Lots of memoirs are perfect for book clubs because of the raw and intimate insights they provide into some of today’s most pressing topics. But each of these titles, in particular, has a master...
As the true crime genre has evolved, it has expanded to include elements of history, science, and countless other subjects. These eight nonfiction books are so much more than simply a recitation ...
Oftentimes, when I want to approach a topic I’m not as familiar with, I turn to narrative nonfiction. The best narrative nonfiction books are engaging, as they take a sprawling subject such as ...
Looking for new reads this Black History Month? Rather than just picking up a history book and calling it a day, I’ve rounded up titles and organized them by thematic categories: self-care, lov...
https://offtheshelf.com/2023/02/celebrate-black-history-month/
This year, my reading list was stacked with juicy, tear-jerking, and inspiring memoirs. While novels are a great escape from reality, there is something so entertaining about reading the true eve...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/12/favorite-memoirs-of-the-year/
A perfect fall day includes wandering into your favorite local bookstore and perusing the shelves. To jumpstart your browsing, we’ve rounded up some top recommendations from indie booksellers. ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/10/indie-booksellers-recommend-fall-new-releases/
Crafting an honest memoir is not easy, nor is it a simple task to find a truly vulnerable and insightful memoir to read. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of nine breathtaking memoirs that ...
History is filled with stranger-than-fiction stories, ones that have inspired countless compelling and thrilling novels. I’ve rounded up several unputdownable works of historical fiction, along...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/08/historical-fiction-nonfiction-true-stories/
Pride Month and beach season are here, and to celebrate I have rounded up a comprehensive list of queer books suited for every type of beach reader! Queer literature has only continued to diversi...
From lively biographies to revealing journalistic portraits, relatable self-help books to sweeping cultural surveys, these ten nonfiction gems all offer inspirational stories, illuminating facts,...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/03/empowering-nonfiction-women/
For a serial multitasker like me, audiobooks are the best and easiest way to read what I want to read without being sedentary. This list comprises some of my top favorite listens to fill a run, t...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/03/audiobook-recommendations-avid-listener/
Hollywood’s awards season is the most wonderful time of the year for film and movie buffs! Check out the best and brightest of Tinseltown with this enthralling collection of cinematic true stor...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/03/hollywood-true-stories-books/
Sometimes the best way to inspire a new you is to read those books published years, or even decades, before. If they survive and prosper through the test of time, those words take on new layers o...
https://offtheshelf.com/2022/01/rediscovered-reviews-inspiring-memoirs/
All of us writers know the struggle of writer’s block. But while this feeling is tough to work through, sometimes it helps to know you are not alone. When I’m feeling stuck I often turn to th...
https://offtheshelf.com/2021/11/author-memoirs-nonfiction-on-writing/
I have a weakness for true crime featuring the rich and famous, so I’ve rounded up several of the most fascinating examples of this niche subgenre. From infamous trials of the century to white ...
Sometimes a writer is able to capture a place so well that it takes on its own role in the story. And especially in memoirs, it seems, those settings somehow transform into a character with a min...
True stories—whether a they’re heartfelt memoirs or a captivating biographies—can prompt complex discussions among book club members. If your book club also enjoys a nonfiction read from ti...
Nonfiction resonates with me more than any other genre. It piques my curiosity with intriguing facts and pulls me in more fully with its authenticity. Impeccably researched and beautifully writte...
Sophia Benoit, author of the forthcoming memoir-in-essays Well, This is Exhausting, has rounded up books that feel like talking with a best friend. Some of these reads are heavy with serious them...
https://offtheshelf.com/2021/07/author-picks-female-writers/
The books on this list are those special gems that mean the most to us, making us believe in bookish destiny. They captured our souls and never let go. The post Book Soulmates: 6 Stories That R...
Everyone has a unique way of relating to the world, but sometimes hearing other people’s stories helps us to explore our own or opens our hearts to the realities of others. After an exhausting ...
Sometimes a good cry is just what the doctor ordered, and what better way to find catharsis than through books? Even when we’re feeling devastated—positively wrecked—by the plight of charac...
Sometimes when I don't know exactly what to read next, I like to jump into something completely different. Narratives presented as an oral history or screenplay, or told through multiple timeline...
In the digital age of instant streaming and downloads, we would be lying if we said that we didn’t enjoy—to some extent—the mounting anticipation that comes with waiting for our time to fin...
If you’re an avid audiobook listener, the Audie Awards are one of the most exciting days of the year. After all, the list of winners and nominees can double as a handy recommendation guide. Che...
New York City changes constantly, yet it never loses its essential magic, which draws adventurous newcomers year after year. What is the nature of that magic? For hints at the answer, delve into ...
We love finding firecracker reads that inspire intense conversation and help us bond with fellow book club members more than wine ever could. So, we queried the Book Club Favorites Facebook group...
https://offtheshelf.com/2021/03/spark-book-club-discussions/
If you peel back the layers of history, you’ll find so many iconic women whose stories have faded from memory over time. This Women’s History Month, we’re putting them back in the spotlight...
