Popular culture books refer to diverse works exploring various aspects of trends, phenomena, and influential elements within contemporary society, such as music, film, television, fashion, and digital media. Topics may range from critical analyses of cultural icons and movements to detailed accounts of how popular culture shapes and reflects social values and behaviors. The collection encompasses scholarly studies and accessible narratives, providing insights into how popular culture impacts identity, communication, and entertainment. Whether you’re interested in media studies, cultural criticism, or the latest trends, these books offer a comprehensive look at the dynamics of popular culture. Here are our books about popular culture.
Forthcoming, September 15, 2026
In The Opposite of Happiness, George Loewenstein offers a provocative rethinking of the emotions we try hardest to avoid. Drawing on decades of research and personal insight, he reveals how understanding our darker feelings can lead to greater clarity, connection, and self-acceptance.
In The Diversity Principle, David B. Oppenheimer, dubbed America’s “diversity detective” by The New Yorker, chronicles how diversity became a foundational value in higher education, commerce, and science over the past two centuries. He shows how the principle continues to shape intellectual and political life, even as it faces contemporary challenges.
In Just Shine! How to Be a Better You, Sonia Sotomayor shares a sweet, powerful story inspired by her mother’s gift for helping others see their brilliance. With vibrant art by Jacqueline Alcántara, this book reminds children that the world is brighter when we all shine together. Also available in Spanish: ¡Solo brilla! Cómo ser la mejor versión de ti mismo
In Bear With Me, historian Daniel Horowitz examines how bears evolved from fearsome symbols of the untamed frontier into global cultural celebrities, from Grizzly Adams to Winnie the Pooh. Known for his sharp cultural insights, Horowitz reveals what our changing relationship with bears says about American identity and imagination.
In Angels in the Cellar, Peter Hahn invites readers into a year of tending vines, harvesting grapes, and rediscovering meaning through the rhythms of nature. Both meditative and evocative, his story celebrates simplicity, connection, and the quiet transformation that comes from working the land.
In Embrace Your Freedom | Winning Strategies to Succeed in College and in Life, Philip A. Glotzbach equips students with the tools they need to navigate college successfully while encouraging them to embrace newfound independence and responsibility. This book helps students achieve personal growth and a fulfilling college experience through authentic stories and actionable advice.
The Power of Cute by Simon May explores the growth of cuteness which has taken the planet by storm. Global sensations Hello Kitty and Pokémon, the works of artists Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons, Heidi the cross-eyed opossum and E.T.—all reflect its gathering power. But what does “cute” mean, as a sensibility and style? Why is it so pervasive?
This Land is Our Land | How We Lost the Right to Roam and How to Take it Back by Ken Ilgunas reflects on how America’s laws on private property restrict access to beautiful green spaces. Ken Ilgunas, lifelong traveler, hitchhiker, and roamer, takes readers back to the nineteenth century, when Americans were allowed to journey undisturbed across the country.
Trespassing Across America | One Man’s Epic, Never-Done-Before (and Sort of Illegal) Hike Across the Heartland by Ken Ilgunas follows the authors cross country journey along the proposed Keystone XL pipeline all on foot. Both a travel memoir and a reflection on climate change, the book is filled with colorful characters, harrowing physical trials, and strange encounters with the weather, terrain, and animals of America’s plains.
Peter and Amy Bernstein founded Bernstein Literary Agency in 2009. For over two decades, we have worked with over 100 brilliant authors around the globe and across a gamut of subjects to get their books published, and their stories told. We typically work on non-fiction projects, but we have helped bring many fiction books, children’s books, and the occasional cookbook to market. We work with authors in all stages of their careers, from experienced, award-winning, and bestselling ones to debut writers ready to take on the world.
Amitav Acharya
Esther Allen
Gerard Araud
Chris Bohjalian
Andrew Scott Cooper
Vincent Coppola
Eva Dou
Caldwell B., Esselstyn, Jr., M.D.
Bruce Falconer
Gillian Lipton
Sven Steinmo
Robert Suettinger
Tanzina Vega
Olajide Williams
Dalena Wright