https://mppl.org/books-movies-more/lists-and-suggestions/?list=New+Nonfiction+Books+in+May+2026&category=new+books
List: New Nonfiction Books in May 2026
Lying about Hitler : history, Holocaust, and the David Irving trial
The author examines the libel suit and ensuing trial of Penguin Books UK and Deborah Lipstadt against holocaust denier David Irving. The author uses the trial to explore the question of Nazi genocide against the Jews and the roles of Hitler, Himmler and Goebbels in the Holocaust.
Checking status…
Signs : the secret language of the universe
A psychic medium teaches how to recognize and interpret the messages from loved ones and spirit guides on the other side.
Checking status…
The occult
Colin Wilson's great classic work is a comprehensive history of mystery and "magic". His genius lies in producing a skilful synthesis of the available material; clarifying without simplifying, seeing the occult in the light of reason and reason in the light of the mystical and paranormal. It is a journey of enlightenment - a wide-ranging survey of the whole subject and an insightful exploration of Man's latent powers. Republished two years after the author's death and with a new foreword by bibliographer Colin Stanley, Wilson brings his own refreshingly optimistic and stimulating interpretation to the worlds of the paranormal, the occult and the supernatural. "The Occult is the most interesting, informative and thought-provoking book on the subject I have read"--Sunday Telegraph From the Trade Paperback edition.
Checking status…
The body teaches the soul : ten essential habits to form a healthy and holy life
Explores the connection between physical and spiritual health, arguing that caring for the body is an essential part of Christian discipleship. Drawing on personal experience, research, and biblical insight, Earley presents ten practical habits that integrate body and soul - addressing areas such as eating, exercise, sleep, and mental health. Through these practices, he encourages readers to view their bodies as gifts from God, fostering spiritual growth, emotional well-being, and a more holistic faith.
Checking status…
A world appears : a journey into consciousness
"When it comes to the phenomenon that is consciousness, there is one point on which scientists, philosophers, and artists all agree: It feels like something to be us. Yet the fact that we have subjective experience of the world remains one of nature's greatest mysteries. How is it that our mental operations are accompanied by feelings, thoughts, and a sense of self? What would a scientific investigation of our inner life look like, when we have as little distance and perspective on it as fish do of the sea? In A World Appears, Michael Pollan traces the unmapped continent that is consciousness, bringing radically different perspectives--scientific, philosophical, literary, spiritual, and psychedelic--to see what each can teach us about this central fact of life"-- Dust jacket flap.
Checking status…
The cortisol reset plan : the complete guide to balancing your hormones, reversing weight gain, and restoring nervous system health
"From nutritionist and health coach Marina Wright, FDNP, a powerful guide to restoring body-mind health with holistic tools to heal our bodies through nervous system work, blood sugar regulation, and nutrient-dense foods"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Drained : reduce your mental load to do less and be more
"The term "mental load" has become more familiar in recent years, but the popular understanding of the concept often reduces it down to managing a list of household chores and logistics. Sociologist Leah Ruppanner reveals that for women, mental load actually goes much deeper: It's a complex form of emotional thinking that is invisible, boundaryless, and enduring ... With eye-opening, research-based insights, including the 8 most common categories of mental load that weigh women down, Drained offers a powerful toolkit to help women move toward the life they really want. The heart of the book is the Mental Load Audit, which helps readers assess where they are spending their time and attention, and shows them how to take steps to recalibrate effectively"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Monsters in the archives : my year of fear with Stephen King
"After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine's Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first person given full access to King's archives, a treasure trove of material about the legendary writer's creative process and life, most of it never seen before. Her year of studying the archival materials was guided by one question millions of readers have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King Stephen King? Bicks focuses on five of King's early iconic books--The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and Night Shift--to reveal how he manipulates character, language, and story to cast his remarkable, creepy spells. Through close reading of early drafts, interviews with King, and freshly discovered biographical details, as well as her own personal history as a reader and scholar, Bicks shows King's mastery of storytelling and his enduring imprint on American culture. In the process, Bicks faces her own fears and gets to know the man partially responsible for them"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
The meaning of your life : finding purpose in an age of emptiness
