Non-Fiction Book Recs
Recommendations for non-fiction books you might like to read and/or buy for someone else to read
Back in ye old blogging days, I used to write about what I was reading and link to my Goodreads reviews. Then two things changed: I started working as a bookseller (shout-out Parnassus!), and Amazon bought Goodreads.
My reviews started getting a lot more attention and it honestly freaked me out. I never wanted to be a capital “R” Reviewer. I just wanted to say, ‘Hey, this book is great!’. On top of that, a local author emailed me and threatened to kick my ass because I changed the star review of her book. I wish I was kidding.
So I hung up my Goodreads boots, switched to a private StoryGraph account and started posting my reviews in Instagram stories, where they disappear after 24 hours. And now I’m putting them here, for you.
Disclaimer #1
I’m an affiliate partner with both Libro.fm and Bookshop.org, so if you buy something from my links, I will get a tiny bit of money. If that makes you want to kick my ass, well, send me an email.
Disclaimer #2
Where you buy your books is your business. I shop local because I live in Nashville, where we have three independent bookstores, I can afford to pay full price for a book and I read the traditionally published genres sold in bookstores. I use Libro.fm for audiobooks because they buy your audiobook from the bookstore you choose, unlike audible who buys your audiobook from Amazon.
Celebrity Memoirs!
This is my favorite genre of audiobook. I almost exclusively listen to celebrity memoirs and romance books. Here are some great ones I listened to this year.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
If you like being mad at men, this book is for you. It’s a five-hour audiobook, so you can knock it out in a weekend. Michelle Williams reads it and THE MAN WHO DIRECTED HAMILTON directs it, so it’s a very professionally produced audiobook.
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford
This book is for fans of Maria Bamford and anyone looking for an honest telling of living with the kind of mental health diagnoses that get stigmatized a lot in our society. It’s also the funniest book I read this year. In the audiobook version, she makes a library of sounds for all the trigger warnings. I cannot even begin to describe how funny it is to hear these sounds all throughout the book.
The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
Kind of a niche take, but if you host any kind of podcast or radio show, this book may be for you. It’s a personal memoir, but it’s also a how-to guide for listening and asking questions. Loved hearing Ari read this. Lot of heart in this book. Also a lot of 9/11, which is why I read it. Gotta be me!
Regular Degular Memoirs!
Sorry, not sorry, I primarily read memoirs. If this is also your go-to genre, here are some of the ones I read (and loved) this year.
Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart by Jen Sookfong Lee
Jen situates the chapters in this book in relation to the culture popular at the time, which is a framing device I LOVE. My favorite chapter in this book was also the hardest one to read. It’s about the 2021 Atlanta salon shooting and Jen’s lifelong experience with AAPI fetishization. I’ll never stop thinking about that chapter.
Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
You’ve all read this book. I don’t need to say anything. Tressie remains one of my favorite voices writing today. The last essay on how few Black women write for traditional and/or legacy media is - whew.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
I was talking to a writing friend recently and we were debating whether I could write about the saddest thing that ever happened to me without being funny. She looked me dead in eye and asked, “Did you not reading Crying in H Mart?” I had not, but now I have. I loved this book, and I openly wept all over two Southwest flights and the greater Los Angeles area while reading it.
Congratulations, The Best Is Over! by R. Eric Thomas
I’m a longtime fan of R. Eric’s writing, and I loved this book. His books are like a masterclass in humor writing. But also, depression! Honestly, I loved this book so much, I’ll probably re-read it.
Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Come on, you know there’s no one I ride harder for than Sam Irby. SHE WAS ON MY PODCAST. The thing I like about her books is that each one is more vulnerable than the last, but they never lose the humor that she has so rightfully come to be known for.
Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H
Holy moly, this book blew my mind right open. It has rightfully found an audience in the queer community. I would also argue that it belongs with anyone who has either taken a step back or gone no-contact with their family. On a smaller scale, it is about moving to NYC and struggling to find community, which is something I will always read.
Non-Fiction / Sociology
Love to learn! I read a lot of general non-fiction around topics I’m interested in. Apologies to any men reading this, I do not have any WWII recs.
Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith
Virginia is one of my favorite voices in the fat positive, anti diet space. This is obviously a book for parents and caregivers, but it is also a book for people like me who are re-parenting ourselves and trying to undo decades worth of bad programming around bodies, exercise and food.
The Wellness Trap: Break Free from Diet Culture, Disinformation, and Dubious Diagnoses and Find Your True Well-Being by Christy Harrison
Wellness culture is insane right now. I almost prefer the olden days of Instagram when people were very clear about not wanting to ever be fat and proved it by showing you nonstop photos from their CrossFit gym. It was hell, but it was honest. Now it’s hidden behind “wellness” and “self-care” and “gut health.” But those of us with our third eye open know it’s the same shit. If you're curious about your own participation in diet culture and/or you like de-bunking books, this is for you.
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Abrupt pivot! I love Matthew Desmond. If you read Eviction, then you know. I have not stopped thinking about this book since I read it. If you live in Nashville, if you care about the unhoused community, if you worry about affordable housing, there’s a lot for you in this book.
“You Just Need to Lose Weight”: And 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon
If you read my blurbs above and wondered, ‘Oh my god, is she talking about me?’ Read this book.
I only covered non-fiction today. You’re welcome because otherwise you’d be reading this for three more hours. Next week I’ll tackle fiction. If you have any questions, or you want more non-fiction recs, leave a comment and I’ll respond.
If you liked this, you may like:
Thanks for being here.
Have you read « The Meth Lunches » by Kim Foster? This is really incredible book, easily one of my favorites this year.
Yes!! I’m right there with you on basically every one of your recs! 👏🏼👏🏼