This month, the Oscar-nominated actor is appearing on Broadway in David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow. This week, The Deal, a romantic comedy that Macy co-wrote and stars in, will be released on DVD.
Electric Universe by David Bodanis (Random House, $14). I’ve been on a war and technology kick lately. My wife’s sister sent me his amazing book, which I have since given to many people. It traces the history of electricity—from primitive man wondering about those flashes in the sky to computers. Believe it or not, it’s a page-turner.
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The Last Lion by William Manchester (Delta, $23 per volume). This is a two-volume biography of Winston Churchill that my wife is reading. But she reads it to me at night, so I think it counts. Manchester is such an incredible writer that I’ve started reading it aloud to her also.
American Caesar by William Manchester (Back Bay, $18) Gen. Douglas MacArthur was an amazing man and one of the most controversial figures in American military history. Manchester fully captures this captivating character as well as a fascinating time in America.
The Willow Field by William Kittredge (Knopf, $26). I easily deem this 20th-century epic Western as one of my favorites. The book chronicles the life and times of Rossie Benasco, the son of a Reno, Nev., casino boss. Rossie’s decision to leave home to become a ranch hand leads him on many life adventures.
We Pointed Them North by E.C. “Teddy Blue” Abbott (Univ. of Oklahoma, $20). This is a brilliant cowboy memoir. Abbott grew up in Nebraska and eventually settled in Montana during the late 1800s. In the 1930s, he told his stories to Helena Huntington Smith, who captured his life in print before his generation had passed.
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The week’s best photosIn Pictures A monstrous parade, a hungry tortoise, and more
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The Week Unwrapped: Should we be eating less fat – or more?Podcast Plus who will benefit from the surprise Dutch election result? And how can art improve our health?
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AI models may be developing a ‘survival drive’Under the radar Chatbots are refusing to shut down
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Beth Macy’s 6 favorite books about living in a divided nationFeature The journalist recommends works by Nicholas Buccola, Matthew Desmond, and more
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Gilbert King’s 6 favorite books about the search for justiceFeature The journalist recommends works by Bryan Stevenson, David Grann, and more
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Nathan Harris’ 6 favorite books that turn adventures into revelationsFeature The author recommends works by Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McGuire, and more
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Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetimeFeature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
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Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytellingFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
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Elizabeth Gilbert’s favorite books about women overcoming difficultiesFeature The author recommends works by Tove Jansson, Lauren Groff, and more
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Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
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Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is moreFeature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more
