Bookshelf Battles

What's happening in American libraries? March 15, 2024 Good morning! We're examining a concerning trend in libraries around the U.S. — and sharing a chat with the writer of a frequently banned book](. We'll also tell you about [a supermodel's cancer diagnosis](, pass along [advice for reducing stress](, and unpack [a condition on the rise in adult women](. All that, plus [an A-lister's favorite cocktail recipe](, coming right up...   In the News [A book surrounded by barbed wire]( Getty Images Bookshelf Battles New data from the American Library Association quantifies the growing efforts to ban books around the United States. A total of 4,240 titles were targeted for censorship at schools and libraries in 2023 — not only the biggest number ever recorded by the group, but also a whopping 65% spike from the year before. By the numbers: The report found that 47% of the challenged books featured “the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.” While these challenges happened around the country, a total of 17 states saw attempts to censor more than 100 different books — including Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. [Here’s more.]( “An insult to the First Amendment”: For a personal take on this issue, look back at our interview with the author of one of the country’s most-banned titles, who shares [the scary things that happen to writers when their books are challenged]( (especially when the basis of those challenges isn’t exactly accurate). Go deeper: Schools and public libraries aren’t the only places this war is being waged. We’ve got a deep dive on [why book bans are on the rise in prisons]( — and why that matters to everyone, even if you’ve never been behind bars yourself.   More Stories [James Crumbley]( James Crumbley watches the jury enter the courtroom. (Getty Images) A landmark case: Jurors in Michigan found James Crumbley — the father of Ethan Crumbley, who killed four high school students in 2021 — guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Ethan's mother Jennifer was convicted on the same charges last month. Prosecutors argued that James was “grossly negligent" in buying his son a gun, failing to secure it, ignoring his mental health issues, and failing to take reasonable care to prevent foreseeable danger. Politics: Kamala Harris visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota in a historic first for a VP. She described abortion bans as a “very serious health care crisis," adding that they're "affecting many, many people... most of whom are, frankly, silently suffering." Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders held a hearing on a bill to reduce the standard U.S. workweek to 32 hours — for the same pay. Trump legal latest: Judge Aileen Cannon refused to throw out the classified documents case against Trump on the basis that the charges against him are too vague. New York prosecutors are willing to postpone Trump's hush money case until April. And the judge in Trump's election subversion case in Georgia will deliver his verdict on the Fani Willis ethics allegations today. She's back: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is back on Instagram — with a brand new business. It's been six years since she deactivated her personal account, and this new feed appears to be launching a company called American Riviera Orchard. So far the page only features the brand's logo, but an Instagram story shows Meghan arranging flowers and cooking in a rustic kitchen.   Must-Reads [Christiei Brinkley]( Disconcerting Discovery Christie Brinkley revealed she had skin cancer removed from her face. Here’s the unexpected way she found out about it. [Read More »]( [Illustration of a woman sitting at a computer desk]( On the Rise ADHD diagnoses are sharply increasing among adult women. We explain why — and the symptoms to look out for in your own life. [Read More »]( [George Clooney over a background of cocktail glasses]( Bottoms Up If you're ready to lean into that Friday feeling with a satisfying drink, we suggest giving George Clooney's signature cocktail a try. [Read More »](   "Stop, Breathe, Be" Feeling stressed out? Welcome to the club. But my friend Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, author of [The 5 Resets]( and a Harvard-trained physician, says anxiety is "a what-if, future-focused emotion" — and she's got a simple strategy to counteract it: "All you do is stop what you’re doing, pause, and be as motionless as possible. Then take a deep breath in and let it all the way out and ground your feet to the floor. Keep your mind where your feet are, tap into that mind-body connection, and you’ll decrease that sense of runaway stress." We've got more from Dr. Nerurkar about the uptick in burnout, [why "toxic resilience" grinds us down](, and the role your phone is playing in all of this. [READ ON](   Extra Credit [A clear container shaped like a human skull, holding multicolored pills]( Getty Images Take or toss? Have you ever rifled through your medicine cabinet in search of relief, only to find that the pill you were searching for is a little… older than you expected? We’ve got the scoop on [whether it’s safe to use expired medication](. Spring screening: March is coming in with a strong start in the entertainment department, with a slew of new TV shows and movies to devour on Netflix. [Here’s what we can’t wait to watch](. Special delivery: Stumped on what to get a new parent for their upcoming bundle of joy? A soon-to-be mom weighs in on [the baby gifts they actually want](.   Rest Easy [A bed floating in the clouds]( Getty Images Sleep Awareness Week was designed to promote better sleep hygiene — and it comes with unbelievable sales on mattresses. Here are the deep discounts you do not want to snooze on: - Get up to 40% off Nectar mattresses, including [this Wake-Up Caller favorite]( that starts as low as $350. - Casper is offering [20% off mattresses, pillows, and sheets](. If you’re considering making an investment, don’t miss [our review of the brand]( to see what one of our savvy shoppers thought. - Prefer sustainable home goods? You can [save up to $800 on this organic mattress]( from Avocado. (And don’t worry: [We reviewed that one, too](.) - For yet another brand to try, take [35% off select mattresses]( at Nolah. - Last but definitely not least is a brand that rarely does discounts: You can snag [$300 off at Tempur-Pedic](, one of the most highly rated brands out there.   One More Thing This one's for anyone who's ever tweaked their back pulling an unwieldy pot out of the oven: [Xtrema's ceramic cookware]( has all the versatility of cast iron at just half the weight. They're currently having a sitewide sale, and they're offering an extra 20% off with code lucky20, so now's the time to bring home a [superb skillet]( or a [durable Dutch oven]( that's safe for the oven, stove, microwave, or grill. [TRY IT FOR YOURSELF](   [Ripple Effect by Katie Couric Media](   Thank you for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.cominfo@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! 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