New Non-Fiction
Adventures of a Psychologist: Reflections on What Made Up the Mind Michael Corballis
New Zealand professor and award-winning academic psychologist Michael Corballis has published widely in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Here he tells his first hand experiences of the enormous changes that occurred in studies of the mind throughout his lifetime - he died in November 2021.
After Dark: Walking into the Nights of Aotearoa Annette Lees
The author has a Master of Science, in ecology and landscape conservation, and her love of nature is apparent. This is part memoir with stories of her childhood, but also includes other fascinating stories such as those of bats, moths, and birds.
Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography Laurie Woolever
This intimate account of especially the early life of Anthony Bourdain is woven from interviews with family, friends and colleagues.
Fry's Ties: The Life and Times of a Tie Collection Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry is a self-confessed collector, and one of his long-time obsessions is men's ties. An inheritance from his grandfather at the age of 15 set him on a quest to acquire hundreds more over his lifetime. Each featured tie is (naturally) enlivened by a witty tale.
Hungry: A Memoir of Wanting More Grace Dent
Dent grew up in Carlisle in Northern England eating nondescript food, but always wanting something different. Now she is a much-loved voice in the British food scene, as well as a popular YA author.
Nina Simone's Gum: A Memoir of Things Lost and Found Warren Ellis
After a rare performance by Nina Simone at Nick Cave's Meltdown Festival, Warren Ellis took possession of a piece of her chewed gum stuck to her piano. Twenty years later he is inspired to write about the significance this had for him, and what he learned from her. Described by Mojo as ‘one of the most strange, illuminating and wonderful ‘music’ books ever.’ Listen to an interview with Warren Ellis on RNZ.
Princes of the Renaissance Mary Hollingsworth
Portrayed through the lives of its most influential patrons, this sumptuously illustrated history of the Renaissance is a must read for all art lovers and Italophiles.
Puzzle Solver: A Scientist's Desperate Hunt To Cure Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Save His Son Tracie White
A son's severe symptoms prompts a loving father, who is also a geneticist and professor at Stanford University, to search for a cure for ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Rag and Bone: A History of What We've Thrown Away Lisa Woollett
This is a beautifully written but urgent mixture of social history, family memoir and nature writing - with some mudlarking and beachcombing thrown in.
The Beatles: Get Back John Harris
Published to coincide with Peter Jackson's phenomenal documentary film The Beatles: Get Back, this beautifully presented book is divided into three acts- Twickenham Film Studios, Apple Studios and the Rooftop. Accompanied by dialogue, film stills and photographs, it is an excellent tribute to one of the greatest creative partnerships seen in our times.
The Gosden Years: A New Zealand Film Festival Legacy Bill Gosden
Bill Gosden was director of the New Zealand International Film Festival for nearly forty years, and is a highly esteemed ambassador and advocate for cinematic arts. His book contains his curated film notes, programme introductions, and poster art from each festival spanning the years 1980-2019.
The Hero's Way: Walking with Garibaldi from Rome to Ravenna Tim Parks
Parks is an acute observer of Italian people, culture and history. His latest book, written in travelogue style, retraces the legendary 1849 journey of Garibaldi and his army of 4000 men across the country before unification.
The Library: A Fragile History Andrew Pettegree and Arthur de Weduwen
This well-researched and fascinating book is full of richly detailed stories of libraries and the people that care about books- a must for all book and library lovers.
The Scent of Empires: Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow Karl Schlogel
Two of the world's most celebrated perfumes have a fascinating, interconnected history.
The Soul of Genius: Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and the Meeting that Changed the Course of Science Jeffrey Orens
Two of the greatest luminaries of nuclear physics met at the first Solvay Conference on Physics in 1911. The rest is history.
Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement Tarana Burke
With a loud, clear voice the author tells of her own harrowing experiences and the path to the huge social movement that she founded- MeToo.
Who Lived there? The Stories Behind Historic New Zealand Buildings Nicola McCloy
This book illuminates the whole gamut of buildings conceived and built by New Zealanders- from humble to grand- and includes stone cottages, churches, commercial and industrial buildings, general stores, maraes, hotels, and schools. Each building has an engaging history about the people who owned, lived and worked in them.
Windswept and Interesting: My Autobiography Billy Connolly
The full life of the much-loved comedy legend from Glasgow is here in all its glory. From very humble, abused beginnings he has made himself into a man of many facets with an amazing positive outlook on life.