Tis the season for book gifting, and we’ve got another great roundup of nonfiction titles to pair with our recent post featuring histories and biographies for every nonfiction lover. These books hold broad appeal for readers of different interests and tastes, including cookbooks, memoirs, and deep dives into niche topics. (A history of the notebook, anyone?)
I hope you find something good on this list—for yourself or another reader, I’m not one to judge!—and hope that you will share your favorites on this theme in comments.
Giftable cookbooks, memoirs, and narrative nonfiction
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On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft
This is an exceptional book for book lovers and a must-read for writers, and I'm saying that as someone who has read a grand total of two books by King. I thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions of his fiction writing process (although his descriptions convinced me that I never, ever want to read Carrie.) I especially enjoyed the anecdotes he shared about his marriage, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough when he explores his devastating car wreck and recovery. More info →
The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection
For foodies, faith-seekers, and fans of humor alike, Capon’s 1969 cookbook doubles as a meditation on temporal and eternal life, the sacred (but unstuffy) role of food, and how to bring a spirit of feasting to everyday meals. To give you a taste of Capon’s wry voice, he opens Chapter One with the words, “Let me begin without ceremony,” launches immediately into his first recipe for Leg of Lamb—whose ingredient list includes items such as “spinach (a lot),” and concludes the recipe with “If prepared correctly, it is all delicious.” This deep backlist selection will be deliciously satisfying for the right reader. More info →
How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told
As the title indicates, this is not the tale of a marriage's dissolution but its unlikely continuation. The story begins when the author's wife turns to him after dinner one ordinary night and says she wants a divorce. He is stunned. Key's voice is frank and funny, even as he relates, almost in real time, how he learned of his wife Lauren's affair with a family friend and the chaos this revelation brought to his family, including the couple's three young daughters. Early on, Key takes a close friend's advice to fight for his wife, and proceeds to interrogate his own role in their problems, the past unaddressed traumas that continue to fuel present hurts, and what his Christian faith means to his life and relationship now. I'm sure my jaw dropped a time or two while reading, including when Lauren showed up to voice her own chapter in which she shares her side of what happened. I hear the print is great but I enjoyed this on audio: Key's humor added levity to tough moments, and his Southern accent was a nice surprise and fitting for a story that unfolds mostly in Savannah. More info →
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir
I was just telling Will last night that I think he would enjoy this book! I loved this on audio (read by the author), but a browsable hardcover with all its pretty photos sure would be nice to have. Whether you're interested in Ina's personal history and relationships, the origin story of the Barefoot Contessa, how she developed and exercises her business acumen, or simply want to read engaging descriptions of good food—there's something here for you. I'm by no means an Ina Garten superfan, but as for myself—I ate this up! More info →
What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking
This practical, approachable cookbook came at the perfect time and has really delivered for our family: we've found both new-to-us flavor combinations (Salmon Crunch Bowls), riffs on combos we already love (Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs & Veggies, which we have made no less than six times since getting the cookbook in August), and fun techniques I never would have thought of (Crunchy Sheet Pan Sliders). I appreciate the robust index and the option to peruse the recipes by how time consuming they are. I will say this cookbook works much better for us when we are cooking for a family of four than when our college kids are home and we are cooking for six. Everyone still loves the recipes when we're cooking for six, but the extra servings often require cooking in time-consuming batches, or taking the time to heat up the oven instead of popping a single pan of something in the air fryer. More info →
Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home
This collection of essays from the host of HGTV’s Home Town is a warm exploration of how our homes tell our stories: from childhood memories to long-forgotten milestones. She walks through every room in her own home and also shares tours of others’ homes. With gorgeous photos, this would be great to keep out on a coffee table or a nightstand and thumb through when you have a few minutes. More info →
The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper
I thoroughly enjoyed this wide-ranging history of one of my favorite office supplies and all-around life tools: the notebook. Allen gives us glimpses into the notebooks of everyone from Isaac Newton and Agatha Christie to everyday workers and thinkers who used this seemingly innocuous tool to develop sometimes world-changing ideas. He explores how the notebook became a powerful tool for creativity, and gets practical with ways you can use it to change the way you think. More info →
Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
I loved Oliver Burkeman’s first title, Four Thousand Weeks, and read it slowly over the course of three weeks. This new October 2024 release is no different: I enjoyed reading Burkeman's interesting and encouraging meditations one chapter at a time in snippets over my morning coffee. In Meditations for Mortals, Burkeman gives us a 28-day path to embracing the limitations we can’t escape: the number of hours in our day, the temptation toward perfectionism, the limits of a single life. More info →
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
