Tiya Miles News Today

Let's get lit! Here are ESSENCE's top 15 picks for books to indulge in while enjoying a margarita and getting your tan on.

12 Southern must-read books of the summer

Authors, critics and Guardian readers discuss the titles they have read over the last month. Join the conversation in the comments

Uncover extraordinary lives with our list of the best biographies of all time. From historical figures to modern icons, discover the books that tell it all.

A “Guggenheim” is one of the most sought-after honors in arts, culture, and academia. Heading the list is Tracy K. Smith, the Pulitzer Prize-winning former US poet laureate and professor of English and African American Studies at Harvard.

Photos Capture the Spirit and Soul

The bestselling Montreal-born writer is nominated for Doppelganger, a nonfiction work which explores online communities rife with conspiracies and misinformation.

Books newsletter: a round-up of the latest news and a preview of Saturday’s pages

Joining the Guardian columnist and Observer art critic are academics Tiya Miles and Noreen Masud, FT journalist Madhumita Murgia and poet Safiya Sinclair

The award’s chair of judges talks us through the contenders – from a study of AI’s underbelly to a poignant autobiography – and why they made the final six <br>