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44 Highly Anticipated New and Upcoming Nonfiction Books
It's time to freshen up your Want to Read shelf with some of the most highly anticipated new and upcoming nonfiction. For this roundup, we looked at the books readers can't wait to crack open, then divvied up the selections into some of the top nonfiction genres, including history, memoir, and true crime.
From a new history from Erik Larson (author of The Devil in the White City) to laugh-out-loud essays from Samantha Irby, you'll find a book for every reading mood. And, of course, be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf.
From a new history from Erik Larson (author of The Devil in the White City) to laugh-out-loud essays from Samantha Irby, you'll find a book for every reading mood. And, of course, be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf.
Which new nonfiction books are you excited to read? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent articles, including:
February's Most Anticipated New Books
33 Highly Anticipated Books of 2020
The 28 Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2020
Check out more recent articles, including:
February's Most Anticipated New Books
33 Highly Anticipated Books of 2020
The 28 Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2020
Comments Showing 1-50 of 83 (83 new)
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries Agreed. There are 199 countries in the world, presumably also well stocked with authors and readers. This is a US-owned website though, so who pays the piper...
I'm looking forward to reading The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz.
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("I was thinking the exact same thing.
I'm always up for a new Erik Larson book. American Sherlock and The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria also look interesting to me.
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("How do I like this?? Because this Brit is getting fed up of goodreads not knowing other countries exist.
Wait...what? Theses are not ALL celerity memoirs of how "cool" they are for being a walking mess? Goodreads, what has gotten into you? There's actually some serious non-fiction here. Kudos. Yes, I'd love to see more of a global view represented and a wider representation of content, maybe some food writing, travel, current events, hard sciences. But this is better than the usual offering of a dozen books with only one non-fic or a tiny list of non-fic that's 90% fluff. There are several books on here that look pretty good.
Now, as a followup, how about putting together a similar list, but comprised of non-fic by non-American writers and about global events or topics? There's a challenge for you.
Robyn wrote: "Man, I love me some nonfiction, particularly a good memoir, but nothing is really grabbing me here...."Same. But just as well; my TBR list is already too long.
I'm SO EXCITED about Samantha Irby's book. She writes in such a fun and refreshing way.
Would be nice to see something besides American history in the history section (minus Larson). I mean, you could have even gone with some general world history books, I'm sure the U.S. is probably even featured in those! Also, if anyone has any good non-American recs, please share!
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("My thoughts, precisely.
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("Agreed :(
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("I have to agree, same at Audible and other sources, America dominate this market. But I read about some laws n EU which demands more non-US titles - maybe they can do something similar in books.
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("Very true.
Elentarri wrote: "No science?"This also surprises me!
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("You're right. 2020 should be about reading voraciously and diversely.
Came here looking for science, nature, and interesting, little-known stories. Found the history of America written in 10 different ways and memoirs that we could definitely live without.
Spiritual book I enjoy reading books from Goodreads does have to many they just need little more Christian books but I like Goodreads
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("Agree!!!
Thank you, some authors and titles I'd never heard of before that I am now excited for!
Well, as a historian of the US, I loved these picks, but I'm obviously biased. ;) Like seeing nonfiction recs, anyway.
Additional (non-US) upcoming titles:Dressed for a Dance in the Snow: Women's Voices From the Gulag - Monika Zgustova/Julie Jones
A Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz - Dita Kraus
Shadow on the Mountain: A Yazidi Memoir of Terror, Resistance, and Hope - Shaker Jeffrey/Katharine Holstein
A Map Is Only One Story: Twenty Writers on Immigration, Family, and the Meaning of Home - Nicole Chung/Mensah Demary
Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival in Peace and War - Anne de Courcy
Meghan wrote: "Would be nice to see something besides American history in the history section (minus Larson). I mean, you could have even gone with some general world history books, I'm sure the U.S. is probably ..."I know they aren't books, but if you want some great history, most libraries offer The Great Courses as either streaming video or audio. I just finished two really good ones. One was a history of ancient civilizations and the other was on Imperial China. Just started one on India. They usually have between 24-48 half hour segments. Goodreads keeps trying to delete mention of them, which seems counterproductive given they are available through their parent (Amazon.)
Here are some non-fictions I am anticipating. Sorry I don't know the authors for all of them. They're just random notes I've taken when I hear about new books from friends or various media:
New Thinking: From Einstein to AI
The Well-Gardened Mind - Sue Smith
The Poet Who Changed the World (About Wordsworth)
The Future We Choose (about climate crisis by one of the UN workers who was involved with the Paris Accord)
A Year of Music by Clemency Burton-Hill
A Death in the Rainforest (about cultural change in Papua New Guinea)
I've heard there will be new biographies of the Churchill family and Sir Frances Bryan coming out this year, but I don't know the titles.
I'd like to find a good history of Portugal, although one of the Iberian area in general would work. If someone can recommend one, please send me a PM via my profile page.
