My Year of Nonfiction So Far: Nonfiction November 2018

Nonfiction November 2018

 

Welcome to Nonfiction November 2018! I’m thrilled to be co-hosting 2018’s Nonfiction November with Katie at Doing Dewey, Rennie at What’s Nonfiction?, Julie at Julz Reads, and Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness! Nonfiction November is a month dedicated to celebrating nonfiction…we’ll talk about our favorites, trade recommendations, discuss our nonfiction reading habits, and hopefully discover some new book blogs! There will be a link-up for your posts every Monday…go here for the schedule of events and where to find the link-ups. Here’s my year of nonfiction so far…

Hop over to Sophisticated Dorkiness to link up your introductory post!

My Year of Nonfiction

So far this year, I’ve read 27 Nonfiction books (34% of my total books read), 16 of which were audiobooks. This is down 22% from this time last year’s 35 Nonfiction books, 27 of which were audiobooks. I didn’t realize I hadn’t read as much nonfiction this year until I was writing this post!

Diving into the numbers a bit, I realized I’d actually read more nonfiction books / e-books this year and listened to a lot less audiobooks. The decrease in audiobook listening is the reason my overall nonfiction reading has fallen off this year. I’ve been listening to a lot more podcasts and sometimes took a full month to get through one audiobook. Over the past few months, a bunch of audiobooks came in from the library and I learned there’s nothing like a library due date to get me to choose an audiobook over podcasts! So, my audiobook pace has picked back up lately.

Favorite Nonfiction of 2018 So Far

My Year in Nonfiction

 

Overall Favorite Nonfiction of 2018

Favorite Nonfiction Audiobook of 2018

From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein

Most Recommended Nonfiction of 2018

My Year in Nonfiction

 

This year, I’ve read a lot of…

“Life wisdom” essay collections, mostly written by women.

My go-to authors for these types of books are (check out my “Women Who Get Women” Authors Club post for more of these types of authors):

  • Ann Patchett
  • Anna Quindlen
  • Kelly Corrigan
  • And, even though I’ve only read one book by Maggie O’Farrell, I think she could be added to the list.

This year, I haven’t read enough…

Investigative Journalism…

But, over half of my Nonfiction November TBR list is investigative journalism, so I’m going to make up for it!

Sports…

I love sports memoirs and general nonfiction and I have one of each on my Nonfiction November TBR list!

What are your favorite Nonfiction books so far this year?

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32 Comments

  1. Brona wrote:

    I really enjoyed I Am I Am I Am too, but it didn’t quite make my fav list as some of the anecdotes felt a little stretched to fit O’Farrell’s theme.

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
  2. Rennie wrote:

    I loved I’ll Be Gone in the Dark too, and I’ve been meaning to get to Red Notice. Good to hear you liked it so much!

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
  3. Definitely intrigued by Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan, also I’ve heard a lot of people enjoy the Maggie O’Farrell title. I am intrigued by it, and almost picked it up from the library once, but as someone who has a deep set fear of death, I think it’ll be one of those books I’m just best to pass on. Educated and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark are two books I’ve seen a lot about in these first #NonficNov posts… Happy to finally be getting round to reading Educated this coming month.

    27 nonfiction titles is amazing!! Good luck with adding a few more to that number this month.

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Educated and I’ll Be Gone are definitely the books I’ve been seeing around most for Nonfiction Nov!

      Posted 11.3.18 Reply
  4. I have to laugh that we have the same favorites. I need a look at your list for investigative journalism books. I’d like to find a couple that speak to me. Do you think I’d like Red Notice? I read “high finance” on its cover and my mind wants to shut down!

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I’m thinking of doing “investigative journalism” as my Be the Expert post.

      I do think you’d like Red Notice…it reads like a thriller and is a lot about the Russian oligarchs, Putin, and Russian post-Communism culture.

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  5. Tara wrote:

    I’ve read all of your most recommended list with the exception of Red Notice; I’ll have to add it to my list! I’m also really looking forward to listening to From the Corner of the Oval. I’m currently listening to a couple of books that should help me get my mind ready for my marathon next month, but I’m sure I’ll need a break from that soon – ha!

