• The holiday weekend is a perfect time to curl up with a short book.
• We selected nine that are particularly informative, entertaining, and easy to read.
• They include guides to building your dream career and being happier.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The first day back at work after a holiday weekend is a great time to brag to colleagues about all the awesome things you did.

Here's one idea: "I read an entire book and it changed my life!"

Below, Business Insider has listed nine books that will do just that. You can probably get through them in a long weekend — both because they're relatively short and because they're so compelling that you won't be able to put them down.

Grab one (or more) before you head out — we can guarantee you'll resurface as a more knowledgeable and interesting person.

SEE ALSO: Ray Dalio says anyone who wants to understand today's world should read a 32-year-old book about empires

DON'T MISS: UBS sent its bankers an email listing books like 'Charlotte's Web' to help them deal with change as it reportedly mulls job cuts. Read the internal email here.

'Payoff' by Dan Ariely

This TED book is just over 100 pages, and it's jam-packed with creative lessons about what motivates people to do their best work.

Ariely is a behavioral economist and professor at Duke University, and he's published a number of popular books, including "Predictably Irrational." In "Payoff," Ariely argues that human motivation is a lot more complex than we might believe. Most importantly, money isn't everything.

In fact, getting pizza and compliments can be more motivating than getting a financial bonus. And letting people take ownership of a project and giving them credit for it makes them more inclined to do it well.

Buy it here »

'Designing Your Life' by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

"Design thinking" is a process that's typically used to improve on an object or experience, like a lightbulb or online dating. But in this book, two Stanford professors explain how you can apply the same process to your career, relationships, and life in general.

"Designing Your Life," which is an extension of Burnett and Evans' Stanford course by the same name, includes plenty of helpful brainstorming exercises. One such exercise is "mind-mapping," in which you play a game of word association to help generate ideas about different types of careers you could pursue — or create.

Another one is "Odyssey Planning," in which you map out different ways your life could potentially unfold. So in one life, for example, you could be a lounge singer; in another, you could be an investment banker. The goal is to realize that you could do a lot of things — and many of them could make you happy or unfulfilled.

Buy it here »

'It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work' by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson

Basecamp is known for its unconventional people practices: Employees at the small web app company work from places all over the world, and everyone gets a $5,000 annual vacation stipend.

"It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work" is essentially a polemic against the modern workplace, broken down into super short essays about Basecamp's unique culture. For example, every time someone quits or is fired, a detailed "goodbye announcement" email is sent around to the entire company. The idea is to be as honest and as transparent as possible. And salaries are largely non-negotiable, to avoid paying people for their haggling skills instead of their performance.

Overall, it's a super easy but super enlightening read that will make you rethink the way you work, lead, and live.

Buy it here »

'TED Talks' by Chris Anderson

If you've ever watched and enjoyed a TED Talk, you'll devour this book by TED curator Chris Anderson. Anderson demystifies the TED experience, breaking down the core components of a successful presentation. 

Importantly, those core components remain the same whether you're speaking to an audience of thousands, or just a handful of people in a conference room. For example: Figure out the point you want to make and don't ramble. Tell a story. Break down big ideas into smaller chunks.

Throughout the book, Anderson sprinkles in anecdotes from past TED speakers, such as Monica Lewinsky, who told a (darkly) funny story right at the beginning of her talk. When the joke landed, and the audience laughed, she felt confident enough to continue with the presentation.

Buy it here »

'Why We Work' by Barry Schwartz

Here's another TED book that hovers near the 100-page mark. Like Ariely, Schwartz — who is a professor at Swarthmore College — constructs a powerful argument against the common misconception that motivation is just about money.

In fact, Schwartz writes, you can harness the power of intrinsic motivation — or people's desire to do a good job for the sake of doing a good job — to get better work from your employees.

Right now, Schwartz writes in "Why We Work," many workplaces are demotivating because they offer financial incentives for hitting specific goals. Take the American education system, for example. 

Talented teachers show up to classrooms and are instructed to "teach to the test," or the standardized exam at the end of the school year. Their performance is measured — and their compensation determined — largely based on their students' scores on those tests.

Schwartz calls this system "assembly-line education" and says that it's "the antithesis of smart job design" and job performance.

Buy it here »

'Never Split the Difference' by Chris Voss

We'll be honest: This book isn't super short. But it's a total page-turner.

Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator, and as he and Tahl Raz outline the surprising psychology behind negotiations, he recounts gripping stories from his years of experience working with terrorists and criminals.

For example, the authors explain why focusing on what your negotiation partner wants can help you reach the desired outcome, and why you should encourage your negotiation partner to tell you "no" in order to get to an ultimate "yes."

Buy it here »

'The New Rules of Work' by Alex Cavoulacos and Kathryn Minshew

Cavoulacos and Minshew are the cofounders (and COO and CEO, respectively) of popular career advice and job listings site The Muse.

In their 2017 book, they share the most important lessons they've learned about finding and building your dream career. Don't be intimidated by the book's length — it's written in a really conversational tone, with lots of exercises sprinkled throughout. Plus, you can skip around to the parts that make the most sense for you and where you're at in your career.

Some highlights from the book: A template for cold-emailing someone at your dream company, a fresh take on post-interview thank-you notes, and advice on how to keep from stagnating in your current role.

Buy it here »

'Make Time' by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

This guide to productivity at work and at home is filled with (surprise!) doodles and bullet points, making it lighter than it might appear at first.

The authors are former Google employees, one of whom created the company's design sprint process — meaning they're familiar with how stressful and demanding life can get. They walk readers through a novel, simple process for prioritizing your goals, and then maximizing your energy and attention so you really achieve them.

It all starts with establishing a "highlight" every day, as in the most important thing you want to tackle in the next 24 hours. It could be a product update; it could be cooking dinner for your family. You're not only being realistic about how much you can get done, but also minimizing distractions from the really important stuff.

Buy it here »

'The Happiness Project' by Gretchen Rubin

This best-selling book helped Rubin launch a veritable happiness empire; she's since published several other self-improvement books and launched a podcast with her sister.

The premise of "The Happiness Project" is simple: Rubin outlines the year she spent trying to be a happier person, deploying science-backed strategies in her relationships and her career. It's a breezy and surprisingly educational read, whose main takeaway is that true fulfillment is often in the everyday details.

What's more, it's all about learning what works for you. One of the "rules" that Rubin develops for herself during her experiment is simply "Be Gretchen." She's not a huge fan of music or fashion, and she needs to abstain completely from sugar or else she'll go overboard. Armed with these insights, she's able to craft a life that brings her daily fulfillment.

Buy it here »

• No matter where you find yourself in your career, there's a book that could help you improve or advance.
• Business Insider compiled a book list that you can turn to throughout your career.
• Authors include psychologists, career coaches, and Ivy League professors.
• Click here for more BI Prime content.

Whatever is currently overwhelming you or confusing you in your career has probably overwhelmed or confused somebody else before.

In fact, there's a decent chance that person has written about their experience.

Business Insider has rounded up a list of books designed to help you tackle the professional challenges that come your way, whether you've just graduated from college or you're ready for a major career overhaul.

You'll find advice from psychologists, career coaches, and Ivy League professors.

So don't go it alone — take a look at the titles below for some guidance, real talk, and inspiration.

SEE ALSO: 15 books billionaire Ray Dalio says you should read to understand today's world — and have a fulfilling life

When you've just graduated: 'Designing Your Life' by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

As you're emerging from the undergraduate cocoon, the real world can seem very, very big. And it can be hard to figure out your place in it.

Enter "design thinking," a process that's typically used to improve on an object or experience, like a lightbulb or online dating. Burnett and Evans based this book on a class they taught together at Stanford of the same name. In the class, they taught students how to apply the principles of design thinking to their own careers and relationships.

The book includes helpful exercises such as "Odyssey Planning," in which you map out different ways your life could potentially unfold. So in one life, for example, you could be a lounge singer; in another, you could be an investment banker.

The goal of this particular exercise is to realize that you could do a lot of things — and many of them could make you happy or unfulfilled. So don't worry too much about choosing perfectly.

Buy it here »

When you've landed your first job: 'Give and Take' by Adam Grant

There's a common misconception that, in order to get ahead, you've got to be ruthless, sometimes succeeding professionally at other people's expense.

It's best to bust that myth now.

In his 2013 book "Give and Take," Wharton professor Adam Grant argues that "giving"— being willing to help others— is really the secret to advancing in your career.

That said, it's important to give effectively— for example, by giving in ways that align with both your needs and the needs of your organization. Otherwise, you'll put yourself at risk of burning out.

Grant makes his case with both research to support the link between giving and success and anecdotes about well-known givers in the business world.

Buy it here »

When you're trying to network more: 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie

This 1937 bestseller is a favorite of legendary investor Warren Buffett's and the go-to resource for anyone looking to improve his or her schmoozing skills.

One of the most memorable lessons from the book: To be interesting, be interested. That is, your conversation partner will like you more if you simply let them talk about themselves.

Business Insider's Richard Feloni rounded up other lessons, including the importance of acknowledging your own mistakes and encouraging other people to think they reached a conclusion on their own — even if it was your idea.

Buy it here »

When you're a first-time manager: 'Radical Candor' by Kim Scott

Some people are thrilled to be responsible for other people's success in addition to their own; others, less so. But everyone could use some guidance.

According to Kim Scott, a former Google and Apple executive and CEO coach, there's only one effective way to lead: "radical candor."

Radical candor is fundamentally about being straight with your employees, while still being a compassionate human being. In other words, Scott says, you simultaneously "challenge directly" while "caring personally."

Feedback is a key component of radical candor. So you tell employees directly when they've screwed up and what they can do to improve. You also actively solicit input from your team on how you can be a better manager.

It's by no means easy, but Scott argues that it's the best way to develop a successful team.

Buy it here »

When you're brokering a deal (or asking for a raise): 'Negotiating the Nonnegotiable' by Daniel Shapiro

Just because you're not a particularly combative person doesn't mean you can avoid negotiating. Whether you're petitioning your boss for a raise or trying to land a deal with a client, it helps to know how to argue for what you want.

Shapiro is the founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program; he's led conflict-management initiatives in the Middle East and worked with leaders in government and business.

The thrust of the book is that appealing to rationality isn't always the best way to resolve a dispute; instead, both parties in a negotiation have to be willing to get in touch with the conflict's more emotional underpinnings.

One piece of advice Shapiro shares in the book: Figure out your "repetition compulsion." It's the pattern of behavior you display repeatedly in negotiation situations, usually to your detriment. If you can pinpoint that compulsion, you can figure out how to act differently, so that you have a better chance of getting the outcome you want.

Buy it here »

When you're planning to start a family: 'Unfinished Business' by Anne-Marie Slaughter

When it comes to juggling work and family, there are no easy answers — and the sooner you realize that, the less stressed and frustrated you'll be later in life.

"Unfinished Business," a follow-up to Slaughter's 2012 article in the Atlantic "Why Women Still Can't Have It All," says that no one can really have it all today. Slaughter, the former director of policy planning for the US State Department under Hillary Clinton, makes the case for policy and cultural changes that will lay the ground for gender equality and help all workers lead more meaningful lives.

Proposals for change are juxtaposed with anecdotes from Slaughter's own life, in particular the conflict she faced between pursuing a high-octane career in foreign policy and taking care of her family. It's an incredibly thought-provoking read and a helpful guide to setting yourself up for success at work and at home.

Buy it here »

When you're moving into a senior leadership position: 'What Got You Here Won't Get You There' by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter

Goldsmith is a psychologist and an executive coach and his book is full of no-nonsense self-improvement advice.

The title phrase reflects the idea that just because you've been able to get by with your counterproductive habits doesn't mean you'll be able to reach the top of your field with those same tendencies.

Goldsmith and Reiter highlight the 20 workplace habits that keep business leaders from success, and outline how to go about fixing your problem areas. For example, you'll want to solicit "feedforward" in addition to feedback, so you get ideas for the future.

