Over the course of 2022 I read 50-ish non-fiction books. I always think that I should be able to read more nonfiction than this, but I have tried to be encouraged by the fact that 50 nonfiction books is almost one a week. They seem to take me longer than fiction and I always have a non-fiction and fiction title in progress at the same time.
Here are ten of my favorites. Again, there are plenty others that I read that are fantastic that I didn't select.
I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist - I haven't read Niequist's books before, but I am definitely interested in reading her backlist titles. In this memoir Niequist and her family spent adjusting to their move from Illinois to NYC, a distance in miles - but also a totally different lifestyle than they had previously, and one that has taken them far from their families.
Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin- I read this at the beginning of 2022 on my early morning treadmill runs and I have thought of it so many times since. I've always found Abedin fascinating- not so much for her role in Hillary Clinton's campaign, but as the wife of Andrew Weiner. In this memoir Abedin reveals her thoughts and feelings about both.
Finding Me by Viola Davis- I don't listen to audiobooks all that often, but I enjoyed Davis' memoir and listening to her voice telling the story of growing up poor and eventually finding great success in acting. I knew nothing about Davis before hearing her memoir, and find her life story fascinating and inspiring.
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown - this is another book that actually made me look forward to my daily treadmill runs. I have always been fascinated by the British Royal Family and this book built upon knowledge I already had and added in more information on recent events like Meghan and Harry, William and Kate, and Prince Andrew's recent scandal.
Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels by Paul Pringle- I'm not sure why this book hasn't received more attention, because this work of investigative journalism is top notch. In 2016 a young woman overdoses at a fancy hotel which involved the head of the USC medical school. The entire event is covered up despite the fact that there are journalists who have done research and can back this up. The entire story is a tangled web that took years to uncover, and will keep you turning pages.
The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice and the American City by Nicholas Dawidoff - An elderly black man was shot at point blank range in November of 2006, and after a quick and sloppy investigation, a sixteen year old boy, Bobby, was sentenced to thirty eight years in prison. Dawidoff shares the stories of the man who was murdered, the young man who shot him and the boy who was convicted. We see how each of their lives unfolded and then converged, and also how Bobby assimilated into society again, supported by friends and family.
Bully Market: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs by Jamie Fiore Higgins- although not all that long ago, Higgins career at Goldman Sachs occurred before the #MeToo Movement- an environment that seemed to delight in treating any female badly. Higgins writes of the stresses of being in a high-powered career in this industry while trying to have a marriage and family. A fast read, she's easy to relate to and despite some bad decisions on her part (which she fully acknowledges), Higgins and her family have happily moved on from what was a financially lucrative career to something that is better for everyone mentally and emotionally.
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry- this one has been all over the place, and what I found most amazing is that while we were all enjoying watching Friends, no one really knew how badly Perry was struggling with addiction. There were some red flags, but his memoir shows how close he was to losing everything. I didn't listen to this one, but I felt like I could hear Perry's voice in my head while I was reading.
The Boys by Ron Howard and Clint Howard- if you need a book that will make you feel good, this is the book for you. Ron and Clint Howard were both child actors, and unlike many other kids in the industry, turned out to be happy, productive, and successful adults. I listened to this one as well, and both Clint and Ron take turns narrating. I loved hearing them tell the story of their childhood and various acting jobs. This book restores your faith in the fact that there are good people in show business.
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe- the Sacklers were at one time known for their philanthropy, but more recently for the fact that their fortune was built on the sale of Valium, and have been partially responsible for the opioid crisis that has killed many people who have become addicted to them. This is an in-depth look at the family and their unwillingness to take any responsibility for the part they have played in this national crisis.
I can't wait to see what great nonfiction is out there in 2023!
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