Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for May 2–8
This week, we feature the gripping saga of a group of musicians in the Pacific theater and a new look at the forgotten tales of one of early baseball's greats.
History
'
By Michael Doyle
'Nightmare' was bandleader Artie Shaw's musical theme used to open his shows. It described the experiences of the band he led during World War II on its South Pacific tour. A biography of Shaw highlighting his war years, this book tells the story of Navy Band 501 during WWII. A swing era king, Shaw was at the top of his form when he joined the Navy in 1942 and thus formed Navy Band 501. The book follows the band in the Pacific and England, including experiences under fire at Guadalcanal.
University of North Texas Press, 2025, 288 pages
Sports
'
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By Alan D. Gaff
In the same vein as his popular 'Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir,' Gaff has discovered a trove of material connected to one of baseball's greatest players. The author has unearthed the lost biography of Christy Mathewson, a member of the first class of Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. Gaff presents the world of baseball at the turn of the 20th century, as well as the golden age of journalism when sportswriters turned athletes into demigods. Baseball fans will surely read with glee and gratitude.
University of Nebraska Press, 2025, 248 pages
Nonfiction
'
By Brad Meltzer
If you happen to be looking for a gift for your high school graduate or for a friend's commencement from college, try this slim book. In a real way, you're actually doubling up on that graduation, as this is the address Brad Meltzer delivered at his son's 2024 commencement ceremonies at the University of Michigan. Using magic tricks as his motif, the author aims to inspire his audience to seek an authentic life while unleashing kindness and gratitude on a world that is sorely in need of both.
William Morrow, 2025, 112 pages
Mystery
'Too Darn Hot'
By Sandra Scoppettone
Set in wartime New York City of 1943, female PI Faye Quick runs her boss's 'A Detective Agency' while he is off at war. When Private Charlie Ladd disappeared on leave in New York City, his fiancée hires Faye to find him. Faye starts at a hotel room Ladd rented. There, she finds a body hidden in the wardrobe. It is not Ladd, but it entangles Faye in a web of kidnapping, murder, and blackmail. The book conjures up 1940s New York City, a world of tawdry restaurants, walk-up flats, and cheap bars.
Ballantine Books, 2007, 291 pages
Classics
'
By Peter Kreeft
Kreeft has taught philosophy for 60 years and has written many books on the subject. Here, he introduces philosophy to high schoolers, college students, and other interested readers. The early chapters cover the basics, then we shift to an encounter between Socrates and a contemporary student, Nat. A Socratic dialogue ensues, with questions, replies, and more questions as the two discuss various schools of philosophy. An entertaining and witty portable classroom for any budding philosopher.
Ignatius Press, 2024, 352 pages
For Kids
'
By Cynthia Rylant and Diane Goode
A grandmother recounts moments from her childhood growing up in the mountains, sharing dear memories like swimming in swimming holes, fetching water from a well for baths, and sitting on the porch swing with her grandparents. This sweet book highlights the magic of passing down family history and the delight of sharing stories across generations.
Dutton Books for Young Readers, 1982, 32 pages
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