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non fiction books and memoirs I've read lately
September 25, 2020

Books I’ve Read Lately: Non-Fiction & Memoirs

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I’ve been reading a ton this year, and today I’m excited to share some of my favorite recent reads with you!

You may have seen part 1 of my recent reads list (Books I’ve Read Lately: Fiction) back in August. This post (part 2) will feature the memoirs and non-fiction books I’ve read recently and that I’ve enjoyed or found useful. 

As I mentioned in part 1, reading in bed before I go to sleep is one of my favorite ways to relax and wind down from the day, but when I’m reading something non-fiction that requires more intense concentration, I sometimes will read during the day, too, when Riese is napping.

I usually alternate between reading fiction/for fun books and non-fiction/more educational books – often I’ll be reading one of each concurrently and will pick up whichever one I’m in the mood for when I have some time to read. 

non fiction books and memoirs I've read lately

Without further ado, here are some recent non-fiction faves! 

Please note the links in this post are affiliate links.

Non-Fiction Books and Memoirs I’ve Read Lately

book cover: Raising White Kids by Jennifer Harvey

Raising White Kids by Jennifer Harvey

Raising White Kids helps white families come up with a plan to educate their children on how to be inclusive in a diverse society that’s plagued by racial injustice.

I’ve found this book to be incredibly insightful and helpful as I work to understand how to adequately educate Riese about racism and race in an age-appropriate way. I especially found it useful to learn why the “colorblind” approach, while well intentioned, is not actually helpful in the long run. 

book cover: ten years a nomad

Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey Home by Matthew Kepnes

Ten Years a Nomad is a love letter to the art of travel, written by a man who traveled around the world for 10 years before returning home. In this book, Matthew has compiled his favorite experiences and philosophies from his adventures.

This book is written by a fellow blogger, Matt of Nomadic Matt. As someone who absolutely loves travel, I knew I’d enjoy this book and find it interesting and fun, and I was right. I read this book right at the start of the world shutting down, so it was really nice to have a mental travel escape to wander into every night before I went to bed. 

I will say I found the book a bit repetitive and a couple times a little confusing because he jumped around in time, but overall it was an enjoyable read for anyone who likes to travel and/or who wonders what it’s like to spend 10 whole years roaming the globe. It was also interesting reading a fellow blogger’s musings on balancing work, social media, and real authentic life.

This book is a combination of memoir and an exploration of the why behind the reasons people want to travel. I identified with a lot of the restlessness and wanderlust he shared in the book, especially in terms of my former early/mid 20 something self (I moved to Prague for a year to teach English back in 2008 because of that wanderlust, and also backpacked around Europe right after college for a month with a friend), but I also resonated with his reasons for stopping traveling so much, too.

While I love having adventures, it’s also really nice to have somewhere to call home – and people there that make it feel like home, too, because you’ve spent enough time there to build those connections.

book cover: maybe you should talk to someone

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb

In this memoir, Lori Gottlieb (a therapist) explores the depths of her own patients lives, while also delving into her own life during sessions with her quirky therapist.

I loved this book.

I’m a big proponent of therapy, and psychology has always really fascinated me, so it was really interesting to soak up the author’s musings on her (fictionalized, but based on real) clients as well as her own idiosyncrasies.

It’s funny and revealing and very illuminating – highly recommend. It will help make you more aware of your own personal obstacles and strengths, too. 

maid by stephanie land book cover

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land

This memoir explores poverty in America, written by a single mom who worked as a maid so she and her daughter could scrape by.

Reviews of this book are all over the map, and I wouldn’t say it’s the most amazingly written or necessarily the “best” book or memoir on the subject of poverty in America (and the reviews on Amazon reflect that – people had lots of thoughts on this one), but either way I think it is a worthwhile read. 

book cover: stamped: racism, antiracism, and you

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped explores racism in America – including the history behind it – and how to be antiracist in a society that continues to circulate racist ideas.

I found this book incredibly eye-opening and think it should be required reading for everyone growing up in this country. This is a “remix” of Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning book, and it’s technically written for young adults, but I found it helpful that they broke the information down into a less dense format. 

open book by jessica simpson

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson opens up about her life in this poignant and surprisingly raw memoir. It spans all the way from her childhood in Texas, to her struggle with alcohol and past relationships, to her current career and family life.

Things have gotten a bit heavy here so let’s lighten them up with this one – Jessica Simpson wrote a memoir and it’s AMAZING. Like, seriously amazing. I could not put it down.