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
  6. Emma wrote:

    so many have Educated on their list, but it sounds way too scary to me. My post is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/10/29/nonfiction-november-my-year-2018-in-nonfiction/

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
  7. Torrie wrote:

    I read an almost even 50/50 split of fiction and nonfiction each year, but my nonfiction tends to stay in a comfort zone of just a few genres: memoir (I loooove me a good memoir), self-help (I include business-y, time management books in this), and faith-building. Reading that most of your Nonfiction November will be devoted to investigative journalism makes me realize that I don’t think I’ve EVER read any investigative journalism (unless John Krakauer counts), so I’ll be curious to see what kinds of titles you like under that.

    Maybe you should do a blog post with book recs just under that genre umbrella, as I’m not having any titles really come to mind…wink wink 🙂

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yes – Jon Krakauer does count! I think I’m going to do Investigative Journalism as my Be the Expert post, so stay tuned!

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  8. Wendy wrote:

    I just loved From the Corner of the Oval. It wasn’t just a story about being a White House staffer, it was a coming of age story. I thought the author did a fantastic job of melding the two.

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Exactly…so refreshing and fun!

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  9. My nonfiction reading percentage sounds good (28%) but it’s only 19 books because my reading has been weak sauce this year.

    What podcasts are you listening to?? You know I love me some podcasts. I gave audiobooks a whirl this year – thought that would be a good way to squeeze in more reading. But where I love podcasts I still HATE being read to. Audiobooks are just not for me and I’m going to have to make peace with that.

    I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was just so good wasn’t it?

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I struggled with audiobooks for so long and still kind of prefer podcasts, but I’m figuring it out.

      So lately I’ve been doing: Dr. Death, Gladiator, American Scandal, The Popcast, a bunch of bookish ones (including the brand new Currently Reading), and some online entrepreneurship ones (The Strategy Hour, Simple Pin Podcast, Creat-if Writing).

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  10. Angela wrote:

    I feel like I’m the only person who hasn’t read I’ll Be Gone in the Dark! Not sure it’s for me, though!

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s terrifying…so, I imagine there will be people who don’t want to read it!

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  11. Allison wrote:

    I’m really curious about From the Corner of the Oval. A lot of people have raved about it. I actually worked with someone who was on the Obama campaign and then had a position in the White House–she was a force. I wonder if she knew the author.

    Posted 10.30.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Oooh – interesting! Ask her! I’d love to know who some of the side characters were…ones she probably used fake names for.

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  12. Kazen wrote:

    Out of all the “Obama memoirs” From the Corner of the Oval seems to be getting the most praise. And huzzah sports! I’m planning to get some George Plimpton this month, hopefully Paper Lion. Here’s to a great November! 🙂

    Posted 10.31.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s different…very coming of age that just happens to be in close proximity to the President. I’ve never read George Plimpton…I need to!

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  13. Tell Me More is among my favorites of the year too, it was such a gut punch near the end, but SO GOOD! I need to read that Maggie Farrell book too, it’s gotten raves. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and Educated are among my top reads, I think I’ve recommended them a lot. Reading twins! 🙂

    Posted 10.31.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yes! I’m not surprised b/c I love your nonfiction recommendations! I remember you recommended the Beanie Baby book and it was so fun and different and I think we were the only 2 people who read it!

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  14. I’ve been listening to most of my nonfiction this year, but try to get a print copy as well. Need to get to Kelly Corrigan’s books soon!

    Posted 11.1.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      You and me both!

      Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  15. I haven’t read a lot of “life wisdom essays” lately and don’t seem to be inclined to. Not quite sure why.

    Posted 11.1.18 Reply
  16. Brandy wrote:

    I was pleasantly surprised by I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O’Farrell. It’s been my favorite nonfiction read so far this year and worked for me a lot better than her fiction.

    Posted 11.1.18 Reply
  17. Rachel wrote:

    I’ve heard so many great things about Educated. I should really read it!

    Posted 11.4.18 Reply
  18. I haven’t read many books that would fall in the genre of “life wisdom” essay collections, but it sounds like a genre I’d like to read more of. I find myself more interested than I’d expect in fiction about women who are a decade or more earlier than me and I think it’s because I like exploring different ideas about my future in my reading. I could see nonfiction by women providing a similar experience.

    Posted 11.5.18 Reply

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