On the shelf: learn something new with non fiction recs

By Courtney Warren

I love reading fiction. It has become my escape from the world, and I know many can relate to the magic of storytelling. However, I feel nonfiction often gets a bad rap, so let’s highlight some nonfiction books.

Wild, by Cheryl Strayed

This is easily one of my favorite nonfiction books. According to the publisher, at twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered, and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone.

Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. This is such a beautiful story, and I gift it to people all of the time. It truly reminds us the power of nature (for me, I was able to connect God to this healing) and how we can find ourselves by letting go.

Careless People: A cautionary tale of power, greed and lost idealism, by Sarah Wynn-Williams

This one was recommended to me by my best friend, Lindsay. According to the publisher, from trips on private jets and encounters with world leaders to shocking accounts of misogyny and double standards behind the scenes, this memoir exposes both the personal and the political fallout when unfettered power and a rotten company culture take hold. In a gripping and often absurd narrative where a few people carelessly hold the world in their hands, this eye-opening memoir reveals what really goes on among the global elite.

Sarah Wynn-Williams tells the wrenching but fun story of Facebook, mapping its rise from stumbling encounters with juntas to Mark Zuckerberg’s reaction when he learned of Facebook’s role in Trump’s election. She experiences the challenges and humiliations of working motherhood within a pressure cooker of a workplace, all while Sheryl Sandberg urges her and others to “lean in.”

Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner

Another Lindsay recommendation. This one is an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love and growing up Korean American.

Everything Is Tuberculosis, by John Green

I know I’ve already mentioned this book, before but it’s been such a big hit! According to the publisher, in this thought-provoking work, John Green examines the history and impact of tuberculosis, intertwining medical insights with personal narratives. Everything Is Tuberculosis offers a unique perspective on the disease and its societal implications, making it a compelling read for nonfiction enthusiasts.