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🤓Non-fiction books: time to stop thinking non-fiction is boring and pick up the right non-fiction
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items Non-fiction books are superior, we all know this. Learn more about the world around you and your role in it. Education is key.
Sections
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Race
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Feminism
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Social issues
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True crime
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History/Current events
Race
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Necessary reading
Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness...
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Loved that this looked at racism in America through caste. It was a new look that needs to be explored and recognized. I do wish there were some more concrete ideas on how to abolish the caste system at the end of the book though.
Caste (Oprah's Book Club): The Origins of Our...
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This book is a horrifying look at the prison industrial complex to show how capitalism rules over reform and rehabilitation. It addresses every aspect of prison, whether it's physically behind bars or otherwise. I really appreciated the emphasis on t...
Prison by Any Other Name | The New Press
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This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I'm happy to say that it's absolutely brilliant.
Just like Oluo's last book, this one is a must-read, especially during this time. I highlighted and wrote so many notes in my book. It taught ...
Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male...
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One of the best and most important books I’ve ever read. Everyone in America needs to read this, especially those who think that all we have to do right now is “vote”.
New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of ...
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Every white person needs to read this book. I loved how accessible it was and the journal entries are such important work that EVERYONE needs to do. If you want to start educating yourself about race and don’t know where to start, start with this boo...
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change...
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I thought that this book was an incredible and completely necessary read. Oluo shares her own stories while providing commentary and action steps in regards to race in America today. What was different about this book was that: 1. Oluo was unapologet...
So You Want to Talk About Race : Oluo, Ijeoma
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I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this. What an amazing project and concept turned into a powerhouse of emotion and change.
I cried more than once while reading this and that’s something that a text rarely can make me do.
It’s a criti...
Notes from the Field
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A must read
Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical ...
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A must read
We Refuse
Feminism
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I really really loved the parts towards the beginning of this book that focused heavily on the history of witches and witch hunts. I wish that had more of a presence throughout the book.
However, I think is a really great foundational text on women’...
In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of Witch Hunts
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Incredible look at the history of language
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the...
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This was absolutely brilliant and a must-read. I have never highlighted so many passages in a book before (check it out below) and I learned so much. I found the distinction between decriminalization and legalization to be particularly eye-opening. I...
Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights - Verso
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An absolute must read for every white person. Make this your Bible on how to actually practice the feminism ideals you believe. Love how this covered the topics of how heatlhcare and housing are feminist issues. I thought that the discussions around ...
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a...
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This book is such an important read. It's a perfect mix of memoir and non-fiction. The research Lenz did was extraordinary and I wish that every human was aware of this information—specifically about maternal mortality in the United States and how pr...
Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant...
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God, I wish I had this book when I was younger. This book is a must read for anyone with a vagina or anyone that interacts with vaginas on a regular basis.
Dr. Gunter does an incredible job of addressing the myths and the dangerous misunderstandings...
The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina:...
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Traister is one of my favorite journalists and authors, so I was so excited about this book. As always, I found her writing to be accessible, well-researched, and dense (in the best way). I really loved this and everything it had to say, especially i...
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's...
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I absolutely adored this book! It's basically one giant essay exploring how the views and mindsets regarding single women have changed throughout history. I learned so many interesting historical facts and Traister clearly did her research and interv...
All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise
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I thought that this book was written in such a genius and engaging way. I’m not sure I’ve ever read another non-fiction book with this kind of writing style. It reads like fiction and it was so engrossing. I greatly admire Taddeo for following these ...
Three Women Hardcover - Taddeo, Lisa
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Overall, I loved this look at female friendship and I talked to so many of my friends after reading this book to chat about how great they are.
There wasn’t anything new presented in this book and I didn’t love some parts, but overall, it was lovely...
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph
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We love to see art as protest đź’Ş
Set Fear on Fire
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Inclusive and scientific look at menstruation
Period by Kate Clancy
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This book is DENSE and science heavy. It’s not a book you sit down and read through for enjoyment. But it’s a great reference material and I learned so much.
Blood by Dr. Jen Gunter
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I had so much fun reading this! Each essay was so perfectly crafted and each story was brilliantly told. This book made me fall back in love with food writing
If You Can't Take the Heat by Geraldine DeRuiter
Social issues
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I thought this was a super fascinating look at how language has been weaponized in cults and cult-like groups/companies today in order to brainwash and harm people. Can't recommend it enough for lovers of language and people (like me) who can't learn...