Another eyebrow-raising idea from the book: What other people think of you is more important than what you think of you. If someone says you're too aggressive but you don't think you are, it's time to work on toning it down.

Buy it here »

When you're making a career change: 'Pivot' by Jenny Blake

A "pivot," as Blake defines it, is a career change big or small. Maybe you're quitting your full-time job to launch a startup, or maybe you're hoping to switch to another department at your current company.

Whatever you're aiming to do, "Pivot" will help break down both your dreams and your fears into manageable pieces.

Blake is a career coach and former Googler who's already pivoted multiple times. She started out on the AdWords product training team at Google, then helped launch Google's Career Guru program. She eventually left Google after publishing her first book, "Life After College," to start a business based on her blog and book.

A pivot is a four-step process: plant, scan, pilot, and launch. You can go through the cycle multiple times until you feel ready to make the change.

Most importantly, Blake says that even if you don't land exactly where you thought you would, you'll probably be in a better place that's more suited to your skills and interests.

Buy it here »

• Elon Musk is the founder of SpaceX and the CEO of Tesla.
• He's also known for recommending science fiction books.
• He's praised the "Foundation" series by Isaac Asimov time and time again, and even launched the series into deep space.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a bookish billionaire — as we've reported before, he has a love of all things science fiction. 

He's actually tweeted about a favorite book that's helped clarify his galactic ambitions.

"Reread Asimov's Foundation series,"he said. "Brilliant."

In interviews, Musk has reiterated that statement, saying that "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov is "one of the best books" that he's ever read. He loved it so much that SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which launched in January 2018, included a copy of each of the books in the trilogy. 

The books tells the story of an intergalactic empire that falls to pieces, with a dark age waiting on the other side.  

"Foundation" is a "futuristic version of Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,'"he told the Guardian, referencing the famous history that followed Rome from its breathtaking heights to the fall of Byzantium.

From "Foundation," Musk learned that every civilization — including our own — will one day falter. 

"The lessons of history would suggest that civilizations move in cycles," Musk told the Guardian. "You can track that back quite far — the Babylonians, the Sumerians, followed by the Egyptians, the Romans, China. We're obviously in a very upward cycle right now, and hopefully that remains the case. But it may not. There could be some series of events that cause that technology level to decline." 

And when that happens in our case — when humanity hits its own dark age — what's the best thing we can do to make sure it's as short as possible?

By having the human race become, to use Musk's favored terminology, interplanetary.

Thus the need for SpaceX, the privatized space exploration company that Musk started back when only nation-states were trying to launch rockets out of Earth's atmosphere.

"Given that this is the first time in 4.5 billion years where it's been possible for humanity to extend life beyond Earth,"he said, "it seems like we'd be wise to act while the window was open and not count on the fact it will be open a long time."

SEE ALSO: The 12 books Elon Musk says shaped his worldview and led him to business and personal success

Join the conversation about this story »

• Active readers retain more than passive readers.
• Working toward active reading requires developing certain habits.
• These include taking notes on the page and reading aloud.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Plenty of people acknowledge forgetting most of what they read, no matter how much they enjoyed the text.

But just because forgetting is a human phenomenon doesn't mean you should simply accept it. In fact, there are plenty of simple, creative strategies for retaining more of what you read — whether novels, news articles, or scientific textbooks.

To find out what some of those techniques are, we perused a Quora thread titled "How do you remember what you've just read?" and scoured the web for advice from other readers.

Below are 10 of the most practical techniques — bonus points if you can remember all of them tomorrow.

1. Become familiar with the topic.

The blogger Ryan Battles recommends gaining some background knowledge before you dive into a particular text.

"The more you understand about a particular subject," he writes, "the more 'hooks' keep the facts in there." That's because you're able to make more associations between the new information and what you already know.

You can even start by reading a Wikipedia article on the subject as preparation.

2. Skim the text first.

An anonymous user cites an article by Bill Klemm, a professor of neuroscience, which highlights skimming as a key strategy for retaining information.

The idea here isn't to skip the whole reading process. Instead, you'll want to skim the text for important topics and keywords beforehand so you know what to expect when you actually dig into the material. Being familiar with the general themes, Klemm says, will help you remember the particulars.

3. Take notes on the page.

"Never read without a pencil," the Quora user Deniz Ateş says. "Underline sentences you find confusing, interesting, or important. Draw lines along the side of important paragraphs. Draw diagrams to see the structure of key ideas."

4. Read out loud.

An anonymous Quora user says, "I actually have to read out loud to myself most of the time to understand and remember what I just read."

Writing in Psychology Today, the psychologist Art Markman says this strategy may work best when there are a few key items you need to remember. That's because the sentences you speak (or even whisper) out loud take on a distinctiveness. You remember producing and hearing the items, and so your memory for them is different from the memory of the words you read silently.

5. Ask yourself questions about the material.

Ingrid Spielman recommends interacting with the text by asking yourself questions as you go along.

If you're reading a textbook, the question can be as simple as, "What is the main idea of this section?"

If you're reading fiction, you can ask, "What are the motives of the character?" and "If you could rewrite this reading, what would your version be like?"

6. Impress, associate, repeat

A Stack Exchange user TRdH says memory is a three-pronged process. (His answer was reproduced on Lifehacker.)

The first part is impression. You can increase the strength of the impression the text makes on you by picturing the situation in your mind or envisioning yourself participating in the events described.

The second part is association, or linking the material to something you already know. For example, maybe one of the character's names sounds like your friend's name.

The third part is repetition. The more you read the material, the stronger your memory will be. If you don't want to reread a whole book, try highlighting some parts of the text that you can go back to.

An "extra credit" step drawn from previous Business Insider coverage is recall. Forcing yourself to recall information you've read, outside when you have the book in your hands, acts as a self-check. If there's a gap in your memory, you'll uncover it here.

7. Read on paper.

E-readers are convenient tools for when you want to bring a ton of books on vacation and for downloading stories in an instant.

But research suggests that they could also undermine the strength of your memories. One study found that when people read the same short story in a paperback or on a Kindle, the paperback readers were better able to remember the story's chronology.

The lead study author, Anne Mangen, says that's possibly because the piles of pages in your hands create a "tactile sense of progress" you don't get from a Kindle. (Of course, it's possible that people who are more accustomed to reading online may not have this problem.)

Mangen's other research found that high-school students performed better on a test of reading comprehension when they read a text in print instead of on a computer screen.

8. Read without distractions.

When you commit to reading something, cut off any distractions for a set period of time. This could even include the distraction of your mind — commit to no daydreaming, no emails, no phone, no Netflix.

That's how you get to a state of deep focus, which will allow you to draw deeper connections from the text. Even if this seems difficult at first, you can slowly build your ability to focus day by day.

Try committing to reading 25 pages a day for a week. Then up that page count to 35. Take it gradually.

9. Introduce the information to others.

Experts say that if you want to remember what you experience, it's important to do something with that information.

Two Quora users listed talking about what you read as a useful means of processing new material. Venkatesh Rao suggests blogging, or otherwise trying to explain to others what you think you've learned.

Plus, if you find that you can't explain it, you may want to go back and reread.

10. Choose books that matter to you.

If the reading material isn't assigned, and the pressure of an exam or paper isn't motivating you to read it, what is?

Make sure you know why you're picking up this book. What intrigues you about it? Will it have a discernible effect on your personal development or contribute to a momentary escape to a different train of thought?

When you're impressed by something, there's a higher chance that you'll remember what you've learned and be able to tell others about it.

So choose books carefully, start as many as you want, and don't be ashamed if you finish only the select few you love.

SEE ALSO: 4 strategies for remembering everything you learn

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The secret strategy samurai use to achieve laser-focus

• Amazon just released its annual Best Books list for 2019, with Margaret Atwood's "The Testaments" at the top. This year's winner is the dystopian sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale."
• Below, we've outlined the Amazon Editorial team's Top 10 picks of 2019, from psychological thrillers to cheeky narratives.
• You can view the complete list and purchase in print, for Kindle or Audible, at amazon.com/bestbooks2019.

Bibliophiles know that nothing's better than a great read. As a self-proclaimed one myself, I escape in plotlines and revere a fresh book smell. Finding the right one, however, can be a challenge.

Thankfully, Amazon recently released its Best Books of 2019 list, which names Margaret Atwood's "The Testaments" as number one. This year's list hails an array of reads across genres, plus picks we've previously profiled.

Compared to past honorees, "The Testaments" is a standout making literary history. According to Sarah Gelman, editorial director at Amazon Books, "It's so exciting to witness literary history being made, and Atwood has done just that with this deeply moving book." Indeed, this sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale" is jarring, yet deeply moving and dramatic. Not surprisingly, readers were invested from start to finish.

If you're on the hunt for a great book, check out the Top 10 picks of 2019 below — where you'll discover poignant memoirs, witty satire, and investigative journalism. To see the complete list of Best Books of 2019, and to purchase in print, for Kindle or Audible, visit amazon.com/bestbooks2019.

Captions have been provided by Erin Kodicek, editor of books and Kindle at Amazon.

"The Testaments" by Margaret Atwood

Buy it here >>

Praise be! After almost 35 years, Margaret Atwood released the sequel to her pioneering work of speculative fiction, "The Handmaid's Tale," and it is well worth the wait. While "The Handmaid's Tale" explored how totalitarian regimes come to power, "The Testaments" delves into how they begin to fracture. At 80 years young, Atwood is at the top of her game.

"The Nickel Boys: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Buy it here >>

Having earned a Pulitzer and a National Book Award with his last novel, "The Underground Railroad," Colson Whitehead follows up with a story about two young black men sent to the infamous Nickel Academy in Florida. Set during the 1960s Jim Crow era, the story follows Elwood and Turner who, despite different backgrounds and world views, learn to lean on one another to survive.

"Wild Game" by Adrienne Brodeur

Buy it here >>

The subtitle seems to say it all: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me. And yet there is so much more to the story. Adrienne Brodeur was 14 when her mother started secretly dating Ben Souther. What developed after that was a strange, uncomfortable, impossible-to-look-away-from triangle in which young Adrienne became cover for the trysts between her mother and Ben. This is an engaging and at times breathless memoir that builds with anticipation and continues to unfold with observations and revelations.

"Quichotte: A Novel" by Salman Rushdie

Buy it here >>

An exquisite satire on the world we live in, Rushdie's latest novel pays Cervantes a great, clever compliment with this deliciously funny "Don Quixote" for modern times. An unusual romantic quest kicks off a road trip across America in an age that would be utterly surreal if we weren't actually living it. An antidote to fear, bursting with intelligence and wit — "Quichotte" is exactly what so many of us need right now.

"The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern

Buy it here >>

Almost 10 years after she wrote "The Night Circus," Morgenstern offers readers a shape-shifting, time-bending, otherworldly adventure of storytelling, where pirates lurk and doors lead forward and backward in time, where crowded ballrooms collapse into oceans, and where a young man must piece together the clues to uncover and protect his own life's story. This magnificent tribute to tales of the imagination is absolutely magical.

"Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber" by Mike Isaac

Buy it here >>

"Super Pumped" is a masterful and highly entertaining work of investigative journalism into the evolution of Uber and its maverick founder Travis Kalanick. Perfect for readers who were captivated by "Bad Blood,"Mike Isaac's "Super Pumped" provides an insider's view of the stunning highs and catastrophic lows of the company that changed the way we use transportation.

"City of Girls: A Novel" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Buy it here >>

It's the 1940s, and the frivolous and fun-loving Vivian Morris arrives in New York with the goal of "becoming someone interesting"— and in short order she is, but for all the wrong reasons. The latest novel by the author of "Eat, Pray, Love" is bawdy, bighearted, and wise.

