Staff Picks
Just Checked In for Adults
- Richland Library
- Monday, May 06
Collection
This list is regularly updated and shows some of the latest items that have been checked in at the library.
The Big Bang Theory. The Complete First Season
Published in 2008
University physicists Leonard and Sheldon don't have a clue about girls, dating, clothes, parties, or basically life. So when a pretty blonde moves into the apartment across the hall, the guys decide to get an education outside of the classroom.
The Big Bang Theory. The Complete Fourth Season
Published in 2011
This season the Big Bang gang's romantic universe expands. On the rebound from Penny, Leonard falls into the arms of Raj's sister Priya. Sheldon gets a girlfriend, or rather a friend who is a girl: Amy, a dour neurobiologist who declares herself besties with Penny. Howard and Bernadette heat up. And so do Raj and Bernadette (at least in Raj's Bollywood daydream). All in the furtherance of award-winning genius comedy.
The Big Bang Theory. The Complete Second Season
Published in 2009
This season, Leonard gets a girl. So does Sheldon. (Sheldon?!) Howard drives the Mars Rover into a ditch. Raj woos a terminator. Gorgeous girl-next-door Penny falls under the spell of Age of Conan. And super-smart, uberconfident Leslie Winkler reduces mere men to spineless jellyfish. Includes all 23 episodes, plus never-before-seen featurettes.
The Big Bang Theory. The Complete Seventh Season
Published in 2014
Socially challenged they remain, but the scientific geniuses always deliver hilarious results. Leonard returns from his North Sea expedition to find that his relationship with Penny involves more beta-testing than he|s ever done in a lab. Howard|s attachment issues with the women in his life in particular and Raj|s social breakthrough with women in general provide more laughs. Bernadette and Amy stand staunchly by the men in their life, even when they|re sitting in a marathon role-playing game.
The Big Bang Theory. The Complete Sixth Season
Published in 2013
Season six kicks off in space, where Howard is caught in an argument between Bernadette and his mom. Back on Earth, Sheldon decides to hire, Alex, a young female assistant which makes Amy feel threatened. Meanwhile, Leonard and Penny make strides to define their relationship and Raj attempts to find love. Find out what surprises are in store for everyone, once Howard returns home in these twenty four must watch episodes.
Black Heroes of the 20th Century
Published in 1998
Coming Through
Voices of a South Carolina Gullah Community from WPA Oral Histories
Published in 2008
The Flash. The Complete Second Season
Published in 2016
Last year, the S.T.A.R Labs Particle Accelerator exploded, creating a dark matter storm that struck forensic scientist Barry Allen, bestowing him with super-speed and making him the fastest man alive. But Barry wasn|t the only person who was given extraordinary abilities that night. The dark matter also created meta-human, many of whom have wreaked havoc on the city.
Girls from Da Hood 14
Published in 2020
In "All the Way In," two impoverished teens forge an anything-goes partnership on the streets of Detroit; while in "Escaping a Thug's Love," a power couple's hood dominance is threatened by addiction.
The History Book
Published in 2016
Dark Future
Uncovering the Great Reset's Terrifying New Phase
Published in 2023
The authors reveal what they think are the most important technologies and social and cultural changes that will soon cause an unprecedented level of disruption in the United States, as well as in countless other nations.
The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel
Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
Published in 2023
"The hidden history of one of the world's greatest inventors, a man who disrupted the status quo and then disappeared into thin air on the eve of World War I--this book answers the hundred-year-old mystery of what really became of Rudolf Diesel. September 29, 1913: the steamship Dresden is halfway between Belgium and England. On board is one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine is on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrives at his destination. He vanishes during the night and headlines around the world wonder if it was an accident, suicide, or murder. After rising from an impoverished European childhood, Diesel had become a multi-millionaire with his powerful engine that does not require expensive petroleum-based fuel. In doing so, he became not only an international celebrity but also the enemy of two extremely powerful men: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and the richest man in the world. The Kaiser wanted the engine to power a fleet of submarines that would finally allow him to challenge Great Britain's Royal Navy. But Diesel had intended for his engine to be used for the betterment of mankind and kept the technology out of the hands of the British or any other nation. For John D. Rockefeller, the engine was nothing less than an existential threat to his vast and lucrative oil empire. As electric lighting began to replace kerosene lamps, Rockefeller's bottom line depended on the world's growing thirst for gasoline to power its automobiles and industries. At the outset of this new age of electricity and oil, Europe stood on the precipice of war. Rudolf Diesel grew increasingly concerned about Germany's rising nationalism and military spending. The inventor was on his way to London to establish a new company that would help Britain improve its failing submarine program when he disappeared. Now, New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt reopens the case and provides an astonishing new conclusion about Diesel's fate." -- From publisher's website.
