Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2020

I can't believe 2020 is almost over, but I'm excited to share my list of the top nonfiction books I read this year!
---Makeup---
👀 Eye shadow: go.magik.ly/ml/18iq8/
💄 Lip color: amzn.to/3oSdIoF
---Reviews/Videos Mentioned---
🌳 The Story of More Review: • The Story of More by H...
🏀 Our Last Season Review in the Christian Science Monitor: www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-...
🇷🇺 3 Books on Russia | The Soviet Legacy: • Video
🖋 Red Comet by Heather Clark Review: • Red Comet by Heather C...
🐟 Fathoms & Why Fish Don't Exist Book Reviews: • 5⭐ Nonfiction Reads! |...
---Nonfiction Favorites of Prior Years---
🔸️ 2019: • Top 10 Nonfiction Book...
🔸️ 2018: • Top 10 Nonfiction Book...
🔸️ 2017: • My Top 5 Nonfiction Bo...
🔸️ 2016: • My Top 5 Nonfiction Re...
🔸️ 2015: • My Top 10 Books of 2015!
---Books Discussed---
Sea People by Christina Thompson: amzn.to/3dVHkfw
How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery: amzn.to/2MPwhIr
Fathoms by Rebecca Giggs: amzn.to/34qaqBS
The Story of More by Hope Jahren: amzn.to/3hIP7Qk
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn: amzn.to/3fvpvo0
Inferno by Catherine Cho: amzn.to/34RGJK6
Our Last Season by Harvey Araton: amzn.to/39v4c6b
Red Comet by Heather Clark: amzn.to/36njsPh
Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich: amzn.to/3le3E7g
Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller: amzn.to/34qA5KB
(The above product links are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase, I will receive a very small commission that goes toward the operating expenses for this channel.)
Outro music by ProleteR & licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.
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TikTok: @NonfictionNovember
Twitter - / abookolive
My written reviews (all venues): muckrack.com/olive-fellows/ar...

[@440jasmine]

Thank you so much for this video! I so enjoy hearing about other peoples favorite reads and I'm a big non-fiction fan. You have put a few more titles on my list for my upcoming visit to McKay's in Nashville!! Thanks again!!

[@corvins.colubrids]

Ohh, I always love hearing your nonfiction recs! As a poetry professor myself, I'm eager to read the Plath biography, and all of these are now on my TBR list!

[@abookolive]

Oh, I'd be so interested to know what you think of Red Comet when you end up reading it! I'm such a poetry neophyte that I'm sure there was a ton I missed when I read it.

[@NeetuSingh-eo4iu]

Here comes the most awaited video of the year. Thanks for the lovely recommendations and for igniting the love for non fiction books. Have a wonderful year ahead and hope you discover many more beautiful reads🤗

[@abookolive]

Thank you so much! Wishing the same for you - happy new year! ❤🎉

[@pranavpan]

Oh my god. Thank you so much. I was in a reading slump and your recommendation got me back into the game. I went with your no. 1 book - why fish don’t exist and I agree with you. It’s one of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read. I’m a fan of your channel. Thank you again.

[@cashew3099]

Hurray!!! Thank you for uploading! You’re one of my favorite booktubers!

[@abookolive]

That's so nice of you, thank you! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@buddhabillybob]

Great list! Thank you for consistently good content.

[@athertonca]

Olive, your insightful reviews are a treat. “Why Fish Don’t Exist,” “The Salt Path” and “The Story of More” have been added to my TBR.

[@abookolive]

Aww, thank you so much! Happy reading and happy new year! 🎉

[@InfiniteText]

believe it or not, this is the video I look forward to most in the year too! (your video on nonfiction that is). I just added three new books to my TBR from your list. Well-spoken as always Olive

[@abookolive]

Aww, thank you so much!! Which three did you add (you know I have to know)?

[@InfiniteText]

@@abookolive Fathoms, Red Comet, and Why Fish Don't Exist

[@abookolive]

@@InfiniteText I will be SO curious to see what you make of Fathoms.

[@neens1369]

I've been waiting for this video for months. Loved this

[@abookolive]

Glad you liked it!!

[@MLLatUtube]

I've added more books to my 2021 TBR - thank you for the reviews

[@abookolive]

Thank you so much for watching! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@mayagopalak]

The most anticipated video of the year!

[@abookolive]

😭❤

[@HannahsBooks]

How wonderful! I am currently listening to the audiobook of Red Comet and absolutely love it so far. What a compelling biography. Both Salt Path and Why Fish are climbing their way to the top of my library hold list. I am so glad to hear you enjoyed both! Our Last Season is a book I never would have picked up without your discussion, but it too is on the hold list. Thank you.

