ACERBIC, ICONOCLASTIC, WITTY take on free-market economists’ dogmas from a University of Cambridge economist.

AMUSING COMPENDIUM of random information, curated by NPR’s librarian, may be every nerd’s favorite beach read!

ENGROSSING HIDDEN HISTORY of three 19th-century Frenchwomen whose cases inspired modern neurology, psychology.

A LIBERIAN BROADCASTER sketches a portrait of her conflict-torn country in her own story, those of listeners.

FASCINATING TOPIC–the history of UFO disinformation campaigns–suffers from distractingly unfocused approach.

PROVOCATIVE, SHARP BOOK by French medieval historian challenges readers to look beyond the conventional wisdom.

THOUGHTFUL BIOGRAPHY of the complex and troubled chess prodigy Bobby Fischer combines sympathy with insight.

AN IRANIAN-AMERICAN WRITER looks at her mother’s experiences, including marriage at age 13. Moving, revelatory.

RACY, ENGAGING, SCHOLARLY but never dry, this history of 18th-century London’s red-light spots is eye-opening.

INTRIGUING BIOGRAPHY of Rome’s most (in)famous empress looks beyond the cartoon villainess of fiction and myth.