"They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker

Buy it here >>

George Takei's vivid graphic memoir reveals the story of his family's incarceration during the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, beginning when Takei was only 5 years old. Even as the memories depicted range from unsettling to infuriating, "They Called Us Enemy" inspires readers to insist that our country treats fellow human beings with fairness and dignity.

"The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides

Buy it here >>

In this psychological thriller, a couple seems to have it all until the wife is convicted of shooting her husband in the face. But she will say nothing about the crime — or anything else, for that matter. After a criminal psychologist obsessed with the case comes on the scene, dark twists and delightful turns follow, secrets (and a diary) are revealed, and you will likely find yourself racing to the end of this year's must-read thriller.

"Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" by Lori Gottlieb

Buy it here >>

What happens when a celebrated psychotherapist finds herself on the other side of the couch? "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" is an entertaining, relatable, moving homage to therapy — and just being human.

• The best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on Kindles include $45 off the Kindle Paperwhite and $30 off a Kindle Unlimited membership— and they are happening right now.
• We're also tracking the best Black Friday deals at Amazon beyond just Kindle ebook readers, which include major deals on other Amazon devices like the Echo and Fire HD 10 tablet.
• You can find a one-stop master list of all the best Black Friday 2019 deals here and all of our other Black Friday deal articles here.

Updated 11/29/19 at 2:30 p.m.

Heads up to anyone who loves to read or plans to spend the bulk of their winter weekends cozying up in bed, flicking through the latest thriller — Black Friday 2019 has some great deals on Kindles to appeal to your bookworm-ish heart and savings-driven brain. 

Amazon didn't skimp on its Kindle ebook readers deals this year, and you can take advantage of them all the way through Cyber Monday, which is December 2 this year. That means you don't have to wait around wondering whether the prices will drop later on. 

Kindle deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019:

All these deals will be available through Cyber Monday, which is December 2.

• Kindle, $60 (originally $90) [You save $30] + $5 ebook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited
• Kindle Kids Edition, $80 (originally $110) [You save $30] + $5 ebook credit
• Kindle Paperwhite, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45] + $5 ebook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited
• First 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free (usually $9.99 per month, new members only), or six months for $29.97 

They're part of Amazon's sitewide Black Friday sale, which prominently features Amazon devices and services such as Kindle ebook readers and reading memberships. 

Learn more about each Kindle and Kindle service: 

Kindle Unlimited

First 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free (originally $29.97) [You save $29.97]

Or, 6 months for $29.97 (originally $59.94) [You save $29.97]

Great for particularly voracious readers, Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to over 1 million books, a rotating selection of popular magazines, and thousands of Audible audiobooks. You can access it through any Kindle or device with the Kindle app. Learn more about how to use the service here. 

Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Paperwhite, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45] + $5 ebook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited

If you hate lugging around books, you'll love the convenience of Amazon's best-selling Kindle device, complete with a backlight for nighttime reading. The Paperwhite has converted many Insider Picks reading snobs who previously proclaimed they could only ever read physical books — quite the achievement. The newest one is thinner, lighter, and waterproof. Read our review of the Kindle Paperwhite here. 

Kindle Kids Edition

Kindle Kids Edition, $80 (originally $110) [You save $30] + $5 ebook credit

The Kids Edition isn't actually a different Kindle device. Rather, it bundles the regular Kindle with kid-friendly services and features: one year of FreeTime Unlimited (a subscription that offers access to thousands of books of different reading levels), a Kindle cover to protect the device from drops and bumps, and a two-year warranty that protects your purchase in case it does break. 

Kindle

Kindle, $59.99 (originally $89.99)[You save $30] + $5 eBook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited

The most basic Kindle is a solid ebook reader. Though its resolution of 167 ppi is lower than that of its counterparts, the screen is still glare-free, and the newest version now comes with an adjustable front light. 

Kindle FAQs:

What is Kindle?

Kindle is Amazon's collection of tablet-like ebook readers. It's also an app that lets you read ebooks from your phone or any other type of tablet. Supplementing the devices and app is Kindle Unlimited, a monthly membership that gives you unlimited access to more books than you can count. 

How do you read with Kindle?

To see what it's like to read with a Kindle, you can first read our guide to using a Kindle, which includes expert tips and tricks. 

What is Kindle Unlimited?

An early Black Friday deal lets you enjoy three whole months of Kindle Unlimited for free. It's one of the best deals of Black Friday, saving you $30 over the course of a few months on a huge library of books. 

Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to over 1 million titles, including classics, new releases, and magazines. There are also thousands of books that come with Audible narration. You don't actually need a Kindle device to use Kindle Unlimited. If you have the Kindle app on your phone, you'll be able to read (or listen) wherever you are. 

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Best Buy Black Friday deals 2019
• GameStop Black Friday deals 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• The Home Depot Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

• The best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on Kindles include $45 off the Kindle Paperwhite and $30 off a Kindle Unlimited membership.
• We're also tracking the best Cyber Monday deals at Amazon beyond just Kindle ebook readers, which include major deals on other Amazon devices like the Echo and Fire HD 10 tablet.
• You can find a one-stop master list of all the best Cyber Monday 2019 deals here. 

Heads up to anyone who loves to spend their time curled up with a good read — Cyber Monday 2019 has some great deals on Kindles. 

Amazon didn't skimp on its Kindle ebook readers deals for Black Friday this year, and most of the deals are still going on now. Though we don't have confirmation about when the following deals will end, we're pretty sure you can take advantage of these prices all the way through Cyber Monday, which is December 2 this year. 

Kindle deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019:

All these deals are likely to be available through Cyber Monday, which is December 2. 

• Kindle, $60 (originally $90) [You save $30] + $5 ebook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited
• Kindle Kids Edition, $80 (originally $110) [You save $30] + $5 ebook credit
• Kindle Paperwhite, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45] + $5 ebook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited
• First 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free (usually $9.99 per month, new members only), or six months for $29.97 

Learn more about each Kindle and Kindle service: 

Kindle Unlimited

First 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free (originally $29.97) [You save $29.97]

Or, 6 months for $29.97 (originally $59.94) [You save $29.97]

Great for particularly voracious readers, Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to over 1 million books, a rotating selection of popular magazines, and thousands of Audible audiobooks. You can access it through any Kindle or device with the Kindle app. Learn more about how to use the service here. 

Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Paperwhite, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45] + $5 ebook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited

If you hate lugging around books, you'll love the convenience of Amazon's best-selling Kindle device, complete with a backlight for nighttime reading. The Paperwhite has converted many Insider Picks reading snobs who previously proclaimed they could only ever read physical books — quite the achievement. The newest one is thinner, lighter, and waterproof. Read our review of the Kindle Paperwhite here. 

Kindle Kids Edition

Kindle Kids Edition, $80 (originally $110) [You save $30] + $5 ebook credit

The Kids Edition isn't actually a different Kindle device. Rather, it bundles the regular Kindle with kid-friendly services and features: one year of FreeTime Unlimited (a subscription that offers access to thousands of books of different reading levels), a Kindle cover to protect the device from drops and bumps, and a two-year warranty that protects your purchase in case it does break. 

Kindle

Kindle, $59.99 (originally $89.99)[You save $30] + $5 eBook credit + 3 months free Kindle Unlimited

The most basic Kindle is a solid ebook reader. Though its resolution of 167 ppi is lower than that of its counterparts, the screen is still glare-free, and the newest version now comes with an adjustable front light. 

What is Kindle?

Kindle is Amazon's collection of tablet-like ebook readers. It's also an app that lets you read ebooks from your phone or any other type of tablet. Supplementing the devices and app is Kindle Unlimited, a monthly membership that gives you unlimited access to more books than you can count. 

How do you read with Kindle?

To see what it's like to read with a Kindle, you can first read our guide to using a Kindle, which includes expert tips and tricks. 

What is Kindle Unlimited?

An early Black Friday deal lets you enjoy three whole months of Kindle Unlimited for free. It's one of the best deals of Black Friday, saving you $30 over the course of a few months on a huge library of books. 

Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to over 1 million titles, including classics, new releases, and magazines. There are also thousands of books that come with Audible narration. You don't actually need a Kindle device to use Kindle Unlimited. If you have the Kindle app on your phone, you'll be able to read (or listen) wherever you are. 

• The absolute best Cyber Monday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Cyber Monday 2019
• Amazon Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Target Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Macy's Cyber Monday deals 2019
• What is Cyber Monday? Everything you need to know

• Each month, Amazon's book editors add a batch of new releases to the Best Books of the Month section, which serves as a convenient resource for readers throughout the year.
• This December, you'll find 10 great reads, from exhilarating spy novels andepic historical stories to raw memoirs.
• Check out this month's top picks, with short summaries provided by Amazon's book editor, Erin Kodicek.

The year 2019 is approaching its curtain call. During a stressful time marked by limited daylight, holiday shopping, and somber weather, literary escapism is certainly warranted — and as a new Insider Picks fellow, I found solace in a good book after spending weeks scouring Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for our readers.

Just in time for the holiday season, the Amazon Books team has selected its favorite reads of December, concluding the Best Books of the Month section for this year.

December's roster is an eclectic mix highlighting scientific exploitation, fantasy worlds, and intrepid adventures, among other page-turning topics and storylines. Widely acclaimed authors like Tomi Adeyemi are featured alongside new writers making fresh debuts in the literary space. Whether you're on the hunt for a thoughtful gift or seeking to expand your personal library, this month's list is a useful starting point. 

Keep reading to see this month's book selection below. To view the complete breakdown of Amazon's Best Books of 2019, visit amazon.com/bestbooks2019.

Captions have been provided by Erin Kodicek, editor of books and Kindle at Amazon.com.

"Such A Fun Age" by Kiley Reid

Buy it here >>

A 25-year-old black babysitter — clad in her "going out" clothes — takes her young charge to a moneyed market, only to be accused of kidnapping by a security guard and fellow shopper. Thus begins a deft and heartfelt exploration of race, class, parenthood, and youth.

"Once More To The Rodeo" by Calvin Hennick

Buy it here >>

In his probing and profound memoir, Calvin Hennick hits the road with his 5-year-old son searching for answers to questions like: "What does it mean to be a man today? What can a white father teach his biracial son?"

"Children Of Virtue And Vengeance" by Tomi Adeyemi

Buy it here >>

The Legacy of Orisha continues with the second book in the fantasy trilogy, "Children of Virtue and Vengeance." In it, the rich world-building continues, and the plot grows ever more complex and thoughtful as the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart. 

"Under Occupation" by Alan Furst

Buy it here >>

In Alan Furst's latest spy novel, readers will be transported to Paris in 1942, as a mystery writer begins to act like the hero of one of his own novels and gets drawn into the center of the action in ways that are both exhilarating and terrifying.

"The Playground" by Jane Shemilt

Buy it here >>

In Jane Shemilt's shocking page-turner, "The Playground," the lives of three couples converge when their children end up in the same tutoring group, with unexpected and dangerous consequences.

"Labyrinth Of Ice" by Buddy Levy

Buy it here >>

In July of 1881, Lt. A.W. Greely and his crew of 24 scientists and intrepid explorers set out for "farthest North," a region not yet found on any map. Fast-paced and rich in detail, Buddy Levy's "Labyrinth of Ice" captures this perilous polar adventure.   

"Anyone" by Charles Soule

Buy it here >>

In this chilling work of speculative fiction, a scientist's accidental invention — technology that can transfer consciousness from person to person — ends up being exploited on the black market.

"All That's Bright And Gone" by Eliza Nellums

Buy it here >>

In this unusual murder mystery, reminiscent of Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," young, disarmingly sweet Aoife decides that the only way to get his distraught mother back is to find out who murdered his brother.

"Land Of Tears" by Robert Harms

Buy it here >>

Full of action, "Land of Tears" is the fascinating story of the Congo river basin and lands west — all the way to Zanzibar — during the late 1800s when European powers and Arab traders were fighting over resources in equatorial Africa.

