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The Best Nonfiction Books of the Year (So Far)
The memoirs, commentaries, and microhistories of 2022 that exceed expectations.
Published on September 7, 2022
Righteous Troublemakers: Untold Stories of the Social Justice Movement in America
Al SharptonA followup to “Rise Up,” Sharpton’s “Righteous Troublemakers” celebrates the many unsung heroes of the civil rights movement. From Claudette Colvin, the young girl who refused to sit in the back of a Montgomery, Alabama bus (and inspired Rosa Parks to do the same nine months later), to Pauli Murray, a queer lawyer who helped shape Thurgood Marshall’s winning arguments in Brown v. Board of Education, these figures transform the pain of injustice into something altogether uplifting.
You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays
Zora Neale HurstonHurston’s book, written during the Harlem Renaissance, captures over three decades of the acclaimed novelist’s work and shares commentary on the Black experience. As timely as ever and highly anticipated at the start of 2022, this collection of culturally critical essays (including a few that have never before been published) will delight Hurston’s fans and create new ones.
South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation
Imani PerryPerry was born in Alabama, and while she’s spent much of her time in the North (she’s a professor of African American studies at Princeton and attended Harvard and Yale), her roots are in the Deep South, which she argues is the heart of the nation. “South to America” is a combination of an astute personal travelog and a scholarly sociological study of the South’s complicated relationship with race and more.
Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage
Heather HavrileskyNew York Magazine’s longtime “Ask Polly” advice columnist shares candid reflections on the monotony of matrimony, as well as the unspoken, complex emotions associated with the life milestone. Other married folks will nod along while reading this witty and realistic take on the lifelong project that is marriage.
The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century
Moises NaimThe pandemic set the stage for power grabs by authoritarian governments in countries like China, Hungary, and the Philippines, and journalist Naim is unnerved by the implications. If you’re wondering how we got here, let Naim’s heavily researched and intelligent portrait of the global spread of totalitarianism serve as a definitive voice of reason.
The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found
Frank BruniOne morning in October 2017, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni awoke with blurry vision, only to learn he’d suffered a stroke that severely damaged his optic nerve. His raw memoir about the emotional and psychological toll of losing his eyesight is a heartfelt exploration of aging and an uplifting ode to humans’ ability to adapt.
Girls Can Kiss Now: Essays
Jill GutowitzAs a journalist for outlets like The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vulture, Gutowitz covers entertainment with a witty flair. In her debut collection of essays, she couples her expert knowledge of pop culture with her own coming-of-age tale. What results is a laugh-out-loud collection of comedic essays about growing up as a queer person in the early 2000s.
Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think)
Reshma SaujaniSaujani, founder of “Girls Who Code” and the first Indian American woman to run for Congress in New York City, is sick of the term “girlboss.” Believing that women can only be properly supported via radical changes in government and American culture (not through more hustle), her fierce and focused manifesto revs up those who are passionate about equity in the workplace.
The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost It All
Mary ChildsAmid rising inflation and a tumultuous housing market, “The Bond King” explains some critical history about bond trading and the Great Recession. Childs, the host of NPR’s podcast “Planet Money,” tells the story of Bill Gross, the titular bond king, and the grueling demands and outsized returns he managed as the co-founder of Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO). It’s a witty, accessible, and eye-opening read.
Bomb Shelter
Mary Laura PhilpottIn demonstrating the juxtaposition between human heartbreak and joy, Philpott’s “Bomb Shelter” runs the gamut in terms of tone and topics. From deep reflections on the fragility of life after her son’s first seizure to an ode to a family dog who could only eat while listening to Kanye West, this book about the world’s uncertainties has a lot of heart.
Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: The Journals of Alice Walker
Alice WalkerFans of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Color Purple” will devour this collection of journal entries spanning three decades of the literary genius’ life. It’s a deeply personal account that offers a compelling look at her life and writing process, including enlightening encounters with contemporaries like Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison.
Finding Me: A Memoir
Viola Davis“It’s an eenie, meenie, miny, mo game of luck, relationships, chance, how long you’ve been out there, and sometimes talent,” says Davis when pressed to describe her professional triumphs. While the Oscar and Tony Award winner remains modest, her emotional memoir chronicling her journey from growing up in a rat-infested apartment to attending Julliard and beyond is an uplifting story of hard work and dedication.
Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo
Reggie Fils-AiméThis debut memoir from the former president and COO of Nintendo of America provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the video game giant. Fils-Aimé documents his early days growing up in a Bronx tenement and his professional success at Proctor & Gamble, VH1, and, later, the most famous gaming company in the world, Nintendo. Readers can take away many important business and leadership lessons from Fils-Aimé’s daring career decisions made along the way.
The Power of Conflict: Speak Your Mind and Get the Results You Want
Jon TafferTaffer, bestselling author of “Don’t Bullsh*t Yourself” and star of the hit TV show “Bar Rescue,” teaches us how to take advantage of friction rather than avoiding it. His easy-to-follow tips on navigating difficult conversations and diffusing tension show how conflict can be an adaptive tool to change minds and strengthen relationships.
