25 Nonfiction Books to Read in 2025

[@Showtunediva]

In The Dreamhouse has the most powerful writing. I highly recommend! Happy Holidays to you and your husband Olive. Thanks for all your great recommendations.❤

[@Thepeejay]

Great list!!!!

[@mame-musing]

“Dead Wake” by Erik Larson is very engaging. As a reader you meet many of the passengers and crew members as if they were characters in a novel. Larson did a huge amount of research for this book and it pays off. I’ve read several of his books and this is one of my favorites. “The Woman They Could Not Silence” by Kate Moore is a testament to a persistent and indomitable spirit. As with “The Radium Girls” you will become angry with the injustice of the situation. Being educated and of a similar social class as the superintendent doctor worked, to some degree, favorably in how asylum inmates were treated. Thanks for compiling this list of interesting non-fiction.

[@ashleyhobgood7454]

I recommend Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. It is one of my favorites that I read this year. It is about a hurricane that devastated Galveston, Texas in 1900.

[@juliehughes1258]

Great selections, Olive. You always put together such thoughtful lists for us.

[@tristanbowler]

As a Utahn, Desert Solitaire is one of my favorite books. If possible, plan a trip to Arches while you’re reading it. Really improves the whole experience.

[@Showtunediva]

What a great travel tip!

[@mc63404]

Great video!

[@launchedathousand]

The Spirit Captures You made huge waves when it came out, we talked about it quite a bit in my anthropology classes. I haven't read any of these but I will say if you haven't read any Carrie Fisher's writing yet your in for a treat! She's so funny and I loved her memoir Wishful Drinking.

[@debbyveeee9148]

Whaaa?! I was raised on The Beatles since birth lol. Have fun learning about them! ❤

[@a_bookish_gemini]

Two of the books you mention in passing in this video already happen to be on my physical bookshelves, so I will be prioritizing those in 2025. I was prepared to add more to my theoretical TBR, as I always am when watching your videos, but I’m OK with this outcome too. 😂 Also - EVE and In the Dreamhouse were both 5-star reads for me. Fantastic books.

[@readingbytheriver5752]

What a great list. Some I own and read already others are now on my pile of possibilities. Thank you. Enjoy reading for 2025. Cheers for the holidays.

[@GregHarness]

Wonderful! I always enjoy the breadth of your recommendations which cover spans of time and geography. I've read and loved some Michael Pollan but not "Cooked." John Valliant's "Fire Weather" is on my TBR. And "Desert Solitaire" is one of my all-time favorite books which I revisit every few years.

[@jf8559]

Thanks for this tremendous list, Olive! I have several of these books on my physical TBR and you are inspiring me to get to them. Thanks for the reminder about the Craig Brown book. Been meaning to get to it since it came out! Best of the holidays to you and your family!

[@ChaoticBibliophile]

Great list as always! I was surprised by how brilliant and engrossing Eve was; I think you’ll enjoy it loads. The research is extraordinary for sure. Rather than a toxic relationship, In the Dream House talks about abuse within queer relationships, especially between women, which is often not discussed even in queer media. Its narrative structure is quite daring and interesting too, so I’m glad you’re giving it a chance 😊

[@splitreads]

Boom Town is such a fun book. I checked out Fire Weather but returned it before I read it, I’ll have to see what you think. In The Dreamhouse is amazing, it is so creative. But I agree it is a tough read. It’s hard for people to leave bad relationships (I’m currently reading See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill about domestic abuse).

[@coffemuse]

I really enjoyed Dead Wake, I hope you will too!

[@kChandler10]

Hi Olive. I appreciate your comment about needing to avoid stories that are heavily descriptive of toxic relationships. I have similar feelings about being exposed to abuse of women. Although it was very popular, I could not watch The Handmaid's Tale series and of course, did not attempt to read the book. On a different subject, have you read, Wesley the Owl? I loved it and think you would love it too. I enjoyed this video since I am drawn more often to non-fiction than fiction. I will be reading some of the books you mentioned.

[@alexispatterson9730]

DEAD WAKE IS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!! it’s genuinely my favorite.

