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Franz Kafka, the renowned Czech author famous for his existentialist works, was a notoriously private individual. In fact, he left specific instructions for his close friend and literary executor, Max Brod, to burn all of his unpublished manuscripts upon his death. However, Brod chose to defy Kafka's wishes, believing that the world needed to read his friend's extraordinary work. Thanks to Brod's decision, some of Kafka's most acclaimed works, including "The Trial," "The Castle," and "Amerika," were published posthumously, ensuring Kafka's legacy as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

📷️ Bookshelf Humble Brag

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📚️ Staff Pick of the Week

How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms by Chris Wiggins, Matthew L. Jones

How Data Happened delves into the technical, political, and ethical impact of data on our world, tracing its origins from the US Constitution's census to Victorian Britain's eugenics and the development of Google search. Authors Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones, drawing from their Columbia University course, explore how data has been employed as a tool and weapon in debates over truth and power dynamics. By understanding data's historical trajectory, they argue that we can intentionally and purposefully shape its future applications for collective benefit.

🎥 Reading Talk's

📈 Rising Quickly - Week of April 10, 2023

Psych: The Story of the Human Mind by Paul Bloom

A compelling and accessible new perspective on the modern science of psychology, based on one of Yale’s most popular courses of all time How does the brain—a three-pound wrinkly mass—give rise to intelligence and conscious experience? Was Freud right that we are all plagued by forbidden sexual desires? What is the function of emotions such as disgust, gratitude, and shame? Renowned psychologist Paul Bloom answers these questions and many more in Psych , his riveting new book about the science of the mind. Psych is an expert and passionate guide to the most intimate aspects of our nature, serving up the equivalent of a serious university course while being funny, engaging, and full of memorable anecdotes. But Psych is much more than a comprehensive overview of the field of psychology. Bloom reveals what psychology can tell us about the most pressing moral and political issues of our time—including belief in conspiracy theories, the role of genes in explaining human differences, and the nature of prejudice and hatred. Bloom also shows how psychology can give us practical insights into important issues—from the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety to the best way to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Psych is an engrossing guide to the most important topic there is: it is the story of us.

🪄Most Talked About Fiction - Week of April 10, 2023

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

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📚️ Most Talked About Non-Fiction - Week of April 10, 2023

Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas--Not Less by Alex Epstein

For over a decade, philosopher and energy expert Alex Epstein has argued that the benefits of fossil fuels, including their ability to provide low-cost, reliable energy, particularly to the world's poorest, far outweigh their negative impacts on climate. He asserts that despite media hype surrounding renewable energy and climate emergencies, fossil fuels remain the dominant global energy source, contributing to reduced poverty levels and lower climate-related deaths. In his book "Fossil Future," Epstein applies his "human flourishing framework" to predict that fossil fuels will continue to offer significant benefits, including climate mastery and energy freedom, for generations to come. He critiques the "anti-impact framework" prevalent in media, which he believes has resulted in inaccurate predictions and misunderstandings surrounding fossil fuels, climate, and renewable energy, ultimately challenging readers to reconsider their beliefs about energy, the environment, and climate.

🆕 New and Noteworthy

Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud

In "Easy Money," TV star Ben McKenzie, initially drawn to cryptocurrency during the pandemic, teams up with journalist Jacob Silverman to debunk the phenomenon as one of the greatest frauds in history, poised for a spectacular crash. Through an engaging exploration, they weave together the stories of everyday traders, crypto visionaries, Hollywood supporters, anti-crypto whistleblowers, and government agents bracing for a massive collapse. The book offers an insightful look into the irresponsible and fraudulent practices surrounding cryptocurrency, potentially leading to a disaster far more devastating than the 2008 Housing Bubble or Bernie Madoff's infamous Ponzi scheme.

✍️ Quote of the Week

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