"Meaning in life is getting harder to find--and there's a reason for that. In The Meaning of Your Life, social scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks explains how rapid societal and technological changes have rewired our brains, making them ill-equipped to handle questions of existential reckoning. The resulting emptiness is not imaginary, and it is life-destroying for some, especially for young people. Fortunately, there's hope. With compassion, clarity, and practicality, Brooks tells you exactly what you need to do to move toward meaning. You'll take a test to determine where you are on your meaning journey, learn evidence-based tactics for rewiring your brain for complex and abstract concepts, and discover a vocabulary for your desires. Most importantly, Brooks will show you where to search for the transcendence, vocation, and significance that are your birthright as a human being. 'What is the meaning of my life?' is not an unanswerable question, but the road to an answer--or answers--is a long one. The Meaning of Your Life is your guide for the journey"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
The compact garden : a beginner's guide to growing vegetables in small spaces
From the Canadian couple behind Planted in the Garden, a how-to guide for small-space vegetable gardening, Char and Marv are urban gardeners on a mission to prove that you don't need a lot of land to produce a bountiful harvest of homegrown vegetables. Using the lessons learned in their small-but-mighty Toronto garden, they offer first-time gardeners practical and accessible guidance for starting a vegetable plot of their own. From soil composition to irrigation solutions, The Compact Garden provides step-by-step instructions for gardening success at every stage.Create a small-space garden: Learn how to set up raised beds, containers, and vertical gardens to maximise growing space both indoors and outdoors.Grow beginner-friendly veggies: Discover which crops are easy to grow and low maintenance, including tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, beans, peas, and more.Harvest organic produce at home: Manage pests and fertilise plants without the use of synthetic chemicals.With plentiful photos, DIY projects, and helpful plant profiles for North American growers, you'll be on your way to an abundant garden, no matter how big or how small.
Checking status…
Rasputin : the downfall of the Romanovs
"From one of our most acclaimed historians, a major new biography of one of history's most disturbing, dubious masterminds, showing how a Siberian peasant, through his seduction of the imperial household, contributed to the collapse of the greatest autocracy in the world. When Russia's Dowager Empress was pregnant with the future Tsar, she dreamed that a peasant would one day kill her son. The idea terrified her, and for the rest of her days she 'lived under the pressure of the prophecy'. Did the prophecy come true with the arrival at court of a mysterious, barely literate moujhik from Siberia, Grigori Rasputin? In this ... portrait of an enigmatic character, Antony Beevor brings readers closer than ever before to Rasputin's scandalous life and death. Though he had no official position at court, Rasputin's hold over the Romanovs became the stuff of legend. Exaggerated accounts of political and financial corruption swirled around him, to say nothing of the stories of his debauchery with the Empress and even her daughters. The consequences of the rumor and conspiracy theories were devastating--when the February revolution broke out in 1917, hardly a sword was raised in the Tsar's defense. Through extensive use of previously unpublished reports, interviews, and interrogations, Beevor shows the truth of Rasputin's rampant lust and opportunism, victimization of poor and vulnerable women, and deep hypocrisy and corruption. Part political thriller, part gothic mystery, Rasputin is a fascinating story of human perversity"-- Publisher's website.
Checking status…
Hannibal Lecter : a life
Drawing from exclusive interviews and previously unseen archival materials, the one-of-it-kind biography of Hannibal Lecter documents the cannibal's journey from terrifying villain to unexpectedly adored antihero.
Checking status…
Secure : the revolutionary guide to creating a secure life
"Amir Levine, MD, coauthor of the groundbreaking, multimillion-copy international bestseller Attached, presents a bold new promise-that anyone can learn to create a secure life-and offers practical cutting-edge tools to achieve it."-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Art therapy for every day : 365 tools & exercises to help you create, heal & grow
"Art is the best medicine--and by tapping into our creativity regularly, we can develop tools to help us feel better, calmer, and more resilient. Art Therapy for Every Day features 365 accessible and engaging exercises, each designed to help you develop self-awareness,explore your emotions, and find relief from stress and trauma. Eachexercise focuses on a specific intention, can be completed with everyday art supplies, and is designed to fit easily into your day. Whether you want to better regulate your emotions, find joy in the creative process, or simply seek a meaningful and hopeful alternative toidle online scrolling, Art Therapy for Every Day unlocks the simpleyet transformative power of self-expression, day after day."--Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
The DC encyclopedia
The fifth edition of the highly celebrated DC Encyclopedia contains over 1,000 entries for DC's eclectic cast of Super Heroes and Super-Villains, as well as features for major events from the comics. Exclusive cover artwork created by renowned Dark Crisis and Wonder Woman artist Daniel Sampere, as well as fresh new character artworks on expanded entries.
