The only category that can compete with mysteries and thrillers for me is non-fiction, mainly historical and biographical writings. I simply love good stories. If you’re at a party with me, I will corner you and ask you to tell me all of the interesting stories about your life. Weird? Maybe, but I just love hearing about people and what makes them the way that they are.
BIOGRAPHY AND NON-FICTION
The Daily Show: An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests
by Chris Smith, Jon Stewart (Foreword), Oliver Wyman (narrator), Jay Snyder (narrator), Kevin T. Collins (narrator), Chris Lutkin(narrator), Robert Fass (narrator), Lauren Fortgang
A thoroughly enjoyable history of the show that will make you miss Jon Stewart’s face and wit on your television screen.
Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
by Jen Lancaster
You keep on reading it, hoping that the offensive protagonist will redeem herself through this journey she’s taking, but nope. Hands down, the worst book I have ever read in my entire life. (I broke my one sentence review rule to convey that point.)
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
Funniest book I have read this year, possibly ever, and it is clear that I want Trevor to be my best friend after reading this book.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
by J.D. Vance
An interesting look at life in the Rust Belt from the point of view of an addict’s son who overcame the odds to make it in the Ivy Leagues, but I didn’t take it as a literal window into their lives as some people did.
A Life in Parts
by Bryan Cranston
Cranston is an incredibly funny guy who has a big heart and delves deep into his roles–are you sure he wasn’t actually making meth in New Mexico?
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
by Leah Remini, Rebecca Paley
We’ve all heard that Scientology is bananas; Leah gives us an front row seat to the crazy show.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE
by Phil Knight
Say what you will about Nike, this is an inspiring memoir about its leader and how it grew from a $50 loan in 1962 to the empire it is today–I am clearly underachieving in my life and business.
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do
by Sarah Knight
You only have so many f*cks to give; don’t waste them on people and things that don’t actually matter.
Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Stop Worrying About What You Should Do So You Can Finish What You Need to Do and Start Doing What You Want to Do (A No F*cks Given Guide)
by Sarah Knight
As a person who thinks of herself as having her sh*t together, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and also feel vindicated in knowing people who are constantly late simply don’t have their own sh*t together.
Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism
by Ron Suskind
This heartfelt story about non-verbal Owen living through Disney movies will make you bawl, especially if you’re an autism parent raising a mini-Owen.
Elon Musk: Inventing the Future
by Ashlee Vance
Elon Musk is a self-learning machine that makes you want to buy your very own $100k+ Tesla.
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
by Rachel Ignotofsky
This is a beautifully illustrated, short history book on women in science that I loved and it should be required reading for young girls.
Einstein: His Life and Universe
by Walter Isaacson
This is a very thorough and interesting Einstein biography that covers not only his professional accomplishments, but his personal shortcomings as well–he’s definitely not going to win any Husband of the Year awards.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by Rebecca Skloot
While they have subsequently saved many lives, it is appalling how some of the most commonly used human cells in scientific research came to be.
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
by Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik
Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives me life.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
I know this is intentionally a small book (and I loved it), but I wanted about 30 more chapters about chemicals in the cosmos.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women
by Kate Moore
These are women we should know about and their stories are compelling, I only wish it had been told by a better author who could write well.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Cheryl Strayed
Another hyped book I didn’t love as much as everyone else, but it was an amusing story of one very unprepared woman’s journey alone in the wilderness who somehow didn’t die along the way.
I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons
by Kevin Hart, Neil Strauss
Laughing this hard at Kevin Hart was not something I ever thought I would do.
What Happened
by Hillary Rodham Clinton
This book didn’t depress me as much as I thought it would; it was a thoroughly insightful look into the campaign and election and further solidified the truth that she is the president that we all deserved and didn’t get.
Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House
by Alyssa Mastromonaco, Lauren Oyler
Let me preface this by saying I love Alyssa Mastromonaco when she’s on Pod Save America, but this book reads like a disorganized, whiny book of fluff without much substance.
Scrappy Little Nobody
by Anna Kendrick
Unexpectedly, Anna Kendrick is a talented writer who makes this a fun, light read–perfect for the beach or lazy weekend.
Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change
by Ellen Pao
I depressingly must recommend this book, especially to women in male-dominated fields, although I wish we didn’t have to write these in 2017. (P.S. She gives amazing advice at the end of the book.)
Unqualified
by Anna Faris, Chris Pratt (Foreword)
You end this book really liking Anna Faris, but you wish she had had a ghost writer or an editor who could’ve better organized the book.
Cosmos
by Carl Sagan
You must have this book in your life and it’s even better as an audiobook because LaVar Burton gives Carl Sagan’s incredible writing the beautiful voice the Cosmos deserve.
Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose
I have always been inspired by Joe’s life of loss, heartache, and subsequent perseverance, but this book comes off as a whiny, querulous tale of why he didn’t run for president (and it wasn’t because of his loss of Beau).