Nonfiction November has been happening all month and I'm late to the party! November has been an exceptionally busy month for me (in a good way, thankfully) and I've barely even checked in here. But before the month comes to an end, I would like to talk about the nonfiction titles I've read in the past year.
MY YEAR IN NONFICTION
For Nonfiction November, I consider my reading year to run from November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2025. Overall, I've had a very good reading year. Here are the bullet point takeaways for nonfiction:
- my overall percentage of nonfiction was down - 19% vs an average of 25%
- my overall satisfaction/rating for nonfiction titles was about average
- after a disappointing 2024, I selected more titles from my go-to nonfiction categories
- I opted for read/listen combinations whenever possible
My nonfiction selections this year included memoir, essay, medicine/public health, history, and humor. Noticeably absent was social justice, the Supreme Court, and foodie memoirs. Here is my list:
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I've Tried Being Nice: Essays by Ann Leary - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oranges by John McPhee - ⭐⭐⭐
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain - ⭐⭐⭐
How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key - ⭐⭐⭐
A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green - ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Jane Austen Insult Guide for Well-Bred Women by Emily Reed - ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (reread) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2025 NONFICTION FAVORITES
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
Honorable Mention
by John Green
What was your favorite nonfiction title this year?
The collection post for Nonfiction November Week 1: Your Year in Nonfiction can be found here.
A year or so ago, I was surprised to hear that a friend's mother had died fromTB! I had thoughtr that nobody in the U.S. got it anymore. I hesitated to ask how she contracted it, if she knew, but didn't ask because I thought it might be a sensitive subject.
ReplyDeleteHarvee - John Green's book was so interesting, informative, and compassionate. Even with a background in healthcare, I still learned from it. Highly recommended!
DeleteWhat a great year in nonfiction. I have several of these on my TBR list, so I am glad to know you enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteMichelle - There is so much good nonfiction out there, I wush I coud read even more of it.
DeleteGreat minds! I just posted a single Nonfiction November post today as well. Thank you for bringing the Helen Hanff memoir/travelogue to my attention--I really enjoyed visiting London with her last winter.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a great reading year in 2026. So many great titles and topics from which to choose!
JaneGS - Definitely great minds, lol! There is another Hanff memoir I'd hoped to get to, Q's Legacy, but now it's on the list for 2026. Glad you enjoyed her books, too. Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteI liked Everything is Tuberculosis but loved Fever in the Heartland (weird to say I liked books about such depressing topics, but you know what I mean).
ReplyDeleteHelen - I know exactly what you mean! :)
DeleteYou’ve inspired me JoAnn. I would like to read more nonfiction and I’m going to make this a priority in 2026.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Jodie. There's so much of it out there and I wish I could read faster!
DeleteI've read a few on your list, and have several on my huge TBR list (which I've been slowly weeding through on Goodreads this past week), especially John Green's and Annie B. Jones'. I would have to say my favorite so far this year is tied between I Am I Am I Am and Memorial Days. Both are outstanding!
ReplyDeleteLes - Memorial Days and I Am I Am I Am are both on my list for 2026... mostly thanks to your reviews. I need to weed through my goodreads tbr, too!
DeleteBoth the John Green and the Timothy Egan books were favorites of mine. I'm glad to see that they worked well for you, too!
ReplyDeleteJoy - They were two of the true standouts for me this year. Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteGreat list of books. “Oranges” and “84, Charring Cross Road” are two books that I really like. Many many years ago I saw the play of Charring Cross in London and really loved it.
ReplyDeleteMae - I've list track of the number of times I've read 84, Charing Cross Road, but I love it every time! Would love to see the play one day.
DeleteI don't read anywhere near as much non fiction as I probably should!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Marg - My nonfiction reading has increased over the years. There are so many great writers out there!
DeleteI also loved the Timothy Egan book. I'm not done with it yet, but so far I'm finding The Gales of November by John U. Bacon, about the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck, to be really interesting in ways I didn't expect.
ReplyDeleteAmy - The Gales of November has been on my radar lately, so I'm glad to know you're enjoying it. I'm in the middle of The Gods of New York now and it it fascinating!
DeleteI've heard Gods of New York is fantastic! I'll be interested to hear your thoughts once you're done.
DeleteI am so glad that I read Fever in the Heartland this year. Initially I did not think I would find the John Green book interesting, but now that so many people have raved about it, I will look for it. I also want to thank you for sharing Nine Black Robes, last year I think. Such a good nonfiction book.
ReplyDeleteDeb - Nine Black Robes was such an interesting read and I'm glad you enjoyed it, too! I didn't read anything related to the Supreme Court this year and missed it. I may read KJB's memoir or possibly the bio of Sandra Day O'Connor next year.
DeleteIt looks like a successful year of nonfiction for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your favourites.
It was, Shelleyrae. Thanks!
DeleteNice mix of nonfiction. I was hoping to read more than I have this month, but I just don't think I am going to fit it all in. I currently have 5 nonfiction titles checked out from the library, but no idea if I will actually get to them. Maybe if I read less Christmas books, LOL! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteCindy - I seem to go in streaks with nonfiction. Right now I'm halfway through The Gods of New York, but that will be it for the rest of the year. Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteYou've read some good nonfiction this year. And I'm wondering how much of No More Tears goes into the whole talc powder scandal. I think women in the 1950s used to use talc powder a lot but after its link to cancer it went by the wayside ... though it might have been from containing asbestos. I'm just now reading more nonfiction as we near the end of the year, lol. It's now or never. Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteSusan - There is a whole section of No More Tears devoted to the talc scandal. J&J's behavior has been nothing short of abhorrent for decades... that book made my blood boil! I voted for it in goodreads nonfiction favorites category.
DeleteYou read many good and interesting books. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Yvonne!
DeleteEvery year I vow to read more nonfiction. Maybe 2026 is the year! Your books sound so good!
ReplyDeleteErin - You never know! ;-)
DeleteWell as it's a challenge that I've been involved in hosting, I can happily say I'm thrilled if anyone interacts with Nonfiction November at all, and a post is a bonus. That's a lovely selection of books read, too - I enjoyed the Helene Hanffs a few years ago now and Testament of Youth is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm due for an "84, Charing Cross Road" reread myself. I love that book. The cover for the Johnson & Johnson book is so fun. Happy Nonfiction November!
ReplyDeleteI trusted J&J and used all the products all the time. How can they be like this. I would read this book.
ReplyDelete