What to read next: a mystery, a history, an award-winner, Grammy picks, and a book to soothe your mind
One of my friends recently called this season a “very winter-y winter,” and I think he’s right—January has felt very cold, very dark, and very long. Which of course gives us more excuses to hunker down and distract ourselves with a great read. Whether you’re looking for a book to turn to when feeling overwhelmed, a book to hum along to ahead of February 2’s Grammy Awards, one of our favorite books of 2024, a book we are counting down the days to get our hands on, and so much more—the Amazon Editors have a recommendation for everyone.
Marcus Aurelius once said: “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” An empowering sentiment for these uncertain times, it also happens to be the definition of Stoic philosophy, something Donald Robertson writes about in his fascinating and instructive book, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now, and it’s only January! But this book is blood pressure-reducing. —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
With her historic Eras Tour completed, you might be feeling Taylor Swift withdrawal. But don't worry, because legendary music journalist Rob Sheffield has written a book about the icon, and, as a certified Swiftie, I can assure you it's a delight. He’s chronicled Swift from her start as a teen country singer to the unparalleled phenom she is today. In addition to his work for Rolling Stone, Sheffield has written books about The Beatles and David Bowie, as well as one of the most heartbreaking, funny memoirs I’ve read, Love Is a Mix Tape. With the Grammys upon us (and Swift nominated six times), this is a perfect book to celebrate all that Swift has accomplished, and, as we know all too well, all that's still to come. And if you're looking for more Grammy reading recommendations, check out our 2025 Grammy Award reading list. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
Beyoncé has received a staggering 99 Grammy nominations, winning 32 of them. During the February 2 awards show, she could rack up 11 more. With a career like that, we're begging her... please write your memoir! While we patiently wait, we have her husband's poetic Editors' Pick, Decoded. Part biography, part photo essay, part dissection of his greatest hits and deeper cuts—Jay-Z’s 2010 opus is a must-read for any culture and music connoisseur, and a celebration of a life journey that brought him from a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY to winning 24 Grammys himself. Speaking of patiently waiting, Beyoncé's mom, Tina, is due to release her memoir, Matriarch, on April 15. One of our most anticipated books of winter and spring, and included in our 2025 Grammy Award reading list, it's sure to tell an incredible story of family, motherhood, and success. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
What I want to tell Amazon customers to read next is S.A. Cosby's phenomenal new book, King of Ashes. It's a Southern tip of the hat to The Godfather, with crime and family intersecting, and another mesmerizing look at how a morally flexible man reacts when his back is against the wall (nobody writes that man better than Cosby). But it's not out until June 10 (#sorrynotsorry). So, while you wait, I recommend that you read Cosby's debut novel, a gem you may have missed when it was quietly reissued in 2022. Nathan Waymaker is kind of like a bargain basement Equalizer in his small Southern town; he's not too high-tech, but he's the last line of defense when justice goes AWOL. If you like your prose as muscular as your lead character, look no further. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
With her trademark eloquence, Imani Perry (who won the 2022 National Book Award for South to America) examines the meaning and the role of the color blue throughout Black history, and how it's woven throughout daily lives. Insightful and meditative, this slim but revelatory work of nonfiction (with a dash of memoir) explores color: from the indigo-dyed clothes of hundreds of years ago, to the music known as the blues, to its appearance in contemporary art. Going on sale this week, Perry's work is well worth the read, and your time. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Since Percival Everett's James was just awarded a Carnegie Medal by the American Library Association, we can't help but recommend you pick up one of our favorite novels of 2024. Named a Best Book of the Year by virtually every publication, and awarded the National Book Award for fiction, this novel—a reimagining of Huck Finn—is an extraordinary story rendered with such wit, energy, and intellect, it's impossible not to recommend it for your book club, for your next great read, for your friends—everyone should read this book. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
With the Grammys coming, I've been thinking about this fantastic memoir from Jann S. Wenner, founder of the iconic music magazine Rolling Stone. More than an account of his extraordinary life, it is a love letter to the people and events that shaped our culture over decades. Musicians, artists, actors, politicians, writers, and reporters—all are here in technicolor. Wenner brings the reader into his vast inner circle of celebrity friends, recounting the parties, drugs, friendships, and rivalries. With each new chapter, the impact of Wenner’s devotion to covering what mattered—in entertainment, politics, and investigations into everything from fast food to Facebook—grows clearer and more impressive. A mesmerizing chronicle, Like a Rolling Stone is worthy of a standing ovation. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
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