We’ve made it through the dog days of summer, and now it is time to start preparing for fall in the best way: adding to your TBR. If you’re looking for nonfiction reads in particular, you should be excited; September’s new releases in nonfiction are even more exciting than the return of the pumpkin spice latte.
OK, fine, that last statement might not be true, because it all depends on how much you as an individual crave Starbucks’ iconic autumn beverage. Still, the point is that we have a month’s worth of fantastic titles coming our way. You might even find yourself wishing there were more hours in the day just for reading.
If back-to-school season has you inspired this September, you can choose from subjects as varied as inequality, boredom, and self-acceptance. Memoirs are another good option, whether you want to be majorly inspired or a little heartbroken. If you’re not overloaded on politics, you can delve into the 2016 presidential election from the perspective of Hillary Rodham Clinton herself or revisit the Obama years with his former speechwriter.
No matter what your book-lovin’ heart desires, you should consider the 15 nonfiction books below, all of which are due out in September.
‘Tales of Two Americas,’ Edited by John Freeman (Sept. 5; Penguin Books)
U.S. voters don’t agree on much these days, but there does at least seem to be a consensus that our country has serious issues that need fixing. In Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation, a book edited by John Freeman, 36 writers look at shared ways people are suffering. Contributors include Roxane Gay, Ann Patchett, Anthony Doerr, and more.
‘We Are All Shipwrecks’ by Kelly Grey Carlisle (Sept. 5; Sourcebooks)
Kelly Grey Carlisle digs into her own past in her new memoir, We Are All Shipwrecks, and her source material is fascinating. After her mother’s murder, the case went unsolved for decades, and during that time, Carlisle was raised by her grandparents, mostly kept in the dark about many of the facts of her life. She brings us along on her search for answers and depicts an unconventional and unique childhood along the way.
‘The Best of Us’ by Joyce Maynard (Sept. 5; Bloomsbury USA)
Journalist and author Joyce Maynard shares a personal love story in The Best of Us. Her memoir recounts her relationship with her late husband, Jim, and his fight against pancreatic cancer. There isn’t a happy ending, but their journey is a beautiful one nonetheless.
‘Bored and Brilliant’ by Manoush Zomorodi (Sept. 5; St. Martin’s Press)
Manoush Zomorodi will have you have you reevaluating your smartphone use with Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self. Her book lays out the benefits of doing nothing, and how our technology habits can get in the way of that. Don’t worry, though: She won’t warn you off your digital diversions entirely.
‘What Happened’ by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Sept. 12; Simon & Schuster)
Hillary Rodham Clinton answers questions in her new book, What Happened, that have plagued us since her November defeat. The book brings us back to the 2016 presidential election and gives us an inside look at what she actually went through as the first woman ever nominated for president by a major political party, not to mention as the opponent of Donald Trump. As much as you might not want to relive that tumultuous election, getting Clinton’s perspective is worth it.
‘I Hear She’s a Real Bitch’ by Jen Agg (Sept. 12; Penguin Books)
Running a restaurant is difficult, period, but there are unique challenges when you’re a woman. Jen Agg tells tales of working in such a male-dominated industry in I Hear She’s a Real Bitch. Her book delves into the obstacles she overcame and the lessons she has learned, so yes, her story comes with a side of empowerment.
‘Bloodlines’ by Melissa del Bosque (Sept. 12; Ecco)
Before it becomes a movie starring Channing Tatum, book-lovers will get to read Bloodlines: The True Story of a Drug Cartel, the FBI, and the Battle for a Horse-Racing Dynasty. Written by Melissa del Bosque, the book centers on two real-life FBI agents who went after cartel leader Miguel Treviño. There is a reason this is being adapted for film: The dangerous takedown effort makes for a suspenseful and compelling story.
‘Unstoppable’ by Maria Sharapova (Sept. 12; Sarah Chrichton Books)
How did a girl from Siberia become one of the top tennis players in the world? Maria Sharapova’s new memoir, Unstoppable: My Life So Far, explains just that. Tennis fans, in particular, will enjoy her story, but even if you don’t know a volley from a groundstroke, you’ll appreciate the engrossing highs and lows.
‘Thanks, Obama’ by David Litt (Sept. 19; Ecco)
Reminiscing about our 44th president has become a more popular pastime since he left office, and David Litt’s new book is perfect for it. Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years provides an inside look at the campaign and the former president’s eight years on the job, courtesy of one of his speechwriters. Litt also offers both humor and optimism, two things many of us sorely need these days.
‘We Need to Talk’ by Celeste Headlee (Sept. 19; Harper Wave)
Having a productive conversation isn’t as easy as we all want it to be, and that’s why Celeste Headlee wrote We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter. Her book aims to make communicating easier by teaching some necessary skills. You’ll find yourself better equipped to deal with a variety of situations, from the professional to the personal.
‘Reset’ by Ellen Pao (Sept. 19; Spiegel & Grau)
Ellen Pao shares her experiences working in tech and battling discrimination in Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change. In 2015, she made headlines when she sued her former employer, a high-profile venture capital firm. Although her lawsuit was ultimately unsuccessful, she put Silicon Valley’s homogenous culture in the spotlight, encouraging change and progress.
‘Reading People’ by Anne Bogel (Sept. 19; Baker Books)
Believe it or not, knowing someone’s Myers-Briggs personality type offers information even more useful than determining their own Harry Potter character. Anne Bogel shows how in Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything. She looks at multiple frameworks and explains how we can apply them in ways that improve our lives.
‘Paperbacks from Hell’ by Grady Hendrix (Sept. 19; Quirk Books)
Grady Hendrix celebrates a golden age of a popular book genre in Paperbacks from Hell: A History of Horror Fiction from the ’70s and ’80s. Not only does he provide an interesting look at the special period, he revisits different authors and works. You may find yourself trying to stock up on old titles so you can get your fill of gloriously trashy scares.
‘After the Eclipse’ by Sarah Perry (Sept. 26; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Sarah Perry explores a personal tragedy in After the Eclipse: A Mother’s Murder, a Daughter’s Search. Perry was just 12 at the time of the killing, and it took another 12 years before the police found the man responsible. When the murderer’s conviction doesn’t give her the closure she needs, she returns to her hometown to better understand her mother’s life, leading to a moving journey.
‘The Not So Subtle Art of Being a Fat Girl’ by Tess Holliday (Sept. 26; Bluestreak)
Self-acceptance isn’t easy to come by, but plus-size model Tess Holliday aims to help women reach it in her new book, The Not So Subtle Art of Being a Fat Girl: Loving the Skin You’re in. Holliday uses her own experiences to help, including being bullied and dealing with trolls on social media. Her candor and body-positive message are inspiring.