Plays Well with Others: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships is (Mostly) Wrong
Plays Well with Others: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships is (Mostly) Wrong
Eric Barker“Plays Well with Others” uses science to bust the four biggest relationship myths — “don’t judge a book by its cover,” “love conquers all,” “a friend in need is a friend indeed,” and “no man is an island.” Through case studies and exhaustive research, Barker exposes the truths about human perception and shares key strategies for improving our relationships.
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story
Simu LiuOne of the buzziest Marvel stars shows how following his “immigrant dream” led to big screen success. Liu’s real-life hero story — full of his Twitter account’s signature wit and humor — offers hope to anyone struggling with their identity and delivers all the feels.
The Gotti Wars: Taking Down America's Most Notorious Mobster
John GleesonMobster John Gotti ruled the notorious Gambino crime family in New York City until his murder conviction in 1992. But this trial wasn’t the first — nor was it seamless. Hear the story straight from the prosecutor that went head-to-head with Gotti multiple times before finally securing his conviction by flipping Gotti’s underboss, Sammy Gravano. Part memoir, part courtroom drama, “The Gotti Wars” is an insider’s look at the criminal justice system during the mafia’s glory days.
Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness
Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness
Steve MagnessThe author of “Peak Performance” and “The Passion Paradox” returns with more valuable insight on achievement and confidence. “Do Hard Things” redefines resilience, offering strategies backed by neuroscience, psychology, and real-world experience. Learn how to harness vulnerability, mindfulness, and other tangible practices that are counterintuitive to the typical idea of toughness.
The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach
Sarah StodolaAlluring beach vacations have soared in popularity over the last century, and travel journalist Stodola dissects the cause — and implications — of this phenomenon. From Miami to Tulum and beyond, Stodola explores the cultural and ecological effects of beach tourism and the changes that have already taken place due to climate change, including disappearing coastlines. This book is a call for greater conscientiousness for travelers and tourism industry executives alike.
Salmon Wars: The Dark Underbelly of Our Favorite Fish
Catherine CollinsCollins and Pulitzer Prize-winner Frantz (the pair who previously co-wrote “Fallout”) take readers below the surface of the salmon farming industry to examine its devastating toll on the environment, consumers, and the salmon themselves. From excess chemicals to filthy conditions, salmon farms are far from healthy and sustainable. “Salmon Wars” is an eye-opening exposé on what “big fish” doesn’t want you to know, offering first person accounts from activists and ecologists, scientific studies, and financial insight.
Dirtbag, Massachusetts: A Confessional
Isaac FitzgeraldFitzgerald’s hopeful memoir traverses the globe and the emotional spectrum. Each essay is an exercise in vulnerability as he explores topics like toxic masculinity and racism, ultimately proving that our pasts don’t define us and knowing oneself is an ongoing pursuit. “Dirtbag, Massachusetts” topped nearly every “must read” list of the summer and comes highly recommended by literary notables like Roxane Gay, Min Jin Lee, and Saeed Jones.
The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything
Matthew BallYou’ve probably heard the buzzword “metaverse” in conversations about technology, so you might have a sense that it’s poised to define our future. Ball, a metaverse expert and venture capitalist, explains the concept in a way that’s accessible and engaging, covering the past, present, and future as it relates to the metaverse. The transition from staring and swiping at a screen to interacting with a comprehensive 3D internet is fast approaching. Read “The Metaverse” to be prepared.
The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide
Steven W. ThrasherViruses like Covid-19 and HIV pose a much greater risk to minority populations (including the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities). This has nothing to do with biology or lifestyle choices, asserts Northwestern professor Thrasher, and everything to do with our dysfunctional social structures. “The Viral Underclass” takes a hard-hitting look at the failings of capitalism through the lens of public health and safety, and the book balances data with real-world stories of injustice.
Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe
David MaranissPulitzer Prize-winning Maraniss once again displays his acumen for breathing the fullness of life into people and places of the past. Read the rich biography of Jim Thorpe, one of history’s greatest athletes and the first Indigenous American to win an Olympic gold medal. But Thorpe’s talents didn’t erase his challenges, including substance abuse and being stripped of his accolades. Maraniss does justice to a figure that received little in his lifetime.
Lethal Tides: Mary Sears and the Marine Scientists Who Helped Win World War II
Catherine MusemecheIdeal for lovers of “Hidden Figures” and “The Code Breaker,” this microhistory tells the story of Mary Sears, a marine biologist who supported Navy efforts during WWII, eventually playing a significant role in the U.S.’s victory over Japan. Sears’ advancements in oceanography and women in STEM cannot be understated, and Musemeche’s skilled reporting brings this untold heroine into clear focus.
I'm Glad My Mom Died
Jennette McCurdyMcCurdy is an actress best known for playing Sam on the Nickelodeon sitcom “iCarly.” Her writing debut is an honest memoir of child stardom under the control of an abusive mother, and how those experiences led to eating disorders and substance abuse before her eventual recovery. Honest and darkly funny, McCurdy’s coming-of-age story offers hope to those struggling to overcome trauma.