[@abookolive]

I'll be eager to hear what you think of all of these!!

[@maitreyeed]

This year I read The poisoner's handbook based on your recommendation, it was absolutely amazing. I really have to read why fish don't exist next. Wishing you an advanced happy new year :)

[@abookolive]

Oh, I'm so glad you liked The Poisoner's Handbook!! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@mc63404]

Thank you for the video! These honestly all sound great. I just finished Why Fish Don't Exist a week or so ago and loved it, too!

[@abookolive]

Ahhhh that makes me so happy!

[@TheNovelSanctuary]

Yes was waiting for this!

[@abookolive]

❤❤❤

[@Addressa]

look forward to your list every year! i'm probably going to purchase some of these books today! i hope you are having a good and relaxing post-holiday season.

[@abookolive]

That makes my day, thank you! It's been a lovely holiday season - I hope yours has been good as well! ❤

[@halfmanhalfbook]

Great selection of books, Olive. Here's to an equally good 2021 for reading

[@abookolive]

Thanks, Paul! I hope we both have a tremendous 2021 reading year!

[@KatherineJi]

Wonderful recs, and your makeup looks amazing!

[@abookolive]

Thank you so much! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@HamsavahiniVajraasthra]

Namaste Olive, I loved most of the books you mentioned here.I'll try to read them in 2021!Happy reading!!!🙂

[@abookolive]

Wonderful! You have some great reading ahead of you then, if I say so myself! 😁

[@coffemuse]

This was great! I really thought I'd see Red Comet at #1 and I love being surprised like that! There are quite a few of these books on my To Read list now 🤓

[@abookolive]

If Red Comet didn't have such stiff competition this year, it might have claimed the top spot! ☄

[@samantha.irenes]

I just finished Sea People yesterday, I thought it was great. It was interesting how she chose to show the information not really chronologically per se but in rather terms of how the Western world discovered things about Polynesia. Half of my favorite books I read this year were nonfiction, I'm hoping to keep that momentum going in 2021!

[@abookolive]

I (of course) highly encourage you to keep that momentum going! Are you looking to read a certain percentage of nonfiction in 2021 (I know some people structure their goals that way)?

[@samantha.irenes]

@@abookolive I'd love to have a true 50/50 year, so that's the bar I'm aiming for!

[@petrina7883]

Love your non fic recommendations. And you look gorgeous too - those make up colours, really suit you.

[@abookolive]

oh, thank you! That's very nice of you to say 💙

[@Nataliecj]

I read so many great non-fiction books this year! Some of my favourites were Pain and Prejudice by Gabrielle Jackson, The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff, The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton, Know My Name by Chanel Miller, No Visible Bruises by Rachel Louise Snyder, The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and Boys & Sex by Peggy Orenstein. I'm currently reading The Salt Path, and I'm definitely interested in everything on this list.

[@abookolive]

You read some great ones! I still think about The Only Plane in the Sky ALL the time.

[@kanner3831]

He was "floundering," I see what you did there. Love it! Added to my TBR, thank you!

[@Georgesmomsu]

Exactly the comment I was about to leave

[@MargaretPinard]

😂

[@hollied1581]

I’m glad I’m not the only person who found that hilarious! 🤣

[@abookolive]

I try to slip little plays-on-words into as many videos as possible - it makes me really happy when someone notices them 😂🐟

[@sofiareads4668]

How to be a Good Creature sounds amazing!! Adding that to my tbr :) thanks for all the great recs as always!!

[@abookolive]

Thank YOU so much for watching! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@booksofa.i.m.3698]

Now I'm intrigued... List of books to read just got longer. Thanks! Btw: love the academic and professional vibe(s). (:

[@abookolive]

Oh, thanks! I've just been doing this for a long time 😂

[@catxfish6517]

I only found your channel now, I feel like I'm late to the party. I love all your nonfiction recommendations! Secondhand Time has been on my TBR pile for a long time, I think I'll give it try this year. I've read Voices from Chernobyl by Alexievich last 2018 or 2019 I think.

[@carleybarnes4365]

I always look forward to your nonfiction videos!

[@abookolive]

That's wonderful to hear - thank you! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@carleybarnes4365]

@@abookolive You’re welcome happy new year to you too!

[@Georgesmomsu]

What a year! Just downloaded Sea People. I’m hoping it’s a good audiobook. Thanks for all the amazing recommendations this year.

