18 Must-Read Notable Nonfiction Books

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Included in "The Nonfiction Books Everyone Will Be Reading This Summer" by The New York Times

A novelist once wrote, “There are stories one must tell, and years when one must tell them.” Jill Biden’s time to discuss her four years in the White House is now.

An unforgettable memoir from New York City’s first female lifeguard chief, this coming-of-age story plunges into the rough-and-tumble, sun-soaked world of Rockaway Beach in the 1970s and 1980s.
 

An uproarious and “utterly charming” (The Washington Post) memoir by a mailman in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, who found that working for the post office saved his life, taught him who he was, gave him purpose, and educated him deeply about a country he loves but had lost touch with.
 

*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

America's favorite astrophysicist has written the most entertaining and universally appealing book of his stellar career: a practical guide for dealing with Alien visitors, an exploration of how it might happen, and a cultural history of our fascination with extraterrestrials.

"It's the perfect pocket-sized [book] that offers up Tyson's witty thoughts regarding alien abductions, UAP sightings, and flying saucer lore, as seen through his unique commonsensical delivery.” —Space

The inspiration for the FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

A NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

This “intimate and sympathetic portrait of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy that is as enthralling as she was” (Dana Thomas, New York Times bestselling author) reexamines her life and legacy as never before. Perfect for fans of My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy, What Remains, and Fairy Tale Interrupted.

An entirely new collection of poetry, prose, and inspiring quotes designed to uplift and comfort readers over 365 days, from the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Cleo Wade.

“I love this book because it’s 365 reasons to find hope. We need it. It’s such a beautiful way to start your day.” —Jenna Bush Hager

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER

The remarkable, true story of an unusual childhood, complete with gangsters, guns, diamonds, drug smuggling, and fraud—just like any other little girl’s life.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Emma is an inspiring force, a modern day business mogul and visionary…[This book] should be your guide if you are starting a business, thinking about starting a business, already in a business, want to make a better business for yourself and want to be a better person in that business, I highly recommend Start With Yourself…It’s a good reminder that a well-lived life starts with you.” —Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Podcast

“Emma Grede is a modern executive for the influencer age…Start With Yourself makes the case for putting yourself first in work, life, and child-rearing. It’s Lean In for the post-girlboss era.” —The Wall Street Journal

As seen on Good Morning America, TODAY, Morning Joe, ABC News Live, and Meet the Press.

Start With Yourself is a game-changing, no-BS guide for anyone seeking meaningful success on their own terms. It’s an essential framework that will give you the tools and mindset to unlock your full potential in life and business—straight from a woman who defied all the odds to become a serial entrepreneur, a cofounder of culture-defining global businesses, a nonprofit champion, and the host of the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast. All while raising a family of four children.

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world.
 

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * 2025 BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE SELECTION

A former Obama speechwriter moves to the Jersey Shore and learns to surf with the help of his brother-in-law: a tattooed, truck-driving Joe Rogan superfan.

The collected creative nonfiction of a singular American writer, Jesmyn Ward, including widely shared classics, three never-before-published speeches, and an introductory essay.
 

An ambitious memoir in essays by beloved bestselling author Reyna Grande that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival.
 

* #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * MORE THAN 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD!

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.

* Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award in Outdoor Literature * Winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction * Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Air Mail, Smithsonian Magazine, and Financial Times

“A triumph. Fedarko doesn’t describe awe; he induces it.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Passionate…memorable…life-affirming.” —The Wall Street Journal

This New York Times bestseller from the author of The Emerald Mile is a rollicking and poignant account of an epic 750-mile odyssey, on foot, through the heart of the Grand Canyon.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Fourteen beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in this heartwarming essay collection edited by New York Times bestselling author and lifelong dog lover Alice Hoffman.

DELUXE PAPERBACK WITH GORGEOUS PINK SPRAYED EDGES

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER · MORE THAN 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD! · GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER FOR BEST MEMOIR · NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY PEOPLE

Named a Best Book of the Year by Elle, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, NPR, Financial Times, Vanity Fair, and more!

“In Britney Spears’s memoir, she’s stronger than ever.” —The New York Times

Critically acclaimed as “a miracle” (The Guardian), “powerful” (Los Angeles Times), “radiant” (The New York Times), and “poignant” (Vogue), The Woman in Me reveals for the first time Britney Spears’s incredible story.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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