Talented poet, essayist, and critic Hanif Abdurraqib will have you reaching for a pen, book dart, highlighter, anything to mark the page and save his brilliant words to ponder later. His debut essay collection weaves music criticism and personal stories with broader thoughts on how music responds to current events, and how we respond to music. His references range from Bruce Springsteen to Prince to Fall Out Boy, and his personal stories range from traumatic to joyful. You’ll want to absorb the brilliance of each essay, savoring them for a day or two before moving on to the next—and when you finish, be sure to pick up Abdurraqib’s latest: A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance. Note: both collections dig deep into tough topics like suicide, grief, and abuse.

Basketball isn't really my thing, or so I thought—but in Abdurraqib’s hands, I couldn’t get enough of Columbus, the Cavaliers, and LeBron James. Who knew? In this inventive, far-reaching work, the poet and music critic shares riveting anecdotes and fascinating details about the game itself. He also uses the ball as a jumping off point to explore a wide (wide!) variety of topics, including heroes and role models, the passage of time, the fragility of life, and the joy of rooting for the underdog. I can’t begin to capture his stupendous storytelling skills, but know this: this is my first read from the author and I’m hooked. Now I can’t wait to explore his backlist this summer.