I’m not sure why, but recently I’ve been reading much more nonfiction than fiction. It’s not that there isn’t any interesting fiction being written (one need only glance at the monthly LibraryReads lists to find a novel worth reading), but nonfiction just feels more necessary in our complicated world. As I was ordering books for the library that are coming out in the next few months, I noticed a few nonfiction selections that looked especially appealing.
In no particular order, I give you my idiosyncratic picks for fall nonfiction:
“Mysteries of the Mall and Other Essays” by Witold Rybczynski
Witold is a famous architecture critic and his many previous books are both enligtening and entertaining. Here he collects 34 of his essays on how we interact with architecture in the modern world.
“Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things” by Jenny Lawson
The author of the bestselling “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” is back with what promises to be a hilarious book about her own depression and anxieties. This may not sound like a good idea for a book but she already managed to make her strange and awkward childhood very amusing.
“Slice Harvester: A Memoir in Pizza” by Colin Atrophy Hagendorf
Over the course of two years, the twenty-something punk-rocker author eats a cheese slice from every pizzeria in New York City and manages to get his life in some semblance of order.
“Agricola Cookbook” by Josh Thomsen
This book is actually already out but I wanted to include it on the list because it comes to us from the famed farm-to-table restaurant just up the street from the library. It includes recipes for soups, salads, braised and roasted meats, brunch dishes, desserts, cocktails, and more.
“The Sh$t No One Tells You About Toddlers” by Dawn Dais
A parenting book with a sense of humor. I wish this book had been around when my little monster … I mean angel, was a toddler.
“It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History” by Jennifer Wright
Truly world-class horrible breakups featuring personalities from the Emperor Nero to Elizabeth Taylor. This one should provide plenty of schadenfreude.
This is just a small sample of the many nonfiction books coming to the library in the next few months. Please come in and browse or check the lists of all of our new books, audiobooks, DVDs, and music here.