Today's Featured Books

Massimo Fantini is an Italian author and free thinker focused on exploring the human condition. Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on his Human Condition Trilogy: 

• Concerning Decay of The Human Race
• Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race
• Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race

Read on to learn more about Fantini's contributions to the debate on the human condition.

"A piercing critique of contemporary existence, challenging conventional notions of fulfillment and purpose." ~BookBelow
 

Concerning Decay of The Human Race

A small village of the Island of the Iguanas experiences the succession of different communities – sometimes forced to live together, sometimes taking over from a former generation. 

Over the years, the community consolidates and grows, together with their prejudices, social injustices, and religious superstitions. The structural transformations of the village have repercussions on the ecosystem of the island which – starting as a protected nature reserve – becomes a hunting place, a tourist destination, and a favorable terrain for smugglers to exploit.

Thus, faced with the opportunity to adopt a new lifestyle – concerning principles of equality, safeguarding personal freedoms, and restoring the ancient harmony between man and nature – there are those who choose to follow the tested path of the government of man over man, which makes discrimination its founding principle, and those who choose to defy it. Social contrasts – delineated by origin, by social background, by acquired privileges – begin to arise within these communities.

Given the possibility to make a clean sweep of the past and rebuild the social fabric from scratch, will those who position themselves as leaders avoid the mistakes made by their predecessors, or will they end up mechanically following the same steps laid out by human history?

Praise for Concerning the Decay of The Human Race
"A compelling and thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human nature and society." ~Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

"Fantini's allegorical depiction of the small village on the Island of the Iguanas serves as a microcosm of human society's perpetual struggle with change and progress." ~BookBelow

"This bold philosophical work offers a raw, incisive critique of modern society's relentless pursuit of shallow gratification and an avoidance of deeper existential issues." ~Rashmi A, Reviewer

Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race

Intellectual suicide corresponds to the more or less conscious decision to switch off the brain and renounce rational thought in favor of attitudes dictated by superstitions, by established habits, by prejudices, by common places. The effects of irrational choices – made with the brain switched off – can be devastating for oneself and for the others. 

Tommaso, the protagonist of this debate, is the victim of his parents’ intellectual suicide, perpetrated through procreation. Procreation – the unilateral act by which a couple throws innocent individuals into the stillicidium of life, without weighing the consequences that the hell of existence will have on them – is the most heinous form of intellectual suicide in the human race, not least because of the scale of its consequences.

The author’s intention is to shine the spotlight on the one reality that unites us all: the human condition.

Praise for Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race
"A great read for those looking to push the boundaries of their beliefs and perspectives." ~Independent Book Review

"Fantini invites readers to confront the existential questions that accompany life from birth to death, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience." ~BookBelow

Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race

Elijah is a promising young lawyer, in love with his work and confident in the potential of the human race.

His law firm’s senior partner gives him his first important assignment. Elijah will have to follow the case of Leonard, an elderly engineer who lives in Montepastore, a small village in the Bolognese Apennines of Italy.

Leonard's question concerns the supplementary contribution that engineers enrolled in the professional register are required to pay to the Engineers’ Pension Fund. At first, the case seems simple. It was the subject of a previous ruling by the Court of Cassation. But Leonard is not satisfied with an institutional response. He wants to know why. He wants to know what hides behind the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Leonard's demands grow until the subject of the dispute widens to include ethical, religious, and historical concerns.

As in the previous manuscripts, questions about the human condition are at the center of this philosophical debate. In the absence of answers, what is the point of writing about anything else?

Praise for Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race
"Explores the complex web of human nature, weaving together legal intricacies with profound philosophical questions." ~Abigail L, Librarian

"A wild ride through the maze of human complexity!" ~Sue E, Reviewer

About the Author

Free online: The Back Room. Enjoy an evening of cocktails and conversation with four authors, including Janie Chang, Sally Hepworth, Vanessa Miller, and Sara Paretsky, creator of the V.I. Warshawski novels and recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement from the British Crime Writers Association. Sunday, May 26, 6-8 PM CDT. 

"Never underestimate a man's ability to underestimate a woman." ~Sara Paretsky

"A rugged, sinuous voice drives the free verse narratives contained in Laughing Is Forever. These mercurial poems surprise, thrill, and move in equal measure. They’re dying to be read." ~Independent Book Review. From $2.99 SHOP NOW / 

Free online tonight: Friends & Fiction. Join the hosts of Friends & Fiction for interviews with bestselling authors on a show that airs live on Facebook and YouTube. Bonus: More than 200 back episodes are available for replay on YouTube! Every Wednesday at 7 PM ET.

“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.” ~A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Congratulations to Nicole Zelniker and Vine Leaves Press on the release of From Where We Are, a novel that follows Gabi Keefer as she flees Holocaust-era Germany with nothing but her husband, her nephew, and the clothes on her back. But that isn't the whole story....

★★★★★ “A multi-generational punch-to-the-heart reminder that there is no such thing as a singular Jewish experience.” ~Jeffrey Dale Lofton, award-winning author of Red Clay Suzie

From Where We Are

Follow Gabi Keefer's Jewish lineage through trials of addiction, grief, and activism, in a novel that addresses questions of survival, family, and identity.

