The Best Non-Fiction Books Our Editors Can’t Wait to Read on Vacation
It’s that time of year when we’re gearing up for our summer travel plans and getting our packing lists in order. Whether you’re cruising to the Bahamas, enjoying a low-key stay on Nantucket, or taking a staycation in your own backyard, vacation is the ideal time to finally get to that book you’ve been dying to read. We’ve kept our eyes on some of the best non-fiction books coming out in 2022 and have been adding them to our reading lists in preparation for lazy summer days and long-haul flights. Read on for some of our editors' top non-fiction new release picks that will definitely earn a spot in our beach bags.
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Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs by Juli Berwald
I found Juli Berwald’s first book, Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone, in the gift shop at the end of the American Museum of Natural History’s “Unseen Oceans” exhibition. Part memoir, part scientific exploration into the impact and unknowns of jellyfish, it was my favorite book of the year in 2018 and I haven’t shut up about it since. (Just listen to a few of our book episodes of the Women Who Travel podcast and I’ll inevitably mention it.) Berwald’s latest brings the travelogue and memoir of Spineless, but trades jellyfish for coral reefs—needless to say, I’m in. —Meredith Carey, travel booking editor, U.S.
Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
I don't always have time during the week to get to a thoughtful poetry book, but a weekend trip gives me just the time I need to dive into Ocean Vuong's second poetry collection, which shares the deeply personal and painful aftershock of surviving his mother's death. Vuong's poetry takes you through the very real emotions of dealing with grief—while also finding hope to keep moving forward. —Meaghan Kenny, editorial assistant, U.S.
In the Margins – On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing by Elena Ferrante
The perfect companion book to the latest screen adaptations [of Elena Ferrante's work], these four candid essays on the “adventure of writing” delve deeper into Ferrante’s world and Italian education. It's a rare insight into her literary process and the feminine talents that inspired her unique counterpoint of voices—one safely enclosed within the margins, the other spilling over the page to freely express women’s truth. —Maddelena Fossati, head of editorial content, Italy
Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World by Eliza Reid
[Secrets of the Sprakkar is] a powerful portrait of Iceland and gender equality (spoiler alert: they already take it very seriously) by the country’s Canadian-born First Lady. The sometimes funny, always insightful episodes really put you in touch with Icelandic culture and its attitude towards women—an uplifting and inspiring memoir that reads like a novel. —Sofia Bordandini, Adaptation editor, Italy
All the Living and the Dead: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the People Who Have Made Death Their Life's Work by Hayley Campbell
The global spread of COVID-19 has made "death" as a word mentioned more frequently than ever before. "Death" has been visualized as a rising number, intuitively presented in front of people. Fear and numbness continue to rise paradoxically. Campbell uses her unique journalistic perspective to deeply dig the story of death. She uses stories from funeral directors, embalmers, and a former executioner who is responsible for ending sixty-two lives to construct a mental puzzle for death. —Shawn Ong, head of editorial content, China
The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O'Rourke
I’ve had The Invisible Kingdom on my to-read list since I first heard about it. It tackles the complexity of “invisible” chronic illnesses including autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and even long COVID. Author Meghan O’Rourke shares her own medical experience, along with research from doctors and public health experts to help us understand illnesses that are most often ignored and misunderstood. —M.K.
Nothing: A Philosophical History by Roy Sorensen
Nihilism has always been a widely discussed issue in the history of philosophy. Adherents of Marxism regard it as an extreme reflection of idealism. On the other hand, the activists influenced by liberalism create widely followed ideologies which are developed from the core of nihilism, such as Dada, Punk, and Deconstructionism. These cultures or trends that make so many people crazy lead me to the question—how can nothing create something? Sorensen gave me the answer in a succinct and interesting way. The book chronologically starts with Taoists, the Buddhists, and the ancient Greeks up to the existentialists and present day philosophy, to show the history and philosophy of nihilism. Which presents us how nothing can influence the history of human thought. —S.O.
