The Best Grown-Up Reads of December 2020
by the Brightly Editors
As we close out the final days of a tumultuous year, treat yourself to a deliciously distracting new book — from a romance novel you won’t want to put down to collections of art and interviews that you can dip in and out of throughout the holidays. Read up, rest up, and enjoy yourself.
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Black Futures
With Black Futures, co-editors Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham set out to answer a single burning question: “What does it mean to be Black and alive right now?” The result is an extraordinary 500-page collection of essays, photographs, interviews, artwork, newspaper headlines, and internet ephemera that display the kaleidoscopic experiences of Black lives and the vibrant work of today’s Black creators.
(On Sale: 12/1/20) -
Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
Available from:A must-have guide for yoga-loving mamas, Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond offers helpful visuals of poses as well as relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that are tailored to each trimester of pregnancy — including the fourth, when Baby gets to join! Freedman also lays out valuable techniques for labor and staying in touch with your body as it continuously changes.
(On Sale: 12/1/20)Also available from: -
First Ladies of the United States
Available from:It’s strange to think that the role of First Lady has never officially been defined, when it remains one of the most highly scrutinized positions in each administration. Instead, each First Lady has been asked to make of it what they will, involving decisions from their personal style to their philanthropic agenda to how the White House is decorated for Christmas. This beautiful compendium places portraits of the nation’s First Ladies alongside entries about their lives and roles on Pennsylvania Avenue.
(On Sale: 12/1/20)Also available from: -
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Last Interview
Available from:What better way to remember the iconic Ruth Bader Ginsburg than through her own words? Through a series of interviews, from one of her first to her very last, readers get a full picture of Ginsburg’s values and the arc of her remarkable life. In addition to her fight for gender equality and other famous court battles, Ginsburg touches on motherhood and marriage, her Jewish identity, and even her love of opera.
(On Sale: 12/1/20)Also available from: -
This Time Next Year
Available from:Get ready to swoon with this utterly charming holiday rom-com. Minnie Cooper blames her 30 years of bad luck on Quinn Hamilton, who was born just before her on New Year’s Day 1990, winning a cash prize and generally starting his life off with a bang. When the two meet for the first time — at a New Year’s party, no less — there’s no love lost. But as their paths continue to cross, could it be that fate’s trying to tell them something?
(On Sale: 12/1/20)Also available from: -
Bag Man
Available from:Every bit as riveting as the hit podcast on which it’s based, Bag Man tells the sordid story of Spiro Agnew’s brazen crimes while he served as VP for Richard Nixon — and the heroic efforts of three federal prosecutors who saw to it that justice was served. Though Agnew was blocked from the highest office in the land, his case continues to shadow modern politics and the door for corruption in democracy.
(On Sale: 12/8/20)Also available from: -
Mindfulness Activities for Kids (And Their Grown-ups)
We could all use a little more peace in our lives. Uniquely suited for children and parents to do together, the 40 mindfulness exercises recommended here — from pausing to savor a tasty sandwich to taking a chalk walk together — will not only instill calm and gratitude, but also bring grown-ups and their littles closer together.
(On Sale: 12/15/20)