If you’re looking for an unforgettable new read, Charlie Gilmour, author of Featherhood, recommends his favorite line-crossing, boundary-challenging memoirs, which expand the territory of the w...
I love history. I love a good mystery. Luckily, these two genres often collide, providing us with countless scintillating and unputdownable books, which are often even more suspenseful when the m...
https://offtheshelf.com/2021/01/unsolved-mystery-true-crime/
The New Year is fast approaching, and we’re counting down the days until 2020 is officially over! To build even more excitement, we’ve rounded up some of our most anticipated 2021 releases. P...
Many times, when I read a compelling historical fiction book, I am immediately hungry for more and head directly to the nonfiction section of my local library or bookstore. Below is a collection ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2020/11/historical-fiction-nonfiction-pairings/
Like your favorite stand-up special, these seven memoirs, whether they are joke-laden or filled to the brim with hilarious anecdotes, will lift your spirits and prove that laughter is the best me...
To read a memoir is to increase my empathy and expand commonality, and to read HOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES is to conjoin someone’s ferocious becoming with a bracing readerly imperative. Saeed Jo...
https://offtheshelf.com/2020/09/how-we-fight-for-our-lives-saeed-jones-review/
Whether you come from the most typical of nuclear families or have stories to tell for days about your quirky relatives, a satisfying family memoir always makes for perfect summer reading. Kirkl...
https://offtheshelf.com/2020/07/author-pics-kirkland-hamill-memoirs/
When the weight of one’s thoughts begins to feel a bit too heavy, a simple walk through nature often clears the head and lightens the spirits. There are, of course, a few individuals who have t...
Spice up your book club’s selections by choosing one of these nonfiction reads. From memoirs that explore race and class in America to a biography about one of our favorite characters from hist...
As the year draws to a close, we look back at the literary luminaries we lost in 2019. They include Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, novelists and poets and children’s book creators....
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/12/notable-authors-lost-in-2019/
The true crime genre is alive and well, giving us some of the most talked about books, documentaries, and podcasts right now. If you’re fascinated by captivating tales of theft, murder, and may...
Grey’s Anatomy is about to surpass ER as the longest-running medical drama on television. As of Season 16’s midwinter season finale, there have been more than 350 episodes—and we still can�...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/12/books-for-greys-anatomy-fans/
As the holiday season approaches, we hope you take the time to appreciate the wonderful women in your life. From mothers to sisters to aunts to amazing female friendships, the women you surround ...
I know it’s quite hard to believe that people who read books, recommend books, and buy books for a living would still want to receive them but… here we are, sharing our bookish wish list with...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/12/books-wed-like-to-get-for-the-holidays/
All avid readers know one thing: There are stories that stick with us. Whether it’s a beloved childhood favorite or a book that truly frightened you, some stories find a space in your brain and...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/12/books-i-will-never-forget-december/
The 70s gave us Star Wars, disco, Watergate, Atari, oil crises, and much more. Naturally, this tumultuous decade is the perfect backdrop for some thrilling, complex, and witty novels. From hippie...
I think the term “dysfunctional families” is a misnomer—aren’t all families just a little bit abnormal? That’s what makes them yours and personal. The dynamics are unique with all inter...
The table is set, the family is gathered, and it’s that special time of year that fills us with excitement, joy, and gratitude—Thanksgiving dinner! So what are you thankful for? Imagine durin...
Ever read a book and pause on a piece of writing that's so breathtaking or powerful or truthful you just have to reread it, underline it, flag it, and share it with everyone you know? I have this...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/11/breathtaking-quotes-in-literature/
Books are bridges to disparate worlds, whether they’re fantastical worlds teeming with magical beings or the hidden but very real worlds in our own backyards. It only takes one story to change ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/10/books-that-change-your-worldview/
Susan Orlean has brought us some of the best modern nonfiction writing. She’s led us through the career of a beloved star in RIN TIN TIN, into the obsessive world of rare orchid selling in THE ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/10/the-library-book-by-susan-orelan-review/
World Mental Health Day is a day to raise awareness for mental health issues and the need for adequate treatment around the world. Mental health is a crucial part of an individual’s overall wel...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/10/books-for-world-mental-health-day/
We often explore the same stories as books or as movies, but there’s another engaging medium we can use to fully immerse ourselves in a world: the podcast. The quality and quantity of podcasts ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/09/books-for-podcast-listeners/
Yes, there are those books that completely shatter you and have you throwing them across the room. But sometimes a good tearjerking novel is just what the book gods have ordered. We asked you via...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/09/books-that-will-make-you-cry/
Recommending books to friends and family comes with so much pressure. I'm not exaggerating. Sometimes I've aided in reigniting one's passion for reading (yay), sometimes I miss the mark—sending...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/08/roxane-gay-book-recommendations/
Civil rights, Vietnam, Woodstock, the assassination of JFK, Manson murders, Cold War, counterculture, and a man on the moon: the 1960s were a time of transformation, societal upheaval, and massiv...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/08/groovy-books-set-in-the-1960s/
Don’t get me wrong! I’m obsessed with true crime and am often reading investigative reporting, cold case mysteries and criminal stories. But after a while, it can make you a little paranoid t...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/08/mindhunter-by-john-e-douglas-and-mark-olshaker-review/
