Encore Planning Survey 2018 Question Title * 1. Which books would you be interested in reading/discussing at an upcoming Encore session? Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo MbueA novel about marriage, immigration, class, race, and the trapdoors in the American Dream—the unforgettable story of a young Cameroonian couple making a new life in New York just as the Great Recession upends the economy. New York Times Bestseller, Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, Named One of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, The New York Times Book Review, The Chicago Public Library and Oprah's Book Club Book. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness by Erik LarsonBringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, Erik Larson's spellbinding bestseller intertwines the true tale of two men--the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair, striving to secure America's place in the world; and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction. New York Times best seller (nonfiction), San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, National Book Award (Nonfiction, finalist), Edgar Award (Winner, Best Fact Crime). We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War by Doug BradleyDoug Bradley and Craig Werner's account of music's connection to the Vietnam War is intimate and deeply informative, with a scope that encompasses both the war itself and the way that music has helped raise awareness of veterans' issues long after its end. Doug Bradley will be a guest speaker at the Madison Club on February 21.Rolling Stone #1 Best Music Book, Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award, Paste Best Nonfiction Book. The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret GeorgeThe New York Times bestselling and legendary author of Helen of Troy and Elizabeth I now turns her gaze on Emperor Nero, one of the most notorious and misunderstood figures in history. With impeccable research and captivating prose, The Confessions of Young Nero is the story of a boy's ruthless ascension to the throne. Detailing his journey from innocent youth to infamous ruler, it is an epic tale of the lengths to which man will go in the ultimate quest for power and survival. (Historical fiction) Margaret George will be a guest speaker at the Madison Club on August 8.A Barnes and Noble “Best New Fiction Recommend” and Real Simple’s “Best New Books” Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.A non-fiction book about the heiress Huguette Clark (1906-2011), the reclusive daughter of the copper baron and United States Senator William A. Clark (1839 – 1925), one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time. The book chronicles both William and Huguette's life, including Huguette's decision to live the last 20 years of her life in hospitals in New York City, despite owning multiple homes and a fortune worth more than $300 million. The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhDDrawing on her own groundbreaking research with thousands of men and women, research psychologist and University of California professor of psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky has pioneered a detailed plan to increase happiness in our day-to-day lives. A comprehensive guide to understanding what happiness is, and isn't, and what can be done to bring us all closer to the happy life we envision for ourselves. Includes strategies to understand our innate potential for joy and happiness as well as our ability to sustain it in our lives. Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the Upward Spiral That Will Change Your Life by Barbara Fredrickson, PhDWe all know negativity; it looms large and is easy to spot. It pervades your self-talk, judgments, and bleeds into exchanges with your kids and your colleagues. But what about positivity? Longtime researcher and teacher Dr. Barbara Fredrickson reveals how stunning new scientific discoveries about this powerful – though undervalued – state of mind can enhance your relationships, improve your health, relieve depression, and be a very wise and healthy investment in the future. Other suggestions: please list other titles you would recommend or that you are interested in reading: OK DONE
