Staff Picks transportation Books

Don't Miss

Visit Our Stores

Kelsey Ford: New Year, New You: 9 Books for a Better You, 9 Books for a Worse You (0 comment)

I’m not a huge believer in new year’s resolutions — they always feel like set ups for failure and disappointment instead of the well-meaning self-bettering they’re intended to be. However, I do believe in the fresh promise of a new year and taking the opportunity to deliberately (and gently) think about your routines and what you might be missing...

Keith Mosman: Powell's Picks Spotlight: Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham's 'Lunar New Year Love Story' (0 comment)
Kate Brody: What If the Real Monsters Were Inside Us All Along: Kate Brody’s Movie Playlist for ‘Rabbit Hole’ (0 comment)

Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

David Grann

David Grann’s reputation precedes him — he writes incredibly smart and propulsive nonfiction — and his latest more than lives up to his high standards. This tale of disaster and mutiny in the 18th century British navy is absolutely amazing, in every sense of the word.
Recommended by Keith M.

Power Play Tesla Elon Musk & the Bet of the Century

Tim Higgins

One of my New Years' Resolutions is to not read one more single word about Elon Musk or Tesla — but I read this book in December, so it doesn't count. Higgins seems to understand something about Tesla and the economy that most of Musk's critics (and supporters) really can't bring themselves to grasp: mainly that (1) lying to the public is in no way illegal, and (2) if a company's only merit is that it's too big to fail, well, then... it's not... (read more)
Recommended by CJ H.

Outlaw Ocean

Ian Urbina

I picked up this book because I’ve always had an interest in the world’s oceans and this subject seemed fascinating with its combination of true crime and the high seas. Wow! I was introduced to a world I didn’t know existed. Each chapter brings to light a surprising multitude of lawbreaking, and details the efforts of those who risk their lives fighting some horrendous crimes and injustices. Read about cruise lines behaving badly, illegal... (read more)
Recommended by Steph C.

Last Whalers Three Years in the Far Pacific with an Ancient Tribe & a Vanishing Way of Life

Doug Bock Clark

The Last Whalers is the extraordinary story of the Lamalerans, a tribe of 1500 hunter-gatherers who live on an incredibly remote island, and the ways that modern culture is encroaching upon their way of life, which is centered around subsistence whaling. Doug Bock Clark lived with the Lamalerans for three years, and his fascinating account brings them into sharp focus; The Last Whalers is compelling, page-turning journalism.
Recommended by Lucinda G.

Van Life: Your Home on the Road

Foster Huntington

There is no greater feeling than hitting the open road to see where it takes you. Van Life celebrates those who make the open road their home. While we're not van dwellers, my family and I find that adventuring the West in our Dodge Sprinter van is our home away from home. No need to be a fellow van lifer to appreciate the rich photographs and stories in this beautiful collection — just don't be surprised if it converts you into... (read more)
Recommended by Kate L.

The Long Haul: A Trucker's Tales of Life on the Road

Finn Murphy

Fascinating, funny, surprising, and insightful, The Long Haul is filled with great characters and first-rate storytelling. My husband, who used to drive trucks, also loved it, and says, "Murphy knows the game and avoids the trappings of the trucking myth, accepting the reality that during months of sometimes tedious driving, you can catch glimpses of unfiltered universal honesty and beauty."
Recommended by Jill O.

Tranquility: A Memoir of an American Sailor

Billy Sparrow

While many of us have dreamed of leaving it all behind and embarking on an epic adventure, Billy Sparrow actually did it. In 1997 he cashed in his savings and bought an old wooden sailboat called Tranquility (which proved to be anything but tranquil). The account of his journey is both inspiring and entertaining. It's the type of book that should come with a warning sticker that says, "Caution: May cause reader to quit job, leave family, sell... (read more)
Recommended by Shawn D.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

Erik Larson

An exploration of the sinking of the Lusitania, Dead Wake is so suspenseful and engaging that Larson actually had me hoping against history that the ship wouldn’t sink. Dramatic, fast-paced, and meticulously researched, Dead Wake will appeal to history lovers of all stripes.
Recommended by Rhianna W.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Daniel James Brown

Brown masterfully narrates the tale of the 1936 American Olympic rowing team and their gold medal triumph. He paints a vivid picture of the men in the boat, their world, and their sport. A fascinating glimpse into a bygone era.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.

Wright Brothers

David McCullough

In The Wright Brothers, David McCullough spins a history both exhaustive and personal, sharing original correspondence and examining secondary characters like the Wright sister, Katharine. With McCullough's signature depth and thoroughness, The Wright Brothers pays captivating homage to the two men who so exemplified the American spirit.
Recommended by Gigi L.

Don't Miss

Browse by Subject

Browse by Staff Member