[@abookolive]

What a year, indeed! Thank YOU for your viewership in 2020 - wishing you happy new year! ❤🎉

[@ChaoticBibliophile]

AMAZING list! Although all sound amazing, The Salt Path, Our Last Season, Inferno, Red Comet and Secondhand Time are on my pick-up-soon-wishlist. Okay, and Why Fish Don't Exist too, haha. The Story of More sounds fascinating but I'd love to read Lab Girl first. Thank you for this video, I look forward to it every year,!

[@abookolive]

Reading Lab Girl first is definitely the best idea! It'll get you used to her style (which, if you don't like it, you'll probably want to skip The Story of More - but I think you will like it!).

[@jasmeenmalhotra2225]

When I compiled my favourite non-fiction of 2020 list, I was startled to see that all the authors on there were white males. My reading goal of 2021 is to diversify my exposure and try and experience a broader spectrum of perspectives, and so I really truly appreciated how diverse your list is. And I love your heartfelt and expressive reviewing style, and how you're unafraid to talk about how books affect you. I'm so excited to read Red Comet, as soon as I've finished Romantic Outlaws (about Mary Wollstonecroft and Mary Shelley), which is taking FOREVER to get here because I live in India and I had to order it online... And then Why Fish Don't Exist. And now I'm going to go check out your other book lists :) I'm so glad I found your channel!!

[@abookolive]

Thanks Jasmeen! I'm happy to have you here! 😊

[@juliaisagoodwitch]

The story of more sounds very interesting, I’ll definitely have to add it to my tbr

[@abookolive]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@Bettyp08]

Love your eyeshadow by the way 🥰

[@abookolive]

Thank you! Blue seemed to fit the covers of the majority of these books, so that's what I went with! 💙

[@Tinahgirl83]

I’m going to give Fathoms a try on audiobook. I listened to the sample and I’m very interested. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but I read three this year, which for me is a lot. Lol. Thank you! I may also try Red Comet, as Sylvia Plath was a genius.

[@abookolive]

Let me know how you end up liking Fathoms!!

[@donahazelwood9263]

Several of your picks are going on my shopping list!

[@abookolive]

So exciting! Which ones? (I'm nosey.)

[@donahazelwood9263]

@@abookolive Red Comet, Why Fish Don't Exist, The Salt Path. 😊

[@abookolive]

@@donahazelwood9263 😁🙌

[@jeremyfee]

Great video. Wonderful books. Now I want to know all about the Polynesian Islands.

[@abookolive]

It's fascinating stuff!

[@AnniesBookNook]

Wow Inferno sounds great. Added to my Tbr!

[@abookolive]

Yay! I hope you enjoy it (as much as one can enjoy such a book 😂)!

[@ScullyPopASMR]

Now aren't you just a peach. I watched Olivia just now and your video was in suggested underneath. I guess the algorithm knows I'll love you 😁

[@traceycarpelibrum]

Loved your list. Couldn’t help laughing when you said ‘she was floundering’ though 😆

[@abookolive]

I try to include wordplay in so many of my videos - I'm glad people are finally noticing 😂😂😂

[@joannemepham29]

These are awesome choices. My favorite was Saving Jemima by Julia Zickefoose.

[@abookolive]

Saving Jemima is incredible!! That was one of my favorites from last year 😊

[@splitreads]

I have Inferno out from the library, I’m both excited and scared to pick it up

[@abookolive]

It's not that bad, I promise! Just intense.

[@dianewalker9154]

I’m down to the last 100 pages of Secondhand Time. It’s fascinating. Sea Peoples is my next read.

[@abookolive]

Wonderful! Happy reading! 📚

[@dumbidiotbookreviews8333]

Wow we're reading twins! I also read a Plath biography and Secondhand Time this year. You had me tempted with Red Comet, until you said that it's 1200 pages. Hahaha absolutely not! Why Fish Don't Exist sounds right up my alley though. Unfortunately, my library system doesn't have it yet. I guess it will have to be a treat when I have a little money in the budget for books!

[@abookolive]

It doesn't feel like 1200 pages, I promise! I know that's quite the commitment, though.

[@kerialvigini-cwiak5860]

Heading to the bookstore to get Secondhand Time.

[@booksofa.i.m.3698]

Added it to my list. The audio book seems to be narrated really well.

[@abookolive]

I'd say "I hope you enjoy it," but that seems...not appropriate for that book! But you know what I mean 😂

[@WhatVictoriaRead]

Great list, my favourite non fiction of the year was The Five, I’ve never read a true crime book like it!