Checking status…
Burn the haystack : decode dating, torch the duds, and make room for men who matter
"[The author] has built a career teaching people how to decode the hidden meanings in ordinary communication. Fascinated (and frustrated) by the rhetorical gambits she saw in men's profiles when she first downloaded a dating app, she created Burned Haystack to help other women navigate the nonsense and find their needles ... Young's engaging system empowers readers to sort through profiles quickly and effectively, preserving both time and sanity. And with its blend of scathing humor and academic rigor, Burn the Haystack is so much more than a dating tool--it gives women the skills to break down communication from the classroom to the boardroom and everywhere in between, and the confidence to approach life with a deeper, more powerful level of understanding"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
The fertility formula : take control of your reproductive future
"An indispensable guide to fertility, covering everything you need to know to optimize your hormones, get pregnant, and take charge of your reproductive health. Most of us are taught there's nothing we can do to improve our fertility. It's simply a matter of luck-and some of us are luckier than others. But this couldn't be more wrong. In The Fertility Formula, fertility physician Dr. Natalie Crawford reveals the science behind fertility and what you can do, starting now, to improve your fertility and your chances of getting pregnant. It turns out, most root causes of infertility-from hormone issues and endocrine diseases like PCOS to abnormal cycles and endometriosis, even age-related factors-can be traced back to one thing: inflammation. Understanding and addressing this inflammation is the key to optimizing your fertility at every level. Weaving together cutting-edge science, clinical insight, and patient stories, Dr. Crawford gives you the tools to do just that, including: The most common but overlooked causes of infertility and what you can actually do about them The truth about the biologic clock and why egg quality is about more than just age How to accurately track your menstrual cycle for conception, pregnancy prevention, and hormone health-and uncover the root cause of abnormal cycles A step-by-step guide to getting pregnant, from timing intercourse with ovulation to navigating infertility treatments if needed A lifestyle plan to improve your hormone health, reduce inflammation, and boost fertility-through better sleep, stress-reduction, nutrition, movement and decreasing toxins 20+ recipes for quick, easy, and delicious meals that support hormones and fertility It's time to put fertility back in your hands. The Fertility Formula gives you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to take control of your reproductive future"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
On the record : music that changed America
"Music is more than art--it's a force of change. In On The Record: Music that Changed America, Anna Harwell Celenza brings to life the pivotal moments where American music collided with politics to spark debate, empower communities, and redefine culture. Hundreds of musical compositions and popular songs have been written in response to American politics, but only a few dozen works have actually instigated change in Congress. On the Record focuses on a range of influential works like Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit," Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton, and Kendrick Lamar's "Damn": works that altered the way politicians think about the world around them; music that influenced important changes in domestic and foreign policy; compositions that left an indelible mark on American culture. Each chapter focuses on a single work, tracing the backstory of the music and the often surprising connections to Congressional action. Provocative and inspiring, it's a must-read for those who believe in the transformative power of song"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Self-help from the Middle Ages : what the seven deadly sins can teach us about living
"From historian Peter Jones comes a surprising and insightful guide to navigating contemporary life through the wisdom of the Middle Ages. A few years ago, Peter Jones was teaching medieval history at a university in Siberia when living through his third icy winter tipped him into a dark place. Luckily, he knew something few of us know: that The Middle Ages were the golden age of self-help. In Self-Help from the Middle Ages, history professor Peter Jones makes the case that never in history has so much energy and talent gone into studying how the mind works. In this charming and illuminating guide, he reveals a lost map of our passions and impulses that can help us understand our own human struggles in new and powerful ways. Because although we now think of the Seven Deadly Sins as a catalog of forbidden behavior, in the Middle Ages, when they were at the height of their popularity, they were a path to self-knowledge. A psychological map that laid out seven basic patterns of thought, showing how our thinking can go astray and how we can find our way home. With beautiful illustrations drawn from medieval art and literature, Peter Jones explores the lives of scholars and saints, mystics and monarchs, along with the insights they offer into temptation, frustration, addiction, compulsion, burnout, rage, fear, anxiety, and grief. Self-Help from the Middle Ages is an irresistible read for lovers of history and all those who seek wisdom from the past"-- Provided by publisher
