Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

August 6 2018
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Back to school season means a fresh start for learning, and no matter if you’re currently a student or it’s been years since you’ve been inside a classroom, we believe in furthering your education with plenty of reading. With topics as diverse as forgotten heroes of World War II, the upcoming mass extinction, and the exploration of what makes us human, these dynamic, vividly written, and enlightening books will both entertain you and open your mind.  

Code Girls
by Liza Mundy

Discover the overlooked heroines of World War II with this fun and addictive exploration of the thousands of women who worked as codebreakers. With their crucial efforts, the war was shortened and countless lives saved, but the intense secrecy of their work prevented them from getting their due—until now. CODE GIRLS is a vivid and inspirational work that can inspire a new generation of young women in the intelligence field.

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Code Girls
Liza Mundy

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MENTIONED IN:

Readers’ Choice: The Top 10 Most Shelved Books in August

By Off the Shelf Staff | August 31, 2018

Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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Sapiens
by Yuval Noah Harari

What is humanity? What makes us human? Why did we survive when other species died out? These loaded, complicated questions are effortlessly illuminated in this engaging book that spans the entirety of humankind. A definitive work of science and history, SAPIENS is a groundbreaking bestseller, and essential reading for anyone who has been curious about our place on this planet.

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Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari

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Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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Life's Work
by Dr. Willie Parker

LIFE’S WORK, a thought-provoking and compelling call to action, provides a religious case for the freedom of women’s choice regarding abortion. Following Dr. Willie Parker’s evolution from a fundamentalist Christian to a passionate defender of reproductive rights, it investigates the social, moral, political, and personal aspects of abortion in the Deep South for women in poverty. This is an informative and compassionate testament.

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Life's Work
Dr. Willie Parker

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Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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The Death of Caesar
by Barry Strauss

Nearly two millennia later, March 15 is still known as the date of the infamous assassination of Julius Caesar. But what do we really know about this event or the complex, fallible, and all-too human men and women who helped bring about Caesar’s end? This brilliant work of nonfiction—which reads like a thriller—brings these historical figures to vivid life and demonstrates why the Ides of March are still remembered.

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The Death of Caesar
Barry Strauss

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MENTIONED IN:

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By Off the Shelf Staff | July 3, 2023

Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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The Sixth Extinction
by Elizabeth Kolbert

This timely and enlightening Pulitzer Prize–winner explores the upcoming mass extinction—potentially more catastrophic than the one that killed the dinosaurs—and how humans will cause it. With in-depth research and accessible writing, Elizabeth Kolbert’s masterful page-turner will make you view our planet and humanity in a different way.

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The Sixth Extinction
Elizabeth Kolbert

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Black Ink
by Stephanie Stokes Oliver

An eye-opening and brilliant collection of essays, BLACK INK is an expansive look at the power of black literature that span more than 250 years. With entries from a variety of talented and crucial writers—such as Booker T. Washington, Toni Morrison, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie—this is a profound and moving anthology that is crucial for anyone fascinated with the history of writing and black culture.

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Black Ink
Stephanie Stokes Oliver

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Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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A History of God
by Karen Armstrong

This comprehensive and insightful nonfiction book asks how the concept of God has evolved in the three major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From pagan beginnings to the overwhelming influence of monotheism, A HISTORY OF GOD is a compulsively readable work that takes a complex subject and makes it accessible for everyone, no matter their background.

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A History of God
Karen Armstrong

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Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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Lucky Child
by Loung Ung

Loung Ung of the unforgettable thriller FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER crafts a moving depiction of her life after surviving the Cambodian genocide. She explores the difficulty in assimilating into a new culture in the United States to the struggles in moving on from the horror and death she witnessed, and the guilt in knowing several of her siblings are still trapped in her home country. This memoir is both tragic and inspiring.

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Lucky Child
Loung Ung

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Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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The Dorito Effect
by Mark Schatzker

An illuminating and unique look at the current health crisis in the United States, THE DORITO EFFECT illustrates how the flavor industry has completely rewired our brains and appetites. Well-written and with comprehensive research, this is an accessible science book for anyone interested in our relationship with food.

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The Dorito Effect
Mark Schatzker

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Head Back to School with These 10 Books That Will Open Your Mind

By Kerry Fiallo | August 6, 2018

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Lamb
by Christopher Moore

Discover the early life of Jesus—from the perspective of his best friend, Biff—in this ambitious, laugh-out-loud funny, and poignant novel. Regardless of your religious beliefs, you will find something moving and hilarious about Biff’s story, which includes plenty of miracles, intense crushes, and adolescent angst. Whip-smart and with an abundance of heart, LAMB is a modern satire classic.

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Lamb
Christopher Moore

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Want more mind-opening books? Check out these Back-to-School Reads for Long-Life Learners.

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