As Nonfiction November comes to a close, I thought, "Better late than never!" to share a list of some of the best nonfiction books I've read.
Nonfiction books are great if you want to...
- Understand someone's circumstances or experiences that are different from your own
- Find understanding and advice for your situation or personality
- Learn about history (or anything, really), nurture a budding interest, or pick up a new skill
- Get a better grasp on a topic, worldview, or people group that you don't understand or tend to disagree with
Whether you're already a nonfiction reader or want to read more nonfiction in 2025, I hope you'll find a book that interests you below.
1. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
I had to start with The Warmth of Other Suns because it's easily the best nonfiction book I've ever read. I recommend it more than any other book. It's narrative nonfiction and reads almost like fiction, making it a good choice for fiction readers who want to get into nonfiction (and are interested in history).
This book excellently tells the story of the Great Migration through the stories of three people who journeyed out of the South in search of a better, safer, freer life. Read my full review here.
2. The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001
The Only Plane in the Sky was my first audiobook, and wow, it was an incredible and unique reading experience. This is likely the only book I'll ever say you must read via audio. It's a powerful and extremely detailed account of 9/11 that is read by a 45-person cast and includes real (and terrifying) voice recordings from that day.
3. Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships
Fighting for Our Friendships was a more recent read—try to act surprised when you see it on my favorite books of 2024 list. Friendship is a hugely important part of my life, and this book has given me more tools to navigate those relationships.
It discusses challenges in friendships between women and even breaks down a few different types of friends (the flaky friend, the jealous friend, the love-obsessed friend, etc.) and how to navigate (or whether to end) those friendships. Read my full review of the book here. (Side note: I highly recommend the author's podcast, Friend Forward, too.)
4. Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar
I'm due for a re-read of Tiny Beautiful Things as soon as I'm in the mood for crying. It's a beautiful and inspiring book that took me through various experiences that people share—people feeling stuck in life, grieving something, weighing important decisions, making themselves too small or too big, etc. I didn't expect much from a book of advice column responses, but it's an all-time favorite.
5. The Selected Works of Audre Lorde
If you've ever wanted to read Audre Lorde's work but weren't sure where to start, The Selected Works of Audre Lorde (put together by the amazing Roxane Gay) is the perfect curated collection. Lorde's legendary brilliance is on full display, and many of her words are relevant and needed in our current time.
6. Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life
Liturgy of the Ordinary is an approachable book about the practical theology of our everyday rhythms and how God can be present to us in surprising ways during the mundane, routine parts of life. According to my 2021 review, it "would be an especially great read around the Lent season or at the beginning of the year when you're seeking to establish new rhythms," so I may re-read it in January.
7. More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)
More Than Enough is admittedly not the type of nonfiction book I usually go for. But I was so interested in Elaine Welteroth—the youngest and only the second Black editor-in-chief in Condé Nast history—and her story that I gave it a go. We're here today because I loved it much more than I expected! It was vulnerable, inspiring, affirming, and great for career women or those pushing past fear to break barriers in other ways.
8. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Big Magic is the only book I've read more than once on this list. It made enough of an impact on me that I wrote a whole blog post about it in 2016. It's on the woo-woo side, but it's also a super encouraging and helpful book for creative people, covering what we need to embrace and let go of to live our most creative lives.
Shannon Whitehead Smith
9. The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
If you've been around for a bit, you may recognize The Making of Biblical Womanhood from my top books of 2023 list. Barr is a Christian historian doing very important work for the modern church, and this book is a comprehensive and scholarly read that's difficult for me to summarize.
Essentially, the book provides historical insight and context around oppressive teachings about women and makes a case for why what is sometimes called "biblical womanhood" isn't biblical at all. As I write this, I realize it's pretty relevant to a recent life decision—I'm about to stop answering questions and start sending out links to this book.
10. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
If you like memoirs, food, and crying, you'll like this book. Crying in H Mart is so sad but so good. The author writes about the painful process of losing her mother to terminal cancer, her experience with her identity as a half-Korean woman, the complexities of mother/daughter relationships, and all the ways food connects us with those we love.
11. You're the Only One I've Told: The Stories Behind Abortion
Whenever I hear the question, "What's a book you wish everyone would read?" this one always pops into my mind. You're the Only One I've Told is a weighty and necessary book that offers a look into various medical and personal life scenarios that ultimately resulted in abortion for the people telling their stories. It provides the type of nuance that is hard to explain to those who want the "abortion issue" to be black and white. Read my full review here.
12. The Autobiography of Malcolm X
I was so blown away by this book that my review was only two sentences long. The Autobiography of Malcolm X was wilder, more detailed, and more engaging than I could've imagined. To this day, all I can say is...if you have any interest in this historical figure and how he came to be, read this.
Have room for more?
That's all for this list, but I also published another nonfiction lineup on Bookstagram this week: my post-election reading stack, the books I'll be reading (or re-reading) to try to understand the presidential election results and move forward with advocacy in mind.
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