[@Ihearbooks]

the Cell is interesting but dry the audio helped. The Spirit Catches you is a very informative and great book. Hope you get to The 900 Days. I've looked at it so many times. Will love to hear your review. Boom Town sounds fascinating and so fun. Behind the Beautiful Forevers is one of the best narrative non-fictions I've ever read. Hope you don't miss that one. Happy reading

[@sarahrigg6000]

Ruth Reichl's books are so fun, I know you'll enjoy "Tender." I'm 100 percent sure you'll like "Dream House." I have that Abbey nature book on my "to read" list after reading Annie Dillard who name checks him (I think) in her nature writing.

[@TheNovelHoneyShelf-Essie]

I feel so connected to you by the fact that you're reading a book in order to have better answers for trivia night.I love that

[@amyswann2911]

I really liked The Spirit Catches You and Behind the Beautiful Forevers! Good choices!

[@suelala3706]

Great recs. Some of those have also been lingering on my tbr list. Dead Wake was excellent, as is everything by Erik Larson. Enjoy!

[@sashamoons868]

Can't wait for your thoughts on these books. ♥️

[@rnee1000]

The Hidden Life of Trees is magnificent and eye opening. A photographic illustrated edition just came out and it's gorgeous. Michael Pollan and Ruth Riechl are wonderful writers. I've read all of their books. Enjoy them all!

[@claudiadeoliveira6124]

Nice list, Olive! Out of curiosity: is there any book about our oceans that you could recommend? Thx. 😊

[@meahd.farnaby]

I recommend Deep Water by James Bradley 🌊

[@sandyokey7728]

Boom Town sounds so good to me, and Erik Larson always has a book out that I want to read. I have meant to read The Hidden Life of Trees for some time now. I read the comments below but I’m still interested in it. I read The Hare with Amber Eyes earlier this year and loved it. Fascinating. Witches is also on my wants list. I’ll be interested in your thoughts on all of these books.

[@catsandbats77]

I haven't read very much nonfiction this year. I am hoping to read more in 2025. I already have the audiobook to Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe on hold through Libby and it should be available in January. I am also planning on finally reading The Radium Girls as well.

[@audreyapproved]

Cooked is great, Flashboys is entertaining, and I just finished The Spirit Catches You When You Fall Down! I hope you like all of them. I also want to get to Fires of Vesuvius, Fire Weather and The Hare with Amber Eyes!

[@bobturner5946]

Behind tithe Beautiful Forevers is one of my all time favorite books.

[@erinh7450]

I've read four of those - Spirit Catches You, Song of the Cell, Hidden Life of Trees, and Woman They Could Not Silence. All excellent! A couple of those are have been on my TBR forever (virtual, don't actually own them) - Dream House and Beautiful Forevers - and you've reminded me I should get to them! I also want to get to the more recent Eve and Fire Weather.

[@eileennielsen5165]

Eric Larson is one of my fave authors. Dead Wake was SO GOOD, as well as Isaac's Storm. He researches SO WELL! FACTS! Think I have only 3 bks. of his left to read. I read a bk. by Michael Pollen, can't remember the title. It had to do w/ living in a small house/ cabin(?) he built.The Hidden Life Of Trees was very good. Bought it because I have loved trees since a child. Good video.

[@clancyconnolly495]

The Woman They Could Not Silence was phenomenal- excellent book, infuriating but well researched and interesting! In the Dream House is one of my favorite memoirs, I think her writing style is so unique that by using metaphors you understand the depths of the toxic relationship but it's just written in a way that makes it more "approachable".

[@mkstarrr3981]

I have many biographies on my non-fiction list for 2025. I've read 2 of those you mentioned: I loved The Hidden Life of Trees, and did not like Princess Diarist at all. I love getting recommendations from your lists. Thank you for all of these.

[@lorim5642]

The Woman they Could not Silence is soooo good! I flew through it. I read it a year ago or so and still reference it. Hope you enjoy

[@BookishSnowflower]

If you do audiobooks, I recommend listening to We Don't Know Ourselves unless (unlike me) you are really good at Irish name pronunciation. It's also just a pleasant experience that way. It really is a great book. I'm also looking forward to reading Eve because I've only heard good things about it.

