Books like Minds on fire by Mark C. Carnes

Alain de Botton’s contemporary romance follows couple Rabih and Kirsten in Edinburgh as they navigate marriage, parenthood, and the day‑to‑day challenges of love, showing how commitment deepens beyond first infatuation.

Fire Logic launches an epic fantasy saga set in the imaginary world of Shaftal, where newly forged kingdoms clash, Native peoples face colonization and genocide, and a diverse cast of LGBT2Q+ heroes must navigate war and political intrigue.

A fascinating and personal look at Dungeons & Dragons that “tracks D&D’s turbulent rice, fall, and survival, from its heyday in the 1980s…to the twenty-first century” (The Wall Street Journal). Even if you’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has: the game has had a profound influence on our culture, and 2014 marks the intriguing role-playing phenomenon’s 40th anniversary. Released decades before the Internet and social media, Dungeons & Dragons inspired one of the original nerd subcultures and is still revered by more than 30 million fans. Now, the authoritative history and magic of the game are revealed by an award-winning journalist and lifelong D&D player. In *Of Dice and Men*, David Ewalt describes the development of Dungeons & Dragons from the game’s origins on the battlefields of ancient Europe through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen suicides to its apotheosis as father of the modern video-game industry. As he chronicles the surprising history of the game’s origins (a history largely unknown even to hardcore players) and examines D&D’s lasting impact, Ewalt weaves laser-sharp subculture analysis with his own present-day gaming experiences, “writing about the world of fantasy role-playing junkies with intelligence, dexterity, and even wisdom” (Ken Jennings). An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative, and memoir, *Of Dice and Men* sheds light on America’s most popular (and widely misunderstood) form of collaborative entertainment.

In Spanish Harlem, arsonist Julio Santana secretly fuels the neighborhood’s gentrification for profit—until love, a new white resident named Helen, inspires him to abandon fire and hope for a safer future.

"This work explores tabletop role-playing game (TRPG) as a genre separate from computer role-playing games. The relationship of TRPGs to other games is examined, as well as the influence of Dungeons & Dragons as a tabletop module, a computer game, and a novel. The text also explores wider cultural influences that surround tabletop gamers"--Provided by publisher.

"This analytical study takes a deeper look at the world of role-playing games, providing a theoretical framework for understanding their more acute psychological and sociological functions. The study also offers a detailed participant-observer ethnography on role-playing games, featuring insightful interviews with 19 participants of table-top, live action and virtual role-playing games"--Provided by publisher.