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
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Well shit. I cried multiple times on public transport while listening to this book. Thanks a lot, John Green.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-C...
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A great response to “Hillbilly Elegy.” I learned so much from this book, especially about how the “othering” of the Appalachians is a political ploy to place blame and also accountability.
What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia
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There are a few non-fiction books I read where I think, "this could actually change things" and this is one of them. If you're unfamiliar with Purdue's role in the opioid epidemic in America, then I would highly suggest reading Hampton's "American Fi...
Unsettled: Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed
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I thought this book was absolutely fascinating. I loved that it explored different culture’s death traditions and practices from all around the world. There were so many traditions that I was introduced to that were so lovely and so far away from the...
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find...
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This book is such an important read. It’s such a well-done study and look into what causes a mother to murder their child. This book is heartbreaking, infuriating, and a must-read.
When Mothers Kill: Interviews from Prison
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This is the best book I've read in a long time and quite possibly the best piece of journalism I've ever read. This book is so important. These stories are so important. These people are so important. Please read it.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
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The amount of interviews and reporting that went into this book just astounds me. Absolutely amazing. Although this book was now written a few years ago, it is still definitely worth a read.
I think that Quinones does a great job at excluding bias i...
Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate...
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You need to read this book.
Part memoir, part essay, Parker provides a beautiful argument for pro-choice through religion and compassion.
Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice
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This was a really lovely look into the every day lives of undocumented Americans across the country along with a look into the author's life as well. It was heartbreaking to hear these very raw and real accounts and how our government continuously sh...
The Undocumented Americans: Cornejo Villavicenci
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Everyone needs to read this book. Pearlman interviewed over 300 Syrians and their stories need to be heard.
We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria
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I love learning anything and everything about marine life, so I found this book fascinating (although sometimes it went over my head). Although, if you’re not interested in this topic I can see this being a harder book to get though.
Another aspect ...
Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs
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Absolutely fascinating look at death around the world
All the Living and the Dead: A Personal Investigation
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A good intro to the problems and possible solutions to poverty in America. I wish I dove a little deeper into these issues.
Poverty, by America : Desmond, Matthew
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A book that makes you pause, think, and challenge yourself. I’m not sure if I agree with all the conclusions in this book, but I’m glad it made me stop and think.
Stealing My Religion
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Poetic, horrifying, educational, and endlessly important. It’s a hard read, but I urge you to try. This will be one of the best books I read this year.
Still Life With Bones: Genocide, Forensics, and...
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Extremely important piece of journalism
I Love Russia: Reporting from a Lost Country
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A great introduction to the importance and inescapability of intersectionality amongst social movements around the world.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine
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A great introduction to the importance and necessity of mutual aid and how it differs from charity and non-profits.
Mutual Aid by Dan Spade
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[edit] I’m not going to give this a rating because essentially interview transcripts. Powerful and important every day stories out of Palestine. Definitely necessary reading.
Palestine Speaks
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Really great insights on rethinking what forgiveness means. I underlined a lot and took a lot away from this book.
Failures of Forgiveness
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It’ll be no surprise to anyone that I loved this book. Super fun and interesting look a biases. I loved what it had to say about manifestation, conspiracy theories, and celebrity worship.
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
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An importance piece of journalism sharing the stories of real people affected by highway infrastructure and its continued growing throughout the U.S. despite its detrimental effects on the environment, community, and people. This books shares stories...
City Limits by Megan Kimble
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This is a very interesting short read that addresses the harmful nature of call-out cultures within movements (not pertaining to instances of abuse).
We Will Not Cancel Us
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Ta-Nehisi Coates is an incredibly talented writer with absolutely breathtaking prose. I underlined so much for this book. The Palestine essay is a great, great introductory essay for people who are looking to learn more about Israel’s occupation of P...
The Message
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A journey into the dark world of white supremacy
Culture Warlords
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A harrowing look at the history of one asylum in America and how it shines a light on the interconnection between slavery, mental healthcare, and incarceration of Black people in America (even today). A breathtaking piece of journalism
Madness
True crime
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A really powerful and impeccably researched true-crime book. However, make sure you’re in a good mental space before reading this book because the trauma and abuse presented is graphic, upsetting, and potentially triggering.
