By the Book

Laura Bush began The Texas Book Festival in 1995 when she was first lady of Texas. Now one of country’s premier literary events, the festival welcomes 300-plus authors and 50,000-plus visitors to the Capitol grounds each October. This year, the lineup is truly not to be missed. To view the full festival lineup and schedule, please visit texasbookfestival.org. See you under the tents.

“Cook Like A Local”

Chris Shepherd

Houston chef Chris Shepherd crafts beautiful food at Georgia James while also working to shine a light on the city’s diverse food scene. Now with “Cook Like a Local: Flavors That Can Change How You Cook and See the World,” endless combinations are at your fingertips.

“Talking to Strangers”

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell will be speaking at First Baptist Church about his newest book “Talking to Strangers.” Safe to say we can all expect preconceived notions to be upended by Gladwell’s peculiar way of diving into a topic.

“Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas”

Stephen Harrigan

Look for the debut of New York Times best-selling author Stephen Harrigan’s opus “Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas.” Harrigan has spent much of his career writing about Texas and this is surely the culmination of a lifetime of exploration.

“The World Doesn’t Require You: Stories”

Rion Amilcar Scott

In 2016, Rion Amilcar Scott debuted on the national stage with “Insurrections: Stories,” and now his equally anticipated novella, “The World Doesn’t Require You: Stories,” tells the imagined story of Cross River, Maryland, and its many layered characters.

“The Secrets We Kept”

Lara Prescott

Lara Prescott’s novel, “The Secrets We Kept,” is inspired by the true story of a CIA plot in Soviet Russia and has already been named a Reese Witherspoon book club pick. Can’t argue with Reese.

“The Education of an Idealist”

Samantha Power

In 2013, Samantha Power gained national attention when President Barack Obama appointed her as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In her best-selling memoir, “The Education of an Idealist,” Power tackles her own role in the progress of civility and human rights, beginning with her Irish childhood.