Gifts for Grads discussed on May 19th

In 1986, Elie Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his victory over "the powers of death and degradation, and to support the struggle of good against evil in the world." Soon after, he and his wife, Marion, created the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. A project at the heart of the Foundation's mission is its Ethics Prize - a remarkable essay-writing contest through which thousands of students from colleges across the country are encouraged to confront ethical issues of personal significance. The Ethics Prize has grown exponentially over the past twenty years. "Of all the projects our Foundation has been involved in, none has been more exciting than this opportunity to inspire young students to examine the ethical aspect of what they have learned in their personal lives and from their teachers in the classroom," writes Elie Wiesel. Readers will find essays on Bosnia, the genocide in Rwanda, sweatshops and globalization, and the political obligations of the mothers of Argentina's Disappeared. Other essays tell of a white student who joins a black gospel choir, a young woman who learns to share in Ladakh, and the outsize implications of reporting on something as small as a cracked windshield. Readers will be fascinated by the ways in which essays on conflict, conscience, memory, illness (Rachel Maddow's essay on AIDS appears), and God overlap and resonate with one another. These essays reflect those who are "sensitive to the sufferings and defects that confront a society yearning for guidance and eager to hear ethical voices," writes Elie Wiesel. "And they are a beacon for what our schools must realize as an essential component of a true education."

Today's Favorite Kitchen Companion - Revised and Better Than Ever Mark Bittman's award-winning " How to Cook Everything" has helped countless home cooks discover the rewards of simple cooking. Now the ultimate cookbook has been revised and expanded (almost half the material is new), making it absolutely indispensable for anyone who cooks - or wants to. With Bittman's straightforward instructions and advice, you'll make crowd-pleasing food using fresh, natural ingredients; simple techniques; and basic equipment. Even better, you'll discover how to relax and enjoy yourself in the kitchen as you prepare delicious meals for every occasion. He also has a vegetarian version: "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food." New Voices in Food is a new series featuring exceptional young cooks from around the world.

"You can do anything you want in life if you dress for it," says Edith Head in "How to Dress for Success." Would you like to look younger, prettier, slimmer? Would you like to attract a new man and hold on to the current one? Would you like to get a better job and earn more money? Then this is your book. Edith Head (1897-1981) dressed stars from Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor to Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. This reprint of Head's 1967 tome serves as a timeless reference to looking your best. Head offers no-nonsense, and often hilarious, fashion advice. Illustrated with Head's original black-and-white line drawings and packaged with a chic cloth cover, this pocket-size guide is packed with smart tips on how to accessorize, dress for all occasions, and develop your own personal style.