Books for Moms, Dads, and Grads
It’s a season of celebration! Check out what we here at Borrow. Read. Repeat. are gifting the moms, dads, and grads in our lives this year.
Maureen’s Picks:
For Moms:
The Names: A Novel by Florence Knapp
The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?
*A LibraryReads and Read with Jenna Pick*
“A magnificent novel, thrumming with life in all its pain and precariousness, yet suffused with the glorious possibilities of love and redemption.”—Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Horse
“The Names is a truly gorgeous, heart-opening novel. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m grateful to have Cora and her children living inside my heart now. What a wonderful book!”—Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful
Available May 6th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Click for Audiobook Information
Watch Our ‘Meet Debut Authors’ Panel Featuring Florence Knapp
For Dads:
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow illuminates the full, fascinating, and complex life of the writer long celebrated as the father of American literature, Mark Twain.
“Chernow’s voluminous biography presents Twain with all his complications and flaws—disastrous financial decisions, his evolving views on race—in this account both of the man and of a nation torn apart by war and stitched painfully back together, all of it brightened by Twain’s signature humor and wisdom.”—New York Times Book Review
Available May 13th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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For Grads:
Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
A transformative guide to rethinking our approach to goals, creativity, and life itself from a neuroscientist and entrepreneur, and the creator of the popular Ness Labs newsletter.
“I loved this profound, practical, and generous book. Through the ingenious lens of the tiny experiment, Anne-Laure Le Cunff shows how we can jettison arduous and dispiriting attempts at self-improvement in favor of achievable and energizing adventures on the path to a more vibrant, accomplished, and wholehearted life.”—Oliver Burkeman, New York Times bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Watch Our ‘Be Well’ Author Panel Featuring Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Miriam’s Picks:
For Moms:
Umma: A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom & 100 Family Recipes by Sarah Ahn and Nam Soon Ahn; Edited by America’s Test Kitchen
Learn Korean cooking alongside social media star Sarah Ahn as her umma passes down 100+ family recipes and decades’ worth of kitchen wisdom.
Sarah Ahn’s viral food videos of her and her mom have captivated millions of viewers with their behind-the-scenes look at Korean cooking and multigenerational home life. This collaboration is now a must-have cookbook blending the emotional intimacy of Crying in H Mart with practical culinary advice from Nam Soon’s lifetime of kitchen experience. The recipes are framed by mother-daughter conversations that are funny, profound, and universally relatable—plus all the food is backed by the recipe-testing power of America’s Test Kitchen.
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
For Dads:
Camp: Life, Leadership, and Why You Never Stop Paddling by Michael D. Eisner
Updated and expanded for its 20th anniversary, Camp is former Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s coming-of-age story about his time in camp and how the indispensable lessons he learned there continue to influence him in business and in life.
Over the years, as a camper and a counselor, Michael Eisner absorbed the life lessons that come from sitting in the stern of a canoe or gathering around a campfire at night. In this deeply personal memoir, he recounts his experiences at one remarkable summer camp and examines how they helped turn him into the man he is today.
Available in Hardcover.
For Grads:
Stuff Every Adult Should Know: A Pocket-Sized Guide to Grown-Up Know-How, from Taxes to Small Talk by Alyssa Favreau, Alanna Kalb, and Brett Cohen
A pocket guide to all the adult stuff you’re expected to know (but that nobody ever explains).
Do you ever feel like you missed the day in school when they taught you . . . literally everything you were going to need for a successful adulthood? How do you iron clothes? Where do friends come from? Why are there so many types of insurance? Does everyone else already know this stuff, and where did they learn it? Well, you don’t have to flail around anymore, pretending like you know what you’re doing. Here’s the handbook for that day we all missed—and it fits right into your pocket! Get the background knowledge you deserve for life skills like how to write a cover letter, how to change a tire, how to make a budget, and more!
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Rachel’s Picks:
For Moms:
Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats by Courtney Gustafson.