Next Year in Havana
Published in 2018
"After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution ... Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary ... Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth. Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage--and what it means to be Cuban"-- Provided by publisher.
Girls from Da Hood 5
Published in 2009
McNair, Keisha Ervin, and Brenda Hampton join forces to bring readers three stories in the latest installment of the Girls From da Hood series.
We Are Charleston
Tragedy and Triumph at Mother Emanuel
Published in 2016
"On June 17, 2015, at 9:05 p.m., a young man with a handgun opened fire on a prayer meeting at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine members of the congregation. The captured shooter, twenty-one-year-old Dylan Roof, a white supremacist, was charged with their murders. Two days after the shooting, while Roof's court hearing was held on video conference, some of the families of his nine victims, one by one, appeared on the screen--forgiving the killer. The "Emanuel Nine" set a profound example for their families, their city, their nation, and indeed the world. We Are Charleston not only recounts the events of that terrible day but also offers a history lesson that reveals a deeper look at the suffering, triumph, and even the ongoing rage of the people who formed Mother Emanuel A.M.E. church and the wider denominational movement. In many ways, this church's story is America's story-- the oldest A.M.E. church in the Deep South fighting for freedom and civil rights but also fighting for grace and understanding. Fighting to transcend bigotry, fraud, hatred, racism, poverty, and misery. The shootings in June 2015, opened up a deep wound of racism that still permeates Southern institutions and remains part of American society. We Are Charleston tells the story of a people, continually beaten down, who seem to continually triumph over the worst of adversity. Exploring the storied history of the A.M.E. Church may be a way of explaining the price and power of forgiveness, a way of revealing God's mercy in the midst of tremendous pain. We Are Charleston may help us discover what can be right in a world that so often has gone wrong." -- Publisher
Playing the Sicilian's Game of Revenge
Published in 2024
"Saverina Parisi is a means to an end-a fact Teo LaRosa forgets the moment they share a blazing kiss. He doesn't want to hurt this brilliant, beautiful woman, but marrying into her family's empire is an essential step in his ruthless vendetta. When Saverina discovers Teo's deception, her hurt is matched by her need to destroy the same enemy. She'll agree to play his fiancée and take pleasure in testing his patience. But Saverina doesn't expect their burning connection to evolve into so much more..."-- Provided by publisher.
Brush of Wings
Published in 2016
"From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the third novel in an unforgettable series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life for a group of friends. Despite needing a heart transplant and against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine moves to Uganda to work at a new orphanage. Whatever time she has left, Mary Catherine wants to spend it helping children--especially since there will be no children of her own. The only problem is Major League Baseball player Marcus Dillinger, the man she never meant to fall in love with. Neither Marcus nor Mary Catherine's other friends--Tyler Ames and Sami Dawson--know just how serious her heart condition is. Still, Marcus is sure in the depths of his soul that something isn't right. Ultimately his correspondence with Mary Catherine leads him on a desperate life-or-death mission to rescue her and get her to a US hospital before time runs out. Meanwhile, Sami and Tyler struggle with issues of their own. In a season when Tyler plans to ask Sami to marry him, the very core of their relationship is in jeopardy. The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. A Brush of Wings is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith"-- Provided by publisher.
Living While Black
Using Joy, Beauty, and Connection to Heal Racial Trauma
Published in 2022
"Living While Black is a powerful expose of the impact of anti-black racism and a practical guide to overcome racial trauma"-- Provided by publisher
The Deep Sky
Published in 2023
"It is the eve of Earth's environmental collapse. A ship carries eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But a bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect. Asuka already felt like an impostor before the explosion. She was chosen to represent Japan, a country she only partly knows as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. But The Phoenix is all she has left. With the crew turning on each other, Asuka is determined to find the culprit before they all lose faith in the mission - or worse, the bomber strikes again" -- Publisher's description.
The Fix 3
Published in 2016
Persia is drug free and has gotten her life back on track. Meanwhile, Chucky is determined to make Persia his again.
