Nonfiction Page-Turners

Lounging in a tree with a page-turner
Type
Staff Picks

Staff Picks for nonfiction books that are absolute page-turners! Here is a list of nonfiction books that you won't be able to put down...

  1. Devil in the White City: murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America by Erik Larson

The true tale of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the cunning serial killer who used the magic and majesty of the fair to lure his victims to their death.

  1. Say Nothing: a true story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

A stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions.

  1. Brain on Fire: my month of madness by Susannah Cahalan

A gripping memoir and medical suspense story about a young New York Post reporter's struggle with a rare and terrifying disease, opening a new window into the fascinating world of brain science.

  1. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir about her struggles as a former child actor--including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother--and how she retook control of her life.

  1. Bad Blood: secrets and lies in a Silicon Valley startup by John Carreyrou

The gripping story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos--one of the biggest corporate frauds in history--a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley.

  1. Midnight in Chernobyl: the untold story of the world’s greatest nuclear disaster by Adam Higginbotham

A powerful investigation into Chernobyl and how propaganda, secrecy, and myth have obscured the true story of one of the history's worst nuclear disasters.

  1. In the Heart of the Sea: the tragedy of the whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

In 1820, the whaleship "Essex "was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale, leaving the desperate crew to drift for more than ninety days in three tiny boats. This book uses little-known documents and vivid details about the Nantucket whaling tradition to reveal the chilling facts of this infamous maritime disaster.

  1. Born a Crime: stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime memoir about one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed and his unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show.

  1. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This inspiring, exquisitely observed memoir finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds as an idealistic young neurosurgeon attempts to answer the question What makes a life worth living?

  1. Catch and Kill: lies, spies, and a conspiracy to protect predators by Ronan Farrow

An account of violence and espionage, this Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter exposes serial abusers and a cabal of powerful interests hell-bent on covering up the truth, at any cost.