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1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World

Liaquat Ahamed (Penguin Press)

Getting antsy that the next big bubble’s about to burst? Ahamed offers some sharp insight into the matter in this follow-up to his 2010 Pulitzer winner Lords of Finance, in which he explores an 1873 market crash—the first to actually be called a “great depression”—that not only played out much as future crashes would but also, like future crashes, provoked reactionary backlash movements around the world.

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American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed

Isaac Fitzgerald (Knopf)

With contemporary disconnection on his mind and a love of American folk hero Johnny Appleseed in his heart, Fitzgerald recounts a yearlong journey he took from Massachusetts to Indiana as his mother’s health began to decline. His eminently charming reflections braid together thoughtful assessments of national amnesia and folksy encounters with a string of memorable people he meets along the way.

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Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess

Ben Mezrich (Grand Central)

This riveting breakdown of a major chess scandal from bestseller Mezrich traces how the money, power, and hubris flowing through, of all things, Chess.com was enough to wreak havoc on the relatively staid sport. It’s a gripping tale of lurid accusations, outsize egos, and unsolvable mysteries.

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The Housewives Underground: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the JFK Assassination Our Most Enduring Mystery

Kaitlyn Tiffany (Crown)

Atlantic staff writer Tiffany offers up a superb history of the trio of women who, skeptical of the Warren Commission, doggedly investigated the JFK assassination for decades, surfacing evidence and conducting interviews of enduring significance. Seventies housewives driving around Dallas in the 1970s searching for people to talk to about the assassination or combing through all 18,000 pages of the Warren Commission Report in search of inconsistencies will make for pleasantly surreal summer reading.

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How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius: What Architects, Stuntwomen, Paleoanthropologists, and Computer Scientists Reveal About the World’s Game

Nick Greene (Abrams)

Readers gearing up to watch the World Cup this summer will want to delve into this rollicking appraisal of the world’s most popular sport. Journalist Greene traces the history of soccer—including its violent origin in medieval England—and interviews scientists, doctors, and even an Anglican priest to reveal the complexity behind a seemingly simple game. Witty and entertaining, it’s a delight for sports fans.

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In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure

Rowan Jacobsen (Scribner)

Science journalist Jacobsen lobbies for the health benefits of sun exposure in this enlightening investigation. Messaging about the dangers of the sun’s rays has swung too far from reality, he contends, citing recent studies that show soaking up ample amounts of sunshine leads to longer, healthier lives, while deprivation is linked to a slew of harmful conditions. Readers will be inspired to follow his straightforward advice: “Go outside.”

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Inspiration Porn: Essays

Ryan O’Connell (St. Martin’s)

In this hilarious and poignant collection, O’Connell, creator and star of the Netflix series Special, relays his experience navigating Hollywood as a person with cerebral palsy, overcoming addiction to drugs and alcohol, and embracing his sexuality in his 30s by opening up his relationship with his long-term boyfriend. Highlights include a nostalgic account of his time working for the website Thought Catalog during the 2010s personal essay boom, as well as moving reflections on body image and self-belief.

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Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969–2000

Barry Walters (Viking)

Music journalist Walters surveys the history of modern queer music in this exuberant love letter to some of the 20th century’s most acclaimed stars that doubles as a perceptive analysis of how art can serve as a vehicle for challenging social norms. Even music buffs who think they know all there is to know about Bowie, Prince, and Queen will be enlightened.

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The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water

Chris Ballard (Simon & Schuster)

This exploration of the rising popularity of cold water swimming takes sports journalist Ballard across the globe and into the path of a colorful host of Olympic athletes, eccentric thrill seekers, and scientists studying the practice’s surprising medical benefits. Ambitious in scope and thrumming with energy, it’s a deep dive readers will be glad to take.

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What I Made for Dinner: A Memoir

Krys Malcolm Belc (Catapult)

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Belc became obsessed with food influencers as he prepared meals for his wife and three young children. Here, he uses that obsession as a jumping-off point to meditate on parenthood, fertility, and his gender transition, all with good humor (and delicious-sounding dishes).

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