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April 23, 2021

Memoirs & Non-Fiction Books I’ve Read Lately

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Coming at you today with another fun book list, this time focusing on memoirs and non-fiction books I’ve read lately!

I’ve been a reading machine, and I love sharing my favorites with you guys! If you missed it, check out my recent list of the best fiction books I’ve read over the past few months, too.

I like to switch it up, sometimes reading for fun (usually fiction books), and sometimes reading non-fiction books or memoirs to educate myself/learn about the world. But non-fiction can also be just as entertaining as fiction books!

books I've read lately - non-fiction and memoirs

Please note the links in this post are affiliate links.

Recent Reads: Memoirs & Non-Fiction Books

Here are some of the memoirs and non-fiction books I’ve read lately:

Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

Genre: Non-Fiction/Science/Psychology

This book focuses on the Galvin family, whose DNA became instrumental in research on schizophrenia when six of their twelve children were diagnosed with the disease.

Fascinating book – a bit like a medical detective story, but real life. They became one of the first families studied by the National Institute of Mental Health, and this book shares their journey and how it helped inform what we know about schizophrenia nowadays.

 Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Genre: Memoir/Self-Help

Glennon Doyle delves into why women strive so hard for perfection in their lives, trying to make everyone happy around them. She talks about how she reclaimed her identity and her happiness by following her heart, and not society’s expectations.

I’d had this book on my “to read” list for ages, so when the virtual book club I’m part of with some friends decided to have this book be the focus of the next call, I was really excited to have a specific reason to read it ASAP. 

It was as fascinating as I thought it would be – I especially resonated with a lot of what she wrote about motherhood, and some of her insights into what it means to be a woman in today’s society. 

Girls & Sex by Peggy Orenstein

Genre: Non-Fiction/Sociology/Psychology

Peggy Orenstein opens up a conversation around girls and sex education, including interviews with 70 young women and psychological studies on the topic.

This is another book that has been on my to-read list for AGES, since Riese was little and I listened to a podcast interview with the author. I highly recommend anyone who is parenting a girl read this book, or even just any woman who want to understand more how society is shaping/has shaped their own sexuality. 

cinderella ate my daughter by peggy orenstein

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

Genre: Non-Fiction/Parenting

This book covers the problems associated with society’s emphasis on ‘girly-ness’ and appearance when it comes to young girls. From Disney princesses to beauty pageants, Peggy Orenstein helps parents navigate how to combat these negative cultural influences.

It’s really important to me to raise a daughter who doesn’t feel her self worth is tied to how she looks, so I got on a Peggy Orenstein kick and decided to read her book geared towards younger girls, too.

I didn’t find this book to be quite as well organized/well done as Girls & Sex, but it was still really interesting and gave me a lot to think about as Riese continues to get older. Definitely worth a read if you’re a parent or caregiver to a young girl!

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Genre: Non-Fiction/Sociology

Wilkerson draws on the social phenomena of ‘caste’, laying out the similarities between three different caste systems: Nazi Germany, India, and the racial injustices of America (both past and present). She explains how this social ‘ranking’ came about, and the ways they are perpetuated – whether consciously or subconsciously.

I think everyone should read this book.

I’m not quite finished with it yet, but it’s incredibly enlightening and important in helping understand how we got to where we are today, and how you might unintentionally be helping to perpetuate inequality without realizing it. It has given me a lot to think about.

How to Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg

How to Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg & Kristen Meinzer

Genre: Self-Help

Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer took advice from 50 different self-help books, on a wide variety of topics, and tested them out to see what works and what doesn’t.

I was a huge fan of Jolenta and Kristen’s podcast, “By the Book“, back in the first few seasons of the show (I kind of fell off the wagon and haven’t listened to it in a couple years, but they are still making new episodes I believe). The podcast follows the two women as they live by the rules of a self help book for 2 weeks, then report back on how it went. 

The podcast is funny and poignant and really relatable, so I thought it’d be interesting to read their book summarizing the first 50 (!) self help books they lived by, and sharing their main takeaways.

I like their podcast better because it goes a lot deeper than the book could, but the book was great, too, and condensed hours and hours of their shows into a digestible read. A really interesting, fun, and also helpful read with lots of great lessons and takeaways you can utilize in your own life!

Me by Elton John

Genre: Memoir

Elton John shares stories about his life, from growing up in London to becoming the musical sensation he is today.

This was really fascinating to read – what a crazy life most super famous people have had, and Elton John is no exception! His memoir is very real, honest, and raw, and I flew through it.


And that’s that!

I have two other non-fiction books that I’ve read recently, but they are pregnancy-related so I wrote about those in my 34 week pregnancy update post instead of including them in this post because I know not everyone will be interested in them.

