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7 Nonfiction Reads out This May You Won’t Want to Miss

by  | May 20

Looking for some real-world stories to dig into this month? We’ve got you covered with a handful of nonfiction books that you won’t be able to put down.

Whether you’re obsessed with the My Favorite Murder podcast, you can’t stop watching American Ninja Warrior, or you’re outside marching for a cause you care about, we’ve got a read for you.

Get reading our May nonfiction faves, and as always, hit us up on social media to tell us what you’re loving! Make sure to check out our fiction picks for the month too!

Let Love Have the Last Word

Let Love Have the Last Word

by Common

Milena’s Pick:

Award winning rapper/actor Common speaks about LOVE in many forms in his latest memoir Let Love Have the Last Word. Letting his guard down and allowing his vulnerability to light the way, Common opens up about his relationship with his daughter, his family, past relationships, and himself, while his own definition of love changes as he grows in his career and as a member of his community. He also talks about the importance of taking care of your own mental health, helping to turn around the stigma black men are conditioned to have around therapy and dealing with trauma. Whether you’re a hip-hop fan or not, Let Love Have the Last Word is a personal and compassionate book about what it takes to love yourself and others unconditionally.

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Howard Stern Comes Again

Howard Stern Comes Again

by Howard Stern

Stephen’s Pick:

Throughout Howard Stern’s decades-long career as the most popular and controversial radio host there is, he’s asked almost daily, “What’s the best interview you’ve ever done?” It’s probably the question I would ask him straightaway and you would too. With Howard Stern Comes Again, the “King of All Media” finally answers that elusive question and so, so much more, like, 500+ pages more. A kaleidoscopic book, Howard Stern Comes Again is part memoir, with Howard dishing on his experiences with fatherhood, marriage, triumphs, failures, and insecurities, as well as a cultural history of the 21st century. Some of today’s biggest stars talk candidly about a range of topics: Lady Gaga on the trappings of fame; Tracy Morgan on the car wreck that almost killed him; Ozzy Osbourne on being scared to live but afraid to die; Jerry Seinfeld on creativity; Sia on reconciling art with popularity, and many, many more. We can even chart the rise of a x self-styled entrepreneur from Queens who would someday, inconceivably, become president through his own words, boasts, and half-truths. It is a book that triggers a range of emotions while providing innumerable insights by someone who’s provoked debate and conversation for more than 30 years.

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I Like to Watch

I Like to Watch

by Emily Nussbaum

Heather’s Pick:

In this era of “peak TV,” where a new show (or five) debuts every day, we need trustworthy critics more than ever. For me, Emily Nussbaum is a go-to, so I actually gasped when I heard she’d written a book. Smart and accessible, her reviews regularly point me toward quality new series to obsess over—or help me make sense of ones I’m currently watching. I can’t wait to read this collection of her essays on everything from her lifelong passion for television to the rise of the female screwup to processing the news that your favorite artist is a monster.

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Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered

Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered

by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Sara RM’s Pick:

If you are into true-crime podcasts, then you are probably familiar with (if not a die hard fan of) My Favorite Murder. The two hosts, Karen and Georgia, talk about serial killers and real-life murderers while also talking about themselves, imbuing the podcasts with a lot of personality. Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered continues this tradition by offering up both women's perspectives on mental health, society, advice, true crime, and their own stories. The book is both comedic and dramatic, tying together the nuanced inner lives of two of podcast's most famous personalities and presenting readers with a unique kind of book that everyone can enjoy, not just podcast junkies like me.

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Rage Becomes Her

Rage Becomes Her

by Soraya Chemaly

Cara’s Pick:

Rage Becomes Her is a fascinating look at women’s anger in society: how women have been taught to ignore and swallow and run from their rage. But Soraya Chemaly offers an alternative: accept your anger and rage and use it for something better, as part of the solution.

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Everyone Can Be a Ninja

Everyone Can Be a Ninja

by Akbar Gbajabiamila

Saimah's Pick:

Whenever I see American Ninja Warrior on TV, I can't help but keep watching to see if the contestants can get through the crazy obstacle courses. I had no idea the host, Akbar Gbajabiamila, had such an incredible journey to get to be where he's at now. He grew up in South Central LA during the 1980s and '90s with his six siblings and Nigerian immigrant parents. At the time his neighborhood was in the midst of gang wars and riots. But he survived the neighborhood and went on to play football in the NFL.

In Everyone Can Be a Ninja he shares his own inspirational underdog stories and interviews with modern-day ninjas who have accomplished extraordinary things in their own lives.

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The Latte Factor

The Latte Factor

by David Bach

Dana’s Pick:

Before I even finished reading The Latte Factor, I made a few small changes to the way I save and the way I spend—and I’m already living richer! The book is told in a narrative that is super relatable, and it made the huge topic of personal finance seem like something I could tackle in a matter of minutes. And don’t worry, you can still drink your latte ?.

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Photo Credit // Sarah Noltner on Unsplash

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