It’s the summer of strong women (or maybe even the decade). With the astounding work of women like Ilhan Omar and Alexandria O’Casio-Cortez, the undeniable prowess of the U.S. Women’s socce...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/08/books-about-women-in-the-wild/
Our reading lists are stacked sky-high with swashbuckling historical fantasy, page-turning mysteries and suspense novels, and captivating literary fiction. But every so often, it's someone's live...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/07/the-best-memoirs-weve-ever-read/
Summer is here! That means road trips, relaxing afternoons on the beach, and long, sunny days. Here are some lengthy favorites—all more than 400 pages!—that are sure to keep you company throu...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/07/long-books-for-summer-days-at-the-beach/
We live in a dynamic world that’s constantly in flux, spouting new technologies, trends, revelations, and opportunities on any given day, leaving my inquiring mind hyperaware that it lacks the ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/07/nonfiction-reads-that-will-make-you-smarter/
Whenever I travel, in between booking hotels and planning my excursions, I read about the country I will be experiencing. It gives me more context to the culture, society, and history. I love tra...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/07/books-to-read-for-traveling-to-peru/
Pride month is here. A time our community and our allies look forward to all year long when we can wave our rainbow flags in the sun and connect with our friends and our loved ones. But it is als...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/06/powerful-lgbtqia-books-for-pride-month/
Ready or not, here it comes. Whether you love politics or wish to never discuss it, with new presidential race just around the corner, the circus is about to start up again. The first polls are o...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/06/books-to-get-you-ready-for-the-2020-election/
This summer, New York City is hosting WorldPride—an international celebration of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies from around the globe. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewal...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/06/international-lgbtqia-books-for-world-pride-month/
As we approach the halfway mark of the year, we’re happy to report our resolve to read voraciously and widely has not wavered. We’ve overcome reading ruts, we’ve dodged spoilers, conquered ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/05/the-best-books-weve-read-so-far-this-year/
We all want to know what it’s like to work in the White House and to be in The Room Where It Happens. We don’t all want to endure the grueling campaigns, partisan battles, and policy debates ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/05/revealing-books-by-presidential-staffers/
Spies are not just deceptive shapeshifters executing kills and lurking in shadows; they are often intelligent, creative, cunning, and resourceful, mastering multiple languages and roles. They who...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/05/nonfiction-books-about-spies/
There are some books you will remember forever. You’ll remember where you opened them up for the first time, you’ll remember how you felt when you finished them. THE CHOICE is one of those bo...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/04/the-choice-by-edith-eva-eger/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/04/readers-choice-the-top-10-most-shelved-books-in-april-2/
Raised on my grandmother’s Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins collections, I quickly graduated to the likes of Patricia Cornwell, Harlan Coben, Jonathan Kellerman, and Lee Child in my teens. I guess ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/04/serial-killer-books-for-fans-of-true-crime/
Once every several years I get hit in the face and heart and soul with a book that overrides the electrical circuiting in my brain. HEAVY: AN AMERICAN MEMOIR by Kiese Laymon is that cerebrum hija...
Nonfiction is an expansive and overwhelming description and can be intimidating for fiction readers. If you’re interested in jumping into the wide world of nonfiction, narrative nonfiction book...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/04/best-narrative-nonfiction-books-fiction-readers/
Recently, a reader told me she took a copy of my new memoir-in-essays, I MISS YOU WHEN I BLINK, to her therapist and said, “Here. This explains everything.” Just days later, a friend who is a...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/04/books-almost-as-good-as-a-therapy-session/
If you’re looking to solve the problem of what to read next, this list will sum it up for you. These books would make great additions to anyone’s reading list. So why not celebrate Pi Day wit...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/03/math-novels-books-for-reading-ruts/
If you have no reading plans this month, we can help with that. These fantastic books may have flown under your radar when they first came out, but there’s a chance for you to jump on the wagon...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/03/fantastic-books-new-in-paperback-this-march/
Women’s History Month is the perfect time to learn about and celebrate some of the most colorful, inspirational, and remarkable women throughout time. Sometimes, however, truly incredible women...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/03/herstory-books-about-overlooked-women-of-history/
Women behind the scenes tell all. Look behind the male CEO and you’ll see a woman running the show and telling everyone how she’s doing it. This contributor strongly believes if there had bee...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/02/flotus-focused-books-you-should-read/
The writers on this list—the pioneers of a modern day movement, the Queen of Rock'n'Roll, a trend-setting superstar in film, music, and fashion—exemplify Black History as evergreen, ubiquito...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/02/must-read-memoirs-written-by-black-women/
The Grammy’s are just around the corner. Perhaps we're a bit biased but we're particularly excited about the award for Best Spoken Word. To celebrate, we thought we'd dig into the award’s his...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/02/grammy-nominated-audiobooks-for-your-listening-pleasure/
