someone who had been marginalized his entire life—Abdel, the unemployed, outspoken Algerian immigrant who would become his unlikely caretaker. In between dramas and jokes, he sustained Philippe’s life for the next ten years.
Faith: A Journey for All by Jimmy Carter
All his life, President Jimmy Carter has been a courageous exemplar of faith. Now he shares the lessons he learned. He writes, “The issue of faith arises in almost every area of human existence, so it is important to understand its multiple meanings. In this book, my primary goal is to explore the broader meaning of faith, its far-reaching effect on our lives, and its relationship to past, present, and future events in America and around the world. The religious aspects of faith are also covered, since this is how the word is most often used, and I have included a description of the ways my faith has guided and sustained me, as well as how it has challenged and driven me to seek a closer and better relationship with people and with God.”
Quoting eminent Protestant theologians, in Faith President Carter describes his belief in religious freedom, moral politics, and the place of prayer in his daily life. He examines faith’s many meanings, he describes how to accept it, live it, how to doubt and find faith again. This is a serious and moving reflection from one of America’s most admired and respected citizens.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★ and said, “My respect for this man continually grows.”
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff
With extraordinary access to the West Wing, Michael Wolff reveals what happened behind-the-scenes in the first nine months of the most controversial presidency of our time in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.
Since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, the country―and the world―has witnessed a stormy, outrageous, and absolutely mesmerizing presidential term that reflects the volatility and fierceness of the man elected Commander-in-Chief.
This riveting and explosive account of Trump’s administration provides a wealth of new details about the chaos in the Oval Office, including:
— What President Trump’s staff really thinks of him
— What inspired Trump to claim he was wire-tapped by President Obama
— Why FBI director James Comey was really fired
— Why chief strategist Steve Bannon and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner couldn’t be in the same room
— Who is really directing the Trump administration’s strategy in the wake of Bannon’s firing
— What the secret to communicating with Trump is
— What the Trump administration has in common with the movie The Producers
Never before in history has a presidency so divided the American people. Brilliantly reported and astoundingly fresh, Fire and Fury shows us how and why Donald Trump has become the king of discord and disunion.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★.
Skinnytaste One and Done by Gina Homolka
Skinnytaste One and Done is the perfect resource for busy home cooks looking for easy, good-for-you dinnertime solutions. #1 New York Times bestselling author Gina Homolka incorporates her healthy, flavor-forward recipes with everyone’s favorite way to cook–in one vessel, whether a sheet pan or multi-cooker, and everything in-between. No matter if you’d like to lose weight or just eat a little healthier, this book will make your weeknight dinner routine even simpler with satisfying, all-in-one recipes. Cooking in a single vessel means streamlined dinners with minimal fuss and cleanup–a huge plus after a long day.
Skinnytaste One and Done is organized by vessels that include everyday cooking equipment such as an Instant Pot®, a sheet pan, a Dutch oven, a skillet, a slow cooker, and an air fryer. As always, the recipes are big on flavor and light on calories, and now more convenient than ever. With 140 healthy, family-friendly recipes, 120 full-color photos, nutritional information for every recipe, and Gina’s signature cooking tips, Skinnytaste One and Done will be a weeknight game changer.
The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku
Human civilization is on the verge of spreading beyond Earth. More than a possibility, it is becoming a necessity: whether our hand is forced by climate change and resource depletion or whether future catastrophes compel us to abandon Earth, one day we will make our homes among the stars.
World-renowned physicist and futurist Michio Kaku explores in rich, accessible detail how humanity might gradually develop a sustainable civilization in outer space. With his trademark storytelling verve, Kaku shows us how science fiction is becoming reality: mind-boggling developments in robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology could enable us to build habitable cities on Mars; nearby stars might be reached by microscopic spaceships sailing through space on laser beams; and technology might one day allow us to transcend our physical bodies entirely.
With irrepressible enthusiasm and wonder, Dr. Kaku takes readers on a fascinating journey to a future in which humanity could finally fulfil its long-awaited destiny among the stars – and perhaps even achieve immortality.
The Great American Read: The Book of Books: Explore America’s 100 Best-Loved Novels
by Jessica Allen
A blockbuster illustrated book that captures what Americans love to read, The Great American Read: The Book of Books is the gorgeously-produced companion book to PBS’s ambitious summer 2018 series.
What are America’s best-loved novels? PBS will launch The Great American Read series with a 2-hour special in May 2018 revealing America’s 100 best-loved novels, determined by a rigorous national survey. Subsequent episodes will air in September and October. Celebrities and everyday Americans will champion their favorite novel and in the finale in late October, America’s #1 best-loved novel will be revealed.
The Great American Read: The Book of Books will present all 100 novels with fascinating information about each book, author profiles, a snapshot of the novel’s social relevance, film or television adaptations, other books and writings by the author, and little-known facts. Also included are themed articles about banned books, the most influential book illustrators, reading recommendations, the best first-lines in literature, and more.
Beautifully designed with rare images of the original manuscripts, first-edition covers, rejection letters, and other ephemera, The Great American Read: The Book of Books is a must-have book for all booklovers.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★.
Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits
by Reese Witherspoon
Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing her mother’s most delicious recipes as well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Cathy rated it ★★★.
Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash
by Shia Su
We have a worldwide trash epidemic. The average American disposes of 4.4 pounds of garbage per day, and our landfills hold 254 million tons of waste.
What if there were a simple—and fun—way for you to make a difference? What if you could take charge of your own waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and make an individual impact on an already fragile environment?
A zero waste lifestyle is the answer—and Shia Su is living it. Every single piece of unrecyclable garbage Shia has produced in one year fits into a mason jar—and if it seems overwhelming, it isn’t! In Zero Waste, Shia demystifies and simplifies the zero waste lifestyle for the beginner, sharing practical advice, quick solutions, and tips and tricks that will make trash-free living fun and meaningful. Learn how to:
– Build your own zero waste kit
– Prepare real food—the lazy way
– Make your own DIY household cleaners and toiletries
– Be zero waste even in the bathroom!
– And more!
Be part of the solution! Implement these small changes at your own pace, and restructure your life to one of sustainable living for your community, your health, and the earth that sustains you.
Regular Hours of Operation
- Monday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Tuesday - Wednesday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Thursday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Sunday: CLOSED
Closures in 2024
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
- February 19 – Presidents Day
- March 22 – Staff Development Day
- April 6 – Building Maintenance
- May 25-27 – Memorial Day
- June 19 – Juneteenth
- July 4 – Independence Day
- August 31 – September 2 – Labor Day
- September 20 – LCEI Conference
- October 5 – Building Maintenance
- October 31 – Open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
- November 11 – Veterans Day
- November 27 – Closing at 5:00 pm
- November 28-30 – Thanksgiving
- December 24-26 – Christmas
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve
- January 1, 2025 – New Year’s Day
Closures in 2025
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
- February 17 – Presidents Day
- April 5 – Building Maintenance
- May 24-26 – Memorial Day
- June 19 – Juneteenth
- July 4 – Independence Day
- August 30-September 1 – Labor Day
- October 4 – Building Maintenance
- October 31 – Open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
- November 11 – Veterans Day
- November 26 – Closing at 5:00 pm
- November 27-29 – Thanksgiving
- December 24-26 – Christmas
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve
- January 1, 2026 – New Year’s Day
Address
73 North Center
Rexburg, Idaho 83440
We are located on Center Street, just north of Main Street, by the Historic Rexburg Tabernacle.
Contact Us
(208) 356-3461
24 Hour Phone Renewal: (208) 356-6658
askmadisonlibrary@madisonlib.org