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New Hardcover Nonfiction Books in this online selection represent only a sliver of what we offer in the store. If you've got a particular book in mind and want to check on its availability, call us at 415-362-8193.

<<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>>     sort list by title | author The Violinist's Thumb and Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code Sam Kean From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes more incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA. In The Disappearing Spoon, bestselling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table... Robert Duncan The Ambassador from Venus Lisa Jarnot This definitive biography gives a brilliant account of the life and art of Robert Duncan (1919–1988), one of America's great postwar poets. Where the Heart Beats John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists Kay Larson In this stunning biography of John Cage, Larson investigates how Buddhist concepts shaped Cage's approach to art, and the influence it had on other artists of his era (ie. Merce Cunningham, Robert Rauschenberg, etc.). If you're a fan of Cage, you... Why Does the World Exist? An Existential Detective Story Jim Holt In this astonishing and profound work, an irreverent sleuth traces the riddle of existence from the ancient world to modern times. Whether framed philosophically as "Why is there a world rather than nothing at all?" or more colloquially... The Long Road to Antietam How the Civil War Became a Revolution Richard Slotkin Recommended by Paul, City Lights Books The Rebirth of History Times of Riots and Uprisings Alain Badiou Badiou has already been established as a prominent and important contemporary philosopher, and this book shows that this reputation is well deserved. In The Rebirth of History he gives an insightful reading of the flood of riots and similar political... Mexico Democracy Interrupted Jo Tuckman In this vivid account of Mexico's recent history, a journalist with extensive reporting experience investigates the nation's young democracy, its shortcomings and achievements, and why the PRI is favored to retake the presidency in 2012. Darwin's Ghosts The Secret History of Evolution Rebecca Stott Christmas, 1859. Just one month after the publication of On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin received an unsettling letter. He had expected criticism; in fact, letters were arriving daily, most expressing outrage and accusations of heresy. The Capitalism Papers Fatal Flaws of an Obsolete System Jerry Mander The Chemistry of Tears Peter Carey An automaton, a man and a woman who can never meet, two stories of love—all are brought to incandescent life in this hauntingly moving novel from one of the finest writers of our time. Season of the Witch Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love David Talbot In a kaleidoscopic narrative, the New York Times bestselling author of Brothers recounts the gripping story of the civil strife and tragedies that beset San Francisco between 1967 and 1982—and led to the city's ultimate rebirth and triumph. The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Passage of Power Robert A. Caro Book Four of Robert A. Caro's monumental The Years of Lyndon Johnson displays all the narrative energy and illuminating insight that led the Times of London to acclaim it as "one of the truly great political biographies of the modern age... Subliminal How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior Leonard Mlodinow Leonard Mlodinow, the best-selling author of The Drunkard's Walk and coauthor of The Grand Design (with Stephen Hawking), gives us a startling and eye-opening examination of how the unconscious mind shapes our experience of the world and how, for... Many Subtle Channels In Praise of Potential Literature Daniel Levin Becker This book presents us with Oulipo—the mischievous group of writers whose obsession with words knows no limits. Levin Becker expertly describes the members of the group, each one uniquely working to devise linguistic puzzles to write within. <<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>>