Checking status…
The Jesus discoveries : 10 historic finds that bring us face-to-face with Jesus
"Did you know there's actual, physical proof that what the Bible states is true? An acclaimed biblical scholar and ministry leader fortifies your faith as he explores 10 compelling archaeological discoveries that support the authenticity of the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus, and the reasonableness of Christianity"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Original sin : on the genetics of vice, the problem of blame, and the future of forgiveness
"As one of the world's leading scientists examining how our DNA shapes differences in temperament, temptation and behaviour, Kathryn Paige Harden has seen firsthand how we--in public and in our most private relationships--continue to struggle with the ancient tensions between nature and nurture, freedom and constraint, the desire to punish and the longing to forgive. In Original Sin, she weaves together insights from her own experience as a daughter, mother, wife, and scientist with cutting-edge research in genetics and psychology to grapple with some of the most important questions in modern life: How do we take responsibility for the people we become, knowing how we are shaped by both biology and experience? How should we respond when people hurt each other-or themselves? And has science made guilt obsolete? Navigating the psychological and biological terrain of addiction, antisocial behaviour and violence, Harden confronts the discomforting ways science unsettles our understanding of wrongdoing and choice. In doing so she asks us not to absolve, but to reckon differently with notions of fairness and blame. A revelatory inquiry into the uneasy space where human behaviour meets inherited biology, Original Sin challenges us to imagine a more humane vision of accountability-for ourselves and for one another"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Parks and rec : the underdog TV show that lit'rally inspired a vision for a better America
"More than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. It's beloved for its jokes, characters, and expressions--the show even created a now widely observed holiday, Galentine's Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Readers will find out all this and more in the definitive history of the show, which is as full of humor, optimism, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself. Through new and exclusive interviews, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office's success and Obama-inspired optimism, how producers assembled one of TV's most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season, how it found its voice by getting more political and more romantic, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic. Lovingly told and deeply researched, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what's important in life: friends, waffles, and work"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
With a little help from their friends : the Beatles and the people who made them
"The story of the Beatles is more than just their omnipresent songs and their iconic albums. It's more than the hair, the clothes, the generational defining spirit. It's even more than Paul and John and George and Ringo. The Beatles wouldn't be the Beatles without a little help from their friends. These four legends didn't change the world in isolation; their story has an incredible supporting cast of family, friends, managers, producers, publicists, ex-bandmates, fellow musicians, and more. These somebodies shaped the Fab Four through ambition, power, friendship, heartbreak, tragedy, intrigue, humor, lust, and of course, love. Stuart Maconie's With a Little Help From Their Friends is the epic story of the iconic band through the people who made them, from childhood days in Liverpool through the crucible of Hamburg and on to international superstardom. It's a charming mosaic of a book, a fresh look written with deep knowledge and passion." -- book jacket.
Checking status…
100 hikes of a lifetime U.S.A. : the country's ultimate scenic trails
"From a bucket list trek on the Pacific Crest Trail to a day hike up Virginia's Old Rag Mountain, discover the best hikes across the United States in this follow-up to ... 100 Hikes of a Lifetime"-- Page 4 of cover.
Checking status…
We (the people of the United States)
We (The People of The United States) is a book-length poem made to the measure of the modern world. Composed of 55 sections, it features a breathtaking range of characters and concerns: The Beach Boys, Gwendolyn Brooks, the invention of the typewriter, Zora Neale Hurston, Sun Ra, life on Mars, Robert Frost, experimental physics, The Jackson 5. Throughout the collection, Bennett summons Virgil's Georgics as a lens through which to not only tell the story of his family, but a much larger one about the "form of the American mind," our relationship to the natural world, and the pursuit of a dignified, abundant life. Published the year of the nation's 250th anniversary, it is a collection that is right on time. One that calls us, as Langston Hughes once did, toward a future America that is not yet here, "and yet must be."--Back cover.