[@efluvial]

I don’t read much history, but I read the mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick years ago and loved it!

[@kimswhims8435]

So many great books there, I've read a few and a few others by some of those authors. I try to read anything by Mary Beard that I can get my hands on, I also love listening to her books, especially if she's reading them. Eve was an amazing audiobook as was The Trees. Happy Reading.

[@jaycoyoyo]

I enjoyed the Carrie Fisher book! She had quite a life.

[@carolynmonahan2488]

Loved the Hidden Life of Trees!

[@joanneskinner5169]

The Golden Spruce by Valliant is also terrific.

[@abookolive]

Noted, thank you!!

[@badfaith4u]

Im currwntly reading The Song of the Cell since I loved The Emperor of all Maladies and The Gene. I also loved books by Atul Gawande.

[@TwoMinutesonBooks-bt8lg]

You can't go wrong with Erik Larson. I have read everything by him. Dead Wake was my favorite. Ruth Reichl is funny and such a delight to read. I am sure you will enjoy her book. I read both of Kate Moore's books. Great author.

[@julierogers1155]

I've read two of your first 3 books in this list. LOVED 'The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down'! The title was/is intriguing ... but, it is the cultural concoction (Hmong in California) that is worth the read. I'll wait to share one of my favorite scenes until you've read it (no spoilers here). And, also loved "Tender At The Bone'. Great memoir. Ruth Reichl has a talent for writing. And, the family dynamics and mental health issues are "next level". All the other books on your list intrigue me, except for book about The Beatles. Just kinda "meh" on them. Thank you for the post and list.

[@Showtunediva]

I agree with you about Tender At The Bone.❤

[@marciaalbaum2597]

paul auster's widow is writing one. I am looking forward to it. he and amor twoles are my favorite contemporary authors

[@BookishVicky]

Absolutely loved Dead Wake! True story that reads like a thriller: I kept turning the pages to figure out what would happen even knowing it had happened so long ago 😅

[@antoniosaavedra7806]

“Better” was good. I think some of his other works are better mainly b/c he is less attached in “Better.” In “Being Mortal,” he is documenting his learning and in “Complications,” he has a lot of anecdotes. “Better” felt more essay than a blend of essay and personal life, but it is still enlightening. I learned a lot, especially about suing.

[@reanna187]

I have similar feelings about in the Dream House, which is why I haven’t picked it up, but worse comes to worse. I guess I could DNF it. One of my top nonfiction books to get to this year is Taste by Stanley Tucci

[@FullyBookedMelissa]

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is my favourite nonfiction book ever. I hope you get as much out of it as I did.

[@joniheisenberg]

I am looking forward to Ron Chernow’s biography of Mark Twain due out in May.

[@abookolive]

I hadn't heard about that! I'll have to check it out next year since I read so many Twain books for my Wishbone project.

[@HannahsBooks]

The Spirit Catches You is one of my very favorite reads--and has been since it was first released. I can't wait to hear what you think!

[@KateIrish-y5c]

"Better" is fantastic. Gawande's writing is so engaging. I think about "The Checklist Manifesto" all the time. Friends who havent read him cant understand how I can feel so passionately about a book about checklists 😂

[@douglassasser4731]

I highly recommend "The Day John Met Paul: An Hour-By-Hour Account of How the Beatles Began" by James O'Donnell

[@suecarol1563]

I had the opportunity to hear Anne Fadiman talk about writing The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. It was very interesting.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I don't have any thoughts on your list but I do have own my non-fiction list I want to read 2025. I need to get back to reading the Walt Disney biography by Neal Gabler. I want to continue to read about Rome and to start reading some history books on England too. US President's biographies have caught my interest lately as I just finished David McCullough's book on John Adams and I started Thomas Jefferson: A Life by Willard Sterne Randall. I know quite a bit about the Beatles because my dad is a big fan, and I might have to look into One Two Three Four for him for his birthday. I bought Dead Wake earlier this year, but I haven't picked it up yet.

[@carlaking3459]

May not be your typical read, but I suggest pairing with the Eric Larson book on the Lusitania with the YA by Rutys Septys, Salt to the Sea. It's told from a group of children's perspective. Her books are very informative on more unknown topics and great reads.