For Black Art, 2018 was a historic year. With Oscar-nominated films like Black Panther and If Beale Street Could Talk and widely-read fiction like Tayari Jones's AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE, we'll sur...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/02/prolific-black-writers-you-need-to-read-this-year/
Eighty percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February, but luckily February offers an opportunity to reset: the Lunar New Year! Also known as Chinese New Year, or in China, as the Spring Fe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/02/happy-chinese-new-year-12-books-to-kick-off-the-year-of-the-pig/
From Orange Is the New Black to the recently premiered Watership Down, Netflix, like many of us, knows that inspiration for television and film can be found between the pages of our favorite book...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/01/now-streaming-on-netflix-series-adaptations-you-can-watch-now/
Now that you’ve had most of the month to make your New Year’s resolutions (and break all of them), it’s time to set the only goals that are truly attainable—reading resolutions! We’re c...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/01/reading-resolutions-youll-want-to-keep-this-year/
In this day and age—when the country is deeply divided and hatred incites violence and discrimination—it’s comforting to know that there are many present-day activists who have carried on t...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/01/martin-luther-king-books-on-activism/
So you’ve just had your first yoga class of 2019, and you need some motivation to get to class two. You weren’t as flexible as you led yourself to believe, and you had never heard of downward...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/01/master-yoga-and-life-this-year-with-these-5-books/
Whenever I read novels, I’m always fascinated by the ties the fictional stories have to the real world. When I read historical fiction, I want to know more about that period in history. When I ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/01/if-you-loved-these-novels-read-these-fascinating-nonfiction-books/
For me, Puerto Rico isn’t just a vacation spot or the subject of usually depressing news stories. Instead, Puerto Rico has always meant family, since many of my cousins, aunts, and uncles call ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/01/books-that-celebrate-puerto-ricos-rich-culture/
As 2018 draws to a close, we remember the literary luminaries we lost this year. They include novelists, playwrights, and poets who were at the top of their fields and created beloved classics,...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/in-memoriam-authors-we-lost-too-soon-in-2018/
Off the Shelf readers have spoken! Irresistible forbidden romances. White-knuckling philosophical thrillers. Powerful memoirs. Here are the 10 most popular book recommendations on Off the Shelf...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/the-best-of-2018-the-top-10-reviews-of-the-year/
There was certainly no shortage of book recommendations this year. We spent 2018 talking about our favorite thrillers, historical novels, award-winners—and even recommended books for fans of ou...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/the-best-of-2018-the-top-10-book-lists-of-the-year/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/readers-choice-the-top-25-most-shelved-books-of-the-year/
I happen to live with a nonprofit immigration lawyer, and let me tell you, the number of times the name “Ruth Bader Ginsburg” is said and praised in our household is quite high. So there is n...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/i-dissent-books-about-the-unstoppable-ruth-bader-ginsburg/
It’s hard to believe a full year has passed since I started writing the “New in Paperback” column for Off the Shelf! I hope you’ve enjoyed the updates as exciting new books were released ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/fantastic-books-new-in-paperback-this-year/
Space and astronauts have long captivated the imaginations of many—including myself. The men and women who risk their lives in the name of science have been a perennial source of interest, and ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/12/5-out-of-this-world-reads-for-fans-of-first-man/
In our circle, it’s a famous mantra for this time of year: books make great gifts. And this year is no different. We spent all year recommending books, and so, naturally, we’re gifting them t...
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/readers-choice-the-top-10-most-shelved-books-in-november/
Goodfellas has been a mainstay in my family since its release in 1990. We all have our favorite scenes and lines memorized, but for being such longtime fans, we’ve never known much about the re...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/wiseguy-by-nicholas-pileggi/
It’s cozy reading season, and here at Off the Shelf, we’re in the business of keeping your shelves stocked with amazing reads for you snuggle up with. We’re excited to partner with the folk...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/enter-for-a-chance-to-win-a-luxurious-reading-oasis/
Feminism might be one of the hottest—and most contested—buzzwords of our current political and social climate. It seems like everyone has their own definition and connotations they associate ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/essay-collections-on-why-we-should-all-be-feminists/
This year was a great year for our collective bookshelf—we talked about new exciting fiction, old favorites, touching memoirs, and hilarious essay collections. However, there were a couple of b...
It’s easy to become fixated on the rich and powerful, whose lives often appear seasoned with intricacies or dripping in luxury, only to self-destruct in sudden downward spirals. The Romanoffs, ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/royal-reads-for-your-post-romanoffs-binge/
My six picks this month go across the board—we’ve got top-notch historical fiction, an Obama-era White House memoir, and a history of Silicon Valley. One of my new favorite authors Lisa Jewel...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/6-favorite-books-new-in-trade-paperback-this-november/
How do you answer when people ask what you like to read? My response is often something along the lines of “Oh, EVERYTHING” and for the most part that’s true. Working in the book world expo...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/the-5-best-unconventional-memoirs-you-should-read-right-now/
There’s a line in an episode of the classic sitcom The Honeymooners that’s always been a favorite in my family. Alice jokingly attempts to seduce her alarmed husband, Ralph, by purring, “I ...
