As a kid, I loved to read books about magic, fairies, and fantastical adventures. In fact, omit the first three words of that sentence because I still do. I’ve graduated from Hogwarts alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione 11 (and a half) times. I could move to Forks, Washington to hang out with the Cullens and feel right at home. Katniss Everdeen is a friend of mine and Peeta will forever have my heart. However, I frankly fear for the day that I am sat in a fancy, overpriced coffee shop at age 75, telling my fellow book club members that I’ve been reading a young adult fantasy novel in my free time. And so, dear reader, I have compiled a small collection of nonfiction books that I have not only read but actually loved, so that other souls like mine can not only feel sophisticated but also be entertained in their nonfiction endeavors. Enjoy!
- Women In Clothes
By SHeila Heti, Heidi Julavits, Leanne Shapton, & 639 Others -
If you are a human who wears clothing, then this book is for you. It is filled with surveys, interviews, and personal anecdotes detailing what goes through the minds of over 600 individuals as they dress themselves each day. It can be raw and emotional but also funny and thought-provoking with interviewees ranging from Molly Ringwald and Lena Dunham to a garment worker in Cambodia who works for a fast fashion company. It contains different displays, including painstakingly photographed collections of clothing, short transcriptions of overheard compliments, and simple answers to the question “When do you feel the most beautiful?” It will make you feel like a human, but in the best way; as if you are both your own unique person but also somehow connected by a small thread to all those around you.
- DIsneyWar
By James B. Stewart -
Do you enjoy nosing around in drama that is absolutely not your business? Most people do. Do you like Disney (or at least something to do with the company?) Almost unavoidably, yes. Are you very tuned in to the business practices of large corporations? If I correctly guessed your former answers, probably not. This book, however, tastefully combines all three of these concepts into a delicious exposé about the Eisner era of the Disney Company. It details the rise and fall of Michael Eisner, who was Disney Chairman and CEO from 1984 to 2005 and was shrouded in controversy from the moment he took over the corporation. He had many a friend turned enemy via public feud during his time overseeing the company, including Walt Disney’s own nephew, Roy Disney, and Steve Jobs. This book is brimming with untold secrets, never-before-seen letters and documents, and unprecedented input from both Eisner and Roy Disney themselves. The Try Guys have nothing on this corporate scandal!
- Schott’s Original Miscellany
BY Ben Schott -
This book can only be described as a wild and disjointed compilation of facts both useful (such as what each washing or drying symbol on clothing tags mean) and arguably useless (such as a comprehensive list of companies that supply the Royal Family of England with various products, from chocolate to bagpipes). The book itself is small enough to fit in any bag or oversized thrifted jean pocket and is chock-full of the most random information one could dream up. I have been known to quiz any friend who is unfortunate enough to end up on the phone with me beyond one in the morning about whatever peculiar details I can find in this book, and it never fails to both amuse and educate me in some surprising way. While this is the original book in the series, there are several other versions of Schott’s Miscellany that focus on Food & Drink as well as Sporting, Gaming, & Idling, among others.
Amazon Link for Schott’s Original Miscellany: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582343497/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1
Amazon Link for Schott’s Food & Drink Miscellany: https://www.amazon.com/Schotts-Food-Drink-Miscellany-Schott/dp/1582344205/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/138-2953133-5169532?pd_rd_w=fhyjY&content-id=amzn1.sym.7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_p=7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_r=7KZMF54B3059H9T1K0RP&pd_rd_wg=WxoIt&pd_rd_r=e7d63748-e0c6-493e-8d19-61e66debdbf3&pd_rd_i=1582344205&psc=1
Amazon Link for Schott’s Sporting, Gaming, & Idling Miscellany: https://www.amazon.com/Schotts-Sporting-Gaming-Idling-Miscellany/dp/158234406X/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_2/138-2953133-5169532?pd_rd_w=z1FRD&content-id=amzn1.sym.7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_p=7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_r=Z3ZVXBNBT0GP5121ZY5N&pd_rd_wg=U1XFN&pd_rd_r=9ccf3498-e78a-4103-a343-6ca04c302fcf&pd_rd_i=158234406X&psc=1
An Honorable Mention to…
If you are not quite ready to give up on fiction but still want to dabble in nonfiction and discuss historical drama, I recommend Daisy Goodwin’s novels! They describe the supposed secret relationships and personal romances of historical figures, and the subject matters and main characters are based on real people. My personal favorite is The Fortune Hunter, which presents the ostensible romance between Empress Elizabeth of Austria and the English Captain Bay Middleton, despite the former’s royal marriage and latter’s courtship with his wife-to-be. In a similar vein, her novel Victoria was the basis for the Prime Video show of the same name, and explores her alleged relationship with her first prime minister and how the queen eventually fell for her husband (and first cousin) Albert.
Amazon Link for The Fortune Hunter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HY03FJC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2
Amazon Link for Victoria: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IN9HWRI/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1