List
Nonfiction for Your Summer Reading
Find your next summer read with these nonfiction titles.
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Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family
2022 by Chaudry, RabiaGet this itemIn her candid and engaging memoir, Chaudry recounts how her life has been shaped and complicated by her relationship with food and culture. Suggested by Rummanah.
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In Limbo
2023 by Lee, DeborahGet this itemLee shows no fear in this candid graphic memoir when it comes to unearthing some of the uncomfortable details of growing up as an Asian immigrant in the U.S. Exploring themes of mental health, domestic trauma, and self-sabotage--lost in the space between two cultures--Lee's memoir is a beautiful example of vulnerability and art. Suggested by Elise.
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Where We Meet the World: The Story of the Senses
2023 by Ward, AshleyGet this itemSummertime is a feast for the senses. This joyfully engaging work of pop science explores the myriad ways our senses (and those of animals and even plants) take in "terabytes of information every second" and make sense of the world. Suggested by Chris.
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An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms around Us
2022 by Yong, EdGet this itemThe title isn't false advertising: this really is a book that makes the world seem far more "immense" than it did before. Yong invites readers to consider planet Earth through the senses (spoiler: there are a lot more than five) of the creatures that share it with us. And like all the best science books, it tells us a lot about ourselves. Suggested by Andrew.
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More Than a Woman
2020 by Moran, CaitlinGet this itemA funny and brutally honest take on what it is like to be a modern woman in today's society. Filled with some of life's poignant lessons and hard-earned wisdom, Moran tackles topics such as aging and caring for elderly parents. Suggested by Michelle.
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Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune
2022 by Thomson, KeithGet this itemAhoy mateys! Sail the "South Seas" (the South Pacific) with some roguish pirates in this action-packed history book. Suggested by Lynnanne.
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Home Therapy: Interior Design for Increasing Happiness, Boosting Confidence, and Creating Calm
2022 by Yokota, AnitaGet this itemLeave spring (and its cleaning) behind and head into summer with a vision or, at the very least, a hope for what your home can be. Yokota shows you how to turn your home into a place where you can boost your mind, body, and spirit. Suggested by Paul.
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Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American
2022 by Ali, WajahatGet this itemI really had a hard time putting down this passionate and insightful memoir that isn't afraid to tackle the tough topics of Islamophobia, racism, and xenophobia while also being hopeful and hilarious. If you are a fan of Hasan Minhaj's Homecoming King and Trevor Noah's Born a Crime, this book is for you. Suggested by Rummanah.
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Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America
2022 by Sen, MayukhGet this itemIn one of my favorite books of 2022, food historian Mayukh Sen presents seven short, intimate biographies of women who, while not household names, managed to radically alter (for the better!) how and what we eat in the U.S. An important, necessary work of great scholarship and care that will also make your mouth water. Suggested by Chris.
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Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation
2022 by Gadsby, HannahGet this itemThose who encountered Australian comedian Gadsby through her Netflix specials Nanette and Douglas will devour these essays about her life and interests. Newcomers will hopefully get on her offbeat wavelength as she offers her brutally frank takes on family, trauma, queer identity, art history, and being diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult. Suggested by Andrew.
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Forest Bathing: The Rejuvenating Practice of Shinrin Yoku
2020 by García, HéctorGet this itemSummer is the perfect time to get out in nature. Whether you're an avid camper or city dweller, this book will not only encourage you to get out but will tell you why it is so important to do so. Suggested by Paul.
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Meaty: Essays
2018 by Irby, SamanthaGet this itemIrby's fun and entertaining writing is perfect for a warm summer afternoon. She discusses a variety of topics, including obesity, living with Crohn's disease, and sex. This refreshing book is a cross between a memoir and a podcast. Suggested by Michelle.
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Solito: A Memoir
2022 by Zamora, JavierGet this itemAt age nine, Zamora left El Salvador to join his parents in California. Two decades later, he remembers the harrowing journey with the vocabulary of an award-winning poet but the eyes of a child who seldom fully grasped what was happening. The result is an epic of family, migration, and the bonds that formed among an unlikely band of travelers. Suggested by Andrew.
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Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm
2022 by Charnas, DanGet this itemThe late James Dewitt Yancey, who went by J Dilla, was one of the most influential musicians of the last 50 years. And his instrument was the sampler. Using an Akai MPC (now permanently on display in the Smithsonian), Dilla revolutionized the sound of hip hop and R&B. This amazing, beautifully written biography helps to share and preserve his awesome legacy. Suggested by Chris.
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The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History
2019 by Hill, LibbyGet this itemHill offers a comprehensive account of the Chicago region's waterways, from Native American portages to the invention of the Skokie Lagoons. Expanding on a book originally published in 2000, the author explores such 21st Century topics as climate change, environmental justice, invasive species, and the continued importance of Skokie's O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant. Suggested by Andrew.
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On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening Hard
2019 by Pastiloff, JenniferGet this itemAn inspirational memoir about how a waitress became a yoga teacher and a blogger on self-discovery. Pastiloff embarks on a journey of healing and learning to love herself. Her writing is full of "aha" moments and life lessons without being preachy. Suggested by Michelle.
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The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home
2003 by Colt, George HoweGet this itemI adored this memoir about Colt's extended family's summer house in Cape Cod. In the family for close to a century, where the author spent 43 of his summers, this is a beautifully written homage to family, place, summer, and how one lets go of something that contains a universe of memories. Suggested by Chris.
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