Non-fiction November!

Today’s post is to feature a few Non-fiction books that I’ve read and recommend. I am hoping to read 3-4 Non-fiction books this month. So far this year I’ve read 11 Non-fiction books (about 11% of the total books I’ve read this year) and that is not enough! I love Non-fiction November and I’m excited to read more of the genre this month.

Non-Fiction Books I’ve read and loved

These are some books that I’ve read, loved and definitely recommend. I am linking to my reviews if you want more details about the book.

I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown – In this collection of essays Austin Channing Brown tells her personal experiences as a Black woman living in a white world. The stories are eye opening and highlight many problems in our society. This is a book that will open your eyes and hopefully encourage action. This was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick earlier this year. Check out my full review here.

Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson – Inspiring, powerful, heartbreaking these are all words that I’d use to describe this book. This book made me think so much and it was so heartbreaking. I learned a lot about how messed up our judicial system is. I had so many emotions while reading it, I was angry most of the time, sad but there were a few hopeful moments. This is the kind of book that you’ll want to highlight and bookmark so many things to go back to. There’s a lot of stats and powerful quotes. I have to applaud the author for his writing because it was so well written. The details of the cases and the explanations of the law could have been very dry but they weren’t. Read this book and then watch the movie!

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall – This is an important book that I think anyone that considers themselves a feminist should read. There are so many important topics addressed, each chapter focuses on something different. At the end of each chapter it summarizes what the feminist movement needs to address in order to call themselves feminist for ALL women. I liked how the author was very open about her own experiences and at the same time included a lot of research and data, anecdotes from other people’s experiences and reference to articles. Check out my full review here.

My time among the whites by Jennine Capo Crucet – I loved this book and read it in a few sittings! There were so many ways I related to some of the stories. I laughed, cringed and even teared up while reading it. The essays are thought provoking and funny at times. I wish I had this book when I was in college. I think it would have opened my eyes to certain behaviors. Now I just want to go read Jennine’s fiction books and can’t wait for more books from her. I am so glad I found this book and I hope everyone reads it! Check out my full review here.

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio – This book is about the author’s journey to different parts of the US and her documentation of the people she met as well as part of her family’s story. Some of the events covered are The World Trade Center at 9/11, the Flint water crisis, Hurricane Sandy and how these events impacted the lives of undocumented immigrants. These are the stories we don’t see in the news. I think it is so important to read about the day to day lives of undocumented immigrants in the US in order to begin to understand what they go through. The author doesn’t just want us to passively read her words. She wants us to think and be uncomfortable. That is what makes this book so powerful. Check out my full review here.

The Book of Rosy by Rosayra Pablo Cruz and Julie Schwiertz Collazo – I think it is so important for us to read these #ownvoices experiences with immigration. In this book you get to see the difficult decision Rosy had to make in hopes for a better life for her family and the struggles immigrants face in the journey. I felt lots of emotions while reading this book! Check out my full review here.

Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman – There are so many resources and discussions about family dynamics and romantic relationships but the topic of friendship doesn’t get the attention it deserves. This book digs deep into how friendships come together and fall apart, the struggles of interracial friendships, and how friendships take work. They do this through telling their personal friendship story from when they met to the struggles they faced and how they saved their friendship. Check out my full review here.

Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz – I am from Puerto Rico. I grew up there and most of my family still lives there. I grew up very different from Jaquira and it was important to me to read her story. To see what many that didn’t grow up with the same privileges that I did go through. She wrote her coming of age story mirrored with Puerto Rico’s own changes, challenges for recognition and struggles to be seen. Check out my full review here.

Group by Christie Tate – I found this book fascinating! This is a captivating memoir. It is the author’s story and her experience with group therapy. The author goes into details about her life and how the group therapy helped her heal and get to where she is at now. I am glad this is another book that normalizes talking about therapy. Check out my full review here.

Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur – I devoured this book! This is a book that can be easily read in one sitting. It is short, reads like fiction and I just couldn’t get enough of this story. What is it about reading about dysfunctional families that is so fascinating? I had to keep reminding myself that this story was real. Check out my full review here.

Here for it by R. Eric Thomas – I didn’t know who R. Eric Thomas was before I picked up this book. I had heard he wrote a column for Elle but hadn’t read his work or knew much about him. This book addresses some heavier topics with humor and overall I really enjoyed it. This was a Read with Jenna pick earlier this year. Check out my full review here.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle – I would describe this book more as a self-help book than a memoir. What I like about this book is how open Glennon is about her life and struggles and how she tells her story so that other’s can learn. The book is told in a set of stories (like a short stories book) that don’t have a chronology. There are some powerful stories that I bookmarked to come back to. I couldn’t necessarily relate to many of the stories but the message behind them is what stuck with me. Check out my full review here.

Educated by Tara Westover – This was a difficult read for me, but I’m glad I read it, it is a powerful book. I didn’t get super into it until I was 100 pages in. At that point it felt like a different book. I often had to stop myself to process what I’d read and to remind myself that this was Tara’s life and not a fiction book. There’s a lot of violence and abuse that she suffered which broke my heart. It is amazing how Tara escaped her past to become who she is today. In the end you can see the power of education. Check out my full review here.

Audiobooks

I personally love to listen to Non-Fiction in audio, specially when the book is narrated by the author. Check out this read by the author audiobook list from Libro.fm that has some great audiobook recommendations. If you are not signed up for Libro.fm now is a great time, it helps support Independent bookstores and it is an amazing subscription. You can use my code GISSELLEREADS to get 2 for 1 when you sign up for a subscription.

What are some of your favorite non-fiction books? Let me know in the comments!