When you think of essay collections, the image that comes to mind may be cumbersome compendiums of scholarly compositions. But personal essays banish the academic connotation of the word, and can...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/11/brilliant-essay-collections-you-need-to-read/
They say truth is stranger than fiction, but the flipside of that adage is “fiction is better with truth.” Some of our favorite novels feature emotional, dramatic stories brought to life with...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/4-great-novels-and-1-biography-about-real-women-from-history/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/readers-choice-the-top-10-most-shelved-books-in-october/
My “on hold” list at the library is heavily populated with books I first heard about here on Off the Shelf. The most recent OTS recommendation I picked up was Julianna’s pick for Best Book ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/too-fat-too-slutty-too-loud-by-anne-helen-petersen/
Angie Thomas's debut YA novel, THE HATE U GIVE, has been on the top of everyone's reading list since it's release in 2017. With a star-studded cast, including Amandla Stenberg (who plays the prot...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/books-to-read-after-youve-seen-the-hate-u-give/
In case you haven’t already marked your calendars, October 13 is “Girls in Aviation Day”! We’re celebrating by combing through the shelves for a list of wonderful books about female aviat...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/books-to-read-on-girls-in-aviation-day/
Our great nation has had some amazing women in the role of First Lady. While some have done more with the role than others, it cannot be denied that these women are woven deep into the tapestry o...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/ladies-first-5-books-about-our-favorite-women-of-the-white-house/
In our quest to find the best fiction, we often overlook that real life can be beyond extraordinary. We asked one of our favorite authors, Sara Gran, author of THE INFINITE BLACKTOP, to share wit...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/8-nonfiction-books-that-are-stranger-than-fiction/
Season 10 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is about secret weddings, Spanish villas, and how easy it is for teenagers to ruin lives on Snapchat, but when it really comes down to it, it’s also ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/why-wont-you-apologize-by-harriet-lerner/
There are plenty of ways to judge a book: by its cover, by its plot summary, by its Goodreads rating, etc. Why not pick your next read based on when you were born? No matter the season or the pla...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/what-book-should-you-read-based-on-your-zodiac-sign/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on OfftheShe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/readers-choice-the-top-10-most-shelved-books-in-september/
Musicians often have a way with words. They understand rhythm and pace as well as timing and attention to detail. It’s no wonder that many musicians have become successful writers of their own ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/let-the-music-play-6-must-read-memoirs-by-famous-musicians/
It’s official—we’re more than halfway through the year already! Anyone else panicking about how quickly time is flying by? But the year is not over yet—and there is still time to make you...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/8-books-to-help-you-meet-your-2018-reading-resolutions/
There’s fiction and nonfiction. But then there’s also historical fiction and science fiction and memoir and humor and history and suspense and fantasy—not to mention the many subgenres with...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/how-to-find-the-perfect-book-genre-for-you/
I’m so excited about the books newly released in paperback this month. There are a couple of terrific memoirs from powerful women, Isabel Allende’s latest novel, and a fun new book about an e...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/6-fantastic-books-new-in-paperback-this-september/
During any season, but especially the beginning of fall, I love to add narrative nonfiction to my to-read list. Maybe it’s the feeling that a fresh school year is upon us and it’s time to lea...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/8-exciting-and-epic-nonfiction-books-perfect-for-fall/
I’ve been a purveyor of true crime books since I was a young teenager, but in recent years the violent stories of murder and serial killers have been difficult for me to read. Luckily, the true...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/10-true-crime-books-that-demonstrate-the-diversity-of-the-genre/
I joined my first book club when I was in the second grade. My teacher pulled me and a few other students who’d already read through everything on the class library shelves and arranged for us ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/09/the-5-best-book-club-books-i-read-in-2018/
There are 87 narrators in Wendy Pearlman’s book WE CROSSED THE BRIDGE AND IT TREMBLED tracing the Syrian War. They are doctors, mothers, engineers, teachers, fighters, financial managers, busin...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/we-crossed-a-bridge-and-it-trembled-by-wendy-pearlman/
My husband and I met at work, and for two years we kept our relationship a secret in the office, assuming that if we ever broke up our discretion would help avoid some awkwardness with our cowork...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/how-to-fall-in-love-with-anyone-by-mandy-len-catron/
The dog days of summer are officially upon us, and I’ve been racing through my TBR pile lately. Good thing there are plenty of fresh new paperbacks to stack back on top! This month’s selectio...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/6-fantastic-books-new-in-paperback-this-august/
Imagine waking up one day to find that you’ve lost all sensation in your body, head to toe. Imagine that you’re fully lucid, but your movement is limited to the slightest rotation of your nec...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly-by-jean-dominique-bauby/
It may seem odd for a hypochondriac to enjoy reading medical books, but it’s one of my favorite subgenres of historical nonfiction. From horrifying and deadly epidemics to the illuminating brea...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/you-dont-have-to-be-a-doctor-to-love-these-10-books/
He’s done it again! Former President Barack Obama recently shared his latest recommendations for summer reading. Here are a few of our favorites from his summer reading lists over the years. Vi...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/obamas-latest-summer-reading-recommendations/
Suicide can be one of the most difficult experiences to comprehend. Understanding why or how a loved one could choose to end their life may be a long and arduous process. Here are five candid, in...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/5-insightful-books-about-suicide/