"Regretting You" by Colleen Hoover

Buy it here >>

Colleen Hoover returns with a moving novel about a fractured relationship between mother and daughter that is further complicated by a death in the family and the revelation of a surprising affair.  

See more of this year's Amazon Book Of The Month picks below:

• The 10 best books of 2019
• The 10 must-read books of January
• The 10 must-read books of February
• The 10 must-read books of March
• The 10 must-read books of May
• The 10 must-read books of July
• The 10 must-read books of August
• The 12 must-read books of September
• The 12 must-read books of October
• The 10 must-read books of November

• Every year, tens of thousands of Book of the Month members — particularly voracious readers — vote on one Best Book of the Year.
• There were a handful of great nominees in 2019, but "Daisy Jones & The Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid beat them all.
• Get a free book for $5 when you use the code "FAM5" at checkout. You can also get $10 off 6- and 12-month gift cards with code "PERFECT10" at checkout.
• Need more inspiration? Shop Amazon's picks for Best Books of 2019 here. 

Life is too short to waste time on bad books. 

That's why havings tens of thousands of voracious readers do the heavy lifting for you sounds so ideal. It'd be better if they read the thousands of pages, dissected the characters and plots, and then ranked each title to determine which was most unforgettable. Then, they tell you. You buy it, and chances are, you love it. 

Every year, that's basically what you'll find in Book of the Month's "Best of the Year" lists. The subscription service's members choose from spectacular titles — an already pared down list from those curated by experts and celebrity judges throughout the year — to crown one Best of the Year. For being the crowd favorite amongst bookworms, it wins a $10,000 prize. 

In 2019, that most unforgettable book is "Daisy Jones & The Six."It's the drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll tale of the whirlwind rise of one of the biggest bands of the seventies — more specifically, of the beautiful lead singer, Daisy, and the lesser-known reasons behind the band's infamous breakup. It's the sort of book that's hard to put down, with unusual wit and perfect pacing. 

Book of the Month is a book club that's best known for putting American literary classics like "Gone with the Wind" and "Catcher in the Rye" on the map. BOTM announces five book selections each month chosen by experts and celebrity guest judges passionate about books, and subscribers can choose which book they'd like to receive in hardcover that month. It's been around since 1926, and it has a particularly celebrated eye for cherry-picking promising debuts from the pack. They also give their subscribers access to early releases of anticipated books. 

Plus, BOTM members get each monthly book for just $14.99 — and they can choose additional titles that month for $9.99 each. That's often lower than what you'd find in the bookstore or on Amazon, which makes a subscription service surprisingly one of the most efficient and economical ways to get hardcovers of the best new books. And if you didn't finish your book from the previous month, you can skip the current month. For readers who want a physical book without a library line, it can be a particularly good deal. 

Below are the other finalists considered for Book of the Year:

• "Recursion"by Blake Crouch
• "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides
• "This Tender Land" by William Kent Krueger
• "A Woman is No Man" by Etaf Rum

Find more information on each of the nominees here, and sign up for your first month of Book of the Month to select your January books here. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 things about the NFL that football fans may not know

• A new year brings often brings reading resolutions that end up falling to the wayside by mid-January.
• To help you stay on track and provide some guidance, Amazon's book editors have handpicked a list of noteworthy titles for the site's Best Books of the Month section.
• This January, you'll find plenty of page-turners, from engaging thrillers and cultural commentaries to thought-provokers and grisly fairy tales. 
• Check out this month's top picks below, with short synopses provided by Amazon's book editor, Erin Kodicek.

When it comes to New Year's resolutions, you're sure to find healthy-eating credos, self-care mantras, and lofty financial benchmarks on pretty much everyone's list. But for bookworms, those more typical goals are often supplanted by one simple objective: to read more. 

To help meet your reading goals, the Amazon Books team has released their favorite new books of January, kicking off the Best Books of the Month section for 2020. This month's list lauds a diverse group of psychological thrillers and self-improvement guides, among others. Prolific writers such as Anna Wiener from The New Yorker are honored for redefining what it means to be a powerful storyteller.

Get started on your reading resolutions with January 2020's book selection below — or take a trip down memory lane with the complete breakdown of Amazon's Best Books of 2019. 

Captions have been provided by Erin Kodicek, editor of books and Kindle at Amazon.com.

"American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins

Buy it here >>

In this compulsively readable, empathy-arousing read, a mother and son are forced to flee from Acapulco to the United States after inadvertently getting in the crosshairs of a drug cartel.

"Uncanny Valley" by Anna Wiener

Buy it here >>

In this timely memoir that serves as a cautionary tale, Anna Wiener describes her transition from book publishing to the Silicon Valley bubble, a place with excesses and unbridled ambitions that overshadowed its progressive ideals.

"Boys and Sex" by Peggy Orenstein

Buy it here >>

Hyper-masculinity, hookup culture, racial stereotypes, and consent are among the numerous topics discussed in this compassionate, insightful, and potentially uncomfortable read by Peggy Orenstein.

"Tiny Habits" by BJ Fogg

Buy it here >>

A perfect new-year-new-you read, "Tiny Habits" is a prescriptive guide for changing behaviors that are impeding you from achieving goals ranging from getting more sleep, to losing weight, to reducing stress and anxiety.

"Long Bright River" by Liz Moore

Buy it here >>

In this Dennis Lehane-esqe thriller that's also a moving story of family and addiction, a policewoman must investigate the disappearance of her estranged sister, who may have fallen prey to a serial killer.

"Dear Edward" by Ann Napolitano

Buy it here >>

Twelve-year-old Edward Adler is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills 183 other passengers, including his family. "Dear Edward" is the poignant story of some of those passengers, and of summoning the resilience necessary to move forward after unimaginable tragedy. 

"Agency" by William Gibson

Buy it here >>

In William Gibson's thought-provoking sequel to The Peripheral, which can also be read as a stand-alone, individuals in the future are reckless puppeteers with other people's pasts. 

"Wilmington's Lie" by David Zucchino

Buy it here >>

Pulitzer Prize-winner David Zucchino sheds light on a dark and little-known part of history: the overthrow of an elected government in the U.S. by white supremacists bent on destroying their mixed-race community.

"The Night Country" by Melissa Albert

Buy it here >>

In Melissa Albert's fascinating (and macabre) follow-up to her dark fairy tale, "The Hazel Wood," Alice Proserpine escapes the Hinterlands, but her attempts to forge a normal life in New York City prove highly challenging (and potentially deadly).

"The Wives" by Tarryn Fisher

Buy it here >>

Seth has three wives. After finding a piece of paper with a random woman's name on it, the wife he is legally married to surreptitiously seeks her out. This sets off a chain of events with catastrophic consequences in this page-turning psychological thriller.

Need more inspiration? See last year's Amazon Book Of The Month picks below:

• The 10 best books of 2019
• The 10 must-read books of January
• The 10 must-read books of February
• The 10 must-read books of March
• The 10 must-read books of May
• The 10 must-read books of July
• The 10 must-read books of August
• The 12 must-read books of September
• The 12 must-read books of October
• The 10 must-read books of November
• The 10 must-read books of December

• Mark McLaughlin, MD is a practicing board-certified neurosurgeon and author of the book "Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon's Quest to Outthink Fear."
• To usher in the new decade, he has three resolutions to make a positive impact on his life. He wants to shift away from screens and read more, which will help him think and write more creatively.
• He wants to listen more meaningfully and attentively, and utilize downtime for thinking.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The start of a new decade seems more meaningful than the beginning of other new years. I tend to think more long range at these mileposts. For 2020, I've made three resolutions that I hope will have a positive impact on my life for years to come:

SEE ALSO: I'm a neurosurgeon, and the habit that completely changed my life can help improve anyone's mind

1. Ramp up reading

Starting now, I intend to consume more books on a regular basis. Crucial to meeting this goal will be diverting my gaze more often from the screen to the printed page. It's startling how much time we spend looking at mobile devices and watching television. A typical day for me: three hours on my mobile devices, one hour of the tube. This ratio between books and screens needs to shift now.

I've already written an article for Business Insider about how reading books has enhanced my life. It's clear that reading helps me think and write more clearly and creatively. It has also given me a broader worldview.

I've also learned that there's a qualitative difference between reading something in print and something online. I concentrate more on a book than I do when reading on a screen. Research shows we are less likely to have our attention diverted when reading something in print. In a 2016 survey of college students reported in The New Republic, 67% of respondents said that they were much more likely to multitask while reading digitally, versus 41% when reading print. 

Since elimination of distractions is important for reading, I've designated one room in my house for me and my books. It has no television or computer that can lure me to the easy option of pressing a button. It also makes reading more of a treat. Of course, you don't need a library in your home for this. A comfortable chair in a quiet place with good lighting will do the trick.

2. Listen up

I'm ushering in the new decade with a strong resolve to listen more attentively, so I can better understand what is being communicated to me. Doing so will require approaching conversations with curiosity and patience.

Stephen Covey said it best: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." By adopting the intent to understand first, I hope to be a more effective listener and avoid misunderstandings or jumping to the wrong conclusion. I believe a more receptive stance will lead to a more engaged experience for both myself and the person I am speaking with — and will help both of us find more mutually beneficial solutions to problems.

Case in point: Recently, a member of a board I was chairing told me he was quitting because he didn't have time for it. His reasoning puzzled me, since the board convened only four times a year for one-hour meetings. When I asked him to clarify his challenge with the time commitment, he revealed that he felt out of the loop in previous board meetings, as if he were a fifth wheel. Drawing him out this way helped me realize that I needed to engage him more in the meetings, and I was able to persuade him to stay on the board.

This year and beyond, I will try to pay attention to what is not said — but is evident in nonverbal cues.

Nonverbal communication is a crucial part of our interactions, more than most people may realize. Landmark research by psychologist Albert Mehrabian showed that the total impact of a message in personal encounters is 7% verbal, 55% nonverbal, and 38% vocal (which includes tone of voice, inflection, and other sounds.)  

3. Make downtime think time

Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." Nowadays, we don't think enough — which can make us less than we can be. Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A, sets aside one half of a day every two weeks and one full day a month to perform what he calls intentional thinking. This allows him to focus on his most important projects.

We all have pockets of time for reflection, but we often tend to fill the minutes by pecking away at our mobile devices. My quest is to divert more of this time to focused, uninterrupted thinking, not doing. Opportunities for reflection are available every day, and I plan on taking advantage of them. For starters, I will take more walks, even short ones, without giving in to the urge to look at my cellphone. These are the times when fresh ideas, even great ones, may bubble up into our consciousness. 

You may be "thinking" as you read this that you simply don't have the time for much action-free reflection. Of course you do. There are many ways to capture more think time without wasting time. While walking the dog. Waiting for a train. Jogging outside or working out on an elliptical trainer. Idling in gridlock during rush hour. Even while sitting in the waiting room before having an appointment with me!

Ironically, letting the mind drift without targeting our thoughts can also enhance our performance. As essayist/cartoonist Tim Kreider tells us in the "The Busy Trap": "The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration … "

This makes me think of what I once read about Jonas Salk. His major insight for coming up with a cure for polio didn't occur while working at the lab, but while walking on the grounds of a thirteenth century monastery in Italy. I, too, have had a number of "a-ha!" moments about difficult patient cases after meditating and making my mind go quiet for a while.

The new decade has begun. May resolutions rule during the 2020s!

• Amazon's Kindle Unlimited is a great way to get access to a ton more books than you otherwise would have.
• Kindle Unlimited is available for a range of devices, including tablets and your smartphone.
• It includes more than just books — it also offers audiobooks and even some of the latest magazine titles.
• When you sign up for Kindle Unlimited, you get a 30-day free trial and pay only $9.99 per month after.
• If you're looking for the best deals right now, check out our Deals of the Day and the Insider Coupons page.

