Summer 2021 is here, if the heatwaves aren't enough to make it obvious. COVID-19 took away many of the great things about 2020. There is hope that 2021 will have a more authentic summer experience, as the vaccination rates continue to rise.There are more chances to travel back into the world with a paperback, or an eBook. The Ars staff has returned to give you another peek into what we have been reading and what is on our TBR list. There are many great 2021 choices, including graphic novels and Hugo Award-winning authors as well as deep dives into topics that you may have already read about. You might also feel compelled to compile a list of recommended books whenever you praise a classic piece or literature with the phrase "throat-jabs" of prose.Note: Ars Technica could be compensated for sales made through links in this post via affiliate programs.Empire of PainIt's difficult to get angry at the abuses of power by the megarich in this country. I plan to read Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, a nonfiction book written by Patrick Radden Keefe, a New Yorker staff writer. It focuses on the rise of the Sacklers, whose pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma aggressively promoted OxyContin. This helped to spark the opioid epidemic, which has resulted in half-million deaths from overdoses and countless addicts. The Sacklers made billions from the epidemic while Purdue was able to increase their status as cultural benefactors by having their names engraved in museums and university buildings.AdvertisementAlthough the general opioid crisis has been well reported, Empire of Pain, which examines the family history and family dynamics of Sacklers, has received praise from critics. Empire of Pain reveals how the Sacklers have used their wealth to indulge and hide their past. People like these cannot behave as they do without a larger structure. Empire will be hated. However, if they can't have our money, we might as well be their scorn.Jeff Dunn, Senior Commerce EditorLiftoffThis six-word review contains all you need to know about Eric Berger, Ars Senior Space Editor, Liftoff.It is easy to read. It is true. https://t.co/3bI9Vw8iP1 Elon Musk, @elonmusk, April 9, 2021You may prefer the longer version. Berger is widely considered the best space reporter in business, and that's not because he doesn't give it away. To better understand the global space industry today, he travels from Tokyo to French Guiana. He has a deep love for and an interest in the history and lessons of human spaceflight. It's easy to get lost in the story of the company that is most important today when you have a journalist who has a deep industry Rolodex and a great subject knowledge. Berger's SpaceX writing has been a must-read since his arrival at Ars. Liftoff allows him ample space to fill in the gaps surrounding the company’s early years. Anyone will be able to appreciate the success of the next Falcon 9 launch, no matter how small or insignificant. You may not have ever seen a more pivotal and riveting use of a hairdryer throughout human history.Nathan Mattise, Features editorAdvertisementHappy hour (or more) of readingThe pandemic destroyed so many things we thought were safe. I miss cozying up at the local pub after a long day of work. Cocktail Dive Bar opened this spring, offering the best at-home facsimile.Do you remember ever reading a cocktail book from cover to cover? I have. However, I have never seen a book come out of a New Orleans dive bar (therefore the rest of the world). Twelve Mile Limit. T. Cole Newton, the owner of this first book, has many recipes from his humble cathedral of "fancy cocktails", but it's not very fancy. It's worth the cover price for guidance on 12ML's iconic Baudin. Newton is an excellent orator and storyteller. His former podcast on the city was great. Cocktail Dive Bar provides a wealth of information and recipes for those interested in New Orleans and the wider beverage industry.Newton, for example, includes classic drinks in his recipes but assumes that anyone who buys his book knows how to make them. His recipes are based on his preferred method of making them with slightly different ingredients or ratios. The essay that comes with each recipe tells a long, rambling backstory, but it is presented with a straight face. Did you know that Aviation was created by the Wright brothers during the Kitty Hawk flight, but only emerged after violence between them led to one fleeing to the South Pacific and a rhino tusk in his chest. True story.Original drinks created by Newton and the 12ML team have backstories that relate to the modern bar industry. These include how recipes could spread without consent, naming conventions, and tricks for creating your own creations. Inversions are great! Each section of cocktail recipes includes a short essay about a bigger industry problem and how 12ML addresses it. This could be on topics such as fighting sexual harassment or creating an antiracist space in bars.The book is informative but not pretentious, entertaining and not distracting. It's almost.Nathan Mattise, Features editor