[@abookolive]

I've read that one, actually. Wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sorry to say.

[@kolst8406]

Behind the Beautiful Forevers is the best book I read in 2024. It does read like a novel. There's a reveal near the end that is both shocking and inevitable.

[@hickerbacher]

I highly recommend In the Dream House on audiobook (read by the author)

[@patriciapendlbury2603]

The hidden life of trees is amazing.

[@pattidoyle5102]

I loved The Spirit Catches You, it captivated me and became a memorable book for me. Have you read City of Joy?

[@willk7184]

Ok so I'm just now getting to your 2024 list. See ya back here in a year!

[@robbmcbee1169]

I would recommend Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food, by Chris van Tulleken. In keeping with Omnivores Dilemma, it takes a deeper dive into the levels of processing and provides some interesting conclusions.

[@robwick1359]

I made the mistake of starting out reading Erik Larson's "Devil in the White City." I say mistake because it moved me so deeply that I find it hard to read his other books without comparing them to DWC. "In the Garden of Beasts" was a great book, but it fell short of DWC. I'm listening to "The Demon of Unrest" as I type this, and while it's also good, it pales to DWC. I'm sure plenty of people won't accept my reasoning, but I wish I had saved DWC for last.

[@jaymebosio2697]

I loved The Woman They Could Not Silence.

[@stevencroson4666]

I think you’re very pretty!!!!!

[@DCSinUSA]

I considered reading the Hidden Life of Trees but instead chose Finding the Mother Tree which is more science-based. The author describes her pain-staking research and the push back she got partially from being a woman. Very compelling. Curious what you think about Hidden Life.

[@JosephNapper]

Song of the Cell is an Amazing book, and so is The Emperor of All Maladies, for that matter. I found the latter more of an emotional roller-coaster, though. So, if you can't deal with the bipolar highs of scientific achievement mixed with the lows of personal human misery and death, I'd probably pick The Song of the Cell.

[@halfmanhalfbook]

I have Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl to read at some point as I liked Tender at the Bone. The Hidden Life of Trees, Behind the Beautiful Forevers and The Hare with Amber Eyes are all really good. I met Edmund de Waal a number of years ago and he was a complete gentleman, and I have Letters to Camondo languishing on a shelf here. Desert Solitaire wasn't for me.

[@abookolive]

Save Me The Plums is one of the ones of hers that I've read! It was enjoyable.

[@halfmanhalfbook]

You might like On Persephone's Island: A Sicilian Journal by Mary Taylor Simeti @@abookolive

[@susanspisak65]

I just picked up the power of habit … I am a non fiction newbie

[@abookolive]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@stephenn3727]

Thank you Olive.

[@ashleyfrench]

1. I enjoyed Forest Walking, maybe I’ll like the hidden life of trees too. 2. I was disappointed in The Witches and ended up returning it to Barnes and Noble. 3. I wanted to read the woman they could not silence and the beautiful forevers books too. 4. I DNF’ed in the dream house, it felt very stream of consciousness and I don’t like those types of books. Enjoy your videos!

[@stevelaurencell9909]

Cooked, Song of the Cell, & Boom Town are all great books. Desert Solitaire however, I think you may have a hard time with. The author has some pretty harsh views when it comes to disabled persons, overweight people, women, native Americans, and rabbits.

[@doloresprocaccio2336]

You will LOVE Eve!!!

[@cathy2142]

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Montana rarely makes the news but in 2017 we were having a HUGE fire 2017 wildfire season in Montana The 2017 wildfire season in Montana was one of the largest in the state's history, burning over 1.25 million acres: Acres burned The 2017 wildfire season burned over 1.25 million acres in Montana. This was the largest wildfire season in Montana in over 100 years. Number of wildfires Montana had 71,499 wildfires in 2017, which was the highest number of wildfires in the state in the last 10 years. Drought conditions Drought conditions exacerbated the 2017 wildfire season

[@booklover6963]

I read The Woman they Could Not Silence . I was so mad at her husband he's lucky I couldn't pull him thru the pages of the book. Every time I thought about it I got mad all over again. I am looking forward to reading The Cure for Women by Lydia Reeder in 2025.

