Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2019

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by: Garrett M. Graff (Avid Reader Press) – Pub Date: September 10, 2019

This is one of the most powerful books I read this year. I loved it (if “love” is even the right word to use), and I think it should be required reading for all Americans. It’s the day that changed the world and we’re now in a time where many young people weren’t even alive on the day this happened. It’s important to remember this day and it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. (I also mentioned this book in my Nonfiction Favorites and My Year in Nonfiction posts.)

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by: Lori Gottlieb (Houghlin Mifflin Harcourt) – Pub Date: April 2, 2019

I remember this book was full of advice and I underlined so many things. I may pick it up soon and thumb through it again and refresh my memory of its goodness. 

In the Dream House by: Carmen Maria Machado (Graywolf Press) – Pub Date: November 5, 2019

I may sound like a broken record, but this was a powerful read. Machado opened up a world that hasn’t really been talked about and her honesty and vulnerabilty make this book unforgettable.

Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by: Jacob Tobia (Putnam) – Pub Date: March 5, 2019

Books can give you empathy and help you understand something you may not have personal experience with. Tobia does such a beautiful job of writing their story. I loved this book and felt like I came away with a lot more understanding.

I Miss You When I Blink by: Mary Laura Philpott (Atria) – Pub Date: April 2, 2019

Honestly, this book made me laugh so hard. There aren’t a lot of books I’ve read that talk about motherhood in the later stages. I felt heard as I read some of these essays!

Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by: Dani Shapiro (Knopf) – Pub Date: January 15, 2019

I put this one off forever because I wasn’t sure it would live up to the hype but it did! As DNA testing kits gain popularity, I think these types of stories are going to become a lot more common.

More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by: Elaine Welteroth (Viking) – June 11, 2019

This book was empowering and as a mom of a preteen daughter, I’m so happy I came across it. Welteroth is ambitious and I could only hope my own girl has an ounce of her passion.

American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulour Serial Killer of the 21st Century by: Maureen Callahan (Viking) – Pub Date: July 2, 2019

While I feel a little weird about this book being in my Top 10 of the year, it was so well done! I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was the more popular choice in the true crime genre this year, but I preferred this one!

Life Will Be the Death of Me…And You Too! by: Chelsea Handler (Spiegel & Grau) – Pub Date: April 9, 2019

I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did. While we all know Handler as a comedian, she is very vulnerable and raw as she talks about her recent journey. I recommend this one on audiobook as Handler gets emotional at times and it really adds so much to the story!

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by: Melina Gates (Flatiron) – Pub Date: April 23, 2019

Bill and Melinda Gates are generous people and I liked hearing this perspective from Melinda. She believes (and I do too!) that as we empower women, the world begins to change in a more positive direction.

I absolutely love nonfiction and I’m always looking for recommendations. Feel free to leave me a comment of your favor nonfiction reads!