We’ve often swooned over novels, traded favorite fiction picks, and swooped in on buzzy new releases. But recently, a thoughtful reader named Jennifer posed a fantastic question: What about nonfiction? She wrote, “There’s a lot of love for novels around these parts, but I’d like to hear if other readers are into books about history, nature, biographies, etc. Just throwing it out there to see if it sticks.”
Jennifer, we hear you — and we love this. Let’s talk nonfiction.
For me, nonfiction — especially memoirs and biographies — holds a powerful place on my bookshelf. There’s something uniquely intimate about stepping into someone else’s life, hearing their voice tell their story in their own words. Memoirs feel like an act of trust; the writer hands you their memories, their joys and missteps, and lets you walk with them through the rooms of their life. There’s a depth to that kind of storytelling that can shift your perspective in profound ways.
What I love most is how these books expand our empathy. One memoir can change the way you see a stranger on the subway, or your neighbor, or your own family. When someone shares their experience — whether it’s navigating chronic illness, growing up in an unfamiliar culture, or surviving something unimaginable — it opens your heart. It reminds you how much people carry silently. It reminds you that so much of what matters is invisible.
Here’s a tiny confession: I sometimes imagine how different the world might look if every person was required to read 40 memoirs in their lifetime. What would shift in our collective empathy? Our curiosity? Our ability to really see one another?
If you’re looking to dip your toe into the nonfiction world — or dive right in — here are a few favorites I’ve loved (or that come highly recommended from wise friends and fellow readers):
- “Educated” by Tara Westover – An astonishing memoir about growing up in a strict and isolated family and ultimately breaking away through education. It reads like a novel and lingers like a meditation.
- “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson – A sobering and inspiring account of a young lawyer’s work with death row inmates and a powerful indictment of the justice system in America.
- “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner – A beautiful, honest memoir about grief, identity, and food, written by the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast.
- “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion – Didion’s stunning reflection on grief and love after the sudden loss of her husband. Her writing is razor-sharp and emotionally raw.
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama – The former First Lady’s memoir is candid, warm, and inspiring, full of insight about public life, personal growth, and finding your voice.
- “On Writing” by Stephen King – Half memoir, half master class on the craft of writing. Even if you’re not a King fan, it’s a generous, engaging book.
- “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot – A fascinating blend of science, biography, and ethics centered on the woman behind one of the most important cell lines in medical research.
- “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah – Hilarious, heartbreaking, and brilliantly written — Noah’s account of growing up in apartheid South Africa is both eye-opening and wildly entertaining.
Of course, nonfiction isn’t just about personal stories. Nature writing, history, essays, travelogues, investigative journalism — the category is vast and varied, and there’s something for every kind of reader.
But for me, memoirs are where the magic often lives. They’re reminders that every person has a story — and that sharing those stories can bring us closer, soften us, change us.
So, tell me: Do you read nonfiction? Any recommendations? I’d love to know what you’ve read, what stuck with you, and what opened your eyes. Let’s make this a space for trading real stories — the kind that leave you just a little bit different than before.
4o