If you're a Kindle user or simply like to read, then you're probably familiar with Amazon's massive range of e-books in the Kindle store. For super-avid readers, however, Amazon has a service called Kindle Unlimited that gets users access to a huge range of those e-books (over one million, in fact) — meaning you can read to your heart's content.

If you were otherwise to spend $15 a week on books, this service could save you $50 a month in the long run (that is, minus the usual $9.99 monthly fee). 

Of course, it's worth noting that you don't necessarily need a Kindle e-reader to take advantage of the Kindle Unlimited service. You can enjoy Kindle e-books on other devices too, including your tablet, smartphone, or even on your computer, if you so choose. Safe to say, the Kindle Unlimited service really is for everyone.

And Kindle Unlimited goes beyond e-books. It also offers current magazines and unlimited access to thousands of audiobooks, so even if you don't have time to actually read, you can still enjoy some great titles. You can also cancel your subscription any time, so if after the three months you end up deciding that Kindle Unlimited isn't right for you, you don't have to pay any more.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Prime Book Box for Kids subscribers receive a box of carefully curated children's books every month, two months, or three months.
• The service saves customers up to 40% off the list price of the books, which are delivered free through the Amazon Prime program (you must be a Prime subscriber to sign up for the Book Box).
• The service offers book selections tailored to babies and young toddlers, kids ages 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12 years old.

You're already an Amazon Prime member, right? Okay, good.

And do you have kids? Yes?

Do you hope to foster a love of reading in those kids of yours? Okay, great!

Now, final question: Is inspiring said love of reading worth $19.99 a month to you? Spectacular. You're the perfect household to sign up for Amazon's Prime Book Box book delivery service for babies and kids.

What is Amazon Prime Book Box for Kids?

If you want to leave the selection of the books that will be delivered to your kids in the capable hands of Amazon's editors, you can probably complete the sign-up process in the same amount of time you've spent reading this article thus far. But in case you want a bit more information about the program, let's go a bit deeper here:

How can you sign up for the Book Box for Kids?

To sign up for a Prime Book Box subscription, you will indeed already need to be a Prime member. If you're not, well, that's an added expense, but just think of all the free shipping, TV and movie streaming, and music benefits that come along with it (and dozens of other perks, too).

The monthly price of a Prime Book Box is just $19.99, and you can choose to have books delivered monthly, every other month, or every three months. (So that's $239.88, $119.94, or $79.96 annually, for the record.) Members save up to 40% off the list price of books by using the Book Box, which includes four board books for kids through age 2 and comes with two hardcover books for kids in each of the other three age categories.

What do you get in the Book Box for Kids?

Parents can look through a list of books selected by Amazon's editors and choose the books that will be included in each box, but I recommend you leave the curating in the hands of the company's accomplished editors. According to the Prime Book Box page itself:

Each box features books our customers love and our Amazon book editors couldn't forget. Our editors read thousands of books every year to find selections your reader will enjoy again and again. You'll discover new releases, classics, and hidden gems tailored to your reader's age.

If your family's experience is anything like mine so far, that's not just marketing copy, it's accurate.

The two books included in our preschool-aged son's first box immediately became part of our standard bedtime operating procedure, and as far as we can tell, our 9-month-old daughter loves her board books, though that may be more of a tactile and teething thing, to be honest. I'll ask her once she can talk.

The bottom line

It's little surprise Amazon managed to launch such a successful program, of course. The behemoth of a company has its roots as an online bookstore (do you even remember that? It was all about books back in the day. Now it's... everything), and it's pretty good at the whole delivery thing, too.

Staffing up with editors who select excellent books was the last piece of the puzzle for this affordable, elegantly simple book subscription program that just might play a major role in helping your kids grow up loving books.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Amazon's Kindle products and services have made reading in the modern era significantly more convenient and enjoyable.
• During Prime Day of last year, Prime members saved up to $30 on the Kindle, $45 on the Kindle Paperwhite, and $30 on a Kindle Unlimited membership. We expect similarly excellent deals this year.
• If you want to save now, you can also check out our Deal of the Day and Insider Coupons pages for current discounts on a variety of products.
• For details on even more deals, you can find all of our Prime Day 2020 coverage here.

Heads up to anyone who loves to read or plans to spend the bulk of their summer weekends splayed out on a beach flicking through the latest thriller, Prime Day 2020 is going to sneak up on you real quick. That is, with deals to appeal to your bookworm-ish heart and savings-driven brain.

Because this yearly sales event is hosted by Amazon, it tends to favor Amazon devices and services, and that includes everything Kindle ereaders.

Kindle is Amazon's collection of tablet-like ereaders. It's also an app that lets you read ebooks from your phone or any other type of tablet. Supplementing the devices and app is Kindle Unlimited, a monthly membership that gives you unlimited access to more books than you can count.

To see what it's like to read with a Kindle, you can first read our guide to using a Kindle, which includes expert tips and tricks. Then, make sure you're prepared for Prime Day 2020 with this checklist.

Kindle deals we expect on Prime Day 2020

Kindle Unlimited

Amazon Kindle Unlimited, $9.99/month (originally $9.99/month) [Was $30 off a year's subscription on Prime Day last year]

Great for particularly voracious readers, Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to over 1 million books, a rotating selection of popular magazines, and thousands of Audible audiobooks. You can access it through any Kindle or device with the Kindle app. Learn more about how to use the service here. We expect to see a similar discount for 2020.

Kindle

Amazon Kindle, $89.99 (originally $89.99) [Was just $59.99 on Prime Day last year]

The most basic Kindle is a solid under-$100 ereader. Though its resolution of 167 ppi is lower than that of its counterparts, the screen is still glare-free, and the newest version now comes with an adjustable front light. This is yet another that isn't discounted at all right now, but could tens of dollars off in just a few more months.

Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Paperwhite, $129.99 (originally $129.99) [Was just $84.99 on Prime Day last year]

If you hate lugging around books and your bookshelf is already full to bursting with titles, you'll love the convenience of Amazon's best-selling Kindle device. It has converted many Insider Picks reading snobs who previously proclaimed they could only ever read physical books — quite the achievement. The newest one is thinner, lighter, and waterproof. Read our review of the Kindle Paperwhite here. This is another we would wait to see a discount, because it's all but guaranteed.

Kindle Oasis

Kindle Oasis, $279.99 (originally $279.99) [Was just $174.99 on Prime Day last year]

Amazon's most expensive and advanced Kindle ereader basically requires a deal to make it worthwhile, which we hope to see again on Prime Day 2020. Without any deals, it's expensive, but we still call it the best ereader you can buy right now because it's incredibly light, has an impressive battery life, and the asymmetrical design makes it easy to turn pages. It has a glare-free, 300 ppi resolution display, plus it's waterproof. Absolutely wait for Prime Day this year before picking this one up (unless you just want on really badly right now, of course).

• I want my daughter to know that it's important to always be herself, but I need tools to help teach her that.
• One of the tools I use is a book about authenticity that follows a unicorn who learns it's OK to stand out.
• The book is from the Slumberkins— they have bundles of books and stuffed animals that cover important and difficult topics like stress, family change, conflict resolution, and grief and loss.
• My daughter enjoys reading the book along with the unicorn stuffed animal, even if she may not fully understand the book's message just yet.
• The stuffed animals are machine washable, and the board books are sturdy enough to resist damage.

Broaching difficult subjects with kids is well, difficult. When my Gram died when I was seven years old, I remember my mom and my school guidance counselor using books as one of their tools to help me.

Now that my daughter Ellie is 19 months old, I can already see how books are helping her through difficult situations — we have books that help her learn to sleep through the night, use the potty, and understand her emotions.

The Slumberkins Unicorn book is one such helpful book — in this case, it aims to teach Ellie to be true to herself. Slumberkins sent us a bundle to test; bundles include a super-soft stuffed animal paired with a book and an affirmation card.

Ellie's bundle is called "Authenticity;" each set has a different theme that teaches an important lesson or covers a difficult topic like stress, family change, conflict resolution, or grief and loss.

The full list of Slumberkins topics:

• Stress-relief
• Self-esteem
• Emotional well-being
• Family change
• Conflict resolution
• Family bonding
• Relaxation
• Authenticity
• Gratitude
• Growth mindset
• Grief and loss

The books are beautifully illustrated. Typically, I lean toward children's books with bright colors and enticing illustrations, but Slumberkins hit the nail on the head with a muted and whimsical design that is more appropriate for serious topics.

Before I read Ellie's book, I was afraid it would be boring for her or over her head, but she enjoys reading it — even if she doesn't yet fully understand the message. It's full of different animals for her to point to and name. Having a matching stuffed animal is fun for her, too.

Ellie's book covers authenticity in a relatable way; it's much more effective than me saying things like "it's important to be yourself, don't be afraid to be who you are, don't change who you are for other people, etc." The story follows a unicorn who tries to blend in with other animals before realizing she's beautiful and unique just the way she is.

Another pro: The animals are machine washable, the book is a board book, and the affirmation card is sturdy, so you don't have to wait to introduce these materials until your child is older. I'm always surprised by how much Ellie can understand even at her age. Although these are heavy topics, a young child can learn more from these books than you'd think.

The design of the stuffed animals is unique. The entire animal is rather flat, making it easy to snuggle and perfect for bedtime. If Ellie rolls onto her unicorn in her sleep, it won't be uncomfortable for her.

You get free resources, too.

In my opinion as a former teacher, the availability of free resources is where Slumberkins really hit it out of the park. Each story has a free download with questions to ask your child, discussion points, an activity, and a printable poster. These activities support learning; questions, discussion, and activities allow children to comprehend stories much more easily.

The bottom line

If your child is going through a difficult situation or if there is an important value you want to instill in him or her, I highly recommend using a Slumberkins bundle as a powerful parenting tool. If you're not sure which topic would be best for your child, Slumberkins offers a "Find Your Creature Quiz" to help you figure it out.

Slumberkins also sells each book individually, making it much more cost effective, allowing you to cover more topics with your child without breaking the bank. As Ellie grows up and needs help understanding and facing topics like grief, stress, or conflict resolution, I know exactly where I'll turn — Slumberkins.

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• Spring is here, and with the new season comes a fresh crop of exciting book launches to add to our reading list. 
• Goodreads, the popular database and forum for book lovers, recently released its list of "The Big Books of Spring," detailing its most anticipated titles hitting shelves in the next three months. 
• Read the short synopses provided by Goodreads' editors for all 33 books in the list, below. 

Goodreads, the go-to online resource for learning about new books and connecting with other readers, recently released its list of the biggest and buzziest book launches of spring 2020. The 33 books on the list span seven genres — fiction, mystery and thriller, horror, fantasy and science, nonfiction, young adult, and romance — so there's something for everyone. A handful of books are already available to order. All of them are available to preorder and will ship on or shortly after their publication date. 

There's no shortage of critically acclaimed authors on the list, like Emma Straub, The New York Times bestselling author of "The Vacationers." Straub's new book, "All Adults Here" explores the challenges that follow mothers and their adult children through multiple generations; it releases on May 5. "Wow, No Thank You" is Samantha Irby's latest book of humorous essays, this time about Irby's adjustment to life in the Midwest, and it releases on March 31.

The list also includes exciting debuts: Janella Angeles' love for musical theater shines through in "Where Dreams Descend," which Goodreads compares to "Moulin Rouge" and "The Phantom of the Opera." The book is out on June 2. "The Mother Code" by biochemist Carole Stivers, out on August 25, offers a futuristic look at a world filled with genetically engineered children and explores what it truly means to be a parent. 

Whether you're anticipating a beloved author's return or looking to explore a new genre, keep reading to learn more about Goodreads' picks for "The Big Books of Spring."

Captions are provided by Goodreads. 

FICTION: 'The Glass Hotel' by Emily St. John Mandel

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From the author of the wildly inventive post-apocalypse tale "Station Eleven,""The Glass Hotel" swerves between three locations—downtown Manhattan, the wilderness of Vancouver, and a massive container ship off the coast of Mauritania. A woman disappears, money changes hands, and ghosts rise up from the past and points beyond. One thing's for sure: When Emily St. John Mandel takes us on a journey, we're always along for the ride.

