New Nonfiction: Wednesday, February 25

If you frequently read fiction books, you might want to consider nonfiction for a change of pace. The library is constantly receiving new nonfiction and biography books, including the items below. Why not stop by and check out a book, CD, movie, or other material that you find interesting? We will continue to offer “Grab and Go” services for those who prefer to place their books on hold online and then pick them up on the shelves by the circulation desk.

Here are a few of the new nonfiction books that have arrived at the library recently. We invite you to check them out!

Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy

With curiosity and wit, Duffy takes us on a journey to learn how a good laugh can bring us closer to the good life. Using psychology and the wisdom of fellow comedians, Duffy reveals that a sense of humor can turn you into the kind of person others want to be around, someone who can be honest about their flaws without beating themselves up. It can teach us how to show up more generously in our most important relationships and how to handle the most painful parts of life without giving in to despair. For anyone who has tried meditation, a new year’s resolution, or gratitude practice as a self-improvement strategy, Humor Me offers a fresh and exciting path to greater presence, creativity, connection, and joy.

Cozy Vegan: 100 Delicious, Plant-based Comfort Food Recipes

Cozy Vegan is the ultimate cookbook for anyone wanting to explore a plant-based lifestyle, feel incredible, and not sacrifice the delicious foods they love. Author Liz Douglas offers 100 deliciously decadent recipes and cooking tips that make it easier than ever to live a wholesome, plant-based lifestyle. Start your day with easy breakfast recipes like the make-ahead Choc Chia Mousse or savory Pumpkin Seed Scramble for a filling weekend brunch. When it comes to mains, you won’t be left hungry with hearty meals like Classic “Beef” Lasagna, creamy Butter Chickpeas, and Cheesy Cauliflower Pot Pie, to name just a few. Pasta lovers will be amazed by the entire chapter dedicated to a range of silky-smooth, creamy sauces with hidden veggies.

The Tower and the Ruin: J.R.R. Tolkein’s Creation

In The Tower and the Ruin, Michael Drout explains what sets Tolkien’s work apart from all other modern literature. Drout’s argument starts with the observation that reading Tolkien’s books, particularly The Lord of the Rings, feels more like having an experience than just reading another book. Taking us into Tolkien’s life and his many books, from The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion to lesser-known works such as The Fall of Gondolin, Drout shows how Tolkien, over a period of decades, crafted a fully coherent world. But the greater achievement, Drout argues, was how he drew from Beowulf, the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, and other foundational myths to create of a set of stories that felt, to readers, as though they were much, much older than they actually were.