Non-fiction books are usually solemn and tempered, especially those themed around illness and death. Down to the Bone by Catherine Pioli is an exception to this. Yes, there are touching moments... but it also celebrates life in humorous and uplifting ways.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK
The art of Down to the Bone is understatedly beautiful; enchanting even. The simplicity and the use of colour are something I have never seen before (as a concept). Most importantly, the style is fitting for the book and its theme.

I also love the humour on display. It feels odd to laugh when reading a book like this, but some of the situations and reactions of the author to her predicament touched me and brought out a myriad of emotions in me.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR
Any adult who loves non-fiction ought to try reading Down to the Bone.

Many thanks to Graphic Mundi - PSU Press for providing a review copy.

It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth is an autobiography that explores the author's mental illness, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The book explores her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts as she grapples with her illustration career and attempt at finding love.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book is candid about suicidal feelings and the myriad of ways it shows itself. The author does not hold back in showing how her depression manifests and the awkwardness it engenders. The reader is exposed to the weirdness of thoughts that flows through the author's mind, how it affects her outlook on life, and the successful ways she tries to cope with them.

DISLIKES
The differences in art styles within the same page can be jarring

WHO IS IT FOR?
Anyone struggling with mental illness may find a lot to relate to here. Those with loved ones who are dealing with such will gain a little bit of insight into their inner world.

Many thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

How To Win The War On Truth is a graphic novel that explores historical examples of how the media, companies, and governments waged misinformation wars on everyday folks. The book also details how to find truths within media lies and educate ourselves to recognise our own susceptibility to misinformation.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
The author's use of real-life examples of misinformation and its effects is very educational and exposes how vulnerable even the most discerning of us can be. It shows how good people can turn into monsters based on false convictions fueled by misinformation.

Also, the artwork complements the writing, bringing clarity to a complicated subject.

WHAT I DISLIKE
Nothing.

WHO IS THIS FOR?
This is for adults and young adults keen to learn how to navigate the internet world. It is for those who want to learn how to discriminate when taking in data that is meant to influence us.

Many thanks to Quirk Books for providing a review copy.

Books that discuss politics can be boring to some, but such people might want to make an exception for this one.

Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator is a first-hand witness account of a cartoonist's time with Julia Salazar, a 27-year-old democratic socialist running for state senate in New York. Most of what the book material is about are what the cartoonist witnessed during the first year of Salazar's term by embedding herself with the young senator's team for about a year.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
One of the best tools of journalism is witnessing a situation about which you are reporting first-hand. This way, you get to understand your subject with little or no filtering. Radical is a book with lots of eye-opening information on politics, money, and how these forces have an impact on everyone's lives... more than we know or care to admit.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR
This is for any adult who wants to understand politics without getting bored.

Many thanks to Top Shelf Productions for providing a review copy.

Forgotten Blade is a fantasy story set in the land of Five Rivers. It is a tale of a female magician who enlisted the help of a mercenary to topple a theocratic government in revenge for the curse placed on her two children.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK
Forgotten Blade is a beautifully drawn book. The uniqueness and style of the art stand out in the midst of a tale that seems familiar.

DISLIKES
The plot is predictable and holds little or no surprise.

WHO IS IT FOR
Fans of epic fantasy may enjoy the art and possibilities Forgotten Blade has to offer.

Many thanks to TKO Presents for providing a review copy.

Going into a new career as a middle-aged person can be disorienting or empowering, depending on your circumstances or outlook on life. One thing that cannot be dismissed is the insight and understanding a new career or employment gives. It has the potential to open us to a side of life we may have overlooked or never noticed before.

Yellow Cab is an autobiography (graphic novel) of a filmmaker called Benoît Cohen who, devoid of inspiration for his next film, decided to become a New York City taxi driver. What follows is his insights and documentation about the streets of New York - its people, its prejudices, and its politics.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
The characters in the book are interesting and mysterious. Even though some of them appear for a brief time, there is a liveliness to them that makes me hang on to their every word. The art has this kind of depressing quality to it... I expect it to bum me out but I quite like it actually as it fits the mood of the book.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO THIS IS FOR
Whether you are familiar with the work of Benoît Cohen or not, I think this is a non-fiction most fans of the genre will appreciate.

Many thanks to IDW Publishing for providing an advance copy.

The Bogle Effect is about Jack Bogle, the founder of The Vanguard Group, an American investment management company. The book explores Bogle's life as well as his financial and trading philosophy. This is a book that delves into the betrayal that made Bogle start his own investment management company. It details the company's (Vanguard) growth, challenges, and the influence it has over present-day investors.


WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOGLE EFFECT
The book is expansive and included some of Bogle's own words, giving us not just a third-person view but a first-person's as well. Also, the author did not paint his subject as some kind of saint. This is a book that did not only focus on Bogle's accomplishments - it does examine his dark side and its influence on his work.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO THIS IS FOR
The Bogle Effect is for those who know the man and want to know a bit more about his early days and the way his investing philosophy came together. Those not familiar with the man might be the ones to benefit most from this book as there are many tips about efficient investments and what made Bogle one of the best in the world.

Many thanks to Matt Holt for providing an advance copy.

History is messy and complicated. Every country has skeletons in its cupboards and will give you different justifications or reasons as to why they are there. The Way Forward is the fifth volume of the Understanding China Through Comics series. The series seems to be aimed at simplifying the history of China as a country, without losing the essence and vital details of the events that formed the country into what it is today.


WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK
The Way Forward makes effort to explain the nitty-gritty of macro-events, especially how it affects the common man or woman in China. We are not just told who or what made a decision at the highest level of government, we are shown how it impacted the citizens and the ramifications for the common man. This level of detail kept me engaged and invested.

DISLIKES
While this book does not shy away from some uncomfortable subjects, there is an element of excuse for most mishaps or ill-actions caused by China. In my opinion, history books ought to stick to facts and not be apologists for any country's ideology.

WHO IS IT FOR
This is a good introductory book for those interested in the history of China. It serves as a good entry material for those willing to learn more about one of the modern-day world powers.

Many thanks to Stone Bridge Press for providing a review copy.

Navigating Ambiguity is an attempt by a group of artists to share their perspectives on how we can thrive when we don't have a full picture of what is in front of us or what to do next in our lives and endeavours. This is a book that tries to help manage life uncertainties and ambiguities by teaching us the right kind of mindsets to adopt and how to adopt them.

WHAT I LIKE IN THIS BOOK
This is a book by designers and it shows. The graphic designs enhance the understanding of the subject matter. It makes reading the book easier and fun to navigate. More importantly, this is a book with lots of real-life examples of ambiguities and how to live with them.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR
This is a self-help book by designers for everyone. These are professionals with something to say about life and their experiences are worth listening to by every adult grappling with the unknown.