This holiday season, make sure to include books and a library card in your gift-giving. After all, books keep providing solid returns time and time again for a child. Happy reading and happy holidays!

Among the many wonderful books published by Southern California authors in the past year, some struck a particular chord: They not only helped shape conversations and made powerful, unique statements, ...

“There are already many wonderful books about science,” says the author and M.I.T. professor, whose new book is “The Transcendent Brain.” “I wish more authors would write about philosophy in an ...