Release date: March 24

FICTION: 'Code Name Hélène' by Ariel Lawhon

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Based on the real-life story of the daring spy who killed a Nazi with her bare hands during World War II, "Code Name Hélène" chronicles Nancy Wake's transformation from socialite to fearsome espionage agent with a 5 million franc bounty on her well-coiffed head. Organized by the code names associated with Wake—Lucienne Carlier, the White Mouse, Hélène, and Madame André—this novel recounts the remarkable tale of a woman who resisted and persisted.

Release date: March 31

FICTION: 'Afterlife' by Julia Alvarez

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College professor Antonia Vega is looking forward to a quiet retirement, but it seems the universe has something different in mind. Her husband has died, her sister has gone missing, and a pregnant and undocumented teenager has appeared on her doorstep. The first adult novel in nearly 15 years from the acclaimed author of "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents,""Afterlife" examines the obligations we owe to our human family.

Release date: April 7

FICTION: 'The Sweeney Sisters' by Lian Dolan

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Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney gather to mourn and celebrate the life of their beloved father, famous author and respected professor Bill Sweeney. But when a fourth woman shows up at Bill's wake and reveals that she, too, is a Sweeney sister, the three women must question everything they thought they knew about their father's legacy and the bonds of family.

Release date: April 28

FICTION: 'All Adults Here' by Emma Straub

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A story about the things that follow us into adulthood, like it or not, "All Adults Here" tracks the lives of three grown children and the mother who raised them. Overachievers and underachievers both have their burdens to bear. Now a third generation of children has arrived to perpetuate—or break—old family cycles. From the author of "The Vacationers."

Release date: May 5

FICTION: 'The Jane Austen Society' by Natalie Jenner

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In the sleepy village of Chawton, just after World War II, an odd collection of people (doctor, widow, laborer, movie star) gather to mark the sesquicentennial of Jane Austen's death. This disparate group strives to preserve Austen's home and legacy, united only by their mutual love for her novels. Now that's a project we can get behind. Recommended for fans of "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir."

Release date: May 26

FICTION: 'The Lying Life of Adults' by Elena Ferrante

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From the pseudonymous Italian author of the "Neapolitan Novels" comes a new story set in the city of Naples—or, more accurately, the two cities of Naples. Follow adolescent Giovanna as she looks for answers and identity in the refined and moneyed heights of the city as well as in its rough and vulgar depths.

Release date: June 9

MYSTERY & THRILLER: 'Darling Rose Gold' by Stephanie Wrobel

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Rose Gold Watts was a terribly sick child. Confined to a wheelchair and susceptible to every illness, she spent much of her childhood in hospitals and surgical centers. It turns out she didn't have to. Five years later, Rose's mom, Patty Watts, has just been released from prison for her unconscionable deceptions. Everyone is surprised when Rose takes her mom in. Not Rose, though. She's waited a long time for this.

Release date: March 17

MYSTERY & THRILLER: 'The Boy from the Woods' by Harlan Coben

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When Wilde is recruited to help solve the case of a missing teenage girl, he must leave his self-imposed isolation in the woods and reenter a community he's always shunned: a community full of secrets that the powerful will do anything to hide. This thrilling ride will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

Release date: March 17

MYSTERY & THRILLER: 'Little Secrets' by Jennifer Hillier

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Marin's life was shattered when someone kidnapped her son from right under her nose. When she hires a PI to find him, she discovers instead that her husband is having an affair—with a woman who may have a sinister interest in their family. But uncovering these secrets gives Marin something to live for: revenge.

Release date: April 21

MYSTERY & THRILLER: 'Death in Her Hands' by Ottessa Moshfegh

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From the author of "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" comes this twisty and twisted novel about a woman who becomes obsessed with a note she finds in the woods. It reads: "Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body." Except there is no body. Is there an innocent explanation? Or are we in the mind of a narrator more unreliable than we can possibly imagine?

Release date: April 21

HORROR: 'The Return' by Rachel Harrison

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In this creepy debut, Molly, Mae, and Elise gather to celebrate the return of their friend Julie, who's mysteriously reappeared on the second anniversary of the day she went missing. But maybe choosing a remote inn for their girls' weekend wasn't the best idea. Because whatever came back, it sure wasn't Julie.

Release date: March 24

HORROR: 'The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires' by Grady Hendrix

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In this inventive novel from the author of "My Best Friend's Exorcism," a group of suburban housewives united by their shared love of thrilling fiction must save their community from dark forces. Grady Hendrix says he wrote this book to "pit Dracula against my mom." We're betting on the moms.

Release date: April 7
 

HORROR: 'The Only Good Indians' by Stephen Graham Jones

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Described as the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones delivers a book that blends social commentary with nightmarish scenes as four American Indian men are stalked by a vengeful entity from their past. This book will have horror fans and literary fiction readers alike peeking through their fingers and afraid to turn out the light.

Release date: May 19

FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION: 'The City We Became' by N.K. Jemisin

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It's said that every city has a soul. As with so many things, New York City is an exception: It has five. Now Gotham's protectors must come together to stop an ancient evil. Equal parts love letter to NYC, rollicking urban fantasy, and updated Lovecraftian horror, this new submission from three-time Hugo award winner N.K. Jemisin, author of the "Broken Earth" series, is destination reading.

Release date: March 24

FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION: 'Chosen Ones' by Veronica Roth

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So you're a teenage Chosen One and you fulfill the prophecy, defeat the Dark One, and...go home? In her first adult novel, the author of the "Divergent" series blends sci-fi and fantasy to explore everything that comes after the tidy endings of chosen-hero narratives: PTSD, identity crises, unwanted fame. And, oh yeah, getting asked to save the world. Again. 

Release date: April 7

FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION: 'The Girl and the Stars' by Mark Lawrence

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On the harsh ice plains of Abeth the air itself sometimes freezes and survival is the only law. Yaz has always known she's destined for the Pit of the Missing, where the tribe discards those they deem too Broken to endure, but the secrets she finds there might just change everything. Sharing a world with the "Book of the Ancestor" series, "The Girl and the Stars" inaugurates an exciting new trilogy from Mark Lawrence.

Release date: April 30

FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION: 'The Mother Code' by Carole Stivers

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The year is 2049. Humanity's survival depends on genetically engineered children, incubated and raised by robots who were each programmed with a unique "mother code." But as these children grow up, their mothers begin to change, potentially endangering the entire population. With film rights already sold to Steven Spielberg, Stiver's debut asks: What makes a mother? How deep do the bonds between parents and children go?

Release date: August 25

FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION: 'Devolution' by Max Brooks

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Author Max Brooks essentially invented a whole new template for the apocalypse story with "World War Z." Now he brings his signature madcap blending of disparate forms to the Bigfoot legend, as discovered through a set of found journals and an extensive original investigation. Part horror story, part survival tale, part science writing, "Devolution" promises maximum fun immediately.

Release date: May 12

NONFICTION: 'The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness: A Memoir' by Sarah Ramey

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In this harrowing memoir, Sarah Ramey brings readers along into countless hospital rooms as doctors try and fail to diagnose the chronic illness that all but destroyed her health over the span of a decade. Told with dark humor and unflinching candor, Ramey's story is vital reading for the multitudes of women who've been told their pain is all in their heads. It's also prescription-worthy for just about everyone else.

Release date: March 17

NONFICTION: 'Wow, No Thank You' by Samantha Irby

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Comedian, author, and alpha blogger Samantha Irby checks back in with her latest collection of essays and hilarious observations on this weird American life. This time, Irby's dispatches come from white, small-town Michigan, where she's settled into a middle-class existence as a homeowner, book club hostess, and "cheese fry–eating slightly damp Midwest person." This is going to be good.

Release date: March 31

NONFICTION: 'Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family' by Robert Kolker

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Robert Kolker takes us into the midcentury home of the Galvin family, idyllic from the outside and a nightmare within. In the mid-1970s, six of the Galvins' 12 children were diagnosed with schizophrenia in quick succession. What followed is a heartbreaking story of institutionalization, scientific discovery, and a reckoning with the promises of the American dream.

Release date: April 7

NONFICTION: 'The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt' by Jill Watts

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From a lost moment of American history comes Jill Watts' account of FDR's unofficial "Black Cabinet," a group of African American thinkers and activists who helped shape the policies of the New Deal. A compelling and moving account of their struggle to secure civil rights for black Americans, "The Black Cabinet" brings to life hidden figures whose contributions were systematically erased from the record. 

Release date: May 12

YOUNG ADULT: 'Incendiary' by Zoraida Córdova

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From the author of "Labyrinth Lost" comes a sweeping story set in a world inspired by Inquisition Spain. A memory thief must return to the court that used her magic against her own people. Spies, revenge, magic, mistrust, betrayal, political intrigue, and love—this book has it all and more. Perfect for readers craving magical alternative histories, suspenseful plots, and girls who can save themselves.

Release date: April 28

YOUNG ADULT: 'Clap When You Land' by Elizabeth Acevedo

Writer, poet, and National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo ("The Poet X") returns with a unique novel-in-verse about love, loss, and finding family. Camino Rios and Yahaira Rios have spent their lives separated by distance, circumstance, and their father's secrets—one in New York City, one in the Dominican Republic. But when Papi dies in a plane crash, they must navigate their new shared world together.

Release date: May 5

YOUNG ADULT: 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games 0)' by Suzanne Collins

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"Hunger Games" author Suzanne Collins sure knows how to create a spectacle. For a long time, the only thing fans knew about this prequel was that it took place on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games. That didn't slow down the book's momentum one bit. And now we're told that the main character is none other than Coriolanus Snow himself. Well played, Ms. Collins. Well played indeed.

Release date: May 19

YOUNG ADULT: 'Where Dreams Descend' by Janella Angeles

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Billed as "Moulin Rouge" meets "The Phantom of the Opera," this much-anticipated debut introduces an opulent world of competitive magicians engaged in a deadly game. As the stakes keep climbing and each act grows more dangerous than the last, showgirl Kallia is determined to prove herself no matter the cost. Sure to delight fans of "The Night Circus."

Release date: June 2

YOUNG ADULT: 'Cemetery Boys' by Aiden Thomas

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Yadriel has two problems. One, his family is having trouble accepting that he's a boy. Two, he accidentally summoned a ghost. Well, he meant to summon a ghost, to prove that he's a real brujo, but he ended up with the wrong one. Now he's stuck with Julian Diaz, his school's resident bad boy, who's determined not to pass into death until he solves his own murder. A celebration of brash boys, queer love, and Latinx culture. 

Release date: June 9

ROMANCE: 'If I Never Met You' by Mhairi McFarlane

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Jamie needs a steady girlfriend to impress the partners at his firm. Laurie needs to redirect office gossip away from her humiliating breakup and her ex's pregnant new girlfriend. So these two lawyers draw up a deal—they'll pretend to date when they're with their bosses and coworkers. What could possibly go wrong?

Release date: March 24

ROMANCE: 'The Honey-Don't List' by Christina Lauren

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"Set It Up" meets HGTV in this newest offering by romance powerhouse duo Christina Lauren. Carey and James work for the Tripps, a husband-and-wife team about to catapult into home remodeling/design/lifestyle superstardom, if they can just manage to stay married to each other. To save their own jobs, Carey and James must keep their warring bosses together, all while sparks of their own start flying.

Release date: March 24

ROMANCE: 'The Happy Ever After Playlist' by Abby Jimenez

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"Friend Zone" phenom Abby Jimenez is back with this love story that will tug on your heartstrings. A stray pup kicks off a long-distance flirtation between two strangers, but will her past losses and his future as a touring musician keep Sloan and Jason from finding lasting harmony? Warning: contains one extremely cute dog. 

