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Nelson Díaz’s 1981 swearing-in, when he became the first Latinx judge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Image courtesy of Temple University Press.)

‘Not from Here, Not from There (No Soy de Aquí, ni de Allá)’ by Nelson Díaz

The first, and not the last

Lawyer, judge, politician, and activist Nelson Díaz has been blazing trails within and beyond Philly’s Latinx community for decades, and his new book reveals the journey. Pamela Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Jan 07, 2019 Articles 5 minute read

'Theme and Variations: Musical Notes by a Neurologist,' by Dr. Carl Ellenberger

Listening in

Neurologist and flutist Dr. Carl Ellenberger's new book about the effects of music on the brain continues in the vein of the great Oliver Sacks. Maria Corley reviews.

Maria Thompson Corley

Nov 29, 2018 Articles 3 minute read

Hires was an advertising whiz when the industry was just starting to gain traction. (Image courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia.)

'Charles E. Hires and the Drink that Wowed a Nation,' by Bill Double

Philly's root-beer baron

Bill Double's biography of Charles E. Hires examines the man who invented root beer and the marketing genius behind it. Pamela Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Nov 12, 2018 Articles 4 minute read

Burgin is a worthy chronicler of the modern urban human condition. (Image courtesy of Goliad Press.)

'A Thousand Natural Shocks: A Collection of Stories,' by Richard Burgin

Head games

A new collection of short stories by Richard Burgin highlights the author's mastery of his art: plumbing the human psyche. Robert Zaller reviews.

Robert Zaller

Oct 15, 2018 Articles 4 minute read

Is she a skilled and well-prepared worker? Or is she "a natural"? (Illustration by Hannah Kaplan for BSR.)

‘The Cost of Being a Girl,’ by Yasemin Besen-Cassino

Girls’ work: Wage inequality starts early

Someone will always argue that women earn less than men do because they take time off for their families — but as ‘The Cost of Being a Girl’ argues, that doesn’t explain the wage gap, which starts at age 12. Pamela Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsytheand Illustration by Hannah Kaplan

Sep 24, 2018 Articles 4 minute read

Author Leah Franqui left Philadelphia for Mumbai, with exceptional results. (Photo by Priyam Dhar.)

Leah Franqui's debut novel 'America for Beginners'

More than beginners' luck

Philadelphia native Leah Franqui’s first novel, 'America for Beginners,' engagingly explores multiple issues, especially immigration, from multiple perspectives. Mark Cofta reviews.

Mark Cofta

Aug 13, 2018 Articles 3 minute read

Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar frequently references the work of Marcel Duchamp in his outdoor mosaics. (Photo by AJ Sabatini.)

'Unexpected Affinities,' by Pablo Meninato

What's your "type"?

Pablo Meninato's 'Unexpected Affinities: The History of Type in Architectural Project from Laugier to Duchamp' decodes the city's streets and buildings. AJ Sabatini reviews.

AJ Sabatini

Aug 07, 2018 Articles 3 minute read

Emily Wilson gets to the point without "dumbing down" her translation. (Photo by Kyle Cassidy.)

Emily Wilson's new translation of Homer's 'The Odyssey'

Odysseus returns

Emily Wilson is the first woman in several millennia to publish a translation of Homer's ancient tale. The results are smart, funny, and long overdue. Anndee Hochman reviews.

Anndee Hochman

Aug 07, 2018 Articles 4 minute read

Smerconish chronicled his journey from Republican to independent at the Philadelphia Free Library. (Photo by Stephen Silver.)

'Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right' by Michael Smerconish

Independent's day

Michael Smerconish, a Philadelphia original and one of America’s last public centrists, charts his long political evolution in his new column collection and in a recent Free Library appearance. Stephen Silver reviews.

Stephen Silver

Jun 22, 2018 Articles 4 minute read

Ross designed the fonts, Jean made the images, together they attempt to represent Philadelphia. (Image courtesy of the Print Center.)

'Philadelphia Typography and Fine Art, Volume One,' by Cliff Ross and Philippe Jean

Letters from home

Typography geeks who are also Philly fanatics can rejoice over the publication of Cliff Ross and Philippe Jean's new book, which blends a love of both subjects. Anndee Hochman reviews.