Ashley Holstrom

Ashley Holstrom helps make books at Sourcebooks. She lives near Chicago with her cat named after Hemingway and her bookshelves organized by color. Newsletter: Crooked Reads. Twitter: @alholstrom.

Keyword Stuffing the Classics

Let's see what keyword stuffing the classics of the literary canon would look like.

Less is More: Minimalist Book Covers of 2023

Minimalist design is all about subtlety and conveying meaning with shapes and colors. Here are some great minimalist covers of the year.

10 Riveting New Nonfiction Books to Read in February 2023

This month's nonfiction new releases include science, memoir, history, nature writing, the arts, and a history of Black horror movies called The Black Guy Dies First.

Journey Through the World With These Peculiar Microhistories

From lighthouses (On Lighthouses) to books bound in human skin (Dark Archives), these microhistories explore the stories you didn't know you needed.

The Best Memoirs You’ve Never Heard of

There are so many incredible memoirs out there beyond the bestseller list. Here are some underrated gems you need to read, including Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land by Toni Jensen.

Keep Warm with These December Nonfiction Releases

Read your way into excellent new nonfiction hitting shelves in December, including titles on finance, animals, asexuality, and more, including Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap.

Get Smarter with these 25 Popular Science Books

These are the best popular science books of the last few years, from books covering forensics and whales to mental illness and the cosmos.

8 Books about Drugs, from Science to Politics

With recent political and science advances, it's time to dive in to nonfiction books about drugs, especially of the recreational variety.

Under the Sea: Books about Ocean Life for All Ages

These books about ocean life are deep, thought-provoking texts about our oceans, sea creatures, and humans' impact on marine ecosystems.

Alas, Poor Yorick: Ranking Books By Their Skull Covers

What are the best and/or most creative skull book covers out there? We're ranking some of our favorites.