FASCINATING AMERICAN HISTORY looks at Boston’s 1721 smallpox epidemic, its impact on science and politics. A MINUS

THE FEVER OF 1721: THE EPIDEMIC THAT REVOLUTIONIZED MEDICINE AND AMERICAN POLITICS
Simon & Schuster
2016

EXTRAVAGANTLY ECCENTRIC MEMOIR from a Swedish entomologist charms with its love of nature, science, history.

RAW, BLUESY BIO of James Brown takes on his complicated life, transcendent music, place as a Black icon.

A BRAZILIAN FAVELA KINGPIN’S extraordinary story highlights how poverty and corruption undermine society. A MINUS

NEMESIS: THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE BATTLE FOR RIO
Knopf Publishing Group
2016

THE REAL COST OF TRANSPORTATION, of ourselves and of the things we buy. Fascinating and sobering. A MINUS

DOOR TO DOOR
Harper
2016

THE POWER OF URBAN SOLITUDE: a writer weaves her memories together with iconic artworks on city loneliness. A MINUS

LONELY CITY: ADVENTURES IN THE ART OF BEING ALONE
Picador USA
2016

A TROUBLED FATHER’S LEGACY to his son: nearly a ton of pornography, including his own work. Wild and sad. B PLUS

MY FATHER, THE PORNOGRAPHER
Atria Books
2016

THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION: how medical research is exploring its healing potential. Evidence-based reporting! B PLUS

CURE: A JOURNEY INTO THE SCIENCE OF MIND OVER BODY
Crown/Archetype
2016

IRREVERENT MEMOIR OF LIFE at a dot-com startup mixes sharp insights with some astonishing cluelessness. B PLUS

DISRUPTED MY MISADVENTURE IN THE START UP BUBBLE
Hachette Books
2016

THE ELEMENTS OF CREATIVITY explored. Lovely, spare prose! Examples from nature, science, architecture, arts. A MINUS

THE STORM OF CREATIVITY
MIT Press
2015