Book Reviews

By Suleika Jaouad
4/25/25
336 pages
$30
Random House

‘The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life’

I would love to tell you that I’m a lifelong journaler and that I have reams of my thoughts ready to burn at my funeral. Alas, instead I have boxes of journals I’ve started but never could maintain the habit for more than a week or two. This time, though, I think I’ve found the secret ingredient. 

During the pandemic, the author began to work through her isolation by starting a journaling group that quickly grew into this lovely book of creative joy, encouragement and insight. From this social media phenomenon, Jaouad has taken 100 prompts/essays from the likes of Hanif Abdurraqib, Salman Rushdie, George Saunders, Gloria Steinem, Jia Tolentino and many more and turned them into a collection for even the most scattered of creatives to use as a spark.

Here I am, nearly 100 days later, and I can’t stop recommending this book to anyone feeling stifled, broken, lonely or disengaged. There is a lot of humanity in these pages and a lot of hope that doesn’t read like saccharine self-help. This is easily my most recommended book of the year. ♦
— Review by Julie Goodrich

By Samin Nosrat
9/16/25
464 pages
$44
Random House

‘Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love’

The photos, the recipes, the remarkably lovely and thoughtful musings on life and the power of eating with loved ones. This is a gorgeous book from cover to cover. I think it is my favorite in a long list of excellent modern cookbooks. It is testament to the value of trusting your instincts and tastes while also providing real recipes that I’ve not found in any other general cookbook.

There is an obvious cadence to the recipes and stories in this book. The author talks about her wildly popular first book, “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,” and the creative burnout she experienced after her fame rose. In this book, she leans into the comfort of family and the familiar, including the Persian recipes she grew up on. I learned a great deal from her first book about cooking as a whole. In this book, it feels more like I learned about the value good food adds to our lives. 

This would be an ideal gift for anyone just starting out in their cooking journey, or even a connoisseur of great recipes. It has a little something for everyone, especially if, like me, cooking for friends is your love language. ♦
— Review by Julie Goodrich