An intimate memoir about the importance of community and care in a world that can feel impossibly broken—and a story about accidentally going viral while tending to a colony of feral cats.
“Truly moving; a heartfelt exploration of the humanity at the heart of animal welfare. Courtney masterfully weaves together stories of cats with stories of her own life and the lives of her community members—raw, flawed, and striving for goodness in a complex world. Her journey from cat observer to dedicated caregiver and community builder is profoundly inspiring.”—Hannah Shaw, New York Times bestselling author of Cats of the World
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
For Dads:
The Dad Coach: How to Lead Kids to Succeed On and Off the Baseball Field by Mike Matheny with Jerry B. Jenkins
The New York Times bestselling author of The Matheny Manifesto offers the definitive guide to coaching youth baseball and instilling positive values on and off the field.
“I wish every coach, at every level of the game, would read The Dad Coach. Mike Matheny sees life and the game pretty much the same way, and applying this book will definitely improve you and your players on and off the field. It has helped me solidify my coaching style.”—Willie McGee, four-time Major League Baseball All-Star, World Series champion, assistant coach, St. Louis Cardinals
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
For Grads:
Dear Graduate: A Book for When We Take a Step Forward by Charles McEnerney and Adam Larson
For grads of all ages, this joyful, vibrant giftbook challenges the age-old question of what will you be?, and instead asks what will you do?
Graduation is both exciting and riddled with unknowns—a moment when we stop to ask ourselves big questions. By turns whimsical and introspective, Dear Graduate playfully asks readers how they want to spend their lives and what values they’ll develop. The 30 questions in this bite-sized and poignant book encourages grads—or anyone at a crossroads—to consider who they aspire to be and what sort of mark they dream of making on the world.
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Jen C’s Picks:
For Moms:
Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
A moving and fascinating meditation on freedom, trust, loss, and our relationship with the natural world, explored through the story of one woman’s unlikely friendship with a wild hare.
“Makes you think profoundly about how we so often tune out the natural world around us. Chloe Dalton is a tender, curious, wise, mind-expanding guide, connecting readers with the wild we humans once knew so well. I will be recommending this to everyone.”—Matt Haig, author of The Midnight Library
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
For Dads:
Dad, What’s for Dinner?: Lifesaving Recipes to Avoid Meltdowns, Have Fun in the Kitchen, and Keep Your Kids Well Fed: A Cookbook by David Nayfield and Joshua David Stein
The dad’s guide to getting dinner on the table; more than 80 unfussy, uncompromising recipes for weeknights and beyond. With a foreword by Gwyneth Paltrow.
“As a father myself I can attest to the challenge of feeding your kids. In Dad, What’s for Dinner? David helps dads (and other parents) everywhere get delicious dinner on the table.” —Tom Colicchio, chef and owner of Crafted Hospitality
Available May 27th in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
For Grads:
Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life by Shigehiro Oishi, PhD
From one of our foremost psychologists, a trailblazing book that turns the idea of a good life on its head and urges us to embrace the transformative power of variety and experience.
“No one knows more about the science of well-being than Shigehiro Oishi. In this wonderful new book he shares a lifetime of discovery about what it means to live a good life. Life in Three Dimensions is insightful, original, and wise.”—Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University and author of the New York Times bestselling Stumbling on Happiness
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Kelly’s Picks:
For Moms:
The Book Cover: 150 Years of Batsford Design by Paul Diamond
A beautiful collection of classic twentieth-century Batsford book covers, from Art Deco gems to cool-looking mid-century architecture titles and quirky designs from the ’60s and ’70s.
The covers in this beautiful book have been chosen by a design expert from the extensive collection of book collector Paul Dimond. The collection includes the iconic covers of Brian Cook, which are recognized and collected worldwide, as well as beautifully tooled cloth bindings, Art Deco gems, cool-looking mid-century architecture titles, and quirky designs from the ’60s and ’70s. Rich with stunning photographs of these iconic jackets, The Book Cover explores the development of book cover design over the twentieth century.