[@laurieabkemeier4079]

I loved FLASH BOYS!

[@anne-marie339]

I read The Spirit Catches You about 10 years ago for a uni class and I loved it. I want to reread it one day now as a different reader. I loved The Song of the Cell - it ranks a close second after Empire for me 🙌 One Two Three Four sounds excellent! Eve has been on my TBR since its release - I’m really hoping it lives up to my expectations 😅 The Hidden Life of Trees is a delight - I hope you like it. This video is inspiring me to look at my nonfiction TBR shelf to see what I should prioritize for 2025 now 🤗

[@TheKris47]

Something you might want to look into alongside The Hidden Life of Trees is the pushback the author has gotten from forestry professionals and scientists. I read a review from the Ecological Society of America. They really think he’s done a disservice to the centuries of their work with his anthropomorphic characterization of plants. There was even a petition in Germany where he’s from against the book, something like Even in forests, we want facts instead of fairy tales. That said it seems his overall goal is to inspire appreciation of trees, so having a less than purely scientific book about them shouldn’t cause that much strife.

[@abookolive]

Interesting - I hadn't heard anything about that. I will definitely keep that in mind as I read it. Thanks for the heads up!

[@ireallyamjomarch]

@@abookoliveI came on here to say the same thing. I very quickly DNF’d the book because (a) he mentioned the myth that wolves changed the Yellowstone River, which at best is shaky science and is always a red flag to me when I see that pop up, (b) the way he talked about tree relationships, and (c) I was shocked at how few references/citations he has. If it matters, I’m a wildife ecologist, who’s favorite book is Braiding Sweetgrass, so I’m not the type of person to only support facts only nonfiction, but I also am very critical of environmental books especially if they’re written by someone who claims to be an expert.

[@skylark1250]

Read the brilliant article by Amanda Gefter first featured in Nautilus magazine. “What Plants Are Saying About Us” it’s printed in the Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024 edited by Bill McKibben. Gives you the science behind some of the speculation about plant sentience. Fascinating. (It also talks about cognitive studies that asserts our brains facilitate consciousness but consciousness exists only in terms of our interaction with the environment. “Consciousness” in plants may run along similar lines, with their brains being their root system, and the “brains” being how they interact with their environment. Interesting.

[@ToddSmith23]

Dead Wake is just ok

[@marshaprice8226]

The book that stood out for me and that I definitely want to read is “The Hidden Life of Trees”.

[@jonigreenwell1778]

Your color pallet for this installment is very flattering on you. You should make it you signature pallet.

[@celestialcircledance]

I loved "The man who mistook his wife for a hat," (though I may check out the video and why you didn't) and practically all of Oliver Sacks books . I found" The hidden life of trees ," mind blowing and I usually don't gravitate towards nonfiction unless it's autobiographical . I found it especially nurturing and life-affirming to read in the winter ! Thanks as always for giving me other books to greedily check out !

[@abookolive]

That's a great to know that The Hidden Life of Trees is a good winter read! Gives me something to think about when I'm planning out when to read these. Also, I didn't talk about The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat in a video, only on Goodreads.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’m a former nurse with a little sister whose still working in surgery. I love books with any kind of medical or mental health elements. Thank you for this Olive. ☘️👋🍀📚☕️📖📕

[@socaltoobie8984]

Added Desert Solitaire to the TBR! I have had the great fortune to visit some amazing areas of the desert Southwest, almost exclusively camping. Of late, even more remote camping completely off the grid. I cannot begin to describe what a calming and regenerative effect it can have on the soul!!! ❤🏜️

[@abookolive]

Camping terrifies me a bit, but I believe you! I think I've read too many books about bears lol

[@socaltoobie8984]

Fortunately no bears where we go in AZ, NV, and UT. But Colorado is another story entirely. Had to carry bear spray and yes, we were definitely uneasy. One morning in a remote area of CO a couple in truck came through. Said hello. Then he said, “she’s the only one in town who hasn’t seen a bear yet” which is why they were SPECIFICALLY driving though the area where we were camping. 😳 We never saw any though!