So if you are interested in pregnancy book recommendations, check out that blog post for 2 books I really loved recently in the pregnancy/motherhood category. 

I’m curious – what non-fiction books or memoirs have you read recently that you’d recommend? I’m always looking for new ideas to add to my list! And if you want more, here’s my last non-fiction/memoir round up post with more ideas. 

Happy reading!

- anne
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15 comments
  • Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
    April 23, 2021 · 9:07AM:
    I've been meaning to read Orenstein's book, "Boys and Sex." I just read "To Raise a Boy" which covers similar content - it's about how to raise a boy to be respectful of others, especially women, and talks a lot about consent. It was a horrifying read at times, though, as she talks about some of the abuse happening to boys in junior high/high school. I had to ask my husband if things like that happened in the locker room when he was young and he said NO FREAKING WAY. It was chilling to read about but important to know about what is going on these days... But I shouldn't have been surprised because I had heard about a situation that happened in a small town close to where I grew up in ND. So when the author says things like this are happening across the nation in schools both urban and rural, I can believe it. :( If I had a daughter, I would definitely read the "Girls and Sex" book as it sounds like an interesting and important read!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 23, 2021 · 10:06AM:
      Oof I'm definitely going to have to read some of the boy focused books, too! I'm definitely hoping to raise our boy in a way so he feels that he is allowed to have emotions and feelings and not be a macho robot like our society seems to teach boys...
      Reply
  • Andie April 23, 2021 · 11:29AM:
    I’m reading Caste right now! So good but hard to read. It’s astonishing how horrific American history is. I’m proud to be Canadian although I know our history isn’t amazing either. I also recently read Hidden Valley Road. Very good and quite fascinating! Not an easy read, either. :) It’s not non-fiction but have you read American Dirt? I loved it! Currently, I’m reading The Wife Upstairs which is an easy read thriller - a needed palette cleanser!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2021 · 10:00AM:
      Agreed, I've been doing a lot more reading this past year about how truly systemic and wide reaching racism is in the U.S... it's so much worse than I realized. I have read American Dirt! Really good. I'll have to add The Wife Upstairs to my list next, thanks for the rec!
      Reply
  • Sierra April 23, 2021 · 11:35AM:
    I thought Hidden Valley Road was absolutely fascinating! Are you on the Goodreads app? I think you’d like it, a really fun way to see what friends are reading and get recommendations. The best memoirs I’ve read lately are Brave Enough by Jessie Diggins, This is All I Got by Lauren Sandler and The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper. All varied topics but they all are so well written and really draw you in. And I’m currently almost finished with Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager. She is such a wonderful writer (loved Sisters First by her and her sister, too!) and the book is filled with meaningful, poignant stories from her life revolving around her grandparents.
    Reply
    • Amanda April 24, 2021 · 8:16AM:
      I recently listened to Everything Beautiful in Its Time and Sisters First (which I listed to first...). Both were terrific and I loved hearing them narrate them.
      Reply
      • Anne
        April 26, 2021 · 10:05AM:
        That's cool that they narrate themselves, definitely going to check these books out!
        Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2021 · 10:02AM:
      I think I'm on Good Reads through my Kindle, but not sure if I have any friends on there! That would be fun to see what others are currently reading, I'll look into it! And I'll add those memoirs to my list - thank you!
      Reply
  • CAROLYN DONATH April 23, 2021 · 11:35AM:
    Boys in the Boat The Traitor and the Spy Both are non-fiction and are great reads
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2021 · 10:03AM:
      Loved Boys in the Boat! Will add the other one to my list - thanks!
      Reply
  • Samantha April 23, 2021 · 11:46AM:
    Pelosi by Molly Ball. Such a well written look into one of the feminist heroes of our generation. I was fascinated to learn that she was a SAHM until she ran for Congress at 47. It’s a good reminder that there are seasons of life and you can still make an enormous impact later in life!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2021 · 10:04AM:
      Wow, that's amazing re: SAHM until Congress at 47! I had no idea. That's cool that someone as successful as her stepped back for a bit and was still able to come back and have a huge impact. I'll definitely add that book to my list!
      Reply
  • Roadrunner April 23, 2021 · 11:04PM:
    Thanks for sharing these, Anne! You sure have been a reading machine of late. Thanks!
    Reply
  • Kris S April 25, 2021 · 2:19PM:
    Interesting reads! Thanks for sharing! I like your reading roundup posts, I'm always interested!! I'm particularly interested in Hidden Valley Road and I've heard good things so now I'm even more motivated to actually get it (step 1 before reading it, lol). As a neuroscientist and also a person with schizophrenia in the family, I'm extra keen to check it out. I usually only get to a few books per year for fun, so let me know if you think it would be worth it!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2021 · 9:57AM:
      I think you'd find it really interesting!
      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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