New Nonfiction

May 2024

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May's Nonfiction Titles PDF

Biography

Another Word for Love: A Memoir by Carvell Wallace

The writer and podcast host examines his own history of growing of growing up Black and queer in America and the struggles he faced as the son of a single parent in a predominantly white Pennsylvania town.

By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness; Her Story in Her Own Words by Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins

Tells the story former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst was about to publish before her tragic suicide, with her mother, April, wrapping up the narrative by exploring the mental illness and depression that took her daughter’s life.

Chasing Hope: A Reporter's Life by Nicholas D. Kristof

The New York Times columnist, Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author discusses his life in journalism and the great members of his profession and the less-known extraordinary people he has met during his career.

Coming Home by Brittney Griner with Michelle Burford

From the nine-time women’s basketball icon and two-time Olympic gold medalist comes a raw, revelatory account of her unfathomable detainment in Russia and her journey home.

Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston

Based on the author’s “Modern Love” essay in The New Yorker, this life-affirming memoir tells the story of the gifts and letters left behind by her mother who was diagnosed with terminal cancer during her childhood.

The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin

Based on exclusive interviews, never-before-seen personal papers and years of research, this tribute to a legendary editor reveals the audacious woman behind some of the most important authors of the 20th century—including Sylvia Plath, John Updike, Anne Frank and Julie Child—changing culture mores and expectations along the way.

Fighting the Night: Iwo Jima, World War II, and a Flyer's Life by Paul Hendrickson

The acclaimed best-selling author of Hemingway’s Boat tells an intense and powerful story of violence, love, forgiveness and loss through the story of his own father’s experiences as a night fighter pilot in World War II.

A Gentleman from Japan: The Untold Story of an Incredible Journey from Asia to Queen Elizabeth’s Court by Thomas Lockley

This story of the first Japanese man to set foot on North America and England follows his 1588 journey from Japan to Mexico, Java and Southern Africa and up the River Thames to meet Queen Elizabeth I.

I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv by Illia Ponomarenko

A Ukrainian journalist shares a heart-wrenching memoir of the war on his homeland, focusing on both the brutality of the Russian invasion and the inspiring story of the people who banded together to force them from Kyiv.

The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America by Larry Tye

Based on more than 250 interviews, this meticulously researched history of Black America in the early-to-mid 1900s through three longtime kings of jazz—Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Count Basie—who opened America’s eyes and souls to their magnificent music, writing the soundtrack for the civil rights movement.

Love Is a Burning Thing by Nina St. Pierre

In this mesmerizing, moving portrait of a mother-daughter relationship that also examines mental health, stigma, poverty, gender and spirituality, the author, when her mother is imprisoned for felony arson, discovers her own capacity for self-destruction and eventually pieces together the truth.

Love, Mom: Inspiring Stories Celebrating Motherhood by Nicole Saphier, M.D.

From Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier comes an inspiring collection of powerful first-person stories celebrating motherhood, from Fox News personalities and extraordinary moms around America.

The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward F. O’Keefe

Celebrating the five extraordinary yet unsung women who profoundly shaped the life of one of America’s most significant presidents, this spirited and poignant family love story reveals Theodore Roosevelt, an icon of rugged American masculinity, as we’ve never seen him before.

Once upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy by Elizabeth Beller

Drawing on in-depth research and exclusive interviews with those closest to her, a journalist explores the real Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy behind the tabloid headlines and frenzy amidst today’s cultural reckoning about the way our media treats women, revealing a multifaceted woman worthy of our attention regardless of her husband and untimely death.

Paradise of the Damned: The True Story of an Obsessive Quest for El Dorado, the Legendary City of Gold by Keith Thomson

An ambitious courtier, confidant to Queen Elizabeth and El Dorado fanatic, Sir Walter Raleigh, released from the Tower of London, journeys across an ocean to find the fabled city, gambling his painstakingly acquired wealth, hard-won domestic bliss and his very life, while back home, his rivals plotted his demise.

Pretty by K. B. Brookins

Part powerful love letter, part call for change, a prize-winning, young black trans writer shines a light on the beauty and toxicity of black masculinity from a transgender perspective, in this memoir about queerness, race and coming to terms with always being perceived as “other.”

Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna

The original rebel girl and legendary front woman of Bikini Kill, which embodied the punk scene of the 90s, shares how the relationships and friendships she developed during those years reminded her that, despite the odds, the punk world could still nurture and care for its own.

Rise of a Killah by Ghostface Killah

The co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary hip-hop group who broke all the rules, focuses on the people, places and events that mean the most to him, sharing his defining personal moments as well as exclusive photos and memorabilia, in this one-of-a-kind holy grail for Wu-Tang and Ghost fans alike.

Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World by Jen Psaki

Sharing her journey to the Briefing Room and beyond, a former White House Press Secretary, current MSNBC host and one of the most prominent voices in American politics today explains her straightforward approach to communication and offers unique yet universal advice about how to be a more effective communicator in any situation.

Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War by Marty Skovlund, Jr. and Joe Kent

This extraordinary story of a heroic Navy cryptologic technician who worked clandestinely to hunt the most wanted terrorists in the world while trying to balance being a wife and mother, lifts the veil from the life of a Special Forces family to share their duty, sacrifice and humanity.

Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy by Ali Velshi

Tapping into 125 years of family history to advocate for social justice as a living, breathing experience, the Chief Correspondent for MSNBC relates the stories of regular people who made a lasting commitment to fight for change, even when success seemed impossible, and urges us to do the same.

What a Fool Believes by Michael McDonald with Paul Reiser

In his candid, laidback memoir, written with his friend, Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling icon tells the story of his life and music, relaying the lessons he’s learned along the way.

You Never Know: A Memoir by Tom Selleck

An American icon and famed actor brings us on his uncharted but serendipitous journey to the top in Hollywood, clearing up misconceptions; sharing dozens of never-before-told stories from both his personal and professional lives; and offering a truly fresh perspective on a changing industry and a changing world.

Business & Economics

The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power by Dana Mattioli

From veteran Amazon reporter for The Wall Street Journal comes an untold, devastating exposé of Amazon's endless strategic greed, from destroying Main Street to remaking corporate power, in pursuit of total domination, by any means necessary.

General Nonfiction

And Then? and Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket

The author of the popular Lemony Snicket books discusses his love of strange literature and reflects on his life experiences in an entertaining memoir that also serves as inspiration for aspiring writers.

An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children by Jamaica Kincaid and Kara Walker

An author, Harvard professor and gardener teams up with an award-winning illustrator to offer an insightful, visual guide to the world of plants that reveals a hidden history of colonialism and race.

I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child by Kristina Kuzmic

The author of Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still shares her experiences as the mother of a troubled teenager and how she learned to reject unrealistic standards and expectations from parenting culture and social media.

I Curse You With Joy by Tiffany Haddish

The comedian, actress and best-selling author presents a collection of essays chronicling the lessons learned on her journey to superstardom, from the legacy of her childhood trauma to difficulties being a black woman in the entertainment industry.

The Playbook: A Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War by James Shapiro

This masterful history of the Federal Theatre Project, which entertained the public from 1935-1939, takes us through its most remarkable productions, from Shakespeare to modern plays that confronted the pressing issues of the day until it was shut down on the grounds it promoted “un-American” activity.

Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love by Kerry Nichols

Explains how to raise a happy, healthy, and emotionally resilient dog and forge a fulfilling bond with them.

They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms by Mike Hixenbaugh

Pulling back the curtain on the powerful forces driving the crusade to ban books, rewrite curricula, limit rights for minority and LGBTQ students and impose biblical values on American society, an award-winning NBC investigative reporter traces the rise of a new resistance movement fighting for inclusive and civil schools for all.

Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics by Ernesto Londoño

In this deeply researched and brilliantly reported account of a game-changing industry on the rise, a veteran New York Times journalist, drawing on his own personal experiences, explores the booming field of medicinal psychedelics and the many psychedelic enthusiasts who are upending our understanding of trauma and healing.

The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning by A. J. Jacobs

A New York Times best-selling author chronicles his hilarious adventures as he attempts to live as closely as possible to the original meaning of the Constitution, and conducting interviews with constitutional experts from both sides, delves into originalism and living constitutionalism, the two rival ways of interpreting the document.

Health & Fitness

But What Will People Say?: Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures by Sahaj Kaur Kohli

A writer, therapist and founder of Brown Girl Therapy, a wellness organization for adult children of immigrants challenges the long-held, Eurocentric mental health models that were focused on individuality instead of collective healing and offers an alternative.

The Full-body Fat Fix: The Science-based 7-day Plan to Cool Inflammation, Heal Your Gut, and Build a Healthier, Leaner You! by Stephen Perrine

The New York Times best-selling author of The Whole Body Reset shows how helping your microbiome flourish is the key to an efficient metabolism, along with other health benefits, helping readers reap the weight-loss rewards by removing processed foods and simple carbohydrates from their diet while adding new foods and flavors.

Game Plan: A Proven Approach to Work, Live, and Play at the Highest Level Possible - for As Long as Possible by Mike Mancias

The personal trainer to LeBron James shares his blueprint to attain peak physical and psychological performance through the right combination of nutrition, physical training and recovery with tips on stretching, breathing techniques and the benefits of naps. 