Checking status…
Sirens in the loop : a history of the City News Bureau of Chicago
"Sirens in the Loop traces the rise and legacy of the City News Bureau of Chicago, the legendary wire service that shaped generations of reporters and defined the city's gritty journalistic identity. Through vivid storytelling, the book explores its founding, its relentless 'If your mother says she loves you, check it out' ethos, and the countless scoops, scandals, and characters forged in its chaotic newsroom. From crime scenes to city hall, it chronicles how the bureau's demanding culture sharpened young reporters' instincts and left an enduring imprint on American journalism"-- Page 4 of cover.
Checking status…
The history book
Covers "[m]ore than 90 of the most important events, milestones, and turning points in world history - from the agricultural revolution to WWI and WWII"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…
Tobi Shinobi : equilibrium.
Checking status…
The word for world : the maps of Ursula K. Le Guin
"When Ursula K. Le Guin started writing a new story, she would begin by drawing a map. The Word for World presents a selection of these images by the celebrated author, many of which have never been published before, to consider how her imaginary worlds enable us to re-envision our own. Le Guin's maps offer journeys of consciousness beyond conventional cartography, from the Rorschach-like archipelagos of Earthsea to the talismanic maps of Always Coming Home. Rather than remaining within known terrain, they open up paradigms of knowledge, exemplified by the map's edges and how a map is read, made and re-made, together. The Word for World brings her maps together with poems, stories, interviews, recipes and essays by contributors from a variety of perspectives to enquire into the relationship between worlds and how they are represented and imagined. Contributors: Federico Campagna, Theo Downes-Le Guin, Daniel Heath Justice, Bhanu Kapil, Canisia Lubrin, Una McCormack, David Naimon, Nisha Ramayya, Shoshone Collective, Standard Deviation, Marilyn Strathern.Co-published by Spiral House and AA Publications to coincide with an exhibition of Ursula K. Le Guin's maps at the Architectural Association, London, opening on 10 October 2025."-- Publisher's website.
Checking status…
People Are the Wealth
"We were created for more -- more than mere flourishing, more than our self-improvement projects, more than our accomplishments. God created us to be connected and rooted in community. In People are the wealth, Christian Mungai, presents an African vision for what Christian living is. He explores a biblical concept that is often overlooked in our results-oriented Western society -- that our true wealthlines in the people around us, from our children to our parents, from our friends to our church community. When we focus on people first through relationship building, God works in incredible ways. Christian Mungai, the global movement pastor at Mariner's Church, is part of the team that developed the influential Rooted curriculum based on how Christian's home church in Nairobi, Kenya was mentoring and discipling people. Now Christian dives into the biblical and discipleship concepts behind that curriculum that should ground every believer's life and outreach. Here you'll discover : the power of presense-- taking the time to be with other people, cultivating relationships that can facilitate meaningful life-change ; the importance of seeing how every person reflects God's image and how that can shape our faith, life, and ministry ; how the global church can build bridges between its members in order to transform the world"-- Back cover.
Checking status…
1945 : the reckoning : war, empire and the struggle for a new world
As the fate of the world is decided, so too is that of the British, Dutch and French empires. In India a generation committed to independence must decide whether to support 'the Raj' or fight alongside the Japanese. One military family is bitterly divided. Will it be the brother who fights under British command, or the one who follows Subhas Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army, who goes on to help build a new and free India? In Borneo a little known Australian special forces campaign - secretly controlled from London - goes horribly wrong as questions are asked about whether its true purpose is military or imperial. And in Indochina and the East Indies British Generals free and arm Japanese prisoners of war and use them in savage campaigns that aim to put colonial rulers back into their palaces.Clearing away the haze of nostalgia, many uncomfortable truths emerge - but so too does a humane and balanced exploration of what victory in the Second World War truly means.
Checking status…
Where it hurts : dispatches from the emotional frontlines of medicine
"A collection of candid literary accounts by doctors, nurses, and other healers that shed light on the intense challenges and triumphs of medical life, reflecting the resilience, ingenuity, and compassion they use to get by"-- Provided by publisher.
Checking status…