#156 Chronic Pain, Opioids, Tapers

The book follows the story of Bernadette Fox, a former renowned architect and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, who has become a recluse and suffers from severe agoraphobia. When her daughter Bee earns perfect grades, she claims her reward: a family trip to Antarctica. However, Bernadette's aversion to people and her increasing mental breakdown lead to her disappearance. Bee compiles a series of emails, documents, and secret correspondences to find her mother, revealing a complex web of family dynamics, social satire, and personal struggles. The novel pokes fun at Seattle's elite culture, private school parents, and the tech world, while exploring themes of creativity, mental health, and the bond between a mother and daughter.

In this book, Celeste Headlee addresses the erosion of conversational skills in modern society, where most communication occurs behind electronic screens. She argues that the only way to bridge the divides and feel more connected is to engage in real conversations. The book is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the philosophy of conversation, and the second offers practical tools and strategies to improve communication. Headlee draws from her experience as an NPR host and her TED Talk with over 10 million views to provide advice on being present, avoiding multitasking, and engaging in respectful and effective conversations.

In her memoir, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. The book is divided into three sections: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More, reflecting her journey from her early life, through her marriage and career, to her role as the First Lady of the United States. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms.

Tommy Orange's novel follows twelve characters from Native communities as they travel to the Big Oakland Powwow. The story is a powerful exploration of violence, recovery, hope, loss, identity, power, dislocation, and communion, reflecting the complex and often fraught experiences of Native American life.