New Nonfiction: Monday, March 23

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!

American Pontiff: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church

In this first major biography of the new American pontiff, Dr Paul Kengor delivers an engaging and gripping deep dive into the life and times of Robert Francis Prevost. There had never been an American pope, and until this book, there has not been an in-depth examination of the new American pontiff and his extraordinary election. Professor Kengor takes readers on a spiritual sojourn from the very first pope, Peter, through the Medieval popes, through the turbulence of the Francis years, and through today’s pope and the figures who influenced him, from St. Augustine to Pope Leo XIII.

A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness

In A World Appears, Michael Pollan traces the unmapped continent that is consciousness, bringing radically different perspectives—scientific, philosophical, literary, spiritual, and psychedelic—to see what each can teach us about this central fact of life. When neuroscientists began studying consciousness in the early 1990s, they sought to explain how and why three pounds of spongy grey matter could generate a subjective point of view, assuming that the brain is the source of our felt reality. Pollan takes us to the cutting edge of the field, where scientists are entertaining more radical (and less materialist) theories of consciousness. He introduces us to “plant neurobiologists” searching for the first flicker of consciousness in plants; scientists striving to engineer feelings into AI, and psychologists and novelists seeking to capture the felt experience of our slippery stream of consciousness.

Medicare 101

Navigate your health care future with confidence and learn the ins and outs of the Medicare system. Medicare 101 simplifies the complex Medicare regulations and policies, guiding you through a clear, step-by-step path to understanding the vital US health care program. Discover Medicare’s critical role in the US health care system today, its future implications for retirees, and how to easily decode the choices available using this guide’s straightforward structure. With this book, you will master the art of calculating Medicare costs, comparing Part A, Part B, and supplemental coverage options, and maximizing your Medicare benefits for long-term savings. Whether you’re planning for retirement or helping a loved one navigate their health care options, this guide is the ultimate resource for navigating Medicare’s complexities.