While many self-help books are little more than capitalist propaganda on how to get rich or useless commentary on how to stop being afraid, here are a few self-help books that won’t waste your time.

On Tuesday evenings, 12 writers sit around three long, chipped tables in the middle of Tsunami Books, sandwiched between woodworking guides and cookbooks. Many of them are shuffling papers or annotating the short stories they received the week prior. Alexis Humphrey Lanham, chairperson of th…

A few years ago, the book selection at Oregon State Penitentiary, overflowing with self-help books and religious propaganda, had, not surprisingly, left much to be desired. But now, the prison library has a cabinet filled with almost 80 books — many of which were donated by local bookstore T…

Bill Sullivan, a fifth-generation Oregonian, sits in his wood-paneled basement, fielding emails from Oregon hikers. They’re sending him updates on trail conditions. Within eyeshot at his desk are his framed diplomas — one a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Cornell and the other a m…

Reema Zaman has unleashed her voice. In a world that has attempted to hush and limit women everywhere, Zaman has released her most intimate and carefully crafted work: her memoir, “I Am Yours,” an odyssey of forgiveness, empowerment and self esteem.

Shout out to Daylight Savings time for giving us more hours in the day. Coincidentally (and quite fortunately) there are a plethora of literary gems to look forward to reading outside under the sun this upcoming season. Although it may not quite yet be time to stock up on lighthearted summer…

In order for Zadie Smith to be fully cognizant of the world around her now, she considers what she will explain to her future granddaughter about the cultural evolution that she’s witnessed.

(Sydney Dauphinais/Emerald)

When Rachel Kushner wrote her 2017 book “The Mars Room,” she said that she wanted to create a life full of the people that “the state of California rendered invisible to others.” In a novel full of incarceration, surveillance and grit, “The Mars Room” shines a light on these institutionally …

In the words of the American Women's History Initiative, Women’s History Month is meant to “encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.” To honor the celebration constructively and steer clear of literary sexism, here are some contemporary …

As Black History Month comes to a close, there is still so much to learn and understand about the depth of ingrained inequalities in contemporary society. Yaa Gyasi’s 2016 debut novel, “Homegoing,” analyzes and encompasses Black history in America by tracing the roots of oppression to the Go…

To honor Black History Month this year, you might want to consider adjusting your 2019 reading list from the traditionally-celebrated African American authors who have molded the shape of contemporary American literature — academic staples such as Octavia Butler, Langston Hughes and Zora Nea…

Mesha Maren’s debut novel, “Sugar Run,” tells the story of a queer, Appalachian woman, Jodi, who just finished an 18-year stint in a federal correctional facility; she was 17 when she was sentenced to life in prison. When she is released in 2007, she’s uneasy about returning home to her brok…

At the peak of what some have called the “Babitz Renaissance,” Vanity Fair Contributing Editor Lili Anolik has published a 277 page semi-chronological confessional that verges on a love letter about the Los Angeles icon Eve Babitz in “Hollywood’s Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A.”

In “Revolution Sunday,” award-winning and internationally recognized author Wendy Guerra tells the story of a Havana-born poet, Cleo, who is unwanted in her native country. In a semi-autobiographical fusion of prose and poetry, Guerra tells the poet’s story of paranoia, loneliness, broken tr…

Most commonly known for her role as the co-creator of the Comedy Central show “Broad City,”Abbi Jacobson has transcended into other mediums. The comedian’s first book, “I Might Regret This,” is an open, painstakingly honest expose of her deep-seated insecurities as she navigates through a cr…

At times, David Egger’s thrilling nonfiction story, “The Monk of Mokha” is more exciting and unbelievable than any fiction novel.

Bob Woodward’s new book, “Fear,” depicts what life is like inside Trump’s White House. One of the many people Woodward interviewed was former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, who gave insight on what working for the president was really like.

When a band of prominent business people are endorsing a book that dissects artificial intelligence, there is no doubt that it is a must-read. The director of AI research at Facebook, the CEOs of Microsoft, Salesforce and O’Reilly media, and the former CEO of Apple have all publicly affirmed…

Within the first chapter of “Silicon States,” author Lucie Greene sets herself up as a journalist who is in the business of predicting the future, and, in particular, the way that tech is going to inevitably destroy the lives of the future generations.

“A Higher Loyalty” by James Comey is a memoir spanning from Comey’s childhood to his days post-FBI. Detractors believe it to be a book based on bashing Donald Trump, because of his abrupt firing of Comey in May last year. But it is more about leadership, more specifically how to be an ethica…

“Educated” by Tara Westover is a riveting memoir that brings up hard topics that are important to consider for everyone, but in particular, college students. The book, a coming of age story, captures Westover’s life as she slowly grows out of her radicalized Mormon upbringing. She does so th…

I don’t often read historical fiction. I would rather know the truth about an event that happened or be lost in a world that never existed. But I loved Amy Bloom’s “White Houses,” which follows the romance between first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and reporter Lorena Hickok (whose friends call he…

Throughout the last decade, Marvel Studios has produced 18 feature-length films, six Netflix television series and three ABC television series. With characters such as Spider-Man, The Hulk and Black Panther as its guides, Marvel has revolutionized the media industry, according to University …

Jonathan Franzen, acclaimed author of novels such as “The Corrections” and “Freedom,” visited the University of Oregon Thursday night as part of the Collins Distinguished Speakers’ Series. After a brief introduction from UO professor David Li, Franzen read from one of his essays, gave some t…

Every year features both great and disappointing art, so Emerald arts writers decided to kick off the best of season with releases that fell flat. These aren’t the worst releases of 2017, but instead, the things that we were excited for that didn’t live up to expectations or didn’t even come…

A large amount of foot traffic came through the Broadway Commerce Center in downtown Eugene for the second annual Euzine Comics & Zine Fest last Saturday. The event featured independent artists tabling a variety of work, which included everything from handmade comics to short-run booklet…

Rupi Kaur tackles universal issues and simplifies the human experience in her poetry. The instapoet’s success is attributed in large to her social media presence. Kaur’s condensed poetry seems to parallel Instagram’s ability to condense our world into a three by six-inch screen.

In any elementary school, the over-involved, clingy parents are easy to spot. They’re signing up for the PTA, organizing a fundraiser of some sort, or notifying everyone of their child’s serious nut allergy. Pirriwee Public School is riddled with such parents; however, amid affluence, entitl…