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The latest crop of nonfiction offers gentle, practical and irreverent advice for living your best life. 

Best advice for how to get some peaceful, restorative sleep

Andy Crouch in "The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place" recommends putting away phones and devices well before bedtime. Not because the screen's light will keep your brain awake, but rather because the anxiety from social media, the latest news or that work email will stew in your brain all night. 

Get some sleep and be a better friend, parent, spouse or colleague.

Eric Barker's new book, "Barking Up the Wrong Tree," synthesizes work lessons from various tales of success and failure. He writes that most people's job happiness depends not on the overall workplace, but on their relationship with their supervisor. His advice: Make sure your boss sees you. 

Best advice on how to deal with people whose politics differ from yours.

Filmmaker John Waters' new book "Make Trouble" is based on a commencement speech he gave, but his advice can apply to folks of any age. He says you should listen carefully to political adversaries and then recommends how to communicate with them:

The best way to get in touch with who you really are

Eva Hoffman recommends in "How to Be Bored" that you keep a journal, even if you are already an avid recorder of your every thought and action on social media. 

Arts and Culture

The Thread® - Books and Literary News

Stephanie Curtis

Author

A new stack of nonfiction offers tips on everything from workplace etiquette to catching more Z's. Dive in for life advice.

Courtesy of publishers

Courtesy of publisher

'Barking up the Wrong Tree' by Eric Barker

Four ways to improve your life through nonfiction

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