[@abookolive]

Oh, the Five was SO good! 💯

[@LisaK1075]

I think the book I’m most looking forward to reading is Red Comet, but I need to finish her letters and her journal first! Half way through! 🤣

[@abookolive]

You are really on a roll with the Sylvia Plath! 👏

[@lyndao7356]

I found you yesterday. YOU are good, really good. Wow. Thanks 🙏

[@abookolive]

Thanks Lynda! I really appreciate that (and the time you took to watch & comment)! Much love ❤

[@MargaretPinard]

The Story of More seems to dovetail nicely with what I'm currently listening to--Clutter by Jennifer Howard--but I'd like to hear more about the ecological side rather than the psych/social safety net side of the issue...

[@abookolive]

Oh, Clutter sounds really interesting and I totally agree - The Story of More might make a good follow-up!

[@cuppiesaur]

You have introduced me to SO MANY wonderful non fiction books that I want to read all of those - that I haven't read yet! ♥ ♥ So thanks for all the amazing recommendations! edit: ALSO YEAH - Why Fish Don't Exist was the best book of the year!!!!!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[@abookolive]

That is the best news - I can't even tell you how happy it makes me knowing that you can get book recommendations here! ♥

[@sandra7319.]

Oh my gosh, I would have never considered Why Fish don't Exist if I did not hear this review...going high on the Tbr.

[@abookolive]

I hope you end up enjoying it!!

[@launchedathousand]

Why Fish Don't Exist is one that I'll have to put on my tbr.

[@abookolive]

Hope you enjoy it!!!

[@a_bookish_gemini]

“...because she was FLOUNDERING” 🤣🤣 Nice one. New sub, loved your choices and summaries.

[@abookolive]

😁😁😁 I'll admit that I amuse myself by slipping plays on words into my videos. I have no idea how often people notice them, but this one seems to have tickled people! 😂🐟

[@Rodja.]

Secondhand Time is my best non fiction read of 2020. Then maybe a book that might interest you, called Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More, about how people related to the propaganda and the rituals of power in the last decades of the Soviet Union. A bit on the academic side in terms of writing (I think it was the PhD thesis of the author, or it's a re-elaboration of it ), but very fascinating.

[@abookolive]

Thanks for bringing that to my attention - I'll have to look into it! Academic writing on the Soviet Union certainly doesn't scare me (at least not anymore 😂).

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Best nonfiction I read this year Humankind by Rutger Bergman Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd All That Remains by Professor Sue Black The Erratics by Vicki Laveau Harvie Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez Say Nothing by Patrick Raden Keefe 👋☘️❄️☕️📚🦋📖🎄⛄️

[@ChaoticBibliophile]

Ohh, great list! I really want to read Humankind and Invisible Women.

[@deborajohnson5717]

I loved Written in Bone by Sue Black. This is her new one!

[@kdrudolph1]

I was wondering if you’ve read any books or can suggest any on Chernobyl?

[@AnniesBookNook]

Midnight in Chernobyl is great! Very comprehensive

[@abookolive]

Unfortunately most of my knowledge about Chernobyl is from studying it in school - I need to read one of the several full books on the disaster and then review them. However, if you're looking for a work of fiction, All That Is Solid Melts into Air by Darragh McKeon is a really great novel set before, during, and after the Chernobyl disaster.

[@stampincass]

Inferno sounds so intriguing but also so much like a book (as a mother) that I don't want to read just because of the heaviness of the subject matter.

[@abookolive]

Understandable!

[@rachelwuest9776]

I'm a fish biologist and I wasn't crazy about Why Fish Don't Exist. But loved the artwork

[@abookolive]

Glad you enjoyed the artwork, at least!

[@misty1tl]

Was floundering an intentional pun?

[@abookolive]

Of course! 🐟

[@edithcabrera2782]

Svetlana Alexievich only has excellent books

[@abookolive]

I look forward to reading the rest of her books so I can make a similar assertion!

[@OverstuffedShelf]

The Story of More sounds really great but I find books on climate change reaaaaally hard to read. I do like more solution oriented writing, which this sounds like it might be?

[@abookolive]

Hmm. I would say it's partially solution-oriented, but honestly it's a history of human actions and consumption more than anything else. She tells you about what the world looked like back in the 70s and how much people consumed then compares it to now using numbers to back up what she's saying. So it's about climate change without talking at length about climate change itself, if that makes sense? It's a very unique little book...

[@MsSusyque]

"Fathoms"" is going on the future reading list. But to be honest, your top pick sounds a bit too....scary? troublesome? not sure, all i know is that I will stick to whales for now!

[@abookolive]

It's not scary at all! There's a lot going on in it, but it's actually a very peaceful, meditative reading experience. But sticking to whales is a fine idea, too! 🐳

[@satishvarshney8202]

First one to comment.