Classic self-help books, engaging fiction, 18th-century American history, and Jane Austen were some of the topics we discussed at our last Open Book Night, when the theme was “liberty and happiness.” The books readers recommended are described below. Please feel free to add your reading suggestions in the comments section.

New space, new name, new time! Our monthly Open Book Night program is now called What Are You Reading? We’re continuing our meetings on the second Friday of the month, but from 2 - 3 PM instead of 6 - 7 PM. We hope you’ll come see us in our interim location, Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street, to talk about books! Our next What Are You Reading? book social is scheduled for Friday, October 13, at 2 PM, and the theme is "occupational hazard." From workplace fiction to true stories of life on the job, sagas of labor movements and whistleblowers to tales of corporate titans, we’d love to hear about your favorite work-related reads!

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. 1974.

Gregory never tires of rereading Robert Pirsig’s classic meditation on how we live and how to live better. Tying the book to our theme, he explained that for Pirsig, freedom is self-understanding, and understanding, knowledge, and truth are necessary for happiness.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz.  1997.

Be Impeccable with your Word. Don’t Take Anything Personally. Don’t Make Assumptions. Always Do Your Best.

“I was drawn to this book because of the idea of agreements, I like them! I like [that reading this] is helping me to look at my past agreements and take on these four agreements and make them my own.”  --Richelle

The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie, originally published in 1990.

“It speaks to truths of the heart with daily meditations.” --Robert

Robert also read a charming selection from a children’s book he’s writing, The Flying Purple Baby Elephant, about a litle elephant whose parents are always engaged with their smartphones,  when all he wants to do is play.

Fighting for Liberty and Virtue: Political and Cultural Wars in Eighteenth-century America by Marvin Olasky. 1995.

“I enjoy reading about early American history and this book not only gives an excellent history in the struggles for liberty in the late 18th century, but also explores the history of social and political battles that preceded the American Revolution. It also offers some prescient late 18th  century predictions about how the nascent United States would encounter future difficulties in terms of social and cultural battles.” --Cameron

Priscilla shared her love of Gillian Flynn’s novels, Gone Girl and Dark Objects. She enjoys the “odd, dark relationships” and descriptive writing and likes that Flynn puts women front and center in her books. For this reader, the suspense and excitement she feels while reading equal great happiness.

The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman. 2016.

“This is a story about three generations of women and how a charm bracelet becomes an important link for the three of them. The specific charms help to keep alive important events of their lives and help to bring them closer together. It was an interesting way of communicating what was important to each of the characters.” --Joan

Jessica recommended A Crack in the Sea by H. M. Bouwman, a children’s fantasy novel published in 2017. Slavery, war, and the attempt to seek refuge draw three families together in for adventure in a parallel world. And there are sea monsters!

I recommended Jane Austen, the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. 2017. I've seen just about every Jane Austen film adapation ever made and even own quite a few, However, hearing Jane Austen described as a romance writer makes me cringe. Reading Helena Kelly's close examination of Austen's novels  to find deep criticism of the societal norms of Regency England made me happy.