15 Books for Literally Every Reader in Your Life

For space geeks

Take an entertaining trip into the science of life in space. The brilliant and hilarious science writer Mary Roach paints an intricate portrait of how things actually work when human beings go into space, from the mundane—attending to basic human needs such as air and water—to the luxuries of beer and privacy.

For your friend who loves books about books

When a woman from Sweden arrives in a small town in Iowa to meet her book-loving pen pal, no one expects her to stay—let alone open a bookstore. This uplifting novel shows how a love for books can change our lives for the better and connect us to one another like nothing else.

For the audiobook lover

Investigator Arkady Renko—cynical, analytical, and quietly subversive—has survived the cultural journey from the Soviet Union to the New Russia, only to find the nation as obsessed with secrecy and brutality as the old Communist dictatorship. In TATIANA, the melancholy hero unravels a mystery as complex and dangerous as modern Russia itself.

Narrated by Henry Strozier

For the true-crime aficionado

This collection of the most notorious criminal cases in American history is best read with all the lights on. In TRUE CRIME, Harold Schechter offers a comprehensive anthology of the many ways in which American writers have explored crime—from the dark motives that spur it to the shock of its impact on society to the effort to make sense of the violent extremes of human behavior.

For the entrepreneur

These illuminating must-reads from three of the leading business minds of this generation—and renowned TED speakers—offer expert insight into our current economic times.

For the adult Harry Potter fan

When a young London businessman stops to help a bleeding girl, that simple act of kindness leads him to discover another reality. Neverwhere is a subterranean labyrinth, a London of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels. But the only way that he can return to the London Above is if he helps the girl save her strange underworld kingdom from an evil agent.

For “Stranger Things” binge-watcher

In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four twelve-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hit series about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood.

For your feminist friends

Rebecca Traister offers a comprehensive study of the power of independent women in America through the fascinating history of unmarried women and their lasting, radical effect on the nation.

For the outdoorsy type

From tiny ant trails to hiking paths that span continents, from interstate highways to the Internet, ON TRAILS explores how trails help us understand the world. Drawing on his own globe-trotting adventures and findings in science, history, philosophy, and nature writing, Robert Moor reveals how trails can shed new light on age-old questions about humanity.

For those looking to make the world a better place

Conor Grennan’s remarkable memoir, LITTLE PRINCES, shares his epic battle to unite lost Nepalese children—displaced during civil war—with their parents. And as Grennan discovers his own strength during this process, he inspires readers to do what they can to make the world a better place.

For the Broadway baby

RAZZLE DAZZLE tells the story of the rise, fall, and redemption of Broadway—its stars, its biggest shows, its producers, and all the drama, intrigue, and power plays that happened behind the scenes. The author, Michael Riedel, is one of Broadway’s most respected (and feared) commentators.

For the old-school ’80s punk

This stunning novel is a coming-of-age story about the son of die-hard hippies growing up in raw, roaring New York City of the late 1980s. With the unbridled optimism and reckless stupidity of the young—and old—TEN THOUSAND SAINTS takes on hard-core punk rock, teen pregnancy, adoption, and drugs to form one heart-aching tale.

For the bookworm who loves cooking

As a butcher, a cook, and a talented writer, Cara Nicoletti knows how both books and food bring people together and bring them to life. In VORACIOUS, she serves up stories and recipes inspired by beloved books and the food that gives their characters depth and personality.

For the fan who was glued to the TV during the Women’s World Cup

Based on the Instagram account @TheUnsungHeroines, GAME CHANGERS is a celebration of the pioneering, forgotten female athletes of the twentieth century. This beautiful book is full of rarely seen photos and new interviews with past and present game changers like Abby Wambach and Cari Champion.

For the recent grad

Meghan Daum’s essay collection, MY MISSPENT YOUTH, is a cult classic that revitalized the personal essay for a new generation of writers. With a healthy dose of humor and a measure of harsh self-deprecation, Daum’s edgy analyses of American culture are sure to be appreciated by jaded twentysomethings setting out into the world on their own for the first time.