Available May 6th in Hardcover.
For Dads:
American Psycho: How to Make a Killing in Business . . . and Life by Patrick Bateman with Robb Pearlman
Inspired by the film American Psycho, a darkly humorous collection of tongue-in-cheek advice on how to make it in the cutthroat world of business, as well as pointers about work/life balance, dating, and personal style.
Since its release in 2000, the film American Psycho, starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, has been lauded as a searing send-up of toxic masculinity and 1980s materialism. How to Make a Killing in Business . . . and Life draws upon the film’s macabre, campy humor, resulting in a funny advice book of sorts, with recommendations on how to slash the competition and dealing with the challenges of letting work bleed into personal life. The book combines dynamic art with darkly witty wisdom about how to get that coveted reservation at Dorsia, the dos and don’ts of choosing a business card, deep dives on the importance of pop music groups like Huey Lewis and the News, and ideas on how to dispose of your rivals.
Available in Hardcover.
For Grads:
Go Ask Austen: Life Lessons from Jane Austen by Violet De Whitt; Illustrated by George Saad
If ever in doubt, just ask yourself “What would Jane do?”
It is a truth universally acknowledged that most of us could use some guidance. Whether readers are looking to marry a man with several carriages to his name, recovering from an illness caused by wet stockings, or unsure what color ribbon is the best match for an outfit, Jane Austen’s wisdom is here to guide them through any problem.
This book features insights from Austen’s wide world of characters. With illustrations of her beloved characters and their most enlightened quotes, it’ll guide readers through the day ahead and help resolve questions.
Available in Hardcover.
Elizabeth’s Picks:
For Moms:
Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles
*An Oprah’s Book Club Pick*
A revealing personal life story like no other—enlightening, entertaining, surprising, empowering—and a testament to the world-making power of Black motherhood.
“A fascinating memoir of Tina Knowles’s journey to become the global figure she is today. We learn how the strength and wisdom of the women who came before her fueled Tina’s passion to achieve and gave her the ability to nurture her own daughters into the incredible women they are today.”—Oprah Winfrey
“Both her great-grandmother and grandmother fought to keep their children from being sold away or otherwise separated in slavery. How remains a mystery. Matriarchs, Knowles writes, ‘are filled with the most enduring and ferocious love.’”—The New York Times
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook; Read by Tina Knowles, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly Rowland & Angie Beyincé
For Dads:
Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments by Joe Posnanski
#1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Posnanski is back with a masterful ode to the game: a countdown of 50 of the most memorable moments in baseball’s history, to make you fall in love with the sport all over again.
“Mr. Posnanski is a bit like the guy telling baseball stories at a bar—if that guy is clever, funny, not averse to hyperbole, sentiment or numerology, willing to go to great lengths to track down a fact and possessed of a way with words . . . if you were that kid who felt a surge of gladness when Baseball Digest turned up in the mailbox, and if the game has continued to hold a place in your heart, well, I’ve got just the book for you.”—The Wall Street Journal
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
For Grads:
Congratulations, by the way: Some Thoughts on Kindness by George Saunders
This inspiring meditation on kindness from the author of Lincoln in the Bardo is based on his popular commencement address.
Three months after George Saunders gave a graduation address at Syracuse University, a transcript of that speech was posted on the website of The New York Times, where its simple, uplifting message struck a deep chord. Within days, it had been shared more than one million times. Why? Because Saunders’s words tap into a desire in all of us to lead kinder, more fulfilling lives. Powerful, funny, and wise, Congratulations, by the way is an inspiring message from one of today’s most influential and original writers.
