Happy September, nonfiction lovers! This month is so crammed with new books, it’s almost an embarrassment of riches.
As part of a more general life strategy to just Keep it Simple Stupid, I thought I’d focus this week’s newsletter on 10 new September releases you can put in your hands right now (since, let’s be real… it might take awhile to get a copy of Bob Woodward’s newest book). Let’s go!
Sponsored by Oasis Audio, publisher of THE GOOD NEIGHBOR: THE LIFE AND WORK OF FRED ROGERS, written by Maxwell King and narrated by LeVar Burton.
If you’re riding the wave of Mister Rogers nostalgia with the rest of America, don’t miss The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers.Maxwell King has written the first-ever full-length biography of Mister Rogers himself, tracing Fred’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work.
And who better to voice the story of a PBS icon than LeVar Burton? Best known as the host of Reading Rainbow, LeVar was personally mentored by Fred. Between LeVar’s undisputable knack for storytelling and the depth of King’s content, The Good Neighbor audiobook is an exceptional listening experience
The Class by Heather Won Tesoriero – A new book I’ve actually read! In The Class, Heather Won Tesoriero spends a year embedded in a high school science class responsible for turning out a huge number of competitors on the science fair circuit. This book was a totally charming visit back to high school I actually enjoyed.
Under Fire by April Ryan – I have a soft spot for memoirs by journalists, particularly ones who are as no-nonsense as White House correspondent April Ryan. In this book, Ryan goes inside the “confusion and chaos” of the White House to explore how the press corps are adjusting to the new normal of Trump.
Never Ran, Never Will by Albert Samaha – This book is the story of the Mo Better Jaguars, a youth football team in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Their unpaid coaches are mentor for the players, who see football as a chance to reach the American dream.
The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King – Given the trash fire the world is right now, I’m not surprised that the kindness and compassion of Fred Rogers is having a moment. This book is the first full-length biography of Mr. Rogers that traces his “personal, professional and artistic life” over the decades.
Call Them By Their True Names by Rebecca Solnit – New Rebecca Solnit! This collection focuses on “battles over meaning, place, language, and belonging at the heart of the defining crises of our time,” which sounds so, so good.
On the Other Side of Freedom by DeRay McKesson – This book, written by a Black Lives Matter activist who got his start in Ferguson “lays down the intellectual, pragmatic, and political framework for a new liberation movement.” Interesting and needed.
The Dinosaur Artist by Paige Williams – Light true crime lovers, check this one out! This book is the story a story about fossil collecting that is centered around the 2012 listing of a Tyrannosaurus fossil on display in Manhattan that was sold for more $1 million.
The Art of Logic in an Illogical World by Eugenia Cheng – Eugenia Cheng, a mathematician, explores the “inner workings and limitations of logic” and how it’s important to use both logic and emotion to navigate the world successfully.
The Real Lolita by Sarah Weinman – This book is a literary detective story that explores the real-life inspiration for Vladimir Nabokov’s famous novel, the 1948 abduction of an 11-year-old girl. The book explores what Nabokov knew, and how he tried to hide that knowledge through the book’s publication process.
Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly – On the wake of Serena Williams’ sexist treatment at the U.S. Open, a book about why female rage is important, why we shouldn’t bottle it up, and how anger can be a catalyst for change seems really, really vital. Get on my bookshelves, now.
Happy September reading, nonfiction nerds! You can find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot. Let me know what you’re excited to pick up this month!