Release date: April 14

ROMANCE: 'Beach Read' by Emily Henry

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January Andrews is a disillusioned romance writer. Augustus Everett is That Guy in your MFA program. They have nothing in common, except for a bad case of writer's block, book deadlines, and—for three months—a shared property line between borrowed beach houses. Shenanigans ensue. 

Release date: May 19

ROMANCE: 'Something to Talk About' by Meryl Wilsner

Debut author Meryl Wilsner delivers a queer romance that's sure to get you talking. When the media misinterprets a picture of famous screenwriter Jo and her assistant Emma, the two women must explore their undeniable chemistry and work out the power imbalance between them, all while trying not to fan the flames of Hollywood gossip.
 
Release date: May 26

• Steve Jobs' lifelong interest in the humanities gave Apple a human touch.
• Some of the iconic CEO's favorite books included Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," Shunryu Suzuki's "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," and the poems of Dylan Thomas.
• Here are 15 books that inspired Steve Jobs.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Why did Apple "think different"?

As Steve Jobs said while introducing the iPad, the Mac maker was never just a tech company. 

"The reason that Apple is able to create products like the iPad is because we've always tried to be at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts," he said.

Jobs' lifelong interest in the humanities gave Apple a human touch.

By combining tech and the liberal arts, Jobs said that Apple was able to "to make extremely advanced products from a technology point of view, but also have them be intuitive, easy-to-use, fun-to-use, so that they really fit the users." 

Jobs arrived at that perspective through a lifetime of reading, as reviewed in Walter Isaacson's biography and other places. We've put together a list of 15 books that most inspired him. 

Drake Baer contributed to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best books about technology, according to Bill Gates

Steve Jobs fell in love with 'King Lear' by William Shakespeare in his final years of high school.

Jobs really found his literary bent in the last two years of high school. 

"I started to listen to music a whole lot,"he told Isaacson, "and I started to read more outside of just science and technology — Shakespeare, Plato. I loved 'King Lear.'" 

The tragedy may have provided a cautionary tale to a young Jobs, since it's the story of an aged monarch going crazy trying to divide up his kingdom. 

"'King Lear' offers a vivid depiction of what can go wrong if you lose your grip on your empire, a story surely fascinating to any aspiring CEO," says Daniel Smith, author of "How to Think Like Steve Jobs." 

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The CEO also enjoyed 'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville during his adolescence.

Another epic story colored Jobs' outlook in his adolescence: "Moby Dick," the deeply American novel by Herman Melville. 

Isaacson draws a connection between Captain Ahab, who's one of the most driven and willful characters in literature, and Jobs. 

Ahab, like Jobs, did lots of his learning from direct experience, rather than relying on institutions. 

"I prospectively ascribe all the honour and the glory to whaling,"the captain writes early in the story, "for a whale-ship was my Yale College and my Harvard."

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'The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas' drew in Jobs for its popularity and creativity.

But the intellectual flowering that Jobs had in late high school wasn't confined to hard-charging megalomaniacs — he also discovered a love for verse, particularly Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. 

"How To Think Like Steve Jobs" author Daniel Smith says that Thomas' poems "drew him in with its striking new forms and unerringly popular touch."

"Do not go gentle into that good night" became a reported favorite:  

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

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'Be Here Now' by Ram Dass reportedly transformed Jobs when he was in college.

In late 1972, Jobs had just started at Reed College, an elite liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon. He started taking LSD and reading lots of books about spirituality. 

"Be Here Now," a guide to meditation by Ram Dass, affected Jobs greatly. Born Richard Alpert, Dass offers an account of his encounters with South Asian metaphysics: 

Now, though I am a beginner on the path, I have returned to the West for a time to work out karma or unfulfilled commitment. Part of this commitment is to share what I have learned with those of you who are on a similar journey ... Each of us finds his unique vehicle for sharing with others his bit of wisdom.

For me, this story is but a vehicle for sharing with you the true message, the living faith in what is possible.

"It was profound,"Jobs said. "It transformed me and many of my friends."

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Jobs swore off meat after reading 'Diet for a Small Planet' by Frances Moore Lappe.

In that first year at Reed, Jobs also read "Diet for a Small Planet," a book about protein-rich vegetarianism that went on to sell 3 million copies. 

It was a breakthrough. 

"That's when I pretty much swore off meat for good," Jobs told Isaacson.

The book had another effect on Jobs: it gave him permission to experiment with extreme diets like purging or fasting.

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Jobs stared juice fasting after reading 'Mucusless Diet Healing System' by Arnold Ehret .

But Jobs' diet grew more adventurous after reading "Muscusless Diet Healing System" by early-20th-century German dietitian Arnold Ehret, who recommended practices like "intermittent juice fasting." 

"I got into it in my typical nutso way," Jobs told Isaacson.

After getting to know Ehret's work, Jobs became something of a nutritional extremist, subsisting on carrots for weeks at a time — to the point that his skin reportedly started turning orange.

But don't try this at home: Ashton Kutcher tried the all-fruit diet while prepping for his role as Steve Jobs, and it landed him in the hospital.

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Jobs read 'Autobiography of a Yogi' by Paramahansa Yogananda in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Jobs read "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Indian guru Paramahansa Yogananda when he was in high school. 

Then he reread it while he stayed at a guesthouse in the foothills of the Himalayas in India.

Jobs explained:

There was a copy there of "Autobiography of a Yogi" in English that a previous traveler had left, and I read it several times, because there was not a lot to do, and I walked around from village to village and recovered from my dysentery.

Unlike the sickness, the book remained a major part of Jobs' life. He reread it every year.

Buy it here »

Jobs read 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind' by Shunryu Suzuki, and attended classes led by the author.

After Jobs got back from India, his interest in meditation continued to flourish. This is partly thanks to geography (1970s California was the place where Zen Buddhism got its first foothold in America), and Jobs was able to attend classes led by Shunryu Suzuki, the Japanese monk who authored "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." 

Like everything else, Jobs went hard into Zen. 

"He became really serious and self-important and just generally unbearable,"says Daniel Kottke, his best friend at the time. 

"Zen has been a deep influence in my life ever since,"Jobs told Isaacson. "At one point I was thinking about going to Japan and trying to get into the Eihei-ji monastery, but my spiritual adviser urged me to stay here (in California)." 

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'The Innovator's Dilemma' by Clayton M. Christensen taught Jobs how not to get left behind by technology.

Apple made a habit of disrupting itself. The iPhone, for instance, had lots of the features of the iconic iPod, thus rendering the music device obsolete. 

Jobs was able to see that that cannibalism was a necessary part of growth, thanks to the "Innovator's Dilemma" by legendary Harvard Business School professor Clay Christensen.

The book posits that companies get ruined by their own success, staying committed to a product even after technology (and customers) move on, like Blockbuster did with physical movie rentals.

Jobs made it clear that the same thing wouldn't happen to Apple, as he said in his explanation of why it needed to embrace cloud computing: 

It's important that we make this transformation, because of what Clayton Christensen calls "the innovator's dilemma," where people who invent something are usually the last ones to see past it, and we certainly don't want to be left behind. 

Read more on Christensen.

Buy it here »

'Cosmic Consciousness' by Richard Maurice Bucke inspired Jobs to travel across the globe.

Kottke recently shared a list of the books he and Jobs read around their time at Reed — ones that inspired Jobs' travels across the globe as well as his professional pursuits.

One of the most influential works on that list is "Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind," originally published by a Canadian psychiatrist in 1901.

Based on his own supposed experiences with enlightenment, Bucke makes the case for a higher form of consciousness than the normal person possesses. He outlines three forms of consciousness: the simple consciousness of animals and humans; the self-consciousness of humans, which includes reason and imagination; and cosmic consciousness, which transcends factual understanding.

You can read the full text online.

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Jobs read 'The Way of the White Clouds' by Lama Anagarika Govinda as he started to explore Buddhism.

Buddhism was a tremendous influence in Jobs' life, and it's said that Zen philosophy helped inspire the simplistic design of Apple products.

Around the time they were beginning to explore Buddhism, Kottke said he and Jobs read this spiritual autobiography by a Buddhist who was one of the last foreigners to travel through Tibet before the Chinese invasion of 1950. Here the author recounts his experiences learning about Tibetan culture and tradition.

Buy it here »

Jobs read 'Ramakrishna and his Disciples' by Christopher Isherwood as part of his literary exploration.

Kottke and Jobs' literary exploration also included this biography of the 19th-century Hindu saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, originally published in 1965.

Fans of the book say Isherwood refrains from preaching and from passing judgment on Ramakrishna's teachings. Instead, he helps readers understand how the saint became so widely influential and revered by taking them on a journey from Ramakrishna's childhood through his spiritual education.

You can read the full text online.

Buy it here »

'Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism' by Chogyam Trungpa taught Jobs that sense of self is an illusion.

This book was among those that Kottke and Jobs read while exploring Buddhist religion and philosophy.

It's a transcript of two lectures the author gave, between 1970 and 1971, on common traps in spiritual journeys.

The main idea is that the ego, or the sense of self, is only an illusion. Instead of trying to improve themselves through spirituality, Trungpa urges readers to just let themselves exist.

You can read the full text here.

Buy it here »

Jobs read 'Meetings With Remarkable Men' by George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, another book about a spiritual journey.

On their personal spiritual journeys, Jobs and Kottke derived inspiration from others who had embarked on similar quests for knowledge.

The second volume of the All and Everything trilogy, originally published in 1963, features the author's recounting of people he met during his travels across Central Asia.

Gurdjieff, a Greek-Armenian spiritual teacher, sought spiritual and existential fulfillment in everyone from his father to a Persian dervish. One reader compares the work to a 20th-century version of the allegory "Pilgrim's Progress."

In 1979, the book was adapted into a film by the same name.

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Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak believes 'Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand was one of Steve Jobs' "guides in life."

Ayn Rand's 1957 book "Atlas Shrugged" is an action-thriller based on economics, philosophy, and science fiction.

The book details the journey of an industrialist and a railroad executive who are determined to keep the country afloat amid an economic crisis. The businessmen were also tasked with solving a range of mysteries that confronted them.

In 2011, Apple cofounder, Steve Wozniak told Bloomberg the book inspired his late business partner, Steve Jobs. 

"Steve was very fast thinking and wanted to do things, I wanted to build things," Wozniak said. "I think 'Atlas Shrugged' was one of his guides in life." 

Buy it here.» 

• Amazon Kindles are lightweight and portable e-readers designed to go anywhere you go, but they are also fragile and prone to damage.  
• A good case can protect your Amazon Kindle, and they don't have to break the bank. 
• Because Kindles come in different shapes and sizes, make sure you choose the right case for the Kindle you own.

Amazon's popular Kindle e-readers are lightweight and easy to carry around, but they are also prone to damage if you're not careful. Whether you're reading a best-selling novel by the pool or you tend to throw your tech around, putting a Kindle into a protective case is the obvious solution. But, the number of cases available, in a variety of styles and price points, can feel seemingly endless.

After researching all the popular cases for Kindles — from both Amazon and third-party makers — we narrowed down our recommendations to three great options. All cases are folio-style in that they have a hard-shell backing, with the front opening like a book cover, They don't add additional significant weight and provide a Kindle with protection, and even include useful features like auto on/off. We also have two honorable mentions that are worth considering.

For this guide we focused on cases for the current 10th-generation of Kindles: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis. Whatever case you decide on, make sure it is compatible with your particular Kindle, as Kindle shapes and sizes vary from model to model, and year to year (most of these recommended cases will not fit models from previous generations, despite sharing the same name). In each of our recommendations, we note which Kindle the case is available for; in some instances, we may only recommend a case for a specific Kindle.

