New Book Releases | November 18
A new book from Simon Winchester, a memoir from the cofounder of MTV, and books from two authors who have built large online followings based on the two new certainties in life (at least in the lives of parents with tween children): taxes and video games.
"In this world," Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, "nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." But dramatic changes in our atmosphere, unusual weather, and stronger winds that drive more frequent natural disasters are also near certainties today. And, if you're a parent these days, having your kids ask for extra video game time—every single day—is pretty close to a sure thing. This week, new books delve into all three of these topics—taxes, the wind, and video games—in depth. Finally, there is the memoir of a man who helmed a "creative powerhouse that transformed global popular culture." All four of these fascinating books are hitting bookshop shelves and online stores today.
The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon Winchester, published by Harper
New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style.
What is going on with our atmosphere? The headlines are filled with news of devastating hurricanes, murderous tornadoes, and cataclysmic fires affecting large swaths of America. Gale force advisories are issued on a regular basis by the National Weather Service.
In 2022, a report was released by atmospheric scientists at the University of Northern Illinois, warning that winds—the force at the center of all these dangerous natural events—are expected to steadily increase in the years ahead, strengthening in power, speed, and frequency.
While this prediction worried the insurance industry, governmental leaders, scientists, and conscientious citizens, one particular segment of society received it with unbridled enthusiasm. To the energy industry, rising wind strength and speeds are an unalloyed boon for humankind—a vital source of clean and “safe” power.
Between these two poles—wind as a malevolent force, and wind as savior of our planet—lies a world of fascination, history, literature, science, poetry, and engineering which Simon Winchester explores with the curiosity and vigor that are the hallmarks of his bestselling works. In The Breath of the Gods, he explains how wind plays a part in our everyday lives, from airplane or car travel to the “natural disasters” that are becoming more frequent and regular.
The Breath of the Gods is an urgently-needed portrait across time of that unseen force—unseen but not unfelt—that respects no national borders and no vessel or structure in its path. Wind, the movement of the air, is seen by so many as a heavenly creation and generally a thing of essential goodness. But when it flexes its invisible muscles, all should take care and be very afraid.
How a Game Lives: The Annotated Essays of Jacob Geller by Jacob Geller, published by Harper Pop
The first of two volumes: How a Game Lives, Vol. 1 is an artfully packaged must-have book for the devoted and casual fans alike, inviting readers to look at gaming and video games from an intellectual, psychological, and emotional perspective as a major part of our cultural fabric.
Jacob Geller has 1 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, where he shares in-depth videos on modern gaming and analysis of the games themselves—interwoven with conversations about politics, art, history and popular culture. Placing video games into the larger media, cultural and artistic context, How a Game Lives is a stunning four-color collection that takes Geller’s most popular YouTube essays, puts them into print for the first time, and updates them with full annotation by Geller himself and commentary by other writers. Illustrated throughout with original artwork inspired by the games, How a Game Lives is truly unique.
The games covered in this volume include:
- The Legend of Zelda series
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Returnal
- Control
- Call of Duty
- and more...
Geller has taught audiences how to think about video games as art, and how that art has affected them.
Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You're Self-Employed by Hannah Cole, published by Wiley
An easy-to-understand guide to taxes for artists, freelancers, and all self-employed individuals.
Equal parts empathetic and practical, Taxes for Humans is a handbook for tackling the tax-season-scaries, written specifically for people who are self-employed. Provides essential tax education for those pushed to the back of the financial line in America, including women, queer people, and BIPOC folks, this book provides the practical tools people need to understand their taxes, conquer their fear of finances, bulk up on tax benefits, and end the tax season stronger, smarter, and more tax-savvy than ever—without sacrificing their sanity.
With accessibility in mind, this book is structured into an easy–to-follow framework:
- The Mindset: Address limiting beliefs and make the case for tax empowerment
- The Education: Start from the ground-level, without shame or jargon, and lay a foundation of tax knowledge
- The Organization: Build the systems that will get you organized and keep you organized
- The Level-up: Take up space by using next-level skills like planning and tax-smart accounts to grow your wealth (and power)
- The Fix: Mend a broken tax situation (audits, disappearing spouses, back-taxes, and escaping the tax-debt spiral)
- The Bigger Picture: Connect your personal wellbeing with the wellbeing of the communities you love
Taxes for Humans is an essential read for all freelancers, creatives, and self-employed people seeking to understand, take control of, and reduce stress surrounding their tax.
Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu by Tom Freston, published by Gallery Books
A freewheeling and riveting memoir from media honcho Tom Freston that takes us behind the scenes of his global adventures—from hitchhiking around the world, to running a clothing export company out of India and Afghanistan, to cofounding MTV, to becoming CEO of MTV Networks, then CEO of Viacom, then later returning to work in Africa and Afghanistan.
Tom Freston’s path to the C-suite was decidedly non-traditional. After getting his MBA, he bartended his way through the United States and the Caribbean, sparking a lifelong passion for travel. After a brief stint on the fast track at an ad agency, he chucked it all and headed to the Sahara Desert and beyond. Entranced by India and Afghanistan, he stayed on for eight years and launched his first big success, Hindu Kush, a company that designed and manufactured contemporary clothing for export to America and other countries.
Freston’s next chapter followed his other passion: music. He joined the small original team that launched MTV where he swiftly climbed the ladder, eventually overseeing not only MTV but also Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, and other iconic networks. He built a creative powerhouse that transformed global popular culture in cable’s all-conquering heyday.
In this unique memoir of risk-taking, rule-breaking, and warm cultural exchanges, Freston shows how to be successful at living your life on your own terms.
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The Porchlight staff members choosing new books each week are Porchlight's Managing Director, Sally Haldorson, and the marketing team of Gabriella Cisneros and Dylan Schleicher.
Unless otherwise noted, all book descriptions are from the publisher.
