Book Excerpt

Here & Now's bookshelf, which includes excerpts of books that we cover on our show.

The cove of "Rethinking Rescue" beside author Carol Mithers. (Courtesy)

New book says we need to be 'Rethinking Rescue' of animals

Author Carol Mithers profiles Lori Weise, whose organization Downtown Dog Rescue helps low-income and unhoused people keep their animals rather than giving them up due to lack of resources.

09:39Aug 14, 2024

The cover of "Our History is the Future" and author Nick Estes. (Courtesy)

'Our History is the Future' explores lessons from Indigenous resistance for today's water crises

In the book, author Nick Estes tells stories of past Indigenous acts of resistance and how that resistance has lessons for the growing global water crisis.

09:32Aug 7, 2024

The cover of "We Were Illegal" and author Jessica Goudeau. (Courtesy of Penguin Random House and Lisa Woods)

'We Were Illegal' uses family stories to challenge the myths of Texas

While looking at her family's history, author Jessica Goudeau discovered how it intersected and reflected the state's brutal and often racist past.

10:59Aug 6, 2024

The cover of "Raashi's Rakhis" and author Sheetal Sheth. (Courtesy)

Children's book 'Raashi's Rakhis' brings a new twist to the Hindu holiday of Raksha Bandhan

The beloved Hindu holiday of Raksha Bandhan is just a few weeks away. In the new children's book "Raashi's Rakhis" a young girl decides to put her spin on the...

09:30Aug 5, 2024

The cover of "Three Kings" and author Todd Balf. (Courtesy of Blackstone Publishing and Everand and Patricia Adams)

'Three Kings' book explores swimming at the 1924 Olympics

"Three Kings: Race, Class, and the Barrier-Breaking Rivals Who Redefined Sports and Launched the Modern Olympic Age" tells the story of three swimmers who overcame discrimination and hardships on their...

09:40Jul 26, 2024

The cover of "The Lucky Ones" and author Zara Chowdhary. (Courtesy of Crown and Caitlin M. Carlson)

'The Lucky Ones' memoir explores anti-Muslim violence in India

In "The Lucky Ones," Chowdhary shares her firsthand harrowing account of the days after the burning of some train carriages in a city called Godhra.

10:40Jul 16, 2024

The cover of "The Quacken" and author Justin Colón. (Courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Sal Peretti)

In the new lightly spooky kids book 'The Quacken,' a duck threatens the peace of a summer camp

There’s something in the water at Cucumonga Campground. Is it a shadow, a boulder, or a giant duck?!

05:46Jul 12, 2024

The cover of "DOLCI!" and author Renato Poliafito. (Courtesy of Knopf and Kevin Miyazaki)

'Dolci' cookbook desserts are a marriage of Italian and American flavors

When Renato Poliafito decided to leave advertising to open a bakery, it was American pastries he paid homage to. And then, the Italian influences started creeping in.

10:49Jul 11, 2024

Pepperpot from "Mad Love." (Courtesy of Suech and Beck)

In 'Mad Love' cookbook, chef Devan Rajkumar shares a world of flavors

In the book, Rajkumar shares recipes that draw upon his Guyanese, Caribbean, West Indian heritage, his South Asian ancestry and his world travels.

09:47Jul 1, 2024

The cover of "The Connection Cure" and author Julia Hotz. (Courtesy of Cat Blewer and Blackstone Publishing)

'The Connection Cure' explores social prescriptions to improve mental and physical health

The book tells stories of doctors around the world who prescribe referrals for activities such as biking and fishing clubs, museum visits and volunteering as a way to improve physical...

09:36Jun 25, 2024

The cover of "Us, After" by Rachel Zimmerman. (Courtesy)

'Us, After' memoir tackles suicide, grief and learning to love life again

When Rachel Zimmerman's husband Seth died by suicide in 2014, she had more questions than answers.

10:55Jun 24, 2024

People swim in the Mississippi River at night. (Rory Doyle)

'The Great River' explores the history and future of the Mississippi River

The book tells of the Indigenous people who lived alongside the Mississippi River to the present-day restoration efforts that could return the river and its wetlands to a more natural...

09:47Jun 21, 2024

American big band leader and legendary jazz pianist Duke Ellington. (Keystone/Getty Images)

Celebrating late jazz icon Duke Ellington on his 125th birthday

It's been 50 years since Duke Ellington's death.

11:11Jun 18, 2024

Joni Mitchell plays Wembley Arena in London in 1983. (Steve Rapport/Getty Images)

Joni Mitchell biography 'Traveling' tracks a journey that changed popular music

The Canadian singer — an only child born on the prairies — reinvented herself repeatedly, famously singing “I’m on a lonely road, and I am traveling, traveling, traveling, looking for...

10:54Jun 11, 2024

The cover of "Ultraviolet" beside author Aida Salazar. (Courtesy)

'Ultraviolet' tackles the challenge of being a tween boy in the 21st century

Young Adult author Aida Salazar set out to find books to help her tween son understand himself and the world he was growing up in but found her options nearly...

09:41Jun 10, 2024

Samosas spread from "Amrikan." (Courtesy)

'Amrikan' cookbook adapts Indian recipes and flavors for American palates and pantries

Food writer Khushbu Shah incorporates American ingredients like Bisquick into Indian recipes and uses Indian spices in traditional American dishes like macaroni and cheese.

09:39Jun 5, 2024

The cover of "Egyptian Made: Women, Work, and the Promise of Liberation" beside author Leslie T. Chang. (Courtesy)

In 'Egyptian Made,' author Leslie T. Chang profiles struggles of garment workers

“Made in Egypt" — those three words increasingly appear on our clothing tags. But behind those words are the dramatic — and sometimes tragic — stories of young Egyptian women...

09:40Jun 4, 2024

The cover of "Hurdles in the Dark" and author Elvira K. Gonzalez. (Courtesy of Macmillan publishing group and Andrew Thompson)

'Hurdles in the Dark' tells of prevailing over obstacles both mental and physical

Elvira K. Gonzales overcame her mother's abduction and a stay in juvenile detention to become a champion high school hurdler in Laredo, Texas. She tells her story in her new...

09:36Jun 4, 2024

The cover of "A Haunted Girl" by Ethan and Naomi Sacks. (Courtesy)

'A Haunted Girl' graphic novel explores mental illness through horror

On the surface, the new graphic novel “A Haunted Girl” is the story of a teenage girl who has to fight giant supernatural monsters to save the world. But it’s...

09:36May 30, 2024

The cover of "The Conservative Environmentalist" and author Benji Backer. (Courtesy of Sentinel and Bruce Backer)

Conservative Republican argues for bipartisanship on the environment

Benji Backer, author of "The Conservative Environmentalist," explains why he'd like to see Republicans and Democrats find common ground and work together on protecting the environment.

09:40May 30, 2024