Here is a compilation of some amazing releases from this year to inspire you to read this summer...
COVER STORY
As summer rolls in, there’s no cooler escape from the heat than getting lost in a good book.
Especially in Pakistan right now. I say, pick anything that’s interesting to read, because we need that much-needed break from this chaotic world. Or at least build a TBR list for yourself to just feel good. Here is a compilation of some amazing releases from this year to inspire you to read this summer...
by Zara Chowdhary
With the genocide happening in Palestine in the background and the recent election in India, it is even more important to read The Lucky Ones: A Memoir. What a powerful way to feel the pain of oppression! In 2002, two train carriages were set on fire in Gujarat, India. Within three weeks, more than 2,000 Muslims were murdered in response by Hindu mobs. By the end of the year, more than 50,000 Muslims had become refugees in their own country. The Lucky Ones is a unique memoir in English of this largest-ever massacre in independent India. It also tells the story of how a communal crisis brought a fractured family together.
How to Know a Person
by David Brooks
If you had the chance to read David’s previous book, The Road to Character, then this one should surely be next on your list. His key premise can’t be found elsewhere: that conversational and social skills aren’t just innate traits—they can be learned and improved upon. He provides practical tips for what he calls “loud listening,” a practice that helps people around you feel heard and valued. It’s more than a guide to better conversations; it’s a blueprint for a more connected and humane way of living.
by Albert Read
For those of us who grew up in a world before tablets and smartphones, it wasn’t uncommon to be instructed to alleviate boredom by using our imaginations. In his new book, Albert Read argues that imagination itself is a muscle that needs to be trained and used regularly, and that doing so can result in a fuller, more creative life. Read delves into the history of great imaginations from around the world and offers practical advice for expanding our own—the results could be, well, unimaginable.
by Melissa de la Cruz
In Melissa de la Cruz’s captivating young adult romantic fantasy, a half-encanto named MJ takes on the daunting task of claiming the throne in the Filipino-inspired realm of Biringan after her father’s sudden demise. As MJ forms an unexpected alliance with the enigmatic knight Sir Lucas, she must grapple with matters of the heart and the weighty responsibilities that come with being a queen, all while a deadly curse looms over her kingdom.
by Sal Khan
Sal, the founder of Khan Academy, has been a pioneer in the field of education technology since long before the rise of artificial intelligence. The vision he lays out in Brave New Words for how AI will improve education is well-grounded. Sal argues that AI will radically improve both outcomes for students and the experiences of teachers, helping to ensure that everyone has access to a world-class education. He is well aware that innovation has had only a marginal impact in the classroom so far but makes a compelling case that AI will be different. No one has sharper insights into the future of education than Sal does, so trust me on this: Brave New Words is a must-read.
by Adhiraj Pal
During its peak, the crypto boom promised to revolutionize finance and much of the world. This book is based on the author’s extensive research and experience in the crypto market. Its agenda is to promote knowledge in the field of crypto technology and its underlying principles. Instead of viewing it as a speculative market, this book encourages readers to invest their thoughts in the technology and the revolution that the crypto world is shaping for our future.
The author explores various aspects of cryptocurrency, addressing questions such as: Who is the mystery man, Satoshi Nakamoto? Why was Bitcoin created? What is Dogecoin? How can one start their own cryptocurrency? What do global personalities think about cryptocurrency? Is it a scam?
Furthermore, the book delves into blockchain technology, which the author believes will revolutionize digital transactions worldwide due to its untapped potential and myriad experimental possibilities.
by Bonnie Hammer
What’s still holding women back at work? Bonnie Hammer, Vice Chair of NBCUniversal and one of the most powerful women in corporate America, debunks the bad advice that too many women at all levels are told and shares her surprising, no-nonsense secrets to success.
Bonnie Hammer’s legendary career spans five decades in a turbulent, male-driven industry. Today, Bonnie is a powerful leader at the very top of her field, and women constantly ask, “What is your secret to success?”
Recognized as “the most powerful woman in Hollywood,” Bonnie’s power—and her staying power—comes from rejecting common myths about how women are “supposed” to behave and approach the workplace. She knows the traditional stories women are told about work—captured in pithy phrases like “don’t mix work with play,” “talk is cheap,” “follow your dreams,” “know your worth,” “trust your gut,” and “you can have it all”—actually hold women back. Drawing on her experiences rising from an entry-level production assistant to a top executive responsible for transforming NBCUniversal into a media powerhouse, Bonnie flips conventional workplace wisdom and gives women the “un common” sense they need to succeed.
by Maren Stoffels
Here comes a recommendation in the genre of horror fiction, a thriller translated from Dutch. You might not like this book if you have studied literature in college, because there is no character development, description is too filmy at times, and the narration changes abruptly which makes it a little annoying. So, why am I even recommending this book? It is because it has everything a solid thriller has - it is fast-paced and full of unexpected twists. Here is the storyline:
When three friends head to a remote cabin to study for exams, they make the horrifying discovery that they’re not alone in the woods. High school seniors Nova, Vin, and Lotus plan a “complete lockdown” without any cellphones or technology to focus on their exam prep. After Nova’s sister drops them at the secluded house in West Virginia where they’re staying, creepy and unexplainable things start happening: slashed bike tires, disappearing items, and grave injuries. And there is no way to call for help when they realize someone is stalking them, seeking revenge for their past misdeeds. Suddenly, a cabin in the middle of nowhere turns into the worst idea.
by Holly Black
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak must decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.
by Malinda Lo
This beckoning coming-of-age story of self-discovery follows Aria as she experiences an unexpected change of plans for the summer. Instead of her plan to spend her last summer before college with her friends at Martha’s Vineyard, she is sent to spend her time with her artist grandmother. During her stay, Aria finds herself in a charming community that challenges her to reflect on her identity and aspirations. She meets Steph Nicholas, her grandmother’s gardener, who changes her perspective on who she is and who she will become forever.
