This week, we feature a practical guide to living well and an in-depth look at the close relationship between Britain’s royal family and a popular prime minister.
Nonfiction
‘The Daily Connoisseur’s Guide to Living Well at Home: Making Everyday Life Extraordinary’
By Jennifer L. Scott
The author of the best-selling “Madame Chic” books aims to help her female readers transform the ordinary into the extraordinary with tips on housekeeping, whipping up nutritious meals, and living a gracious, fulfilling life even when on a modest budget. The book’s design and Alice Tait’s lovely illustrations make it a connoisseur’s delight in and of itself. Journaling prompts and space for writing also engage the reader. A charming gift for a bride or as a stocking stuffer for the holidays.
83 Press, 2025, 300 pages
History
‘Winston and the Windsors: How Churchill Shaped a Royal Dynasty’
By Andrew Morton
This book shows how the destinies of Winston Churchill and the House of Windsor intertwined. The royal family shaped his early life. In turn, in later life, he guided their destiny. Edward VII, a close friend of Randolph Churchill, Winston’s father, was Winston’s father surrogate after Randolph’s death. Later, Churchill guided Edward VIII’s early career, transferring support to George VI when Edward abdicated. A fascinating look at the relationship between Churchill and Britain’s ruling family.
Hanover Square Press, 2025, 400 pages
Fiction
By T. M. Doran
A British officer, hiking the British countryside between the two world wars, escapes a summer storm by entering a cave. In the cave he finds an intricately-crafted metal box containing an ancient manuscript in an unidentifiable language. The discovery leads him into a worldwide battle between good and evil, and freedom and slavery. An entertaining adventure, it explores the nature and importance of freedom and its place in modern society that embraces utilitarianism ahead of free will.
Ignatius Press, 2012, 467 pages
US History
By Walter McDougall
Sit down for a great lecture series on American history. Renowned history professor, Walter McDougall, takes 12 of his best lectures from nearly 50 years of teaching and presents them in essay form. From pre-Revolution through the 20th century, McDougall covers the causes for declaring independence to the successes and failures of America’s 20th-century foreign policies. This book shows why it is little wonder McDougall is so revered on the topics of international relations and history.
Encounter Books, 2025, 336 pages
Classics
‘Little Orphant Annie and Other Poems’
By James Whitcomb Riley
“The Gobble-uns ‘ll git you ef you don’t watch out!” That once familiar Orphan Annie line says a lot about this Hoosier poet: his love of humor, his folksy style, his use of the vernacular. This collection includes other well-known poems like “When the Frost is on the Punkin,” “The Raggedy Man,” and “The Old Swimmin’-Hole.” We can enjoy Riley’s verse for its own sake, but it also acts as a time machine taking us back over a century into the American past. Great fun for a family read-aloud.
Dover Publications, 2011, 76 pages
For Kids
By Suzanne Lang and Max Lang
This hilarious page-turner features Jim Panzee, a chimpanzee who woke up on the proverbial wrong side of the branch. Despite exhaustive efforts and suggestions from his jungle pals, and his own insistence that he’s not grumpy, Jim just can’t seem to shake this feeling. A great bit of humor and a bit of commentary about the importance of mindset.
Random House Studio, 2018, 32 pages
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