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Books - Must Reads!
15
items I've been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. I've recently been fixated on non-fiction, but fiction has been a love for ages. These books are all I've loved and can't recommend enough.
Sections
4
Slice of life
Science
History
Kids books
Slice of life
I love learning about other people, especially those who have been through something remarkable. These biographies and autobiographies are fantastic.
Radium Girls made the NYT Bestseller's List for good reason.
Moore dives deep into this horrifying bit of industrial history and humanizes the women who endured such awful consequences of making a living in an uncaring company.
The testimonies of th...
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women|Paperback
Some books just stick with you, and this is one of them. I originally read this as an assignment in college, and it's been one of my favorites ever since. This book is full of end-of-life stories that touch the heart and makes you think about what yo...
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
This is such a beautiful, heart-breaking book. I first came across Jim Beaver in Supernatural, and loved the character's down-to-earth portrayal enough that I decided to look into the actor. He has a great sense of humor, and this book shows the real...
Life's That Way: A Memoir
Science
I'll admit - I love science. All kinds of science. I disappear down weird rabbit holes every chance I get, and books are a great way to do that.
I suggest this book to everyone I meet. Kimmerer, a scientist and member of the Potawatomi Nation, is also an amazing author who weaves science, personal experience, and reflection together for this fantastic book. In addition to being wonderfully ed...
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants|Paperback
When I nearly died having my baby and faced a mountain of trauma, life in a permanently damaged body, and the rigor of new motherhood, I knew I needed help. I started therapy as soon as I could, and one of the first books my therapist recommended was...
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma|Paperback
Idiot Brain is quite possibly one of my favorite books about the human brain to date. It has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments while still explaining why our brains do the weird things they do, like keeping us up at night over something we said when we...
Idiot Brain: What Your Head Is Really Up To|Paperback
Now, this? THIS is a cool book. Each picture of natural architecture is beautifully staged and eye-catching. The descriptions peppered throughout the book have fascinating information most people wouldn't even think to ask about.
I got it with one of...
Animal Architecture: Photographs of Natural Habitats|Hardcover
As soon as I saw this book, I knew I wanted it. I'm so glad I went for it because I've learned so much from it. I've learned to look at the world around me in a completely different way, and read nature's signs to learn more about my area, the weathe...
The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals - And Other Forgotten Skills
I admit, I've always been a sucker for the paranormal. I've also always enjoyed learning about medicine and how our bodies with. This book combines both of those things. It's an older book, published in 2006, so there is probably some outdated info, ...
The Witch in the Waiting Room: A Physician Examines Paranormal Phenomena in Medicine
History
While I wasn't the biggest fan of history in school, as an adult, I've come to love learning about what I wasn't taught early on. These are my favorite books on a variety of historical topics.
This book dives into how organized religion both fought against and absorbed prior religions as it spread throughout the world. It discusses not only white victims of religious persecution but people of color as well, and how so many of them held ont...
Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy
Kids books
I've been reading books to my girl since she was a baby. Over the years, I've found some books that are absolutely faves and teach her all kinds of things.
This is such a fun book, especially if you get into how wild the situation gets for the turtle. It encourages the child to interact with the book and teaches how colors are made by mixing blue, red, and yellow. Great for young learners!
Color Blocked
Who knew acorns were so wild? This little book packs a lot into a short story: what happens to acorns when they fall from the tree, how they grow into oaks, the seasons, the value of trying new things, bravery, and how change can be a great thing. Fa...
Acorn Was a Little Wild
This is one of my favorite books to read because I get to be extra animated as Grover gets progressively wild. This Sesame Street book is so much fun, and a great way to get kids involved with reading.
The Monster at the End of This Book (Sesame Street)
We'd originally borrowed this one from the library, and my girl loves it so much, I had to buy it for her. Vlad's a vampire going to spooky school that loooves to skateboard. Despite pressure to stop, he keeps going, teaching us that being ourselves ...
Vlad the Rad|Hardcover
The nurses gave my girl this book the last time I was in the hospital, and when we finally read it once I was home, it became a favorite. It's a fun read, lighthearted, and an entertaining way to get kids interested in reading.
Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups