Gabrielle Union

In 'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan presents a series of interconnected stories that follow the lives of multiple characters over several decades. The novel centers around Bix Bouton's technology, 'Own Your Unconscious,' which enables people to upload and share their memories. This technology has profound effects on society, creating 'counters' who exploit desires and 'eluders' who resist the allure of this digital collective consciousness. The book is characterized by its diverse narrative styles, including omniscient narration, first-person plural, epistolary chapters, and even a chapter composed of tweets. Egan's work is a moving testament to human longing for connection, family, privacy, and love, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing digital world.

In 'Lean In,' Sheryl Sandberg combines personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to address the challenges women face in their careers. The book encourages women to 'sit at the table,' seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto. Sandberg provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, while also discussing the importance of work-life balance and equal partnership in household responsibilities. The book aims to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can, and it recognizes the structural and internal barriers that women face in achieving leadership roles.

In 'The Broken Ladder,' Keith Payne explores the profound effects of inequality on human psychology and behavior. He argues that the social comparisons we make can alter how we see the world, and that feeling poor, rather than just being poor, has significant consequences. Payne blends personal observations with recent research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics to detail how inequality shapes our biases, habits, and ideas. The book covers topics such as why people in poor societies often have more children, how inequality affects political beliefs and workplace performance, and how it influences stress levels and health outcomes. Payne also discusses how inequality can lead to greater political divisions, higher rates of social maladies, and different moral perceptions of justice and fairness.