This week’s theme over at ThatArtsyReaderGirl for Top Ten Tuesday is upcoming releases we are excited about. So here are books and other things as well that I am looking forward to this year, at least for the first few months!

Note that this list of books today includes 13 books (and not just ten for the top ten!), and they are all nonfiction reads for I do hope to read more nonfiction this year. I am currently in the process of reading nonfiction for elementary, middle-grade, and high-school age-groups as a round 2 judge for the Cybils awards. You can check out the finalists list here.

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Books I am Looking Forward to

For all the books below, I have included the preorder link, the publish date, the book description from Netgalley (still waiting on approvals for the requests on many of these from Netgalley).

1000 Words A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg

1000 Words is the book-length extension of the #1000WordsofSummer movement started by Jami Attenberg in 2018. It is about becoming—and staying—motivated, discovering yourself and your creative desires, and approaching your craft from a new direction.

It features advice from more than fifty well-known writers, including New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and stars of the literary world. Framing these letters are words of wisdom and encouragement, plus specific strategies, from Attenberg on how to carve out a creative path for yourself all year round.

(Pub date: 09 Jan 2024)

1974: A Personal History by Francine Prose

The first memoir from critically acclaimed, bestselling author Francine Prose, about the close relationship she developed with activist Anthony Russo, one of the men who leaked the Pentagon Papers–and the year when our country changed.

You can preorder it here.

(Pub date: 18 June 2024)

Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainspan, and Lifespan by Maddy Dychtwald, Kate Hanley

Ageless Aging presents a pioneering new way for women to age—an ascent that includes feeling youthful and vital while gaining wisdom, resilience, and experience. It provides a holistic plan that helps women take advantage of the scientific, medical, psychological, and spiritual tools available to them as they grow older.

Preorder here.

(Pub date: 14 May 2024)

Be a Revolution by Ijeoma Oluo

With Be A Revolution: How Everyday People are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can, Too, Oluo aims to show how people across America are working to create real positive change in our structures. Looking at many of our most powerful systems, she highlights what people are doing to create change for intersectional racial equity. She also illustrates how the reader can find entryways into change as well.

(Pub date: 30 Jan 2024)

Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing) by Salman Khan

Whether we like it or not, the AI revolution is coming to education. In Brave New Words, Salman Khan, the visionary behind Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence and GPT technology will transform learning, offering a road map for teachers, parents, and students to navigate this exciting (and sometimes intimidating) new world.

You can preorder here.

(Pub date: 14 May 2024)

The Cartoon Guide to Geometry

Moving from the most basic geometrical concepts—planes, lines, and points—through elementary postulates and to elaborate proofs, The Cartoon Guide to Geometry is a comprehensive primer on all the essentials of plane geometry: angles, triangles, area, similarity, and, yes, the Pythagorean theorem.

Carefully tailored to the curriculum standards and standardized testing guidelines of the subject, the book provides innovative visuals that develop proofs and constructions with sequential graphics rather than single illustrations. The reader emerges with a deep grasp of key ideas—and has fun getting there.

Preorder here.

(Pub date: 16 Jan 2024)

Do Bigger Things: A Practical Guide to Powerful Innovation in a Changing World by Dan McClure; Jennifer Wilde

In today’s changing world, where business leaders must navigate industry disruption, entrepreneurs struggle to push beyond initial success, and activists tackle hard challenges like climate change, there is a need for a more powerful way to do innovation. But too many innovators, in boardrooms, start-ups, and everything in between, are still trapped by the limits of common innovation practices. The way we’ve been taught to create and innovate for the past two decades is failing us.

It’s time for a paradigm shift. To unlock the secrets to doing bigger things, this book introduces the pioneering concept of ecosystem innovation. Drawing on their extensive experience with a wide range of actors, from Fortune Global 100 companies to local entrepreneurs in Nepal, authors Dan McClure and Jennifer Wilde present remarkable stories, accessible breakdowns, and actionable insights.

(Pub date: 13 Feb 2024)

A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay by Octavia E. Butler

The wise words of science fiction icon Octavia E. Butler live on in this beautiful and giftable little volume.

