Nonfiction November: My Year in Nonfiction

Week 1: (Nov. 2 to Nov. 6) – Your Year in Nonfiction (Leann of Shelf Aware): Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? 

I have read a total of 27 nonfiction books this year so far. Quite a few are (3)philosophy books, pandemic books(3), and (13)memoirs.

I've recommended They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen,  Stamped by Jason Reynold and Ibram X. Kendi, and Spillover by David Quammen the most this year.

I'm right in the middle of reading a lot of history books. I'm halfway through Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi. I'm almost done with Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist. And I just started An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. I'm also planning on reading through Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. I skimmed through it a long time ago and would like to read it more thoroughly. G's history teacher is going to use some of the ideas and material from the book and I'd like to reacquaint myself with it.

I also have a big list of books I added this year on race and racism. I listened to Stacey Abrams' Our Time Is Now which was fantastic. I'm also halfway through Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, which has already been so eye-opening.

I don't have just one favorite nonfiction book this year. I've read some incredible nonfiction this year. Lies My Teacher Told Me, All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson, They Called Us Enemy, and Spillover are probably my top 4. Obama's new book will probably be in my top 5 once I get my hands on it and read it!

Lies was phenomenal because Loewen walks us through real history and how our school textbooks got it wrong and then why they do so and why they continue to do so today. And why it's critical we teach critical thinking skills and learn history from a critical thinking stance.

All Boys Aren't Blue was a truly unique memoir on growing up as a Black and queer boy. His story and his activism are so important to read about for anyone but especially for young queer kids.

They Called Us Enemy was a visceral journey as George Takei describes his years in the Japanese internment camps during World War 2. It's haunting but it's an important story and should be read by everyone.

Spillover was so trippy to read. I started it right when the pandemic hit. He kept talking about how the next pandemic will likely be a coronavirus and how it could be really bad. It was sobering and entertaining and I don't know...I just needed it at the time. Quammen is a fantastic science writer.

I enjoy participating every year because I get to learn about so many other nonfiction books I haven't heard about and I get to add so many more to my ever-growing list! It's also really fun to connect with other nonfiction readers and see what books get them excited.