Article contributed by Laura Glassman
Nonfiction November is a wonderful time to read one of the latest nonfiction book releases! Whether you read nonfiction all the time, or want to make a point of diving into some nonfiction reads for this themed month, there are plenty of great fall nonfiction books that may interest you.
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
In his latest book, Gladwell delves into the topic of our interactions with strangers, whether and how we make sense of people we don’t know, and the broader impact that that has in the world. He uses his trademark combination of facts and stories to convey his ideas about this fascinating topic. Some people may prefer the audio version to the print version, as he records the voices of actual community members in the audio.
The Plateau by Maggie Paxson
Paxson investigates what goes into making a community more peaceful and kinder in this absorbing book which weaves her personal story into an investigative piece. At the beginning of The Plateau, she muses that most research to date focuses on the nature of violence and how and why it happens rather than peace. Her research aims to counter that. She researches a town where villagers offered a safe harbour to people during the Holocaust.
The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan
Written by the acclaimed author of the memoir Brain on Fire, The Great Pretender delves into our mental health care system. Following her experience in Brain on Fire, Cahalan wanted to take a closer look at the psychiatric system and institutions that she nearly landed in at the time of her illness. This book is largely a fascinating look at an experiment that was undertaken by mentally well individuals who were committed to psychiatric facilities in order to examine the conditions and reality for psychiatric patients and their care. Cahalan is a gifted writer with a passion for neurological and mental health care.
The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff
The Only Plane In The Sky is a narrative about 9/11, a day so many of us remember, told in an unusual way. Graff uses interviews, transcripts and oral histories from ordinary people who were impacted or involved in what happened on that date, to paint a picture of how a variety of people in the U.S. were affected by 9/11. People whose stories are told include airport workers, a person who monitored calls of the people who lost their lives, Pentagon officials, and fire fighters. This book is sure to open readers’ eyes to stories and a side to 9/11 that many readers may not have heard much about.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
In The Dream House is the author’s memoir which reads almost like a novel. It’s about her physically emotionally abusive relationship with her ex-partner. What’s groundbreaking and interesting about it is how provides a unique voice among writers about the LGBTQ community, showing a type of relationship that doesn’t show up often in literature to date. She says that many people assume that two women in a relationship won’t hurt each other as an opposite sex couple would, when she has learned the hard way that that isn’t true. Machado previous was known for the collection Her Body and Other Parties which garnered wide acclaim.
Conversations with RBG
Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty and Law by Jeffrey Rosen: Author Jeffrey Rosen is a legal journalist and scholar who has long been friends with Ruth Bader Ginsberg. In this book, he shares conversations that he had with RBG on a wide variety of substantive topics. If you are interested in RBG or the life of a Supreme Court justice in general, this inside look at her life and interests within and outside of the law will fascinate you.