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Jen R.’s Picks
For Moms:
It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond by Julia Cameron and Emma Lively
Julia Cameron has inspired millions with her bestseller on creativity, The Artist’s Way. In It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again, she turns her eye to a segment of the population that, ironically, while they have more time to be creative, are often reluctant or intimidated by the creative process. Cameron shows readers that retirement can, in fact, be the most rich, fulfilling, and creative time of their lives.
“Cameron . . . stands as living proof that a lifelong quest for expressing one’s self can be rewarding . . . a must-read for all hoping to enhance their creativity in all aspects of life.”—Booklist
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Now on Audio! Listen to a Clip
Click for More Books in the Artist’s Way Series
For Dads:
Guitar Zero: The Science of Becoming Musical at Any Age by Gary Marcus
Gary Marcus challenges the widely held belief that innate talent is necessary to become a skilled musician.
“[Guitar Zero is] the sort of book where Steven Pinker (Dr. Marcus’s mentor and collaborator) mixes with K. Anders Ericsson (the psychologist most associated with the ‘10,000 hours’ theory of expertise) and Tom Morello (the lead guitarist from Rage Against the Machine).”—The New York Times
“This book in the end is about more than a desire to shred like Eddie Van Halen. Marcus examines how our brains are affected by creativity—learning a musical instrument, for instance, or a new language—and how these experiences remain open to all of us, no matter our age.”—Los Angeles Times
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click for Audiobook Information
For Grads:
In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It by Lauren Graham
Advice for graduates and reflections on staying true to yourself from the beloved Gilmore Girls actress and New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Talking as Fast as I Can and the novel Someday, Someday, Maybe.
In this expansion of the 2017 commencement speech she gave at her hometown Langley High, Lauren Graham, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, reflects on growing up, pursuing your dreams, and living in the here and now. “Whatever path you choose, whatever career you decide to go after, the important thing is that you keep finding joy in what you’re doing, especially when the joy isn’t finding you.” In her hilarious, relatable voice, Graham reminds us to be curious and compassionate, no matter where life takes us or what we’ve yet to achieve. Grounded and inspiring—and illustrated throughout with drawings by Graham herself—here is a comforting road map to a happy life.
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook, Read by Lauren Graham
Kate’s Picks:
For Moms:
Show Don’t Tell: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld
The bestselling author of Eligible and Romantic Comedy “blends acerbic wit, shrewd insight and sharp-eyed observation [in this] bravura collection” (The Washington Post), including a story that revisits the main character from her iconic novel Prep.
“A bit like sitting down with a good friend who’s about to dish on some major life business . . . messy, delicious, spun through with bits of quotable wisdom . . . and complete with endings that will make you sit and think . . . Showcasing the glory of her characters’ complicated lives and allowing them to speak with voices all their own is a kind of rebellion, and it’s exhilarating.”—The New York Times Book Review
Available in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
For Dads:
Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America by Will Bardenwerper
A poignant memoir exploring small town baseball as a lens into what’s right and wrong with modern America—written by an acclaimed journalist and Army Ranger who, after returning from Iraq to a painfully divided country, rediscovered its core values in the bleachers of a minor league ballpark in Batavia, New York.
“Bardenwerper finds hope in the people and community around a former minor league baseball team.”—The Washington Post
“Will Bardenwerper’s Homestand isn’t just a great baseball story, but a sensitive and searching look at the ways Americans have built up community, as well as the forces that tear it down. In one small town, he finds a potent symbol for the state of American civic life, and a guide to how we might protect it.”
—Phil Klay, award-winning author of Redeployment and Uncertain Ground: Citizenship in an Age of Endless, Invisible War
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
For Grads:
Deep Cuts: A Novel by Holly Brickley
The incredibly buzzy debut that everyone is talking about—a love story about two people pulled apart by the same force that draws them together: music.
“Tender as a ballad and pleasurable as a pop song, Deep Cuts is both a romp into the indie sleaze era of the early aughts and a timeless love story.”—Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Sisters
Available in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Watch Our ‘Love Stories’ Author Panel Featuring Holly Brickley