A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, by Robert M. Sapolsky Much better written than the other Sapolsky I have read. An enjoyable memoir, full of funny anecdotes. After a strong start, it has a weaker digression describing Sapolsky's vacation travels (who cares?), but then it gets better again.

The Making of the Atomic Bomb, by Richard Rhodes Amazing! What a story. I thought it would focus on the construction of the first atomic bombs (fuel enrichment, etc.). It does cover this, but the first third is on the development of the necessary atomic physics. It also covers (to a shallower degree) the politics of deploying the bomb, and has a powerful chapter on Hiroshima.

A Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel (Shades of Magic), by V. E. Schwab Paint-by-numbers fantasy. It checks the boxes and feels completely unoriginal.

Independent People, by Halldor Laxness Sheep farming in Iceland. It is surprisingly good. The perspective feels very authentic, despite being often unsympathetic. In the end, maybe it was too Icelandic for me, and I would have been happier if it were 100-200 pages shorter.