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("Exactly my thinking. I know the term "must read" is overrated, but I really feel it applies to I Am Not Your Slave by Tupa Tjipombo. Her memoir of surviving a human trafficking network in Africa and the Middle East is just unbelievable - such powerful descriptions of issues and places we just don't get to hear about in the US.
Charles wrote: I know the term "must read" is overrated, but I really feel it applies to I Am Not Your Slave by Tupa Tjipombo. Funny...I just read this book and I second your recommendation. Its a horrific read but wow...talk about eye opening...
Check out:Fear is Fuel
Learn from the latest neuroscience research how to never let fear get in your way again. If you want to be a courageous leader, live deep and meaningful relationships, find your passion and purpose you first have to harness the power of fear.
This book gives you a framework to do just that!
Oh please, no more self help books...they're worse than celebrity memoirs. I've had enough of the implicit, self-aggrandizing arrogance of this type of non-fiction. Go away!Real, substantive non-fiction books that help you learn about other people and other places! I think the comments about science, nature, medicine, history, culture, and issues around the world are all right on!
Patrick wrote: "Check out: Fear is Fuel Learn from the latest neuroscience research how to never let fear get in your way again. If you want to be a courageous leader, live deep and meaningful relationships, f..."
No thanks. Don't subject the rest of us to how you're working out your own problems.
Wish there was list for Business books here... why would that be missing?
Do we have to have such a low-brow American-centric list? What about some basic science or technology? Or some politics outside of the USofA?I always get the impression that some unpaid intern is given the job of creating these lists. It's clear that Goodreads doesn't really care about promoting an interesting, diverse set of new and upcoming books.
So it's not exactly science, but recently read a book called "The Secret Lives of Color". It's a list of different colors and the history of how they came to be. So like the color Absinthe actually was named and created because of the drink Absinthe. So essentially, the drink came before the color. It's just little snippets of facts.
Mitch wrote: "Wish there was list for Business books here... why would that be missing?"I read two pretty cool business books. One is called "The CEO Next door". And it's about different CEO's that accidentally fell into being CEO's when the company wasn't thriving and how they turned it all around and made a profit. The other is "The Reputation Game" and it's all about how important your reputation is and how to change it for the better. Just a thought. Not sure if you've read them or not.
very American-centric list. centre of the universe...
Ashes wrote: "Came here looking for science, nature, and interesting, little-known stories. Found the history of America written in 10 different ways and memoirs that we could definitely live without."I came to see if my sister-in-law's book was listed, as it is getting good praise. It's not, but maybe in part because it doesn't fit in these categories. However, based on your comment, you might enjoy it:
The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: and other excursions to Iceland's most unusual museums
By A. Kendra Greene
More info: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
Twakoseka wrote: "Oh please, no more self help books...they're worse than celebrity memoirs. I've had enough of the implicit, self-aggrandizing arrogance of this type of non-fiction. Go away!Real, substantive non-..."
Check out my sister-in-law's book, being published by Penguin out this spring:
The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: and other excursions to Iceland's most unusual museums
By A. Kendra Greene
More info: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
Check out this memoir: Epic Solitude by Katherine KeithIt is getting great reviews!! Heartfelt story
Look for this book soon... it will be more sociologically significant than Martin Luther's 95 Thesis...Christianity in Crisis
An atheist challenges the authenticity of the Christian understanding of Jesus, his words & mission
Written by: The Last Spiritual Samurai
Anyone in this forum read "Bullets,Blades & Badges" by D. L. Curtis? The title does not give a hint at the humorous situations ,acts of God and just plain dumb luck that the life of an adventure junkie lives.
I suggest reading the book written by me - who is NOT an author and just wanted to share my story?????
You forgot to put Boots in the Ashes on this list!
Robyn wrote: "Man, I love me some nonfiction, particularly a good memoir, but nothing is really grabbing me here. Seems to be a lot of middle class women writing about banal problems with a dash of liberal polit..."Be on the lookout for "The Rumi Prescription" by Melody Moezzi. I found it inspiring and will keep it handy for sure
Arlette wrote: "There is SO much on America, I can't imagine that there are not equally anticipated reads on other topics and countries :("I was thinking that too
Not sure what category it falls in, but I'm excited to read the upcoming book about crossword puzzles -- "Thinking Inside the Box" by Adrienne Raphel. It's about the history and today's world of crosswords. Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them
Tired, so tired, of all the American picks. Canada? Britain? The rest of the world? Hello out there? Have an "American" section of recs if need be, but please do the world a favo(u)r and stop with the US-centric recommendations dominating in every genre. Yes, I get it - who pays your bills... but still, at least have a "in translation" section, or a "world lit" section - something, anything. Feature a new country every time you have a series of recs. You've turned me *off* American authors which I'm sure is the last thing you wanted to do.
Right.