In 2015, a study showed that nearly half of all Americans believe in one or more widely held conspiracy theories. Whether it’s assassinations, aliens, political setups, or unexpected disasters,...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/i-have-a-theory-conspiracy-books-are-the-best/
There is something about cults that endlessly fascinates me. What kind of person gets drawn to these enigmatic, dangerous groups? How? And why? Apparently, I’m not the only one with questions. ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/10-books-about-life-in-a-cult/
Look, it’s crazy out there right now. I mean, it’s really nuts. No one would blame you if you needed some time to yourself, a little R&R. But some people may be having trouble finding space t...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/the-5-best-books-to-help-you-calm-down-and-decompress/
Back to school season means a fresh start for learning, and no matter if you’re currently a student or it’s been years since you’ve been inside a classroom, we believe in furthering your ed...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/head-back-to-school-with-these-10-books-that-will-open-your-mind/
August is National Picnic Month, so if you enjoy reading al fresco, check out this literary feast of food-themed books assembled by the editors at One.More.Page. Don’t worry—there’s plenty ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/have-a-book-picnic-with-these-tasty-titles/
With so many recent news stories coming from the Mexican-American border, I’ve turned to books to learn more about the ongoing crisis and the individuals affected. While immigrant policies have...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/08/border-books-7-important-immigration-stories-from-central-america/
There are tons of reasons to love book clubs—an opportunity to get together with friends and get through the books on your reading list, the conversation, and, of course, the wine. But let’s ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/pick-perfect-book-club-book-7-steps-2/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/readers-choice-the-top-10-most-shelved-books-in-july/
July paperbacks are here! This month’s offerings include the final installment of a legendary series, a quirky debut novel, and a heartbreaking memoir. We have a book that takes us to a heist b...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/6-fantastic-books-new-in-paperback-this-july/
Former President Barack Obama is traveling to Africa for the first time since leaving office. In preparation for his trip, Obama shared a list of books he recommends for summer reading—includin...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/6-books-obama-recommends-for-summer-reading/
In a world that values the idea of positive psychology (“Think good thoughts and you will be happy!”), I am drawn to author Eric Weiner, a self-proclaimed grump. In his New York Times bestsel...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/the-geography-of-bliss-by-eric-weiner/
We can’t believe we’re already halfway through 2018. And we can’t believe the number of incredible books we’ve already read this year—fascinating true crime, moving historical fiction, ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/10-of-the-best-books-weve-read-so-far-this-year/
Our twenties are crucial and full of rapid change, new perceptions, and misunderstandings of nearly everything around us. These are the themes Dave Eggers explores in his memoir about being 21 ye...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/a-heartbreaking-work-of-staggering-genius-by-dave-eggers/
As the co-owner of Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I primarily read new literary fiction, looking for contenders for our signed first editions program, Literati Cultura. But I also lov...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/10-recommendations-from-the-co-owner-of-literati-bookstore/
A self-diagnosed slow reader, I could never get through five books in a month. But since I discovered audiobooks, it’s become an important component of my literary diet and an enjoyable activit...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/07/the-5-best-audiobooks-i-listened-to-last-month/
Someone asked me recently what new music I liked and I completely drew a blank. Because, although I wear headphones or stream sound during most of my waking hours, I’m almost never listening to...
My friend Richard and I have a little book club together at work. It goes like this: when he is coming to or leaving the office, Richard is often carrying the book he’s reading and I ask him ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/06/road-to-jonestown-by-jeff-guinn/
Need help finding the perfect summer read? We’ve got you covered. Here are the books we recommended on our Facebook Live Summer Reading Recommendations. The post Summer Reading Recommendation...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/06/summer-reading-recommendations-from-off-the-shelf/
Do you ever have epiphanies while reading? Or those moments when you can feel your brain whirring away, processing an entirely new idea? Or how about when stories leave you breathless because the...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/06/9-books-that-completely-blew-our-minds/
It’s National Audiobook Month, and it’s the perfect time to catch up on great books by listening to them! Whether you’ve got a road trip planned, beach dates scheduled, or an exercise regim...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/06/9-great-books-to-listen-to-during-national-audiobook-month/
I’ve been on something of a memoir kick recently. I’m usually a fiend for fiction and rarely pick up books in the nonfiction section of bookstores. But I thought I’d try something different...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/06/13-of-the-most-powerful-memoirs-ive-ever-read/
What’s it like to fake your own death? If you’re eagerly awaiting the third season of Serial and binge-watching every true crime show on Netflix, you need to check out the incredible debut th...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/05/playing-dead-by-elizabeth-greenwood/
Graduation can be a bittersweet day, but, book lovers, take comfort: your education never really ends. All you have to do to keep learning, discovering new worlds, and expanding your boundaries i...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/05/7-books-read-graduation-no-quizzes-promise/
I love nonfiction. I love learning new things on topics I never really knew that much about. And what I really love is learning new things about topics I thought I had down. When an author takes ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/05/5-best-books-lesser-known-histories/
Mothers do so much for us—teach, love, nurture, give life (just the small stuff)—but ours have given us the added bonus of books, something that we’ll always be grateful for. We recommend b...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/05/books-our-moms-love-and-recommend/