Gabi Keefer flees Holocaust-era Germany with nothing but her husband, her nephew, and the clothes on her back. But that isn't the whole story.

Over generations, her granddaughter, Lena, struggles with drug addiction and an unplanned pregnancy; her sort-of nephew, Zane, grieves for his wife three years after her death in an antisemetic mass shooting; and her great-niece, Miranda, advocates for Palestinian liberation against her family’s wishes.

Each character's tale begs the questions: What does it mean to be part of a family, what does it mean to survive, and is that enough?

If you enjoyed Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo; The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak; or A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, you will love From Where We Are.

Trigger warning: Content in this book includes depictions or mentions of ableism, anti-semitism, characters struggling with mental health, death and grief, drug abuse, domestic violence, gun violence, homophobia, misogyny, racism, statutory rape, suicide, xenophobia, and Zionism.

Praise for From Where We Are
★★★★★ "A kaleidoscopic gem." ~David Jackson Ambrose, author of Unlawful Disorder

★★★★★ "A layered excavation of intergenerational trauma and a perceptive probe into how resilience can overcome it." ~Ann S. Epstein, author of The Sister Knot

★★★★★ "A sensitive exploration of contemporary Jewish history." ~Rabbi Andrue Kahn, editor of Sacred Earth: Jewish Perspectives on our Planet

Free online: Rogue Reads. Presented by Rogue Women Writers, tune in for a lively conversation and Q&A with authors Meg Gardiner, Kellye Garrett, Omar Tyree, and Nolan Chase. Monday, May 20, 7 PM EST. 

“Where does it all lead? What will become of us? These were our young questions, and young answers were revealed. It leads to each other. We become ourselves.” ~Patti Smith, Just Kids

Ed Benjamin is author of fiction and nonfiction intended to help readers see "the light beyond the horizon." Today, LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on three of Ed's works:

• Redemption
• Melanie: A Tale of Wonder
• This is Alaska

Read on to learn more about each of these entertaining and inspiring reads.

Bonus: Sign up to receive Ed's Musings, thoughts, essays, and stories, including universal thoughts from Stoic philosophy, stories from the Tao, and Flash Fiction.

Redemption

Amidst the thunderous roars of jet engines, Harry's journey from an Air Force legend to a lone detective embodies the undying spirit of a hero.

An orphaned teenager, Harry enters the United States Air Force and quickly rises to become a top fighter pilot. Flying became his life—and he was good at it. When his wingman is shot down in an aerial battle, Harry uses his skills to shoot down three enemy jet fighters in combat.

But when the Air Force grounds Harry for medical reasons, his life is turned upside down. He battles loneliness and alcohol while trying to eke out a living as a private detective. Things change when he takes on a missing persons case that involves a Caribbean cruise and a computer geek named Katie. 

Praise for Redemption
"An inspiring and turbulent emotional journey." ~International Review of Books

"This book has it all: super-authentic flying segments, a story of someone dealing with great loss, and an engaging detective story." ~Amazon Review

"Best Military Action-Packed Tale of Aviation/People! Regardless of my former USAF time and current FAA aviation credentials, I would have voted this one of the best action-packed, people sensitive novels ever written!" ~Amazon Review

Melanie: A Tale of Wonder

"A delightful and heartwarming piece of flash fiction." ~Amazon Review

Meet Aaron Jones, an elderly gentleman obviously down on his luck and badly in need of a shower. But after surviving a car accident, something miraculous happens: his singing voice is clear for the first time in years. Regaining his voice prompts him to enter a talent contest in the hope of winning prize money to help Melanie, a ten-year-old girl whose father is dying.

During the talent show, the audience begins to realize the real identity of Aaron. Cries of “It’s him. It’s really him!” begin to ring out in the audience. Afterwards, the mysterious singer leaves town with the media buzzing.

If you like alternative historical fiction, you will enjoy this heartwarming journey filled with hope, inspiration, and the power of music.

This is Alaska

A rare sports adventure to treasure and read over and over.

This short but powerful essay is a true story of a middle-aged man discovering Wild Alaska while on a whitewater rapids trip. Frustrated and tired, he undergoes a transformation as he experiences the full force of nature. 

About the Author

Free online: Jazz Poetry 2024. Jazz Poetry Month is an annual celebration of experimentation, collaboration, and connection between art forms and between artist and audience. This year, 50+ artists are joining the celebration. This weekend, Juno Award–winning pianist Andy Milne will perform with poets Noah Arhm Choi, Jonathan Moody, Justin Perez, and Monica Sok. Sunday, May 19, 6:00 - 7:30 EDT. 

“Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.” ~Art Blakey

Navy SEAL Hawke Turner is in the protection business. Biotech researcher Emilia Draper is a close friend from his past. Emilia is on the verge of finding a cure to the rare disease that killed her sister and saving a dying girl, but a vicious enemy will kill to block Emilia from achieving her goal. Enter Hawke, who will risk everything for Emilia and to save a child's life. 4.3 stars, 1000+ ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW /