Books

"Salt, Fat, Acid Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking" by Samin Nosrat saved our columnist's home-cooked meal. Read more about Improve Your Home Cooking with 'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat'

Chanhassen author Judy Stoffel wrote "#LookUp: A Parenting Guide to Screen Use" to help parents navigate the child-technology connection. Read more about Chanhassen Author Urges Kids and Parents to '#LookUp' in New Book on Smartphone Use

"A Key to Treehouse Living" is a story told through a glossary of seemingly random words and ideas. Read more about Prepare to be Confused, Dazzled and Delighted by Elliot Reed's Debut Novel

Settle in with "The Winter Soldier" by Daniel Mason. Read more about This Month's Book Pick is a Tense World War I Love Story

"We Must Be Brave" is a historical novel that deals with trauma, war and reawakened memories. Read more about This Historical Novel Centers on 2 Lost Girls in War-torn England

In his book, Hans Rosling shows how even the most educated people in the world have a distorted perspective on simple global trends. Read more about Read 'Factfulness' to Prove You're Smarter than a Chimpanzee

It’s February—both a short month and a long one at the same time. Are you itching to start gardening? Do you crave fresh greens? It’s cold outside, but you can grow a variety of sprouts and microgreens in your house while you’re waiting for outdoor gardening season to begin.

Check out Sprouts, Shoots & Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Kitchen by Lina Walletinson, with photography by Lennart Weibull (Skyhorse Publishing, 2018). Read more about Start an Indoor Garden with February's Book Picks

It seems much attention is focused on the U.S.’s southern border.  Yet our “other” border, with Canada,  is the world’s longest international border and the one with which Minnesotans are much more familiar.
  Read more about Author Addresses Current Issues with Historical Journey

Joseph Kanon is a master of the nearly-undetectable “slippery slope.”  In his novels, both the protagonist and the reader almost miss the spider web beginning to tighten from practically the first page. He is also a master of what I term the “intelligent thriller”—much of the action takes place in the characters’ minds as they investigate actions and motives.
Read more about Author Joseph Kanon Is the Master of the “Slippery Slope”

Katherine Center writes of 20-something Margaret Jacobson, who is looking forward to two things—a new dream job and an engagement ring from her boyfriend, Chuck.  Although Margaret is afraid of flying, pilot-in-training Chuck persuades her to go on a short flight before what she assumes is their “proposal dinner.”  Up in the air, everything looks fine, until it isn’t, and the plane crashes.  Chuck walks away from the wreckage; Margaret does not.
Read more about Read: How to Walk Away