“There’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”

Originally published in Essence magazine in the year 2000, Octavia E. Butler’s essay “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future” offers an honest look into the inspiration behind her science fiction novels and the importance of studying history and taking responsibility for our actions if we are to move forward. 

(Pub date: 16 Apr 2024)

The Illustrated Mark Twain and the Buffalo Express: 10 Stories and over a Century of Sketches by Thomas J. Reigstad – Foreword by Laura Skandera Trombley Ph.D

The Illustrated Mark Twain and the Buffalo Express collects ten feature stories published by Twain in the Buffalo Express during his year-long tenure at the publication, accompanied by illustrations drawn by six artists over a span of nearly 115 years alongside insightful analysis from author and Twain scholar Thomas J. Reigstad.

There is the drawing by Twain himself, created in 1870; originals by Express staff artist John Harrison Mills in the fall of 1869; and those featured alongside his Express stories by his favorite contemporary illustrator, True Williams, who would be the principal illustrator of Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Sketches, New and Old.

Preorder this book here.

(Pub date: 20 Feb 2024)

The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved by Steven Mithen

In The Language Puzzle, renowned archaeologist Steven Mithen puts forward a groundbreaking new account of the origins of language. Scientists have gained new insights into the first humans of 2.8 million years ago, and how numerous species flourished but only one, Homo sapiens, survives today.

(Pub date: 18 Jun 2024)

Polyvagal Prompts: Finding Connection and Joy through Guided Exploration by Deb Dana, Courtney Rolfe

Polyvagal Theory, developed by researcher and scientist Dr. Stephen Porges and popularized by therapist Deb Dana, has impacted countless lives. It has changed the way therapists work with their clients and provided a pathway toward healing for those who have experienced hardship or trauma.

In Polyvagal Prompts, Deb Dana and Courtney Rolfe invite readers to explore their nervous systems through Polyvagal Theory with engaging questions and exercises, which readers can respond to directly in the pages of the book. Readers are guided in noticing their systems, listening with curiosity, and reflecting on what they learn. The prompts can be used as a daily practice or to explore specific topics at the reader’s own pace, and are also ideal for helping clients track and reflect upon their polyvagal-informed therapies.

(Pub date: 16 Feb 2024)

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connectionby Charles Duhigg

 In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg blends deep research and his trademark storytelling skills to show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation.

Communication is a superpower and the best communicators understand that whenever we speak, we’re actually participating in one of three conversations: practical (What’s this really about?), emotional (How do we feel?), and social (Who are we?). If you don’t know what kind of conversation you’re having, you’re unlikely to connect. 

With his storytelling that takes us from the writers’ room of The Big Bang Theory to the couches of leading marriage counselors, Duhigg shows readers how to recognize these three conversations—and teaches us the tips and skills we need to navigate them more successfully.

(Pub date: 20 Feb 2024)

When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others by Elissa Strauss

When You Care weaves historical anecdotes and science with conversations with parents and caregivers to the young, old, disabled, ill, and more, revealing a rich array of insights about how care shapes us on the inside and the outside, for the better.

(Pub date: 23 Apr 2024)

The More that I am Looking Forward to

I do want to come up with a list of 24 in 24 soon so that will be part of the things I will be looking forward to.

• As of now, making the list is something I am looking forward to!
• It is a leap year!!
• The Olympics!! Last time, it was all kind of lost in the pandemic with restrictions and delays and more. So this Olympics is something many are looking forward to.
  • And apparently, breakdancing will debut as a sport. Reading this immediately brought to mind the movie titled ‘Breakdance‘. I recall seeing it ages ago (was released in 1984).
  • Also, it will be the first time that there will be an equal number of male and female Olympics athletes! Isn’t that cool?
• Total solar eclipse for those of us in Mexico, the United States and Canada on April 8th, and I know I am looking forward to it.
• It is going to be the year of AI for sure!
• So much more that this new year is sure to bring..

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, which of these books appeals to you the most? What are you looking forward to in this year?