If you aren't reading nonfiction, you are missing out! There are so many great nonfiction books out there that I can't even begin to read them all.
Here are my favorites of 2025:
Awake by Jen Hatmaker - this memoir answered all the questions that I had about Jen's instagram post five-ish years ago when she announced she was getting divorced. I've read other books Jen has written which I've enjoyed, but I think this is my favorite.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed and Lost Idealism by Sarah Winn-Williams- this memoir shares the fun aspects of Facebook that Winn-Williams experienced, but shows the darker side as people with power in the company became more concerned with profit than the consequences social media has on society.
The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber - Munchausen by Proxy is fascinating, but also horrifying. Dunlop has a vested interest in this topic since her sister was accused of MBP. In this book she chronicles three separate cases of Munchusen and the difficulty in proving it is occurring.
Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren't Growing Up by Abigail Shrier- this might be the most controversial book I read all year. Shrier is writing from a place of white privilege, it's true, but she definitely makes some good points about the ways in which our parenting has caused many of the problems that society is now dealing with.
1929: The Inside Story of the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History by Andrew Ross Sorkin - I knew very few details about the stock market crash prior to reading this book. This book almost reads like fiction as Sorkin shares the various stories of the many players who were involved in the collapse.
Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor by Christine Kuehn - even if you are no longer interested in WWII books, this one is unique and hard to put down. When Kuehn received a letter in the mail asking about her grandfather's involvement as a spy for the Nazis, she and her husband are sure the sender hsa contacted the wrong person. But after some research, they uncover a family secret that has been kept hidden for years.
Beyond Fast: How A Renegade and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running by Sean Brosnan- I've been an XC parent for over a decade now and love reading books about running. This team was extraordinary, as was their coach, and this book follows their success as well as gives some insight into Brosnan's coaching philosophy.
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, A True Story of Abduction, Adoption and Separated Twins by Barbara Demick- this will change everything you thought you knew about the one child rule and the many Chinese babies adopted internationally. Although the adoptive families felt they were doing something good, many babies were stolen from their biological families to be sold for profit to adoption agencies. This is one family's story as their twin daughters were separated and eventually locate each other.
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson and Johnson by Gardiner Harris - this book reminded me of Empire of Pain (also a five star read a couple years ago). With each new chapter it felt as though there was yet another secret that Johnson and Johnson was keeping from consumers. From baby powder to extra strength Tylenol, a company that most people felt they could trust has proven to be anything but trustworthy.
Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America by Jeff Hobbs - this will change your perspective on the resources we have for people facing homelessness. Evelyn is a mother who works full time, and yet is unable to secure housing for herself and her children. She explores every avenue at her disposal to secure housing without any luck. Evelyn isn't an addict, she isn't jobless, and yet she can't provide a necessity for her or her children.
The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U Bacon - I'm not sure how old I was when I heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald, but it wasn't that many years ago. This is a fascinating story about this ship as well as the Great Lakes and the challenges they present to ships.
The Running Ground: A Father, A Son and the Simplest of Sports by Nicholas Thompson - another running book which makes me happy. Thompson's memoir shares his introduction to the sport of running, his relationship with his father (aslo a runner) and how running has continued to be a part of his life into adulthood.
I can hardly wait to see what amazing books I can read in 2026!
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