Wrath
Published in 2019
In the history of New York City's underworld, there have been a host of criminal figures whose exploits have gone on to inspire. One of them is Jonas Rafferty, known among friends and enemies alike as Wrath, whose life changes when he crosses paths with rogue homicide detective Louis "Lou" Ceavers and offered a bargain that will change the course of his life.
Mental Health, Inc
How Corruption, Lax Oversight and Failed Reforms Endanger Our Most Vulnerable Citizens
Published in 2017
"With Mental Health, Inc., award-winning investigative journalist Art Levine delivers a Shock Doctrine-style exposé of the failures of our out of control, profit-driven mental health system, with a special emphasis on dangerous residential treatment facilities and the failures of the pharmaceutical industry, including the overdrugging of children with antipsychotics and the disastrous maltreatment of veterans with PTSD by the scandal-wracked VA. Levine provides compelling narrative portraits of victims who needlessly died and some mentally ill people who won unexpected victories in their lives by getting smart, personalized help from "pyschosocial" programs that incorporate safe and appropriate prescribing, along with therapy and social support. He contrasts their stories with corrupt Big Pharma executives and researchers who created fraudulent marketing schemes. Levine also tells the dramatic David vs. Goliath stories of a few brave reformers, including Harvard-trained psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Stefan Kruszewski, who has acted as a whistleblower in several major cases, leading to important federal and state settlements; in addition, the book spotlights pioneering clinicians challenging outmoded, drug-and-sedate practices that leave 90 percent of people with serious mental illness too disabled to work. By taking a comprehensive look at mental health abuses and dangerous, ineffective practices as well as pointing toward solutions for creating a system for effective, proven and compassionate care, Art Levine's essential Mental Health, Inc. is a call to action for politicians and citizens alike--needed now more than ever"--Dust jacket.
Sting Like a Bee
Muhammad Ali Vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971
Published in 2017
"An insightful portrait of Muhammed Ali from the New York Times bestselling author of At the Altar of Speed and The Big Bam. It centers on the cultural and political implications of Ali's refusal of service in the military--and the key moments in a life that was as high profile and transformative as any in the twentieth century. With the death of Muhammad Ali in June, 2016, the media and America in general have remembered a hero, a heavyweight champion, an Olympic gold medalist, an icon, and a man who represents the sheer greatness of America. New York Times bestselling author Leigh Montville goes deeper, with a fascinating chronicle of a story that has been largely untold. Muhammad Ali, in the late 1960s, was young, successful, brash, and hugely admired--but with some reservations. He was bombastic and cocky in a way that captured the imagination of America, but also drew its detractors. He was a bold young African American in an era when few people were as outspoken. He renounced his name--Cassius Clay--as being his 'slave name,' and joined the Nation of Islam, renaming himself Muhammad Ali. And finally in 1966, after being drafted, he refused to join the military for religious and conscientious reasons, triggering a fight that was larger than any of his bouts in the ring. What followed was a period of legal battles, of cultural obsession, and in some ways of being the very embodiment of the civil rights movement located in the heart of one man. Muhammad Ali was the tip of the arrow, and Leigh Montville brilliantly assembles all the boxing, the charisma, the cultural and political shifting tides, and ultimately the enormous waft of entertainment that always surrounded Ali. Muhammed Ali vs. the United States of America is an important and incredibly engaging book"-- Provided by publisher.
Hell of a Book, or the Altogether Factual, Wholly Bona Fide Story of a Big Dreams, Hard Luck, American-Made Mad Kid
Published in 2021
"From a New York Times bestselling author, an astounding work of fiction, both incredibly funny and heartfelt, asking readers to embrace the fantastical in order to get to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon not only Black Americans, but America as a whole"-- Provided by publisher.
Choice
A Novel
Published in 2024
"'How ought one to live?' This is the question that obsesses London-based publisher Ayush, driving him to question every act of consumption. He embarks on a radical experiment in his own life and the lives of those connected to him: his practical economist husband; their twins; and even the authors he edits and publishes. One of those authors, a mysterious M. N. Opie, writes a story about a young academic involved in a car accident that causes her life to veer in an unexpected direction. Another author, an economist, describes how the gift of a cow to an impoverished family on the West Bengal-Bangladesh border sets them on a startling path to tragedy. Together, these connected narratives raise the question: How free are we really to make our own choices? In a scathing, compassionate quarrel with the world, Neel Mukherjee confronts our fundamental assumptions about economics, race, appropriation, and the tangled ethics of contemporary life."-- Provided by publisher.
