Abundance lays out a vision of what a progressive America could look like—and what gets in the way. The authors argue that for decades, we’ve drawn beautiful maps of the future—clean energy grids, affordable housing, sustainable farming, climate resilience—but then layered on every possible roadblock to actually building it. One standout example is the stalled California high speed rail. I’m on board with their vision, but if we’re going to spend hundreds of billions on transportation, I’d prioritize fixing the daily gridlock in the Bay Area and L.A. over occasional long-distance trips—where commuters end up renting a car and sitting in traffic anyway.

Would you like to escape into the whimsical 16th-century kingdom of Esquaveta, where court magician Anatole must fix a royal meltdown involving forbidden love and a kingdom on the brink. The narrative leaps between past and present, blending intrigue, alchemy, and heart in a way that had definite Princess Bride vibes.  This is author Louis Sachar’s first adult novel and I hope he continues to enchant us with his unique style.