This book is well written (by a ghostwriter I understand, but apparently Jessica was very involved and they used some of her diaries, too), incredibly honest and open, and absolutely fascinating. It felt like you were being invited into the inner thoughts and struggles of a super close friend, but then suddenly she’d mention something you remembered watching on TV or reading about in a magazine (yes, “is this chicken or is this tuna?” makes an appearance, of course) and you’d get a fascinating inner look into how that situation actually went down, or how it affected her personally. 

Honest, refreshing, and relatable, whether you are a Simpson fan or not! 

the sound of gravel book cover

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

The Sound of Gravel is the true story behind one girl’s life growing up in a polygamist cult in rural Mexico, as her father’s thirty-ninth child.

Wow. This memoir was riveting. Well written and completely absorbing – it will horrify you while also giving you hope. 

dreams from my father by barack obama

Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

This memoir follows Barack Obama’s journey after the death of his father, as he looks back at his parents’ lives. From small town America to Hawaii to Kenya, Obama seeks to understand his heritage and the truth behind his father’s tumultuous life.

I had this book on my to-read list for a very long time, and I’m so glad I finally sat down and gave it a shot this month. 

It’s an exploration of race and the struggles of the black community in America, as well as an interesting look at Obama’s earlier life and upbringing, well before he went into politics.

He’s an eloquent and poetic writer, and I found his musings to be fascinating, especially as he explores his own personal struggles with identity, growing up as the child of a black father and a white mother.

—

And that’s that – all the “of note” non-fiction books and memoirs I’ve read recently! 

Have you read any interesting books recently? 

I’ve already started reading some of the fiction recommendations you all left over in the comments section of my part 1 post (Books I’ve Read Lately: Fiction), but I’d be curious if you have any non-fiction or memoir faves, too. What’s currently next on my non-fiction reading list is White Fragility, but I’m always interested to hear more recommendations! 

Let me know in the comments!

