The Best Non Fiction I Read in 2022

[@meljstephan]

Non fiction is underrated!

[@Michy_thebookdragon]

As someone who is currently in the process of working through my own disenchantment with the evangelical Christianity I was raised in… Bart Ehrman has also been an author I’ve been too scared to read. I think part of me is scared that I’ll find myself losing what’s left of my faith. At some point, I may have to take the plunge.

[@CherylanneFarley]

Lifelong Christian doesnt bother with FAITH challenging books because I realized most of us have little issue with FAITH/SPIRITUALITY components but instead CULTURAL demands with US church systems. Additionally dont need to use rational thought processes on para-normal subject matters. To me its like trying to use laundry soap to make Root Beer float. Both are great items but serve different functions. Since Lowell MASS mill days Evangelical churches used to support and control peeps in labor force. Now its mostly used to REQUIRE levels of servitude/service/free labor from US women so mostly ConsRepub leadership not required to create support responsible wage and social safety net. When we compare US to rest of Western Industrial world we are constant embarassment. When we DIRECTLY listen to Jesus instructions comparing Mary's quiet SEATED thoughtful spiritual study and devotion to Matha's hustle and bustle cut the cake do childrens church blahblahblah which side does Jesus support and which side does CHurch culture support? Off my soap box now but my devotion and spirtual connections remain strong to Christianity and committed to challenging cultural demands destructive to womens spiritual connections. best wishes

[@bookslikewhoa]

I totally understand that feeling - it will be there for you if/when you're ever ready to give it a try

[@bbrathizza2075]

If you are afraid of reading it clearly Christianity has left a positive affect. Why are u afraid? I recommend trying to reconnect with god before u abandon it

[@noeditbookreviews]

That could be the best thing that could happen! I can understand how you could be afraid, but the truth will always be better than alternatives. Ehrman is great. He's an objective reporter from the one book I read from him. Your comment is a couple months old now. How are you doing with all that?

[@jkpiowa]

Absolutely loved Anti-Diet, and Empire of Pain just filled me with rage.

[@lexi8445]

I had two non-fiction that rocked my world: Jane Austen the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. It discusses the more radical messages of Austen's work, eg, Northanger Abbey is not a parody of gothic lit but rather homage, Mansfield Park is an abolitionist text, etc. So so good. Albion's Fatal Tree: Crime and Society in 18th Century England by Douglas Hay et al. It's a collection of academic essays discussing how the criminal justice system enriched the wealthy classes of English Society and how that's still the case today

[@Hello_Kristie]

I love that you listen to Maintenance Phase too. It’s my favorite podcast by far. I’m planning on going to see Aubrey at Powell’s in a couple of weeks for the release of her new book, so I’m excited to read that.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Jealous!! Aubrey & Michael are icons and legends

[@jennym.8188]

Empire of Pain was my favourite non fiction of the year. Thank you for the recommendation!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay glad you enjoyed!!

[@caleba9648]

In the vein of the first book you mentioned on laziness, I really enjoyed "what's the use" by Sarah Ahmed. It examines the politics and intersectionality of use and usefulness and how to queer use as a concept. It really helped me shake some shackles of past ideas I had about what I'm supposed to do and what society expects out of us as far as our usefulness goes.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Ooo that sounds so interesting!!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

You have such a great Non-Fiction Collection so far! Keep inspiring us.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank you so much!

[@Thepeejay]

Great list! New subbie here Loved jeanettes book another book you may like is heavy by kiese laymon and minor feelings by kathy park hong not sure if youve read those

[@joinbookland]

I loved Jeanette's and Chanel's memoirs. Also up there is Finding Me by Viola Davis. Loads of content warning in this one as well... The writing is superb and she manages to inject some humour in her story despite the trauma she suffered. I highly recommend the audio narrated by the author herself.

[@quinntessentialreads6496]

In the Dream House was also one of my top nonfiction reads this year. The other was Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.

[@bookslikewhoa]

I've heard great things about Dark Money!

[@olangericmvelazquezmunoz2081]

Anti Diet change my life! Thank you so much for that rec. I would recommend to everyone.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Great to hear!

[@anne-marie339]

I loved being able to recognize these books from your other videos! I had a great year for nonfiction, with Leonardo da Vinci (biography) by Walter Isaacson, Making Love with the Land (Joshua Whitehead), Making Space for Indigenous Feminism (ed. Joyce Green), Around the World in 80 Trees (Jonathan Drori), Entangled Life (Merlin Sheldrake), Underland (Robert Macfarlane), and Billion Dollar Loser (Reeves Wiedeman) being some standouts. My only regret is that compared to my fiction reading, this year's NF was dominated by men and I would like to rebalance that for next year.

