Best of 2025

Italian Folktales is a collection of 200 folk stories gathered and rewritten by Italo Calvino, showcasing the rich oral traditions of Italy. These tales originate from various regions, reflecting the diverse cultural landscapes and local customs of the country. Calvino preserves the essence of these stories while infusing them with his own narrative style and wit. The collection features a wide array of characters, from clever peasants and mischievous animals to magical creatures and noble heroes. Each story offers a glimpse into the values, beliefs, and superstitions of the Italian people. The collection is a celebration of storytelling and the enduring power of folk narratives.

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Game Changers by Dave Asprey is a comprehensive guide that distills the wisdom from over 450 interviews with highly successful leaders, innovators, and mavericks. The book focuses on three main objectives: becoming smarter, faster, and happier. It offers 46 science-backed 'laws' that provide practical strategies for optimizing diet, exercise, sleep habits, and mental performance. Asprey combines insights from human biology and psychology with real-world examples to help readers upgrade their 'operating system' to better align with modern goals. The book covers a wide range of topics, including taming fear and anxiety, making better decisions, establishing high-performance habits, and practicing gratitude and mindfulness.

Our Share of Night is a complex horror epic that follows Juan and his son Gaspar as they navigate the sinister world of the Order, a cult obsessed with immortality. The novel explores themes of intergenerational trauma, love, and the supernatural against the backdrop of Argentina's tumultuous history. It delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of violence and cruelty.

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Set during the Great Depression, 'Ask the Dust' is a gritty and poignant tale of Arturo Bandini, a young writer in Los Angeles. The novel, told through Bandini's first-person narrative, explores themes of poverty, ambition, love, and despair. Bandini's struggles with writer's block, financial hardship, and his complex relationship with Camilla Lopez are vividly depicted against the backdrop of the era's harsh realities. The book is known for its spare, well-crafted prose and its influence on later writers, including Charles Bukowski.

This book, written by Michael Shurtleff, provides comprehensive advice on auditioning techniques. Drawing from his extensive experience in casting over 200 Broadway shows and various film and television productions, Shurtleff offers practical guidance for actors. The book includes his famous '12 Guideposts' for monologue and scene work, such as 'Relationships – how to create them onstage' and 'Conflict – what are you fighting for? ' It covers every aspect of auditioning, from basic acting techniques to handling distractions and risks, and is applicable not only to actors but also to other areas of life where 'auditions' occur.