Thug Legacy 2
A Young Thug Love Affair
Published in 2017
"Do children pay for the sins of their parents? If so, the new generation of the Thug Passion saga is paying dearly. Growing up the Legacy Inc. kids were all exposed to their parents way of life. Now that they're adults and building families of their own history is starting to repeat itself. From street beefs to trouble on the home front. You name it, they're going through it. In this installment to the highly anticipated follow up to Thug Legacy you will be on an emotional rollercoaster. The young men of Legacy Inc. can't seem to juggle the street life while maintaining their personal lives. While the women that they love are failing miserably at being the stronger force they need. In the past, Thug Inc. had Boss Lady Inc. to be the force they needed to hold them down. But, what's this new generation to do when they aren't built like the parents they've watched run the streets. There's only one thing they can do and that's learn from the best or die trying. In the midst of the parents trying to help their kids on the right path old wounds are opened and dire consequences will follow. Take a ride with the Kenneth family to find out if the new generation can keep the Legacy going or lose it all within the blink of an eye." -- Back cover.
Power
A Woman's Guide to Living and Leading Without Apology
Published in 2023
"In Power, leadership coach Kemi Nekvapil reveals how power built internally is stronger and more enduring than that bestowed externally-and introduces a new framework for cultivating it from the inside out. Through the principles of Presence, Ownership, Wisdom, Equality, and Responsibility, this book invites readers to choose power for themselves and on their own terms. Drawing on stories from her own life and from the lives of leaders, gamechangers, and everyday women who've learned to step into their power, Nekvapil shows how to practice, build, and feel one's inner force"-- Provided by publisher.
Love and War 2
Published in 2020
Awaiting news of Blaze's fate in the wake of a much-anticipated wedding gone catastrophically wrong, Quick navigates a corrupt police force. Meanwhile Shadow combs Chicago to find those responsible. Babyface uses the violence he would avoid-- but doing so may push away the only girl to steal his heart. Can the Hoover Gang overcome all the secrets, deceits, and greed? -- adapted from back cover
5 Ingredients Mediterranean
Published in 2024
"Jamie's most popular cookbook goes Mediterranean in this mouth-watering follow-up. This edition has been adapted for the US market. 5 Ingredients Mediterranean is everything people loved about the first book, but with the added va-va-voom of basing it on Jamie's lifelong travels around the Mediterranean. With over 125 utterly delicious, easy-to-follow recipes, it's all about making everyday cooking super-exciting, with minimal fuss -- all while transporting you to sunnier climes. You'll find recipes to empower you to make incredibly delicious food, but without copious amounts of ingredients, long shopping lists or loads of cleaning up. 65% of the recipes are meat-free or meat-reduced, and all offer big, bold flavor. With chapters including Salads, Soups and Sandwiches, Pasta, Vegetables, Pies and Parcels, Seafood, Fish, Chicken and Duck, Meat, and Desserts, you'll find something for every day of the week, and every occasion. It's a real celebration of hero Mediterranean flavors and ingredients -- quick and easy recipes for exciting everyday cooking"-- Provided by publisher.
Glass Houses
Published in 2017
"When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines one cold November day, Armand Gamache and the rest of the villagers are at first curious. Then wary. Through rain and sleet, the figure stands unmoving, staring ahead. From the moment its shadow falls over the village, Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. Yet he does nothing. What can he do? Only watch and wait. And hope his mounting fears are not realized. But when the figure vanishes overnight and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied. Months later, on a steamy July day as the trial for the accused begins in Montréal, Chief Superintendent Gamache continues to struggle with actions he set in motion that bitter November, from which there is no going back. More than the accused is on trial. Gamache's own conscience is standing in judgment"--Provided by publisher.
Twin Consequences of That Night
Published in 2024
When billionaire Nate Harcourt jets to Spain on business, he runs straight into his electrifying one-night stand from two years ago. Except Gabi Casas now has twins--his heirs! His childhood as an orphan taught Nate to trust nobody, but he wants better for his children...so he drops to one knee! Fiercely independent, Gabi accepts on one condition: he must never lie to her. Her fickle father and manipulative mother scarred her enough. Alone again, their blistering attraction explodes! Only Gabi will need more than chemistry to take Nate at his word...
