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5 post-apocalyptic novels you probably haven’t read yet [What We’re Into]

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Five amazing post-apocalyptic novels for your reading pleasure.
Five amazing post-apocalyptic novels for your reading pleasure.
Photo: Kimberly Farmer/Unsplash CC

What We're Into bug If you’re looking for some situation-appropriate fiction to read during the COVID-19 lockdown, then what could be better than a good old post-apocalyptic novel?

Some people will want to avoid all mention of pandemics and other worldwide disasters. But if your idea of catharsis comes through mental inoculation, then you should check out this list. I’ve read a ton of dystopian fiction over the years, and below are some of my favorites. A few are from recent years, and one is a bona fide classic, but all of them are great.

How to borrow library books on your Kindle

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kindle lending library
Read borrowed library books on your Kindle
Photo: Aliis Sinisalu/Unsplash

Kindle library books can provide hours of entertainment as you self-isolate due to the coronavirus pandemic. You likely can check out ebooks from your local library, just like a regular paper book.

In the United States, you typically can check out books using an Amazon Kindle or an iOS app. In other countries, you can use alternative e-readers or apps. By borrowing books online, you can avoid leaving your house — perfect when libraries are closed during COVID-19 lockdown — and you don’t need to leave your house to return anything, either. Returns happen automatically at the end of the borrowing period.

Let’s see how it works.

How to stay informed about coronavirus without terrifying yourself

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COVID-19 coronavirus news got you down? Don't panic!
Don't panic! You can keep up with COVID-19 news without going nuts.
Photo: Simon English/Unsplash

Open up a newspaper, visit a news site or turn on the TV, and you’ll see the end of the world is nigh. And, of course, the COVID-19 coronavirus is serious business, especially if you are in one of the vulnerable categories.

But that doesn’t mean you need to panic. In fact, panicking about anything usually just makes things worse. So, how do you stay informed about the rapidly spreading disease without succumbing to media terror?

Get the skinny on books in 15 minutes with this app [Deals]

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Booknotes
This digital library for busy people provides the key insights from over 1,000 best-selling books in just 15 minutes.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Reading is important and fulfilling, but it can take more time than many of us have. It’s also an unspoken fact that books are often longer than they need to be, so sometimes the best thing to do is just get a summary.

Oprah’s Book Club finds new home in Apple Books

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Oprah-Book-Club
Preorder Oprah's first selection today.
Photo: Apple

Oprah’s Book Club has landed in Apple Books, connecting readers worldwide to “stories that truly matter by today’s most thought-provoking authors.”

Its arrival comes weeks before Oprah’s new TV show kicks off on Apple TV+. A new episode will air every two months, and every title selected will be available from Apple Books.

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates is Winfrey’s first selection, and you can preorder it now in ebook and audiobook formats ahead of its debut tomorrow, September 24.

Get the gist of best-selling books in 12 minutes with this app [Deals]

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12min
Keep learning in your free moments with 12-minute summaries of books from all kinds of genres.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Reading remains one of the best ways to soak in new information. But reading also takes a lot of time, and sometimes, you just need to know enough to get a grip on a subject, or to know what everybody’s talking about.

Apple discontinues Jony Ive’s pricey design book, marking end of an era

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Designed by Apple in California book
Apple's high-end book paid tribute to work created over two decades.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s removal of the pricey Designed by Apple in California book from its online store marks the end of an era.

Apple released the book, which retailed in two sizes for $199 and $299, in November 2016. The retrospective paid homage to the design work of Jony Ive since the late 1990s. Now that Ive is no longer at Apple, the company seemingly decided to draw a line under the book as well.

Apple explains iTunes changes in macOS Catalina

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Apple Music in macOS Catalina
So long, iTunes!
Photo: Apple

Apple’s plan to ditch iTunes starts this fall with the release of macOS Catalina, which will offer standalone apps for Music, Podcasts, and TV.

WWDC offered a brief glimpse at how other things — like syncing iOS devices — would work after the update. Now Apple has published a new support document that explains everything for those who are still confused.

The document promises that “all of your favorite iTunes features” will still be available in Catalina. And it tells you where they will be.