If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets
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This book was absolutely fascinating and great look into why people go missing in the wilderness and why so many are never found. I thought the overall story was so moving (I almost cried at the end), and the author really did a great job painting a ...
The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in N. America
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The first half of this book had a lot of the same information that was presented in the "Uncovered" podcast and "The Vow" documentary, but as the book continued, it really shed some light on even more horrors within NXIVM.
I found this fascinating a...
Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith...
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I think that this was a really well-researched and unbiased look at Jonestown. I knew a lot about this case going in and I didn't feel like I learned anything new. However, it was nice to have it told in such a full way (although it got a little leng...
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples...
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I know that this book may not be for everyone, but I thought it was brilliant. The storytelling was so well done. The epilogue was absolutely stunning with perfect commentary on why victims stories matter and the importance of gender equality in toda...
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by...
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This was really hard to get through due to the subject matter and the amount of detail presented. It's not doubt, a great work of researched journalism, but it was hard to get through all of it.
I would love to see the research done here to be turne...
Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College...
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A really fascinating read that I flew through. I wish that I had learned more about the author himself while he was going through this case.
Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for...
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This book is an absolute feat and will (hopefully) change the course of history. This reporting is inspiring, often disheartening, and really shows how deep corruption is in our society. I hope these stories keep getting told.
Loved this book. The l...
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy
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Such an important look into the cases that brought forward the #MeToo movement. I adored the epilogue so much. Overall, this book made me angry, but all the more passionate about believing survivors and lifting up their stories.
She Said - Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey - Klett-Cotta
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Even though I’ve consumed so much media around this mystery, I couldn’t get enough of this book. It was compelling, enthralling, and the best media I’ve consumed about this topic to date.
For me, the infrasound is the most convincing theory I’ve hea...
Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of Dyatlov
History/Current events
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One of the most difficult books I’ve ever read, but also one of the most important
Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War...
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Such a devastating and haunting book about greif, natural disasters, and the ghosts that haunt us
Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's...
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A very powerful and important look at the history and the people that the colonizers of America have tried to destroy. This is so crucial for everyone to read, but it is very dense, making it not the most accessible to everyone. Because of this, I hi...
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
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Coates has a beautiful way of exploring and showcasing complicated issues in a clear light. Which is what makes his writing so accessible to everyone who wishes to become more educated on the issues surrounding racism in America. In particular, this ...
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy
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remarkable deep dive on trans history
Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender
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Such a necessary read. A dense and challenging book, but I can’t state enough how important it is.
The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist...
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An absolute must-read for historical context and calls for action.
Palestine: A Socialist Introduction
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 A must-read. I’m still trying to process everything I learned.
The Palestine Laboratory
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Even as someone who’s not super interested in makeup, I found this fascinating. It dives into different cultures, histories, and social movements that have used eyeliner as a tool beyond makeup. It did get a little repetitive after a while, but still...
Eyeliner by Zahra Hankir
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This book is not for everyone. I definitely think you need to live in Berlin to truly appreciate it. But I really did. It helped me navigate through and understand the city better on a daily basis. Really cool format for a book.
The Undercurrents
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Every single one of these essays is a must-read.
Our Women on the Ground
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As someone who can never learn enough about animals, I absolutely loved this book. This felt like watching the Planet Earth Series in book form with a witty narrator. I learned so much about each of the animals featured and underlined so much. But I ...
Vanishing Treasures
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An imperative piece of journalism glimpsing into what America will look like in the future through telling stories of individuals who have been impacted by climate change.
The Great Displacement
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Such a lovely book. I don’t think this is for everyone (you definitely need to be interested in learning about plants), but I found it to be fascinating and emotional. I love how the author weaved in stories of her own life into each of these essays ...
Dispersals
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An important piece of journalism on a subject I knew little about: the Philippine’s “war on drugs”. So well reported and impeccably written.
Some People Need Killing
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A good introductory text about the importance of eliminating passivity in the climate crisis and a call to action. Wish it dove deeper into a few subjects, especially in historical examples of how violent protest (including property destruciton) brou...
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
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King Leopold’s Ghost is the horrifying account of a megalomaniac of monstrous proportions. It is also the deeply moving portrait of those who defied Leopold: African rebel leaders who fought against hopeless odds and a brave handful of missionaries, ...
King Leopold's Ghost