Here are the best Kindle cases:

• Best fabric Kindle case: Amazon Kindle Fabric Cover
• Best Kindle case for outdoor use: Ayotu Leather Case
• Best leather Kindle case: CoBak Leather Smart Cover

The best fabric Kindle case

The Amazon Kindle Fabric Cover offers the best balance of great design and protection.

Available for: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

This case from Amazon comes with a hard shell and a fabric cover that's available in a variety of colors (varies by Kindle). While it would've been nice to choose from even more colors, its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to add to the Kindle without adding too much bulk in a bag or purse. For most people, the fabric Kindle case is the best, thanks to quality construction.

A magnetic closure and soft interior ensure the cover stays closed and the screen is protected at all times — great for when the case jostles around in a bag. We wish it had a kickstand on the back of the case, especially for the price. It is still be easy to hold during use, which is how most Kindle owners use it anyway.

The case also has an auto-on/off feature when the cover is open or closed. However, some users who bought the version for the regular Kindle noted a quicker battery drain than usual, and suggest it may have something to do with the magnetic closure. If you encounter this, definitely get in touch with Amazon.

The Paperwhite version is also "water-safe." Because the Kindle Paperwhite itself is waterproof, the thinking here is that users are more likely to carry the Paperwhite to places like the pool or beach, and need a case to complement. Note that the fabric case for the Oasis or regular Kindle is not (irony is that the Oasis, like the Paperwhite, is also waterproof); if you own one of these Kindles and would like a water-resistant case, go with a leather product.

While it is one of the most expensive options in this list, it offers outstanding value and quality for the price.

Pros: Great design, lightweight, magnetic closure, soft interior keeps screen safe

Cons: Few colors, one of the pricier options on our list, no kickstand for easy viewing

The best Kindle case for outdoor use

The Ayotu Case is an outstanding option for anyone who plans to use the Kindle outside or anywhere it might get wet.

Available for: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

With a seemingly endless supply of colors and designs — ranging from pastels to graphics — the Ayotu cases also have similar qualities like the Amazon Kindle Fabric Case. There's a magnetic closure that prevents the folio cover from opening, and it wakes-up the Kindle when the cover is opened.

But what makes the Ayotu cases our pick for outdoor use are the extra protective qualities. The cover is constructed of multiple layers of hard and soft materials that help resist water and drops. The hard backing also protects the Kindle on all sides. The microfiber lining on the inside helps prevent scratches on the screen.

Due to the construction, the Ayotu cases are bulkier than others. But if extra protection is what you need, the Ayotu offerings are good options.

Pros: Plenty of colors and designs, auto wake/sleep, rugged build

Cons: Some designs will not suit everyone's taste, a little bulky

The best leather Kindle case

The CoBak Leather Smart Cover is designed for anyone who likes the look and feel of leather in a Kindle case.

Available for: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

CoBak's cases are made from quality artificial leather that comes in a variety of colors, ranging from rose gold, black, and blue, to graphic designs featuring butterflies, swans, and even Van Gogh's "Starry Night." The interior is made from a soft lining to reduce the chances of your Kindle being scratched when not in use. 

And, since the case is water-resistant, it can handle occasional rain or splash from the pool when outside; CoBak claims its cases are waterproof, but unless it's the Kindle Oasis or Paperwhite, it will not waterproof the actual device.

Some users said they wished the case had better protection around the corners of the Kindle, so be aware of that.

Pros: Nice faux-leather, variety of colors and designs, anti-scratch interior

Cons: Limited corner protection

What else we considered

Amazon Kindle Leather Case: From Amazon, this is another option for those who like a case with a leather finish. It feels higher-end than other leather Kindle cases, and it is designed to be lightweight and thin enough to not add too much bulk to the Kindle. We aren't a fan of the rather large magnetic clasp on the side — it's unattractive, but some may like it for easier opening. We also wish more colors were available. Amazon says it's made from genuine leather, but we aren't sure if it's synthetic or animal-based. Ultimately, it's the high-price that stopped us from making it a must-have.

Fintie Slimshell: We like that this case comes in a variety of designs, and it's something to consider if you want to show-off some flair. The cover is made with synthetic leather on the outside and soft fiber on the inside. It's slim, but we don't like the bulky magnetic closure that sticks out. If you can overlook that, it's a good option if you want more design options than what Ayotu and CoBak offer.

• Business leaders like Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai say grief — and mental health in general — is a big issue for millions of people amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. 
• Licensed clinical psychologist and author Ramani Durvasula said reading can be one great way to cope with feelings of anxiety or sadness during social distancing. 
• She suggests several books on mindfulness and perseverance, including "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl and "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

More and more business leaders agree — caring for one's mental health is crucial right now. 

Facebook COO and best-selling author Sheryl Sandberg recently told Business Insider that we're all grieving during the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and YouTube's parent company Alphabet, told Time in a recent interview that we're "absolutely" in a mental-health crisis. Other leaders have taken it upon themselves to provide more mental health services and benefits for workers during this trying time. 

Millions of Americans are struggling with feelings of anxiety and grief during the pandemic. But there are several strategies you can use to cope. Licensed clinical psychologist and author Ramani Durvasula first suggests acknowledging the feelings you're having. 

"Many people are experiencing real grief — grief over a life and things and opportunities lost and experiences lost as well. Grief is real, and while it seems like an odd word to use — it is what people are feeling," she said. 

She also recommends seeking professional help, as well as something you can do right away: reading. 

"Reading is so absorbing," the psychologist said. "It is quiet, it can be done privately, we can pace it, stare away from a minute and then come back to it, which is not as easy to do with a movie."

In 2009, a group of researchers measured the impact of yoga, humor, and reading on the stress levels of American students in demanding health science programs. The study found that 30 minutes of reading lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of stress just as effectively as yoga and humor.

Durvasula, author of "Don't You Know Who I Am?", suggests these books to read if you're struggling with anxiety or grief. 

SEE ALSO: Sheryl Sandberg and I video-chatted about grief during a time when the whole world is experiencing it. Here's her personal advice for persevering.

"The Reality Slap" by Russ Harris

Harris, a mental health coach who specializes in acceptance and commitment therapy, writes that the hard truth of reality is that everyone is going to experience disappointment, loss, and failure. Despite this, however, one can still lead a rich life. He outlines four steps readers can take when life throws them a curveball, including to "hold yourself kindly," or take care of yourself, and "drop the anchor," or ground yourself. 

Get it here>> 

"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle

In this best-selling book, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle teachers readers how to shift their mindset and embrace the power of mindfulness, recognize thought patterns, and learn to detach from their emotions.  

Durvasula calls this read "a classic that fits really well in our current time." 

Get it here>>

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

In this deeply moving memoir, psychiatrist Viktor Frankl recounts losing his parents, brother, and pregnant wife, who were killed in Nazi death camps during the 1940s. Drawing on his harrowing experience, he argues that it's not happiness that will carry us through suffering, but a sense of purpose. 

According to Durvasula, this book is especially relevant now, as thousands upon thousands of people are grieving the loss of loved ones. 

Get it here>>

"Buddha's Brain" by Rick Hanson

Harris, who is a psychologist, uses his experience, as well as neuroscience, and Buddhism to teach readers how to activate feelings of calm and joy."When you change your brain, you change your life," the author writes. 

"This is a really great book on training our brains to do mindfulness and meditation work in an accessible manner," Durvasula said. 

Buy it here>>

"Scarcity" by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir

In this science-based book, behavioural economist Sendhil Mullainathan and psychologist Eldar Shafir draw on their research to show how to get the most out of what you have, be it time, money, mental bandwidth, or whatever other thing in life you feel you might not have enough of. Durvasula says this book a "fantastic" read and is timely for readers who may feel that with all that's going on, they don't have the cognitive bandwidth to deal with life's daily struggles. 

Buy it here>> 

"Grit" by Angela Duckworth

In this bestseller, Duckworth makes her case for what leads to success. It's not talent, or even hard work alone. It's a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance. Her book helps readers uncover what it takes to achieve greatness in spite of hardship. "Nobody wants to show you the hours and hours of becoming. They'd rather show the highlight of what they've become," she writes. 

Buy it here>>

• Heather Wilde is a a personal and career growth expert, executive coach, author, speaker, and the current CTO of consulting agency ROCeteer.
• As a professional advisor to startups and small business, Wilde says that young entrepreneurs often ask for her recommendation for books they should read. 
• These 14 titles are some of her favorites, and they include everything from case studies on software engineering, to the ins and outs of high tech products, to "the ultimate reference book" for proper English grammar and phrasing.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As a startup adviser, I am often asked by entrepreneurs about what books will help them start and run their business. No matter what type of business, or what stage you're at, I suggest you give the following a once-over.

"Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering," by Robert Glass

If your business involves technology, you will interact with engineers as they build your product. In this compendium of case studies, Glass covers the most important things you need to know about building an application — and all the things you should forget — so that your business will start off on the best foot.

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!," by Richard Feynman

In the autobiography of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, you'll find a surprisingly poignant examination of how the best ideas can come from the most mundane things — and how to find joy even at your darkest moments.

"Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art," by Steve McConnell

Have you ever tried to estimate a scope of work for a client and been completely wrong, costing you out of pocket? You're not alone. In this essential work, McConnell lays out practical advice for doing just that — which will help you keep your money in the bank.

"Practices of an Agile Developer," by Venkat Subramaniam ​

When forming a team, first evaluate what you already do well, and then evaluate what you can do better. Here, you'll learn to think through that process, and how to build your team to adjust to any strengths and weaknesses you might encounter.

"Domain-Driven Design," by Eric Evans

If you have a roadmap to build for your company — not just a single project — then you might wonder how to accomplish it without getting caught in the weeds. While a bit technical, Evans thoughtfully explains where you need to maintain focus on all points in the process to ensure you execute on budget and on time.

"The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity," by Alan Cooper

Many entrepreneurs build businesses around things other people build for them, and barely know how their own product works. In this book, you'll see some of the obvious — and not so obvious — pitfalls to that practice, and how to avoid it.

"Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution," by Steven Levy

This is the story of the pioneers of the software industry, and the ingenuity, resourcefulness, and just plain luck that gave us a connected world. It highlights the people who have made sites like the one you're reading now possible, and commonplace.

"My Job Went to India (Pragmatic Programmers)," by Chad Fowler

In this sobering, yet practical, read, Fowler delves into the reasons that companies will use to furlough employees in skilled positions and send them to outsourced providers. Additionally, he gives you 52 ways to adapt and keep your position, or find a better one.

"Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations," by Clay Shirky ​

Have you ever heard "The customer is always right"? Well, with today's technology, customers have even more power than before. Here, Shirky explains the psychology behind how and why people create grassroots movements online, and how you can harness that power for your own success.

"The Art of Deception," by Kevin Mitnick ​

As of 2019, 43% of cyberattacks in the US were aimed at small businesses. Former hacker Mitnick takes you through a series of case studies of successful hacks, and teaches what you need to protect yourself and your business.

"Elements of Style," by William Strunk Jr.

If your business involves any type of written communication — be it emails, blog posts, or even social media posts — then you need to have this on hand. It is the ultimate reference book for proper grammar and phrasing of the English language. Even with Grammarly installed, this book is an essential for any library.

"How to Speak and Write Correctly," by Joseph Devlin

Many books have been written to give you the tools to talk someone into buying your products — but they're all derived from this one. In it, Devlin explains how to speak on any topic with intelligence, strength, and conviction.

"Things that Make Us Smart," by Donald Norman

It's all too easy when creating a new product to design something that "does the job" but requires us to change our way of thinking to use properly. Instead, Norman gives a framework to design products that work without needing a new mindset — and shows the greater success that comes with it.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," by Robert Pirsig ​

Whether your business is new or it's been running for years, we all can lose touch with what is essential. In this classic, Pirsig takes us on a journey across America and shows us how to identify and return to what really matters.

SEE ALSO: I'm a neurosurgeon. Here are 3 ways to give your brain a 'spring cleaning' to boost happiness and productivity while social distancing.

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