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For the Love of Nonfiction - Memoirs & Other Thought-Provoking Reads to Add to Your Shelves!
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items For the nonfiction lovers - these are all books I've read and loved, from memoirs to historical books, so you're sure to find something you'd want to pick up! I'd love to hear your thoughts if you end up getting them! š¤
Sections
6
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Memoirs
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History & Politics
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Self-Help & Psychology
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Social Commentary
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On Writing
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Climate & Politics
Memoirs
A wide range of memoirs offering different perspectives and lived experiences from authors of different backgrounds and ages
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This memoir is a love letter from Allende to her daughter Paula, and it is by far my favorite memoir to date.
Paula: A Memoir
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This book recounts Miller's journey of healing and seeking accountability after her assault by Brock Turner.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller, Paperback | Barnes & NobleĀ®
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I don't typically go for memoirs written by men, but this was such a gripping read. Long as it was, I could not put it down. His recounting of his time in Bombay while on the run from the law, and all the adventures he had, really had me feeling like...
Shantaram: A Novel - Gregory David Roberts - Barnes & Noble
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I have not read this book yet, but I can still recommend it because of the reviews and because it was given to me by a dear friend. I'll update this once I've read it but for now, here's a short description: āTara Westover was raised in the isolating...
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, Paperback | Barnes & NobleĀ®
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Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi is jailed at sixteen after a confrontation with Israeli soldiers. It is a moving, deeply personal memoir. I am in awe of her courage at such a young age.
They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom|Paperback
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A queer Muslim searches for the language to express her truest self, making peace with her sexuality, her family, and Islam. A really important read for me š¤
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir|Paperback
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I both loved and was saddened by this book. Reading Cortas's words as she bears witness to the unraveling of the Lebanon of the early 20th century, a world I wish I could have known and loved too.
A World I Loved: The Story of an Arab Woman|Paperback
History & Politics
A lot of my recommendations are focused on Lebanon and the SWANA region, but there are also options tackling other regions and political landscapes.Ā
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I read this towards the end of 2025, and I cannot recommend it enough. It started out as research for a book I plan to write down the road, and ended up teaching me about an aspect of my country's history I was very unfamiliar with.
Conflict on Mount Lebanon: The Druze, the Maronites and Collective Memory|Paperback
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This is essential reading for everyone working in international and global spaces, and even for those who aren't!
Orientalism by Edward W. Said, Paperback | Barnes & NobleĀ®
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This is hands down the most important book to read if you want to understand the landscape of today's global politics. I could not put it down!
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World (Women's Prize for Non ...
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This is a really poignant read for anyone who is a history love and is tired of reading the same recounting of historical events. The perspective and voices of women are front and center in this book.
The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World ...
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Any book by Svetlana Alexievich is a must read for me; I liked The Unwomanly Face of War more, but this is just as important.
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets - Barnes & Noble
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I read this book several years ago, and it has stayed with me since. In it, Coates reflects on the eight years of Obama's presidency, but it's not a book on presidential politics. Coates Ā also examines the new voices, ideas, and movements for justice that emerged over this period through his perspective, and he does it brilliantly.
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy|Paperback
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This is the one book I would recommend to anyone wanting to understand the modern history of Lebanon & the region - it's accessible for everyone, so you don't need to have prior knowledge to be able to read it.
Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East|Paperback
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This was an interesting exploration of Lebanon's civil war and post-war era through its part in the global drug trade. It was a fascinating read, and I originally picked it up for research purposes for a future book, hopefully. I am grateful to have ...
The Lebanese Connection: Corruption, Civil War, and the International Drug Traffic|Hardcover
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Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Savior investigates one of the most under-examined aspects of the refugee crisis: the criminal networks that make their fortune by facilitating their transport.
Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Savior|Hardcover
Self-Help & Psychology
Personally, I am not really one for self-help books, so anything I do include here is something that I have found helpful and/or insightful!
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I go back to this book whenever I start to feel like I'm losing my sense of self. Maintaining boundaries is ongoing work, and this is the best resource I've come across so far.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
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This was a really eye-opening read that helped me understand myself and society at large: it explores how our bodies respond to our personal & collective traumas - I will definitely be revisiting and re-reading.
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Social Commentary
Books in this section fall under narrative non-fiction, with a first person POV tackling some societal issue or topic. Some books will be more light-hearted and fun than others!
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a fun read that you can get through in a few days - definitely a beach read!
Everything I Know about Love by Dolly Alderton, Paperback
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This book was a thorough examination of six political myths that are weaponized to dismiss demands for social justice in the US. Written from the perspective of an Arab American, I found it insightful.
We Need New Stories: The Myths that Subvert Freedom|Paperback
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This first book by Mona Eltahawy is a must read. I myself have read it twice and can't wait to read more of her work.
Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution|Paperback
On Writing
In this section, I include books that I've read in my journey and process to become a better writer!
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For the aspiring writers - if there's ever a book to sink your teeth into that will help you become a better writer, it is this one āļøš
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life - Barnes & Noble
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I read this not long ago as I prepared to write the first draft of my first novel, and it is just so witty and funny - everyone who wants to be a better writer should read it!
How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid ...
Climate & Politics
Books on the climate crisis & the solutions we need.
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I first discovered Assaad Razzouk on LinkedIn a few years ago and was happy to discover such an important Lebanese voice in the global conversation on climate change š±š§
Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit: What They Don't Tell You About the Climate Crisis|Paperback
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While not my favorite book by Naomi Klein, this is such an important book, offering a brilliant explanation of why the climate crisis challenges and urges readers and decision makers to abandon the core āfree marketā ideology of our time, restructure...
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate|Paperback