History

American Civil Wars: A Continental History, 1850-1873 by Alan Taylor

A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner provides a masterful historical account of the twenty-year period from 1850-1873 during which the United States, Mexico and Canada underwent significant transformations and evolved into the nations we know today.

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

Based on fascinating new archival research and deep reporting, this gripping and riveting narrative provides the definitive story of the 1986 Challenger disaster and how it led to America changing its view of itself.

The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation by Victor Davis Hanson

A military historian narrates a series of sieges and sackings that span the age of antiquity to the conquest of the New World, depicting war’s drama, violence and folly and delivering a sobering call to heed the lessons of obliteration to avoid catastrophe once again.

Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World by Eric Jay Dolin

A best-selling and award-winning maritime historian presents this true story of five castaways—three British sailors and two Americans—abandoned on the Falkland Islands for a year and a during the War of 1812, showing individuals in wartime under great duress acting both nobly and atrociously as they struggle to survive.

Life's Too Short by Darius Rucker

The three-time Grammy award-winning, Diamond-album-selling lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish and country music star tells the story of his life through the music that made him and his own music with Hootie and as a solo artist, sharing stories of his road-hardened life that are raw, real, funny and deeply emotional.

Native Nations: A Millennium in North America by Kathleen Duval

An award-winning historian tells the story of the Native nations, from the rise of ancient cities to the present, reframing North American history with Indigenous power and sovereignty at its center and showing how the influence of Native peoples remained a constant and will continue far into the future.

Patton's Prayer: A True Story of Courage, Faith, and Victory in World War II by Alex Kershaw

The New York Times best-selling author of Against All Odds takes us back to December 1944 where General George Patton, a devout Christian in desperate need of a miracle, printed and distributed a prayer to the 250,000 men under his command to help turn the tide of the war.

The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis by George Stephanopoulos

A former senior advisor to President Clinton, and for more than 20 years, the anchor of This Week and the co-anchor of Good Morning America, takes us into the White House Situation Room, the epicenter of crisis management where decisions are made that affect the lives of every person on this planet.

Skies of Thunder: The Deadly World War II Mission over the Roof of the World by Caroline Alexander

The New York Times best-selling author presents this masterpiece of modern war history in which she, drawing on obscure memoirs and long-ignored records, gives us the World War II pilots’ and soldiers’ eye views of flying and combat, probing at what it takes to survive extreme circumstances.

Throne of Grace: A Mountain Man, an Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West by Tom Clavin and Bob Drury

Two #1 New York Times bestselling authors present this epic narrative of America’s greatest yet most unsung pathfinder, Jedediah Smith, whose explorations on both sides of the Rocky Mountains and all the way up the West Coast would become the stuff of legend.

The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations by Patrick K. O’Donnell

An expert on special operations tells the epic story of Lincoln’s special forces, the Jessie Scouts, in its entirety for the first time, taking readers into the action as the Jessie Scouts led the Union Army to a final victory, in this full chronicle of the shadow war between North and South.

Voices from Gettysburg: Letters, Papers, and Memoirs from the Greatest Battle of the Civil War by Allen C. Guelzo

America’s foremost Civil War scholar collects powerful and rare original documents, many never-before-published, to create an inventive day-by-day eyewitness account of the Battle of Gettysburg in the words of the commanders, soldiers, politicians and civilizations from both the North and the South who witnessed the changing course of the Civil War firsthand.

Political Science

Fat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. Navy by Craig Whitlock

This story of one of the most significant public corruption scandals in American history chronicles how a Malaysian defense contractor defrauded the U.S. Navy of tens of millions of dollars and put our nation’s security at risk.

The Perilous Fight: Overcoming Our Culture's War on the American Family by Ben Carson with Candy Carson

Drawing on biblical principles, sobering statistics and common-sense solutions, one of our leading conservative voices, in this provocative and hopeful book, gives us the facts, inspiration and theory-to-action answers we need to restore a key foundation of America: the family.

The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took over Big Government by Brody Mullins and Luke Mullins

Taking readers to K Street and into the offices of the most powerful men in Washington, two veteran investigative journalists present an intense and infuriating portrait of 50 years of corporate influence to infiltrate American politics and undermine our democracy.

Science

Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War by Tom Steyer

A climate advocate discusses the urgent reality of climate change and explains why he believes capitalism should be embraced to accelerate progress in the areas of sustainability and clean energy, highlighting the innovative work of industry climate leaders.

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger 

An award-winning environment and science reporter immerses us in the awe-inspiring and complex world of green life, challenging our very understanding of agency, consciousness and intelligence by examining the latest epiphanies in botanical research and the tremendous biological creativity it takes to be plant.