While our friends might refresh their Instagram feeds to find out what their favorite celebrities are wearing, here at Off the Shelf, we just want to know one thing: what are they reading? And lu...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/05/choose-your-own-celebrity-book-club-in-5-books/
Meet Julianna! She's is an associate editor, and happily lives her life according to the three B's: Books, Baking, and Bravo. A lifelong reader, Julianna is a compulsive borrower, buyer, and coll...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/04/a-peek-behind-juliannas-shelf/
At the risk of sounding like a snob, I’m not just an ordinary fan of Seinfeld. The show “about nothing” has been an integral part of my life since my early childhood. I can hold entire co...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/04/seinfeldia-by-jennifer-keishin-armstrong/
It’s National Library Week, and we’re celebrating with recommendations from some of our favorite libraries and librarians. We asked our librarian followers on Twitter to tell us the books the...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/04/10-recommendations-straight-off-library-bookshelves/
Do you ever have days where you just want to put away your to-do list and settle in with a good book instead? Well today is the perfect excuse to do just that, because it’s Drop Everything and ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/04/8-books-make-us-want-drop-everything-read/
Every episode of Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot features exceptional fashion advice and enviable wardrobe makeovers, but one particular article of clothing caught my attention: chef Antoni Porowski...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/04/6-book-recommendations-queer-eye-chef-antoni-porowski/
I’m a New Yorker through and through, but there’s just something about Paris that makes me consider cheating on my home city. Maybe it’s the food, the architecture, the history, the romance...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/04/the-ultimate-guide-to-reading-your-way-through-paris-in-15-books/
Here at Off the Shelf, we strongly believe that every time of day is the perfect time to lose yourself in a good book. Can’t decide what to read? These books will keep your reading from dawn ti...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/9-books-will-reading-dawn-till-dusk/
I read a little of everything and always two or three books at once. I read contemporary fiction to keep refining my craft and because I love a great story. Historical fiction tends to captivate ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/8-favorite-books-on-bestselling-author-lisa-genovas-bookshelf/
Another month has gone by . . . and that means all new paperbacks are here! This month we’ve got a great lineup for you. Whether you’re into seriously amazing, prize-winning fiction, you like...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/6-fantastic-books-new-paperback-march/
To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re honoring some of the incredible literary women who’ve graced our shelves. From lab scientists to poets to those stealing the show in front of (and ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/7-badass-women-writers-to-read-during-womens-history-month/
This March marks Off the Shelf’s fourth birthday! To celebrate, we’re doing what we do best: recommending great books. And you’re invited to celebrate with us. We partnered with the fine fo...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/enter-chance-win-trip-nyc-14-books-curated-just/
When it premiered in 2016, Ryan Murphy’s anthology TV series "American Crime Story" immediately had me hooked with its incredible casting and fresh look at the notorious trial of O. J. Simpson....
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/6-books-read-cant-get-enough-american-crime-story/
Sometimes, we’ll admit, nonfiction can be intimidating. There are dates and details, people and places to remember, and the endings aren’t necessarily happy. But those details don’t mean th...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/03/9-nonfiction-books-read-like-novels/
If you’re in the East, the Midwest, or even Florida, you know this winter has been anything but predictable. With forecasts like rain on Monday, -10 degrees on Tuesday, a blizzard on Wednesday,...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/rain-snow-shine-9-books-read-winter-weather-forecast/
Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. A list of incredible black writers could go on and on and on. But my publ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/12-black-writers-everyone-needs-read/
With the Academy Awards right around the corner, it’s not surprising that many beloved and award-winning movies are based on novels. But you may be shocked to realize just how many films are in...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/12-great-movies-you-didnt-know-were-based-nonfiction-books/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/readers-choice-top-10-shelved-books-february/
Happy Singles Awareness Day! For all of us singletons, this is a day to celebrate love in all its forms: between friends, between family, with our pets, and with ourselves. We here at Off the She...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/singletons-meet-match-9-books/
Happy Valentine’s Day, Book Lovers! Regardless of whatever your relationship status may be, you can always fall in love with a new book. Which is why we’re giving you the ultimate Valentine�...
I love watching the Winter Games, and I eagerly anticipate its return every four years. It’s so much more than just sport—these are the moments athletes have worked toward their whole lives, ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/6-books-get-spirit-winter-games/
What’s better than a new book from your favorite author? A new book with pieces from several of your favorite authors! In IT OCCURS TO ME THAT I AM AMERICA, some of today’s most acclaimed wri...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/13-authors-define-celebrate-america/
I have a tremendous fear of dying, like most people I assume. I don’t like to swim in the ocean because I feel that somewhere in that vast blue depth is a shark waiting to attack me. I can’t ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/the-bright-hour-by-nina-riggs/
This spring we get to watch some of our favorite books come to life in glorious technicolor. But first, we’ve got to get caught up on the reading material. If you haven’t read any of the fant...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/02/12-books-you-must-read-before-seeing-the-movies-this-spring/
When I recently saw the trailer for 12 STRONG—the Warner Bros. film starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon—I immediately moved the book that inspired the movie to the top of my TBR pile...