I love a nonfiction deep dive into a niche topic that makes me think, Whoa, I didn't know I wanted to read about this topic but I'm so glad I picked up this book! Here that is the healing power of music. I am so glad I picked this up; the subtitle is Music as Medicine, and it's focused on the healing power of music This reads as a little bit detective story, a strong dose of science, and a whole lot of encouragement to all of us to find the secret chord within that loves and appreciates music—and how that will make our whole lives and beings better. Bonus book: I'm currently reading This Is What It Sounds Like, which would make an excellent gift for the music lover in your life. More info →
Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees
Poets writing prose just might be one of my favorite things, and this collection is a powerful example as to why. As she did in her debut prose collection World of Wonders, Nezhukumatathil combines poetry, science, and memoir in micro essays about food and its ability to delight, surprise, and connect. The collection, organized around foods and ingredients particularly meaningful to the author, is packed with both intimate stories and interesting facts, and written in prose so evocative you can practically taste and see the foods and dishes she describes. A love letter to food and family and a delight for the senses. The lavish illustrations by Fumi Nakamura also make this a gorgeous gift book. More info →
Soups, Salads, Sandwiches: A Cookbook
Canadian chef and actor Matty Matheson was already a household name in some circles, but I'll confess I know him from The Bear. His newest cookbook delivers interesting takes on classic soups, salads, and sandwiches with his signature personality and humor. Scrumptious examples include Creamy Sausage Soup with Rapini and Tortellini; Not a McRib Sandwich; and Leftover Steak Salad). This would be a great gift to bring along to anyone whose holiday (or anytime) hospitality you're enjoying this season. If you’re one of us who enjoy reading cookbooks cover to cover like novels, this one’s for you. More info →
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
A great gift for the bookish history lover, The Bookshop traces the history of bookstores in America, starting with Benjamin Franklin’s first shop in Philadelphia (“when the concept of a bookstore…was still embryonic”) through names you’ll likely recognize, like Barnes & Noble and Nashville's Parnassus Books. This isn’t just the story of a beloved institution, it’s also the story of literacy, politics, and community in our country. This is a great read for anyone interested in how bookstores have become blessedly familiar and in the challenges they face today. More info →
What would you add to the list? Please tell us in the comments section!
24 comments
The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St Clair is little essays on colors – familiar ones, Beige, Amber, Emerald and Charcoal, but also Isabelline, Orpiment, Minium and Woad. This book is a fascinating mix of history, science, myth and art.
I LOVE this book 💙💙💙
This sounds so interesting. Just sent the link to my husband as a Christmas gift idea.
Love this book so much!
Was excited to get the music book for my mom, but it’s not available until August 2025, just FYI!
The hardcover and ebook are available now! The paperback isn’t available until next year.
Check out “Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination.” It’s an older book, but it is one on my favorites. It explains how our bodies respond to music physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I’ve given this book away more times than I can count, it is really amazing.
10 Exceptional Books to Calm + Heal + Inspire …
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/porch-159-10-exceptional-books-to
On Writing is my favorite Stephen King book. Because it’s not one of his typical books! I read it many, many years ago, but still remember parts of it vividly. I don’t read much else of his, but have recommended this title several times.
Thanks for some intriguing suggestions!
This is a fabulous list! Some that I’ve never seen or heard of yet. Thanks for sharing. ♥️
I learned so much about Shakespeare’s plays and the British Theatre system from reading Shakespeare, the Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench in collaboration with Brenden O’Hea. Read the hardback first then listened to the audio.
On Writing and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott are my favorite writing books
I love Bird by Bird so guess I’ll need to read On Writing.
Just finished poet Lyndsay Rush’s collection “A Bit Much”. Highly recommend!
David Brooks wrote an excellent book called How to Know a Person. Thoughtful, insightful commentary on human relationships. They are the glue that keeps us upright and walking the path. We can’t do this job of living alone. I processed this book for my two best girlfriends.
I love getting Modern Mrs. Darcy!
I would like to add a vegan cookbook that I have used a number of times. It is “Vegan Pressure Cooking” by JL Fields. I bought an Instant Pot and overcame my fear of pressure cooking because of all the safety features. There are some tasty, quick and healthy recipes. Chapter 1 is named:
Pressure Cooking 101. She gives lots of good information for people, like me, who may be a bit afraid of pressure cookers.
She also has another book called “The Vegan Air Fryer” which also looks like tasty recipes but, I haven’t bought an air fryer yet!
Feed These People by Jen Hatmaker – Great recipes and an entertaining read!
Julia Turshen’s cookbooks, and Thomas Mallon’s A Book of One’s Own…
True confession – I immediately purchased six of these books for myself!
A book I’m gifting this year is The Backyard Bird Chronicles written and illustrated by Amy Tan, and she also narrates the audiobook. It is about her fledgling (pun intended) bird watching experiences and part memoir.
I would recommend Stanley Tucci’s two books Taste and What I Ate in a Year. He is a talented and fascinating man
I was coming to suggest Taste too! Excellent book.
Nicoise by Rosa Jackson is a beautiful cookbook, and it’s also the story of how a Canadian woman moved to France and started a cooking school. Highly recommended.
What a great list. I didn’t know I needed some of these!
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