My Nonfiction Year #NonfictionNovember

Welcome to Nonfiction November! The first week’s link party is hosted by Heather at Based on a True Story.

What nonfiction books have you read since last November?

Most of my nonfiction reading is devoted to my book group that specializes in books about race in America. We read some fiction, too, though, so these are just the nonfiction selections:

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo
The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration by Jake Bittle
We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance by Kellie Carter Jackson
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement by Ashley Shew

In a related realm, I joined a group hosted by Witnessing Whiteness STL to study A Race Is a Nice Thing to Have: A Guide to Being a White Person or Understanding the White Persons in Your Life by Janet E. Helms.

I did read some nonfiction on my own, too.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
30-Day Journey with Julian of Norwich by Carol Howard Merritt
Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley
Go to Sleep (I Miss You): Cartoons from the Fog of New Parenthood by Lucy Knisley
How We Learn to Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde

That’s 14 books! I’ve only completed 31 books this year, so that’s a high percentage of nonfiction.

What were your favorites?

The most fun was Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench.

The most likely to influence my decisions in the next few years is On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, although that will be supported by several others of these books.

Is there a topic you want to read about more?

Our book group that specializes in race in America has a schedule that I’m looking forward to. I started our next book yesterday. Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism by Eve L. Ewing looks like it will have actionable material about how to improve education in the US.

I also want to continue to read books that inspire action in a time when it’s hard to know what to do.

For fun, I want to read more books about British history to feed my weekly need for British Isles Friday posts.

Due to a potential change in my life, I want to read books about moving and setting up a new home.

What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

I enjoy connecting with fellow nonfiction readers, some of whom I only encounter during this one month of the year.

I’m looking forward to a long list of new-to-me books to read. That will be the topic of our wrap-up posts on Monday, November 24.

Comments

My Nonfiction Year #NonfictionNovember — 12 Comments

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz on October 27, 2025 at 3:30 pm said:

I have added a couple of books from your list to my TBR. I’d love to read more about British history and Britain in general, and I’d love to participate in your British Isles Friday posts.

Reply ↓
Susan on October 27, 2025 at 4:39 pm said:

You have done well with nonfiction reading! Timothy Snyder is essential to us these days …. his substack essays help think and confront us about what is happening everyday. Keep it going in November.

Reply ↓
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out on October 28, 2025 at 7:31 am said:

Thanks for sharing your year in nonfiction and, Judi Dench’s bio has been popular.

Happy Nonfiction November

Reply ↓
Olivia on October 28, 2025 at 2:15 pm said:

You are the second blogger to mention Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent. I’ve added it to my TBR list along with On Tyranny.

Reply ↓
Anne@HeadFullofBooks on October 28, 2025 at 4:06 pm said:

I said the same thing about why I want to participate in Nonfiction November. Making connection with people who are willing to interact with me is important. I loved the Shakespeare book. I listened to the audiobook where Judi Dench and O’Hea chatted. She is so fun.

Reply ↓
Tina on October 29, 2025 at 8:51 am said:

I like biios and memoirs, but lots of other fiction as well. Great list.

Reply ↓
Aj @ Read All The Things! on October 29, 2025 at 10:42 am said:

Enjoy Nonfiction November! Evicted is a book I’ll never forget.

Reply ↓
Lesley on October 31, 2025 at 5:53 pm said:

I read nonfiction mostly in November, and I love adding more titles to my list by visiting new blogs. I adore Judi Dench and am eager to read her book. John Green’s is one I want to listen to since I enjoyed The Anthropocene Reviewed so well on audio.

Reply ↓
Melissa Willis on November 1, 2025 at 10:14 am said:

I admit to not reading much non-fiction though I was surprised when I looked at my list for the past year…three books of poetry and one novel ;-| I really should/want to read more and think I’ll start with The Great Displacement. It’s been on my list for a while now and seems important. Thank you for the poke to move it to the top of my TBR.

Reply ↓
Cindy's Book Corner on November 2, 2025 at 2:40 pm said:

Interesting selections, I have not read any of them. I have seen the Shakespeare one on several lists, though. This is my first time participating in Nonfiction November and it is interesting to see what everyone has been reading.

Reply ↓
Liz Dexter on November 4, 2025 at 2:03 pm said:

Lots of British content on my blog, much of it nonfiction, as you know! I hope you enjoy Nonfiction November.

Reply ↓
Angela @ Literary Wanderer on November 6, 2025 at 8:35 am said:

So many posts I’ve been going through today have noted Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent! I need to add it to my TBR!

Reply ↓