Informational nonfiction Archives

The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make

by Ron Lieber

One of those books where the title really does say it all. Will and I were in the final stages of deciding college plans with our then-high school senior when this book released and it was exactly what we needed.

BLEED: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care

by Tracey Lindeman

From the publisher: "BLEED isn’t a self-help book. It’s an evidence file and an eye-opening, enraging read. It will validate those who have been gaslit, mistreated, or ignored by medicine and spur readers to fight for nothing short of revolution."

The Voice Book: Caring For, Protecting, and Improving Your Voice

by Kate DeVore, Starr Cookman

I hope none of you experience vocal issues but if you do, this is well worth picking up. It came into my life after a mild illness turned into a big problem with my lungs and airway. We struggled to figure out what on earth was happening and what we could do about it. The vocal exercises and information in this book made a real difference.

Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms

by Erin Benzakein

When I first picked up flower farmer Erin Benzakein's gorgeous gardening book when it was published in 2017, I approached it like a coffee table book: I enjoyed poring over the lush photos but had no intention of taking any practical action as a result of my reading. I did draw a little bit of floral arranging inspiration but the bouquets in this book are way more elaborate than I wish to put together for my kitchen counter. But this year I've found myself drawn to flower gardening in a way I didn't see coming, and have been turning to these pages for inspiration and guidance. I'm enjoying the process, and noticing how good and soothing it feels to peruse these pages with my own backyard in mind.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

by Amelia Nagoski DMA, Emily Nagoski PhD

My friend described this book as "life-altering," and I can see why. In addition to explaining the unique causes of women’s stress and burnout, sisters Emily and Amelia Nagoski share tips for breaking the “stress cycle” and fighting back against societal pressures. In turns angering, uplifting, and fascinating, Burnout combines practical advice with science-backed research in order to help women find true wellness.

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

by Priya Parker

Years ago I asked a handful of friends to share tips for running better meetings—and an uncanny number recommended this book. Parker doesn't take her subject lightly: she believes that it is the way a group gathers that determines what happens there and how successful it will be, and that the little design choices the organizer makes can make or break it. As someone who tends to be interested in the behind the scenes of any endeavor, I was fascinated by her insights into why some gatherings work—and others don't. With chapter titles like "Don't Be a Chill Host" and "Never Start a Funeral with Logistics," Parker pushes her readers to think differently about why and how they gather. Helpful and thought-provoking.

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power

by Rachel Rodgers

I'm grateful my friend Kendra put this business book on my radar. Rodgers's chief assertion is that money talks, and therefore until women—and particularly Black women—have economic power, equality will remain out of reach. She argues why it's good—both individually and collectively—for women to increase their incomes, and shares how she did it in her own life, and how you can do it, too. I found this to be illuminating as well as a lot of FUN to read; I loved Rodgers's smart and snappy style. When I finished my egalley, I promptly ordered the hardcover for my 14yo daughter, who's expressed a desire to learn more about money lately. (This will make a great companion to Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich.) I can't wait to discuss it with her.

Chirp

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

by KC Davis

This is therapist KC Davis's gentle instruction manual on how to maintain your home even when you're overwhelmed, depressed, or just living life with a neurodivergent brain that doesn't respond well to the advice that seems to work for everyone else. I loved this book, and found Davis's two-pronged approach extremely effective. First, a paradigm shift is in order: you are a person deserving of care; your home needs maintenance (not care) for the purpose of serving you well. Second, she provides specific instruction on momentum, motivation, and cleaning rhythms that make it easier to get done what needs to get done. This short little book packs a big punch: if you follow Davis's express path through the book you can finish it in an hour and start benefiting immediately.

The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power

by Katherine Morgan Schafler

Psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler believes we should work with our perfectionism, not against it. She introduces the five types of perfectionists (classic, intense, Parisian, messy, procrastinator) and helps readers figure out how to identify and manage their specific style.

Informational nonfiction