Congrats on making it to another weekend, dear readers! This week I’ve been thinking a lot about fun, particularly after reading this article from The Atlantic: In Praise of Pointless Goals.
As a rule-following, responsible, Enneagram 1, I know that I don’t let myself off the hook enough. But maybe there’s something about a silly goal – “It subverts the cult of productivity by sneakily leveraging the tools of productivity.” – that would work for me? While I noodle on that, let’s dive into some new releases and books about exploring!
Bookish Goods
Graffiti Doodle Reading Wall Stickers from OwenWallArt
These doodle wall stickers just scream fun, don’t they? If I lived in a house with a dedicated library, I can imagine them up on the walls above shelves or surrounding a window. Or maybe they’d be fun in a playroom or kids room, especially for a young reader. $33
New Releases
The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Raised amidst political violence in Colombia in the 1980s and ‘90s, Ingrid Rojas Contreras grew up believing in magic. Her mother’s fortune-telling clients were regular visitors to their home, while her grandfather was a community healer who could speak to the dead, tell the future, heal the sick, and move clouds – gifts he passed along to his daughter, Rojas Contreras’ mother. After an accident in her 20s leaves her with amnesia, Rojas Contreras returns to Colombia to see if her family history can shed light on her situation, exploring her family’s history in Colombia and her own complicated inheritance.
Salmon Wars: The Dark Underbelly of Our Favorite Fish by Catherine Collins and Douglas Frantz
In this book, a journalist and a private investigator team up to explore the world of the international salmon farming industry, showing how the path from ocean to table is not nearly as healthy or environmentally-friendly as we’re often led to believe. To tell this story, they visit oceanic salmon feedlots, expose the conditions inside salmon hatcheries, and look at the environmental impacts of coastal salmon farms. In all of these places, they profile the people making decisions, then pull back to look at how industrialization has impacted this important industry. I am so fascinated by all of this!
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
One of my favorite things about summer is the chance to get out and see somewhere new. Whether you go far away or stay close to home, there’s so much out there to see when the weather is nice and wanderlust sets in. Here are a couple great books about ways to go exploring:
Wanderers: A History of Women Walking by Kerri Andrews
Seeing this book on my shelf always makes me think about the going on a stupid walk meme, but that’s not a bad thing. Getting outside for a walk, even just around the block, almost always helps me feel more relaxed by quieting the voices running through my brain. In this book, Kerri Andrews tells the story of 10 women who have “found walking essential to their sense of themselves,” both as individuals and as writers. Stories about male thinkers who walk are very common, so I am very excited for a similar treatment of women who walk.
The Window Seat: Notes from a Life in Motion by Aminatta Forna
This book is a collection of essays about crossing borders, our relationship with nature, and the stories we use to make sense of the world. The opening essay is a beautiful ode to air travel (a complicated topic right now!), while others take on stories about colonialism, a veterinarian in Sierra Leone, and more. Aminatta Forna’s writing is so evocative and thoughtful and beautiful, this collection feels like one to just sink into over a long afternoon.
Before we wrap up… don’t forget, we’re hiring at Book Riot! As an Editorial Operations Associate where you can get into the nitty gritty, behind-the-scenes work of making Book Riot work. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce and strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. Learn more here.
For more nonfiction reads, head over to the podcast service of your choice and download For Real, which I co-host with my dear friend Alice. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @kimthedork or send an email to kim@riotnewmedia.com. Happy weekend!