Gordon Parks (Thames & Hudson $15.95) by accomplished photography curator Paul Roth is part of the publisher’s Photofile series, “the best work of the world’s greatest photographers,” according to their website. The late Gordon Parks was that consummate African-American renaissance man—from filmmaking to musical composition to book publishing, as well as photography for Life and other historic publications. These 92 color illustrations and duotone images make clear why Parks was known for his phenomenal eye, as well as being a fantastic visual storyteller.

RELATED: 100 YEARS OF GORDON PARKS [PHOTOS]

She That Findeth (Atria $15) by Detroit native Kim Brooks brings Christian fiction to the table, with a female protagonist who turns 35 at the beginning of the book fretting over not being married or having children. While in that space, her best lady friends are also in the midst of various states of relationships. What happens when you dig into all their problems? What happens if a strongly Christian Mr. Right pops up? Read it to find out. This best-selling author of He’s Fine… but Is He Saved? takes a break from self-help to return to her passion for fiction. Listen to Brooks discuss the book and hear her read an excerpt here.

Zulu Warriors (Yale University Press $40) by John Laband examines European campaigns on the continent of Africa. Leband may have come to this topic by way of his previous book, 1997’s The Rise & Fall of the Zulu Nation. In the first chapter, he sets up his premise: the European endeavors would not have been successful without native Africans working for them. Next he asks, Why didn’t the native groups band together and fight a collective enemy? While it’s a military study, Zulu Warriors is also a perspective on international history. But it’s more academic and informative than narrative.

Beautiful Game Theory: How Soccer Can Help Economics (Princeton University Press $35) by Ignacio Palacios-Huerta transforms the internationally respected game into an economic case study. He examines it through three categories: game theory, economics, and finance. In the introduction, Palacios-Huerta says, “more than a century after soccer was officially born, we find that 5% of all the people who ever lived on this planet watched the final of the last World Cup between Holland and Spain.” Ever? There may be something to this. With the next World Cup just around the corner, it’s maybe time to find out.

Jamaica’s Fascinating Falmouth (Pickersgill $18) by Faye Pickersgill is the tale of Falmouth, Jamaica, a town sporting “the largest intact collection of Georgian architecture.” From history, culture, life, economics of industry, and society to major families, this work is a treasure trove of information for the historical buff in you. The Caribbean life runs parallel to the African-American, yet it’s distinctly different. This is one of a million stories the African Diaspora needs to share with itself. Enjoy.

Brook Stephenson