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Book programs for freshmen — or a whole campus or community — are meant to spark discussion and unity. This year's picks at nine U.S. schools range from memoirs to political advice from 64 B.C.

Pearl shares the books she loved this year that you might not have heard of. Her list includes a Hollywood satire, two thrillers, a young adult novel and a nonfiction book about World War I.

From cabs to cable cars, there are all sorts of ways to travel around downtown. Step through the turnstile to find books that will take you from the London Tube to the New York City subway.

Ah, the bike. It's the most romantic way to ride ... and to read. In these eight books we celebrate the power of the pedal.

Author Kim Stanley Robinson knows that most science fiction fans think the best books were written in their youth — whenever that was. But in his case, he says, it's more than nostalgia: the late '60s and early '70s were a spectacular time for science fiction. He recommends three classics from that fruitful era.

Boredom in the immobility of a quadriplegic. Ennui in a Manhattan high-rise cubicle. Monotony in the slow-moving life of a writer. Said Sayrafiezadeh takes a look at everyday drudgery, highlighting three great memoirs that found inspiration in dullness. Life can be boring, he says, but books offer a way out — whether we're reading or writing them.

In nonfiction Neil Young presents the story of his career, Susan Sontag reflects on her artistic development and Richard Russo explores his relationship with his mother. In fiction, Alice Munro illuminates the moments that shape a life.

In softcover nonfiction, the four-star general describes a culture gap between the military and civilian worlds, and Bridges explains how The Dude – of The Big Lebowski – is a kind of Zen master. In fiction, James Salter chronicles betrayal, Taiye Selasi looks at a grieving Ghanaian family and Philipp Meyer delivers a multigenerational family saga.

Fall is finally here, and as the days grow shorter and colder, it's time to tell tall tales about girls who survive, girls who fight, and girls who, if given the chance, may prove to be heroes.

This month sees the arrival of a handful of bold new graphic novels aimed at young adult readers, with unexpected topics and settings from a contemporary Chinese American community to the Old West.