New and recommended reads from our non-fiction collections

Anxious Man: Notes on a Life Lived Nervously. Josh Roberts
This is a very readable and relatable account of anxiety disorder told with clarity, wit and considerable humour. 

Artemisia. Letizia Treves
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1654) was the most celebrated female artist of the Italian baroque. Her works of art often featured heroic female figures which she modelled on herself. The book catalogues a number of her works which were brought together in an exhibition at the National Gallery, London. Listen to an interview on RNZ about Artemisia.

Artists: Their Lives and Works. Edited by Andrew Graham-Dixon
A celebration of great Western artists beginning with Giotto in the early 1300s and spanning the centuries to the present day. Beautifully illustrated and includes biographical details as well as artistic styles and movements.

The Art of Looking Up. Catherine McCormack
A showcase of spectacularly beautiful ceilings from around the globe. Some examples are Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, Mark Chagall's Palais Garnier, Annibale Carracci's Palazzo Farnese, and Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. 

Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace. Carl Safina
Well respected nature writer Carl Safina gives us another book full of good writing, wisdom, and fascinating insights into the natural world. Here he focuses on 3 groups of animals - sperm whales, scarlet macaws and chimpanzees.

Bowie: The Illustrated Story. Pat Gilbert
David Bowie was one of the most innovative musicians, artists and cultural influencers of his generation. This book charts his continuing evolution and iconic transformations as an artist over a career spanning five decades. 

Chromatopia: An Illustrated History of Colour. David Coles
Chromatopia reveals the origin stories behind over fifty of history’s most vivid colour pigments. Illustrated in vibrant colour, this book appeals to the artist, the history buff, the science lover and the design fanatic. Listen to an interview on RNZ with the author David Coles.

Foot Work: What Your Shoes are Doing to the World. Tansy Hoskins
Our shoes are toxic and unsustainable. A journalist gives us the facts and suggests alternatives. You will never look at your shoes in the same way again!

Future Minds: The Rise of Intelligence, from the Big Bang to the End of the Universe. Richard Yonck
This is definitely a mind-expanding book! There are marvellous discussions on the history and future of the most complex of subjects - intelligence. 

Herculaneum and the House of the Bicentenary: History and Heritage. Sarah Court
This book is about the rediscovery and excavation of the Roman town of Herculaneum which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The town was preserved reasonably intact, and the book features the conservation of wall paintings and mosaics in one of the most beautifully decorated private residences, the House of the Bicentenary. 

The Library: A World History. James W. P. Campbell & Will Pryce
Each civilisation and epoch throughout history have built glorious architectural buildings to house their culture's treasures - their libraries. This beautifully photographed book is for library lovers everywhere.

The Most Beautiful Villages of France: The Official Guide
For all francophiles - a new fully updated edition of the guide to 159 picturesque villages selected by the accredited association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

Surfing with Sartre: An Aquatic Inquiry into a Life of Meaning. Aaron James
Existentialism and surfing - they are made for each other! Imagine sitting down in a cafe at the beach with Sartre and discussing the big issues using surfing as a metaphor for life. 

Tough Country: Tall Tales of Bushmen, Bulldozers and Back-Country Blokes. Mike Bellamy
This is Mike's story about a bygone era of bushmen, scrub-cutters, hunters and shepherds, and there are some great yarns. In the 1970's and 1980's his dad traversed the back-country from Hawkes Bay to the far North, and then Mike joined him and forged his own path.

Under the Stars: A Journey into Light. Matt Gaw
Artificial light is everywhere, and it obscures the natural light of the moon and stars. In this beautifully and soulfully written book the author seeks the natural night time light in various locations such as Scotland and Dartmoor. 

White Hot Light: Twenty Five Years in Emergency Medicine. Frank Huyler
Dr Huyler is a physician in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His essays on life in emergency medicine are vivid, well written and full of compassion for each patient he writes about. He also touches on the big issues of life and shares stories from his own life.