One of my favorite museums is the New York Tenement Museum, which explores the immigrant history of New York City’s Lower East Side between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. Housed in ...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/14-remarkable-immigrant-stories-can-find-favorite-museums-gift-shop/
Many of our longtime Off the Shelf subscribers have already discovered “Your Shelf” on our website. If you’re new here, you can create your own reading list from books you find on Offthe...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/readers-choice-the-top-10-most-shelved-books-in-january/
I may romanticize the profession, but being a librarian seems like the perfect job. Librarians get to spend their days in a quiet setting, surrounded by books (Does anything smell as good as a bo...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/6-recommended-reads-from-a-small-town-library/
There is nothing more annoying to me than being in a reading rut. I get so frustrated when, no matter how many books I try, I just can’t get into anything. I end up listlessly looking through m...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/how-to-get-out-of-a-reading-slump-8-tips-and-tricks/
It’s only January, but we have big plans for 2018. In fact, we’ve already mapped out our book club plans for the entire year! That’s right. We made a calendar for the perfect year of book c...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/enter-chance-win-years-worth-book-club-books/
Amid a resurgence of protests and resistance movements in our country, more and more authors are taking the time to use writing to make powerful statements about our current racial landscape. Hig...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/writing-to-save-a-life-by-john-edgar-wideman/
Proving to us that we can indeed have nice things in 2018, Barack Obama recently released his list of favorite books (and songs) of the past year. A semi-annual tradition from his time in office�...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/new-o-book-club-2-0-12-obamas-favorite-books/
We’re taking you behind the scenes to meet the members of our incredible team, one-on-one. First up is Allison Tyler! A founding member, Allison is instrumental in the day-to-day operations at ...
People ask me all the time what I like most about working in publishing, and I always have the same answer: it’s like being in school, but you actually want to read your textbooks! You’re alw...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/the-5ish-best-books-i-read-last-month/
We Off the Shelfers are always reading, but there never seem to be enough hours in the day to get through all of the books we want to read. So it stands to reason that some of the books on our ni...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/11-books-on-our-nightstands-right-now/
We know it’s a new year, and there’s a whole new crop of books to look forward to, but we want to take a moment to look back at what we read in 2017. What a year it was for books! Together, t...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/10-best-books-we-read-in-2017/
It’s the start of a new year. And the start of many new books! If you’re anything like us, you have lots of reading goals on your New Year’s Resolution list. Here are 18 of our favorite fir...
https://offtheshelf.com/2018/01/18-striking-first-lines-to-start-2018/
As the year draws to a close, we remember the literary luminaries we lost in 2017. They created enduring characters, wrote perennial bestsellers, won the most prestigious awards in their genres...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/in-memorium-14-authors-we-lost-too-soon-in-2017/
Resolve. Read. Repeat. A new year calls for new reading goals and a new TBR pile. I’m challenging myself—and you—to read bigger, bolder, and better this year. Here are 18 reading resolution...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/18-reading-resolutions-for-2018/
It’s Christmas morning and you’re supposed to get all your favorite things, right? To celebrate, we’re sharing some of our very favorite Off the Shelf recommendations. We love these books a...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/our-gift-to-you-13-of-off-the-shelfs-favorite-book-recommendations/
It’s officially winter which means most of our activities will take place in the warmth of our homes, likely beneath layers and layers of sweaters and blankets. But to keep us from catching the...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/15-favorites-you-book-club-must-read-this-winter/
Many of us know Bravo’s Andy Cohen as a journalist, host, producer, and friend to many of Hollywood’s famous faces, but there are other titles he’s happy to add to his résumé: writer and,...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/watch-mean-read-happens-live-andy-cohen/
We already told you about the books we are excited to give this year. Now we want to tell you about the books we hope to receive. It would be so nice to unwrap any of these 10 books this year . ....
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/the-10-books-we-hope-to-unwrap-during-the-holidays/
Books make great gifts and audiobooks make great stocking stuffers. But you’ll also need some ear-candy to keep you sane during the inevitable holiday shopping frenzy. We can help with that! Fr...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/15-audiobooks-perfect-for-you-and-everyone-on-your-list/
Books on books on books. It was a great year for reading, and we wrote lists of so many outstanding books this year. As much time as we spend talking about our favorites, we’re really curious a...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/10-most-popular-lists-on-off-the-shelf-in-2017/
It's that time of year again. The holidays. The time of year filled with family and friends, turkey and pie, tickets home and car rides, Black Friday deals and glasses of cheer. And for many of u...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/24-books-for-the-hard-to-shop-for-person-on-your-list/
’Tis the season for giving and eating, and we’ve got the perfect strategy. . . combine the two! Whether your gift list contains a Francophile, a restaurant lover, a bibliophile, a classic m...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/12/12-foodie-books-for-every-eater-and-reader-on-your-gift-list/