- anne
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27 comments
  • Jennifer September 25, 2020 · 9:04AM:
    Deadliest Enemy by Michael Osterholm - so relevant in the time of COVID. Made me sad though to think that the knowledge was out there that this situation was coming but we did nothing to prepare for it. On a lighter note, loved Elton John's "Me" too :)
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:45PM:
      Will add these to my list - thanks!
      Reply
  • H September 25, 2020 · 11:54AM:
    Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is another "must" read.
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:45PM:
      Thanks for the rec, I will add it to my list!
      Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:46PM:
      I actually didn't realize this was a book, too - the movie has been on my "must watch" list for awhile - will have to read the book as well!
      Reply
  • Beth September 25, 2020 · 12:15PM:
    Showdown: The Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination that Changed America by Wil Haygood. It's an older book but very poignant for our times and a fascinating look at his life and the changes he implemented. A book from last year that is my favorite, I've even bookmarked/highlighted passages - I Miss you when I Blink by Mary Laura Philipott.
    Reply
  • Jacki September 25, 2020 · 12:53PM:
    Sound of Gravel is probably the book I recommend most often these days. I read it right around the same time I read Educated and I actually liked this one more. My husband and I each devoured it in about two days!
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:47PM:
      Intense but so good!
      Reply
  • H September 25, 2020 · 3:31PM:
    Why was my comment deleted? I made a legitimate comment recommending a book I read recently. As a longtime reader, I am disappointed by this.
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:45PM:
      Hi H! It wasn't deleted, it had just gone into moderation for some reason, and I haven't been on my computer to approve comments since I was on vacation last week at the lake! Just approved it :)
      Reply
  • Kerry September 25, 2020 · 5:17PM:
    Hi Anne! Love reading your book reviews/recommendations. I loved Sound of Gravel! Here are some NF/memoirs I've enjoyed lately: Hidden Valley Road - https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Valley-Road-Inside-American/dp/038554376X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hidden+valley+road&qid=1601068565&s=books&sr=1-1 Hollywood Park - https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Park-Memoir-Mikel-Jollett/dp/1250621569 Iron War - https://www.amazon.com/Iron-War-Greatest-Fitzgerald-2011-10-01/dp/B01K3QEVLO/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=iron+war&qid=1601068538&s=books&sr=1-4
    Reply
    • Kerry September 25, 2020 · 5:21PM:
      Sorry - my earlier comment came out a bit weird with the links! My recommendations are Hidden Valley Road - a fascinating story of a family in the 60s/70s with 12 kids, 6 of which were diagnosed with schizophrenia, Hollywood Park - it was nice to read a memoir from a male's perspective and had a lot of the same elements as The Glass Castle or Sound of Gravel, and Iron War - fascinating and fun read about a the Iron Man race in 1989:)
      Reply
      • Anne
        September 27, 2020 · 1:48PM:
        Thanks Kerry, appreciate these recs and will add them to my list! The previous comment was waiting in moderation due to the links - just approved it in case others want to click through for the book recs - thanks!
        Reply
  • Roadrunner September 25, 2020 · 7:15PM:
    Thanks for sharing these, Anne. I always enjoy your book reviews: they are short, honest, and refreshingly blunt, when that is called for! Thanks!
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:44PM:
      Thank you!
      Reply
  • Courtney Wilton September 26, 2020 · 7:43PM:
    How good was Jessica Simpson's biography I devoured it and loved getting an insight into her life and how it's definitely not as glamorous as its sometimes depicted! I have the Lori Gottlieb on reserve at my library (it must be popular i feel like I have been waiting forever!) and cannot wait given my own profession as a therapist! Have you read Barack's autobiography that was really good too. And I am sure you have read it but Michelle Obama's is also a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:44PM:
      Sooooo good!! I'm not surprised Lori's book is popular, it's really well done! I haven't read Barack's autobiography, but I that's on my list for later. I loved Michelle's book - I totally forgot to include that on this list, actually!
      Reply
  • Kris September 26, 2020 · 9:22PM:
    I think we have the same reading habits (fiction before bed when I'm winding down and non-fiction when I'm not tired) and interests. I read some of the books from your fiction recommendations post and loved them (The Forgotten Room, Riley Sager). From this post, I really liked Jessica Simpson's memoir. I have the 'Maid' audiobook on hold at my library. I favor listening to non-fiction books over reading them because I can listen while I'm doing simple tasks like cooking and give them more attention than I would if I were reading them.
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 27, 2020 · 1:43PM:
      I agree that I like listening to non-fiction books, too. Although nowadays I seem to end up listening to podcasts more vs. books! Let me know if you read any good ones in the future that I should check out :)
      Reply
      • KRIs September 29, 2020 · 6:28PM:
        After reading the Riley Sager book you recommended, I read Lock Every Door, and it was so good. If you like Sager, I recommend Ruth Ware.
        Reply
        • Anne
          September 30, 2020 · 12:54PM:
          Thanks!!
          Reply
  • T September 29, 2020 · 12:53AM:
    Now I really want to read the Jessica Simpson memoir and Sound of Gravel! Thanks for the recs! I second Just Mercy. It’s a really good read and Bryan Stevenson does such good work. The non fiction books I’ve loved this year are first and foremost Know My Name by Chanel Miller. It’s a heavy topic because she was a victim of sexual assault - the Stanford rape trial - but she is an incredibly gifted writer and amazing human being (check out her Instagram account) so the book was a read that I flew though. Also loved the following memoirs: life in motion (misty Copeland!), the girl who smiled beads (by clemantine wamariya who survived the Rwandan genocide), Dani Shapiro’s memoir inheritance and Abby Maslin’s memoir Love you Hard about her husband’s traumatic brain injury after surviving an attack in DC in 2012. (I know it sounds like I read about a lot of tragedy but these books were all really fabulous and the women writers so good!!)
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 29, 2020 · 2:33PM:
      Thank you for all the recs, I will add them to my list!
      Reply
  • Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
    September 29, 2020 · 10:57AM:
    I also recommend "Just Mercy" - such an amazing book. The film is quite good, too. I really enjoyed "So You Want to Talk About Race" - probably the best book I've read on how to discuss race/issues that come up often when discussing race. She tackles a comment/question in each chapter and weaves in her personal experiences as a black woman. It was excellent. I also 'enjoyed' The Sound of Gravel, although 'enjoyed' feels like the wrong word to use? It was riveting and horrifying! I'm going to read "Raising White Kids" with several other friends in October so i am looking forward to that. I was trying to read one book dealing with race but I didn't the last month or 2 so I need to get back on that goal! I'm excited to read Obama's new book that is coming out in November! I'm on the hold list for it at the library and it looks like I will get it right away! Woo hoo!
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 29, 2020 · 2:34PM:
      I'll definitely add So You Want to Talk About Race to my list, that sounds really helpful. I agree about Sound of Gravel - so horrifying but hard to put down. I'm excited to check out Obama's new book, too!
      Reply
  • Amanda September 30, 2020 · 6:54PM:
    Two good memoirs I've read lately include Home Again (by Julie Andrews...actually I listened to this and she narrated it!) and Open (by Andre Agassi). I'm currently listening to Loving Frank on Audible...about the illicit love affair of Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress. I loved Sound of Gravel as well as Educated, but I definitely needed a bit of a break after those two. Heavy stuff. A few good thrillers I've read lately include The Last Flight, The Perfect Marriage, and Verity. I love book review blog posts!
    Reply
    • Anne
      October 1, 2020 · 1:46PM:
      Adding all these to my to read list - thank you!
      Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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