Here are the best nonfiction books I read in 2015. There's a little something for everyone- memoir, history, essays. It was so hard to narrow this category down. These books challenged, encouraged, and taught me. Some moved me to tears, while others made me laugh out loud. I hope they'll resonate with you as well.
To see the other books meriting a 4 or 5 star review from me, head over to my Pinterest board.
Birmingham Revolution: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Epic Challenge To The Church- Edward Gilbreath
Well written and thought provoking, Gilbreath takes us behind the scenes of the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham. I loved learning more about the leaders and the influences on Martin Luther King Jr.'s rise. I also appreciate how Gilbreath doesn't leave it at that. There is so much for us to learn from this movement.
Fire Shut Up In My Bones- Charles M. Blow
This breathtakingly beautiful and brave memoir is a must-read. I hope Blow plans to continue writing in this vein.
Orchard House: How A Neglected Garden Taught One Family To Grow- Tara Austen Weaver
I would like anything Tara Austen Weaver writes but Orchard House especially blew me away. It's a beautifully rendered exploration of how gardens grow and families learn to connect. (The imagery alone!) Though our stories are different, this memoir resonated in a powerful way, especially her reflections on community and friendship.
Strong Inside: Perry Wallace And The Collision Of Race And Sports In The South- Andrew Maraniss
You don't need to know anything about basketball or the SEC to enjoy this book. College sports are generally a mystery to me! I didn't know about Perry Wallace until The Tennessean ran a story about him a couple of years ago but I was thoroughly intrigued by what I discovered. Wallace was the first black athlete at Vanderbilt, thereby integrating the SEC. Maraniss lays out the dynamics of the 60s and the Civil Rights Movement, while sharing Wallace's role. While Vanderbilt is to be commended for integrating, it was disheartening to read about the lack of support black students received once on campus. Integration is not enough to build understanding and relationships and this becomes especially clear when Wallace played at more overtly racist schools and his coaches and team did little to acknowledge what was happening or, in some cases, protect him. I really enjoyed learning about Wallace's life in the years leading up to his decision to go to Vanderbilt and all he's accomplished since then. Such a remarkable man!
The Boys In The Boat: Nine Americans And Their Epic Quest For Gold At The 1936 Berlin Olympics- Daniel James Brown
I was on the crew team for a couple of years in college so I was positively enthralled by this story, not only for its historical value but going down rowing memory lane. Even those without crew experience should find this story interesting. Written in the vein of Unbroken, The Boys in the Boat takes us back to the Depression era and the years leading up to WWII, all the more notable because of where the 1936 Olympics took place. The book centers on Joe Rantz, which is a wise choice in that the narrative keeps moving and provides the book its heart. We still learn about his fellow rowers in the process and see how they become a true team and where that eventually led them.
Missoula: Rape And The Justice System In A College Town- Jon Krakauer
This is not an easy read but I do believe it's one of the most important books I've read this year. Krakauer's exploration of date rape on a college campus often made me angry. It was horrifying to see the ways the victims were marginalized, dismissed, not believed, and then on top of that, had their characters misrepresented and smeared, especially when their rapists were football players. I know that this goes on. I've heard too many stories. But seeing it laid out in such a stark manner made me rage. When will women be valued and respected more than the men who rape them? Krakauer's approach in writing this is excellent. The book is powerful. It exposes the secrets of our justice system, college sports, and power dynamics. It should be required reading. Maybe then things would start to change.
Intern: A Doctor's Initiation- Sandeep Jahaur
An inside look at medical residency and the world inside hospitals. I was a medical social worker for several years so I was not surprised by much of what Jauhar encountered, although some improvements have been made since he completed residency. There's still much to be done! The book might have been stronger had Jauhar not waffled so much about his chosen career and calling but still, I'm glad he decided to lower the veil for those who do not work as doctors or nurses.
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice On Life And Love From Dear Sugar- Cheryl Strayed
More essay than advice column, Strayed transcends the normal rules of giving advice and therein lies the genius and soul of her response. Absolutely moving.
If you don't listen to the Dear Sugar podcast, you should start.
Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina- Misty Copeland
I didn't know much about Misty Copeland before she was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance last summer but I was quickly intrigued. She offered fantastic critiques of the dancers, for one. Reading her memoir made me even more of a fan. She's had quite the life but her determination and dedication are what's most notable. I'm glad she chose to address the racism she's encountered in the dance world and even more glad she's broken the barriers she has, hopefully making it easier for other People of Color to follow in her footsteps.
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School- Kathleen Flinn
I adored Flinn's approach to all things cooking, food consumption, and kitchen. It's relatable and inspiring. I found my knife skills improving as I read and it also gave me more ideas for what and how to cook- and I'm already someone who likes to cook. This should be a must-read for people who never darken their oven doors and for the rest of us as well.
Just Mercy: A Story Of Justice And Redemption- Bryan Stevenson
I commend Stevenson for the good work he's done through the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit legal practice dedicated to serving the poor, the marginalized, the downtrodden. And I commend him for the good work he's given us here. The book is part memoir, part treatise on the state of the legal system. We follow the story of Walter, a man on Alabama's Death Row who proclaims his innocence, and meet Stevenson's other clients as he built his practice in the 1980s and the subsequent areas of injustice they've battled to this day, including death penalty sentences for children and the treatment of the mentally ill. This book is a game changer, a must-read.
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, And The Heart Of The Middle East- Sandy Tolan
How does one begin to talk about something as complex as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Journalist Sandy Tolan introduces us to Bashir, Dalia, and the beloved lemon tree. Dalia, a Bulgarian Jew whose parents immigrated to Israel when she was a baby, lives in the house Bashir’s Palestinian family was forced to abandon in 1948. They are irrevocably united, in spite of their differences. We learn their respective stories, as well as the history of the conflict. We get the Big Picture, as well as the on-the-ground reality.
Both Israelis and Palestinians have legitimate grievances and needs spanning decades. There aren’t any easy solutions. Bashir and Dalia’s story shows us it’s possible to agree to disagree. We don’t have to have the same opinions to love one another.
What are your favorite non-fiction reads of 2015?
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