2021 Staff Favorites: Nonfiction

As much as staff enjoy a good novel, we also like to learn and laugh with some of the great nonfiction in our collection.

This past year, nonfiction helped us with some practical planning: Christine checked out It's Your Funeral! Plan the Celebration of a Lifetime--Before It's Too Late by Kathy Benjamin, which promises to "demystify death, decrease your anxiety, and put the fun back in funeral." Kate tried some recipes from the Christopher Kimball cookbook Milk Street: Tuesday Nights, which features recipes that come together in a hurry.

It also made us laugh. Courtney really enjoyed listening to Jenny Lawson read Broken (In the Best Possible Way) on audiobook, saying "I love this author so much! Lawson makes mental health palatable for everyone by using humor and sharing the bizarre happenings in her life. Although this was not my favorite of her books, I’m glad she continues to write and help educate the world on what it’s like to live with mental health issues."

Christine enjoyed the British essayist Tom Cox's Ring the Hill, thoughts on hiking, nature and family. Meanwhile, Christina delved into national history with Team of Rivals, the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln and The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn. 

Kate admired Alison Bechdel's The Secret to Superhuman Strength. The latest in her series of graphic novel memoirs, it sees Bechdel meditating on her passion for exercise and how it's evolved as she ages. 

What topic do you want to explore? Our digital offerings include access to Flipster, where you can read current magazines on many craft and hobby interests, including: Bon Appetit, Yoga Journal, Midwest Living, Backpacker, National Geographic, and many more. You may also like to get a taste of new nonfiction with our Read for a Better World challenge, running through the end of January. 

Feel free to ask a staff member for assistance in finding great nonfiction resources on any topic.