[@CherylanneFarley]

Darling guuuurrrlll! You look so beautiful today. Happiest Holidayz!

[@isenhobbitz]

Ahhh! I didn’t know Bart Ehrman had a podcast! Thanks for the tip! 😊

[@bookslikewhoa]

Hope you like it!

[@noeditbookreviews]

Nice. I took a class that used one of Bart Ehrman's texts. It was very good.

[@jasonluis8895]

Might as well throw one of my favorite nonfiction of all time. Marching Powder by Thomas McFadden. It’s about Rusty Young. An English national who was convicted in Bolivia for drug smuggling. It was about his experience in prison and how he became Lonely Planet’s something you must do in Bolivia; which was stay in prison for the weekend in La Paz’s San Pedro Prison. I know it’s not a 2022 book, but I was floored reading this book

[@kaitlynslucher9257]

Unfortunately didn’t get to too many non fiction this year but my favorite was the women of Tudor England which takes a look at women roles and society from all aspects not only royals. Fascinating read. I have know my name on my TBR for next year!! Glad you had such a great reading year! Thanks for all your content and what you do!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay, that sounds interesting!!

[@barbaramanickas6580]

Agreed about Know My Name!!!! Such an amazing memoir. #1 nonfiction for me this year

[@bookslikewhoa]

So so good!!

[@mlibbym]

I read some good nonfiction this year. Totally agree re: Hood Feminism and Bad Fat Black Girl - loved the experience of reading them back to back. My favorite was Just Mercy by Bryon Stevenson and All Boys Arent Blue by George M Johnson. Those books should be required reading.

[@CherylanneFarley]

PS my favs included (mostly because live in RubyRed really harsh community dealing in SOcial Services. SIgh) Jesus&John Wayne and High Conflict

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Talking about Healthcare and Productivity, I want to recommend ‘Rest: Why You Get More Done When We Work Less’ by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang and ‘Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers’ by Robert M. Sapolsky.

[@tawnyachristensen7310]

Bart Ehrman is at the top of my nonfiction list TBR for next year!

[@bookslikewhoa]

YAY hope you enjoy!!

[@danichiong6727]

Really enjoyed listening to Bad Fat Black Girl on audio, I’ve been meaning to pick up Hood Feminism ever since!

[@CestKevvie]

Ooh I'm intrigued by Anti Diet. I'll have to watch that suggested video.

[@Katiedora122]

I'm in the middle of listening to Hood Feminism right now, and I'm really enjoying it. Some other nonfiction I've read this year and loved: 1. Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman (literally the first book I finished this year and I haven't gotten over it) 2. Harlots, Whores, and Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale by Kate Lister (the audio book was excellent) 3. Stiff by Mary Roach (this is my limit for squeamish) 4. The Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr (not as expansive as I expected, but it dives deep into topics) 5. Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott (this is my limit for religion) 6. The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff (which I would have loved more had I known less about it)

[@bookslikewhoa]

Ooo that reminds me that I was meaning to read that Kate Lister one! Thanks for the reminder!

[@amandaluceroserenity4804]

Thank you for this video. I love non fiction books and love recommendations. I wanna try Carrie Fisher biography

[@JoshsBookishVoyage]

Great list. I've always been hesitant to pick up Bart Ehrman bc I was worried his writing might be biased or skewed, but I may pick this one up given your thoughts on it.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Hope you enjoy!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Non-Fiction is something I’d like to have an extensive collection of.

[@CherylanneFarley]

I do. Makes you kinda that weird friend everyone calls me Google with Legs

[@carissa1446]

My favorite non fiction this year was In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedeom Yeonmi Park. It was so good. She was so raw and real in her history and the trauma she endured escaping North Korea. Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners Therese Oneill was good to. It was really funny.

[@karlandreasen]

book rec: "The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World" by Virginia Postrel because I know you are into the fiber arts

[@bookslikewhoa]

Oooooo YES, that sounds amazing! I just picked up Threads of Life, so that might be a good pairing

[@princessobuzor1992]

O-o-o maybe try God: An Anatomy by Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou !!

[@chaplainkim86]

Gotta love that Protestant work ethic. 😕

[@abigailhortencia5901]

👌🏾

[@jolynnwhite7946]

📕📕📕🏳️‍🌈📚📚🏳️‍🌈😍👍👌🏾