Leather, Lace, and Locs
Published in 2024
Melissa Hart is a shy, mousy introvert, afraid to step out of her comfort zone until she dons a mask and leather as the dominatrix persona Mistress Heart. Living a double life, she develops an intimate relationship with a mysterious client who chips away the wall separating Ms. Hart from Mistress Heart to show Melissa the woman she really is.
No More Time-outs
Published in 2011
Wisdom Jones has made a deal with the Devil. Purchase price of a kidney: his life. But this Devil isn't the malicious spirit who's the total embodiment of evil: this one's human, the CEO of the biggest drug operation ever established inside of Detroit city limits, and rumored to dabble in the black market for human organs. Though the tab may be staggering, no cost is too steep for the life of Wisdom's precious mother.
How to Draw a Novel
Published in 2023
A meditation on literary craft that muses on how and why novels communicate with readers. Shows how fiction operates, exploring the conventions of form, the novel as a house that one must build brick by brick, and the objects and characters that build out the world of the novel. The author uses his own line drawings to portray the ebb and flow of novels. He considers how writers invent or discover their characters, the importance or unimportance of place, and the myriad shapes the novel may take. An important contribution to the study of craft and fiction.
Blood Brothers
The Story of the Strange Friendship Between Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill
Published in 2017
Tales from the Perilous Realm
Published in 2008
Never before published in a single volume, Tolkien's four novellas (Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf by Niggle, Smith of Wootton Major, and Roverandom) and one book of poems (The Adventures of Tom Bombadil) are gathered together for the first time, in a fully illustrated volume. This new, definitive collection of works -- which had appeared separately, in various formats, between 1949 and 1998 -- comes with a brand-new foreword and endmatter, and with a series of detailed pencil illustrations by Alan Lee.
American Spartan
The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Gant
Published in 2014
"Veteran war correspondent Ann Scott Tyson first met Special Forces Major James Gant and heard about his battle renown when he was awarded the Silver Star several years ago. Soon after, in October, 2009, Gant rocked the US military establishment with his paper "One Tribe at a Time," an incendiary criticism of what he considered a gaping hole in U.S. strategy: the failure to engage Afghanistan's powerful Pashtun tribes on the eastern border with Pakistan. The article went viral at the Pentagon, the White House, and Capitol Hill and landed in the New York Times. After much infighting among US military brass, Gant was finally tasked with a job he'd wanted for a long time, the chance to join Afghan tribes in the fight against the Taliban.Gant and his men lived among the Pashtun as Afghans: they wore what the natives wore, slept where they slept, and died for the tribe, if necessary."-- Provided by publisher.
Never Enough
When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic--and What We Can Do About It
Published in 2023
"In Never Enough, reporter Jennifer Breheny Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture. Drawing on interviews with families, educators, and psychologists, she offers a humane view of the crisis plaguing today's teens and a practical framework for how to help"-- Provided by publisher.
The Gatekeepers
How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency
Published in 2017
"The first in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the White House Chiefs of Staff, whose actions--and inactions--have defined the course of our country What do Dick Cheney and Rahm Emanuel have in common? Aside from polarizing personalities, both served as chief of staff to the president of the United States--as did Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, and a relative handful of others. The chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers," wield tremendous power in Washington and beyond; they decide who is allowed to see the president, negotiate with Congress to push POTUS's agenda, and--most crucially--enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world. Each chief can make or break an administration, and each president reveals himself by the chief he picks. Through extensive, intimate interviews with all seventeenliving chiefs and two former presidents, award-winning journalist and producer Chris Whipple pulls back the curtain on this unique fraternity. In doing so, he revises our understanding of presidential history, showing us how James Baker's expert managing of the White House, the press, and Capitol Hill paved the way for the Reagan Revolution--and, conversely, how Watergate, the Iraq War, and even the bungled Obamacare rollout mighthave been prevented by a more effective chief. Filled with shrewd analysis and never-before-reported details, The Gatekeepersoffers an essential portrait of the toughest job in Washington"-- Provided by publisher.
The Men Who United the States
America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible
Published in 2013
Acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Winchester illuminates the men who toiled fearlessly to discover, connect, and bond the citizenry and geography of the U.S.A. from its beginnings and ponders whether the historic work of uniting the States has succeeded, and to what degree.