THE POWER OF URBAN SOLITUDE: a writer weaves her memories together with iconic artworks on city loneliness. A MINUS

LONELY CITY: ADVENTURES IN THE ART OF BEING ALONE
Picador USA
2016

ON SCAMS AND CON ARTISTS, and a look at what research psychology says about why we fall for them. Smart! B PLUS

THE CONFIDENCE GAME: WHY WE FALL FOR IT… EVERY TIME
Penguin Group USA
2016

CANDID, UNSETTLING, ELOQUENT memoir from a writer who was the target of a former student’s obsession.

UPDATES FROM THE HAPPINESS psychology front, with a fresh take on conventional wisdom about joy, satisfaction.

INTERESTING LOOK AT how ideas, products, and media “go viral,” with in-depth data from studies and interviews.

THE SECRET WORLD of stage magic and magicians, explored with love and humor by a writer/scientist/magician.

IDIOSYNCRATIC, ABSORBING, INSIGHTFUL, snarky overview of the phenomenon of “scapegoating” throughout history.

POET/CULTURAL CRITIC Wayne Koestenbaum’s meditations on the Big Idea of “humiliation” are quirky, fascinating.

GRANT MORRISON’S TRIPPY meditation on the psychology, sociology, and spirituality of comics is one wild ride!

FASCINATING LOOK AT recent neuroscience around attention, and its synergies with technology and education.