Books Received in May 2026

Many thanks as always to the publishers that allowed me to read advance copies of their books. These books were all sourced via Netgalley.

Treasures of the Vikings by Tom Horne - If you're interested in Vikings and want a nice overview, this is your book. There are numerous photographs of archaeological finds and the book covers the full range of Viking activities. Out now.

Treasures of the Vikings explores the material culture of the Viking Age, and the raiders and traders who plundered and purchased across Europe and Central Asia.

From battles in Estonia in the mid 8th-century and the apocalyptic Viking attack on the monastery at Lindisfarne on the remote northeast coast of Anglo-Saxon England in 793, until the demise of Scandinavian control of Shetland in 1472, Viking groups played a central role in history, as pirates, traders and mercenaries, leaving a trail of destruction, settlements and treasure from Newfoundland to the shores of the Black Sea.

In between, Vikings traded along the great rivers of Russia and Ukraine, conquered in Britain and France, settled in Iceland and Greenland, and enriched Scandinavia with loot.

Marvel at a Frankish Ulfberht high-carbon steel sword, prized by Viking warriors for its strength and lightness, and see the remarkable walrus ivory and whale tooth Lewis Chess Pieces, found on the eponymous Scottish isle in the 19th century.

Packed with photographs of fascinating objects and sites, Treasures of the Vikings is ideal for any enthusiast for all things Viking.

Healthy Living High-Protein Cookbook by Toby Amidor - This is a great cookbook if you're trying to get more protein into your diet. There's a nice mix of recipes using meat and vegetarian options. I've tried several of the recipes and they've been delicious. Out June 16. 

Support Your Strength. Balance Your Metabolism.

Feel stronger and support your health—one delicious meal at a time. The Healthy Living High-Protein Cookbook helps you meet your health goals with easy, satisfying meals powered by protein. Whether you’re strength training, navigating metabolic shifts, or preserving muscle as you age, this book delivers practical, science-backed solutions tailored to your needs.

These delicious, balanced recipes diversify your protein sources to naturally strengthen muscles and improve body composition—creating a foundation for long-term vitality without sacrificing flavor or time in the kitchen.

Invest in Your Strength—At Every Age 

4 Ready-to-Use Meal Plans: Take the guesswork out of your week with plans tailored to different life stages and activity levels.
Total Body Support: Higher-protein recipes designed to support lasting energy, lean muscle, and healthy weight management.
85+ Recipes from Breakfast to Dessert: Enjoy protein-packed bowls, easy dinners, snacks, and even guilt-free desserts.
Hassle-Free Cooking: One-pot and sheet-pan meals that deliver maximum nutrition with minimal cleanup.
Expert Meal Planning Tips: Learn professional strategies for grocery shopping and prep so you never have to wonder what’s for dinner.

From Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND—award-winning dietitian with over 20 years of experience. Toby proves that food for strength and metabolic health can also be food you truly enjoy.

Monumental by Simon Warrack - I'm currently reading this. I thought it was going to be more about the art of carving and the work of a stonemason but it's a standard biography. Having said that, Mr. Warrack has led a fascinating life, and he peppers his narrative with interesting asides inspired by his Renaissance history degree. Out Sept 8

Discover ancient stone wonders and the secrets of architectural preservation through the eyes and hands of one of the world’s greatest stonemasons.

Around the world and across time, the buildings of the gods and royalty have mostly been made of stone. For more than forty years, the eminent stonemason and conservator Simon Warrack has worked on many of the greatest of them. In Monumental, Warrack takes readers on a charming journey to some of the most extraordinary places where he has plied his trade, including the dazzling churches and palaces of Venice and the celebrated fountains of Rome, the vast temple of Angkor Wat in modern-day Cambodia, the glorious arches and cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral in England, and the ancient, elaborately carved Obelisk of Axum in modern-day Ethiopia.

Everywhere he goes, Warrack finds a communality through stone—a shared desire to conserve and maintain heritage that has spanned continents, cultures, religions, and millennia. He captures the joys and the challenges of working with various kinds of stone—marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, travertine. He describes stonecutters’ tools and techniques as they’ve been passed down through centuries, and the sheer wonder of working so intimately on monuments to human ingenuity and divine belief. And he approaches his work with the passionate belief that conservators must be guided by the spirit with which people built, carved, and cared for their monuments. Without this, form and beauty may endure, but their spirit is lost.

Monumental is a thrilling account of historic conservation at the level of chisel and stone, and a powerful argument for safeguarding our shared history.