Marylanders throughout the state will read No Sense in Wishing by Lawrence Burney
(Baltimore, MD) – Maryland Humanities is thrilled to announce No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Lawrence Burney as the 2026 One Maryland One Book (OMOB) Selection.
Released in 2025 by Simon and Schuster, the book is a personal and analytical essay collection taking cue from Burney’s career as a culture writer and critic through which he looks at his home city of Baltimore, music from throughout the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that raised him, offering perspective on the people, places, music, and art that transformed him.
As a Baltimore native who has spent over a decade critically engaging with cultural production from the entire Chesapeake region, being selected for One Maryland One Book is of the highest honor.
Lawrence Burney, Author of No Sense in Wishing
Burney cites inspiration for the book as the music artists he’s grown up with and listened to throughout his life, which he sees as ways to become familiar with the unfamiliar—the cities and regions they come from, the loves and pains they’ve experienced, and the aspirations and insecurities that live within them. “All of those factors,” he says, “create an opportunity for connection—a chance that the artist's storytelling was so effective it inspired you to revisit some of your own experiences with a sense of clarity.” To him, No Sense In Wishing's mission is to advocate spending ample time with what most captures your affection and curiosity.
Through each essay, readers are invited to traverse not only Burney’s own journeys across the world but also consider their own through the music, art, and culture they’ve encountered. Maryland Humanities highlights how No Sense in Wishing shows us, through the words of a local author, how these encounters can help us tap into deeper discussions of cultural background, social histories, adolescence, family, and relationships. Readers are encouraged to see the book as a model for how creative nonfiction and cultural criticism can be a tool for self-exploration and social transformation.
Photo by Shan Wallace
No Sense in Wishing was selected under the 2026 theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform,” by a Selection Committee of literary professionals, educators, and cultural workers from across the state. In the year of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, they sought stories of ideas, actions, or events that inspire change—political, historical, economic, and/or social. No Sense in Wishing embodies this theme, capturing how music and culture can challenge narratives, spark dialogue, and reimagine what is possible. Through his reflections, Burney illuminates the interplay between innovation and resistance, offering readers insight on how cultural expression can both reflect and drive meaningful change.
“I'd like it to help folks connect the dots,” Burney says. “between the sociopolitical factors of their hometowns—or any town—and how music from that place's most oppressed communities emerged. I'd like for our regional food cultures to open discussions about Antebellum society. And I'd like to emphasize how any form of creative expression can challenge power structures.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about No Sense in Wishing as our 2026 One Maryland One Book pick.” says Lindsey Baker, CEO of Maryland Humanities. “Lawrence Burney’s powerful reflections on Baltimore, music, and identity capture the spirit of this year’s theme, “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform” —highlighting how culture can challenge, connect, and ultimately transform our communities. No Sense in Wishing is a personal and moving read, and I look forward to seeing how it sparks meaningful conversations across Maryland.”
Maryland Humanities looks forward to staging programming that invites readers to delve into the 2026 One Maryland One Book and invites readers and organizational partners to join us in another year of celebrating the joy of reading and the shared learning experiences through it. We will announce this year’s author events in the coming months and invite audiences to hear Lawrence Burney speak at these events across the state this year. A calendar of public events will be available online.
To keep up with this year’s One Maryland One Book, you can follow Maryland Humanities @mdhumanities on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn; sign up for our Literature Newsletter; or with a monthly donation, you can become a Humanities Hero and receive special OMOB perks.
About One Maryland One Book
One Maryland One Book is a program of Maryland Center for the Book at Maryland Humanities, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. One Maryland One Book 2026 is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services via the Maryland State Library Agency and other funders that may be announced later.
One Maryland One Book is a program of Maryland Center for the Book at Maryland Humanities, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. One Maryland One Book 2026 is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services via the Maryland State Library Agency and other funders that may be announced later.
About Maryland Center for the Book
Through our Maryland Center for the Book program, Maryland Humanities created One Maryland One Book to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. We invite readers to participate in book-centered discussions and related programs at public libraries, high schools, colleges, museums, bookstores, and community and senior centers throughout the state. Connect with Maryland Center for the Book on Facebook.
Through our Maryland Center for the Book program, Maryland Humanities created One Maryland One Book to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. We invite readers to participate in book-centered discussions and related programs at public libraries, high schools, colleges, museums, bookstores, and community and senior centers throughout the state. Connect with Maryland Center for the Book on Facebook.
About Maryland Humanities
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Maryland, the Citizens of Baltimore County, private foundations, corporations, small businesses, and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Maryland, the Citizens of Baltimore County, private foundations, corporations, small businesses, and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and YouTube.