Anna Kerrigan, taking advantage of the need for female laborers during World War II, becomes the Brooklyn Naval Yard’s first woman diver, working underwater to repair ships that will be sent overseas to assist in the Allied cause. No stranger to the murkiness of life, she lost her father when she was only 12; he simply disappeared. During the war, though, she gets caught up in the dark and mysterious world of Manhattan and mobsters, sailors, divers, and union leaders and discovers that her father’s old friend, Dexter Styles, may be leading the family down a dangerous path. Jennifer Egan’s new novel, “Manhattan Beach,” is available in the libraries.
“When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing,” by Daniel Pink, offers a treasure trove of ideas and research into how we make decisions…and when. Why is singing along with others as good as exercise? What’s the science behind taking optimal breaks during tests? How can we make a new beginning after feeling like we’ve failed at a job, a relationship, a move? Science and psychology provide the background for Pink’s fascinating discoveries and the applications for leading a saner, less harried lifestyle. Sound appealing? Check it out!