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Favorite Nonfiction Read in 2021

I had so many favorites this year I had to split them up into two lists. (Either that or I just couldn’t bring myself to make one top ten list that includes both fiction and nonfiction.) Compared to last year, I didn’t read as much nonfiction this year, but somehow I still had trouble narrowing down my favorites. The nonfiction I did read was so good.

Here are the nonfiction favorites I read in 2021. (If you’re looking for fiction, be sure to check out my fiction favorites round-up.)

Favorite Nonfiction Books Read in 2021

A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett. In this powerful story—part memoir, part deep dive into the legal system—Barnett shares how her life was shaped by her mother’s drug addiction and eventual prison sentence. She eventually goes to law school and discovers a woman who will change her life forever: Sharanda Jones, a Black single mother and business owner, given a life sentence for a first time drug offense. She sees so much of her own life in Sharanda’s story, and she soon throws herself into Sharanda’s case and dedicates herself to her freedom. I highly recommend this gripping and eye-opening story.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. This is a middle grade graphic memoir that tells Omar Mohamed’s story of growing up in a Kenyan refugee camp after he and his brother flee Somalia. It manages to capture the hardships of Mohamed’s life as a refugee, while weaving in humor and hope throughout. This book was excellent and I think anyone would love it.

Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig. I make an effort to read diversely, but it took me way too long to include the voices of people with disabilities in my reading. But Taussig’s fascinating, funny, and thought-provoking memoir helped me realize how important that perspective is. I recommend this book to any human with a body. Also, Taussig is from Kansas City, which I think is so cool—I love supporting local writers!

I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown. Channing Brown shares her experience as a Black woman living and working in mostly white spaces in this excellent memoir. (I listened to the author’s narration on audio–it was fantastic.) She shares the racism she has experienced, both overtly and in small, frequent microaggressions. As a Christian, her perspective on the racism she has seen within churches where she’s worked was particularly eye-opening.

I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening) by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. I’ve listened to Sarah and Beth’s podcast, Pantsuit Politics, for years, and I love their smart and thoughtful approach to politics. Their book is all about rethinking the way we have political conversations, which have become so fraught and anxiety-inducing. While they encourage nuance, this book isn’t about how to compromise and doesn’t give platitudes about meeting in the middle. Instead, it helps us see the current state of political discussion and encourages us to find other ways to engage in conversation. This was an excellent read.

The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper. I was completely riveted by this memoir from an ER physician; I didn’t want to stop listening to it. She is a fantastic storyteller, and since this was written pre-pandemic, I can only hope that she tells the story of her experience as a doctor during COVID one day as well. I will read that for sure.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. This memoir contains so much: Zauner’s identity growing up Korean American, the grief over losing her mother to cancer, and the love language that she and her mother shared—food. What made her story exceptional to me was the way she seamlessly weaves these parts of her life together. I left this book both hungry and with the desire to go hug my mom.

Broken (In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson. Jenny Lawson, known by many as The Bloggess, is known for writing hilarious stories about her life as well as honest insights into her personal struggles with mental illness. This is her third book, and it had me laughing so hard I couldn’t even contain myself (which was slightly embarrassing when listening to the audio while out on a walk in our neighborhood). Somehow she seamlessly blends her humor with raw, sincere reflections on her experience with mental and chronic illness, and the result is this excellent, cohesive memoir.

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. I listened to this unique, beautifully written memoir on audio and really loved it. Machado plays with structure and point of view, which made it feel so much different from any other memoir I’ve read before. Her story isn’t always easy to read though, as it is mostly the story of being in an abusive relationship with a woman, which—as she mentions—isn’t a narrative we often hear in stories of lesbian relationships. If you’re looking for a memoir that’s a little different, yet raw and moving, pick this one up.

Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi. You may recognize Onwuachi from Top Chef, but this memoir is so much more than a young chef’s reflections of his time in the spotlight. Instead, it’s his story of how food came to play such a formative role in his life, from his mother’s Louisiana cooking to what he ate with his family in Nigeria when his mom sent him there to “learn respect.” With honesty, humility, and at times, pride, he tells the story of how his experience selling both drugs and candy bars led to his determination and grit as an entrepreneur. By the age of 27, Onwuachi had run his own catering company and opened (and unfortunately, closed) one of the most high-profile restaurants in Washington D.C. I loved his story; it was filled with passion, relatability and inspiration.

Did you read any great nonfiction in 2021? What would you add to this list?

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