Some of the Best Nonfiction Books I’ve Gifted
During the holiday season, gift giving can be…an adventure, to say the least. But at my house, I’ve turned it into a sort of challenge. My spouse’s and my reading tastes rarely overlap, but I still feel determined to buy him books that he will adore. He is a typical “dad book” lover—lots of history (especially books with paintings of ships on the cover). Recently, I sat him down and had him write out the top nonfiction books that I’ve ever recommended to him. Here are the results:
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
A few years ago, I finally read Patrick Radden Keefe’s incredible narrative nonfiction book Say Nothing, which follows The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He begins his story with the disappearance of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of ten. From there, he jumps around to many of the characters involved in different aspects of the I.R.A., detailing how key events in Northern Ireland’s history impact these characters’ lives. I hadn’t even finished it when I started recommending it. It’s truly as good as everyone says it is.
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The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Since my spouse loves to read American history, I knew this modern classic would be a must-read for him. The Warmth of Other Suns follows three Americans who were part of the Great Migration, where Black people from across the South moved to the North, Midwest, and West Coast. Isabel Wilkerson also examines the impact of the Great Migration on generations of Black Americans and the broader impact the movement had on America as a whole.
Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History’s first Global Manhunt by Steven Johnson
I first recommended this book a few summers ago, and my spouse is still talking about it. “It has pirates on the high seas!” he said. Henry Every, the 17th century’s most notorious pirate, rules the high seas. The British government wanted him dead. But more than that, Steven Johnson argues that his nefarious deeds changed the course of the global economy. So, if you’re looking for adventure, epic sea battles, and just a general good time, Enemy of All Mankind is a must.
High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica B. Harris
My spouse stumbled upon my copy of High on the Hog, and I couldn’t have been more delighted that he decided to pick it up. In her book, Harris describes how African cooks created one of the primary foundations for American cuisine as we know it today. She follows African American foodways, describing the growth of Black Southern cooking and how those food traditions traveled across the country during the Great Migration. High on the Hog is a must-read book (and now must-watch docuseries) for any food lover.
You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
