Here at Underbrush, we’re sad that Halloween has passed and we have another year until it returns, but we realized we have another big reason to celebrate; it’s Knowvember!
Don’t get us wrong! We obviously love fiction, it’s also impactful, but nonfiction can expand your worldview through actual events, history, science, and so much more! Information literacy (analyzing data, evaluating sources, and separating fact from fiction) is important as well and nonfiction helps improve those skills while also improving your concentration.
Won’t you join us in this Nonfiction November and pick up a book that will have you running to our booksellers to tell us everything you just learned? Struggling to find something that piques your interest? No worries, we’ve always got you covered!
Things We Found in the Ground by Ellie Bruce and Lucie Gray
Two women. One metal detector. And one earth full of secrets, just waiting to be uncovered. This memoir is a fun and adventurous romp that will take you across the fields and moors of Great Britain as two cousins discover a new hobby and excavate countless holes that bring them treasures of the past. As they dig into the past, the objects they discover paint a story about our ancestors- who they were and how it led to now. A fun exploration of history and the power of community, it’s guaranteed to make you curious about the history we walk over every day.
Tyrant Lizard Queen by Riley Black
Did anyone else have an obsessive dinosaur phase, sharing every dino fact they had with anyone who would listen? If so, this brilliant blend of storytelling and science is for you! Based on the most current scientific discoveries, you’ll get to follow THE celeb of the dino world, the T. Rex, from a hatchling through dangers and the prehistoric forest as the Tyrant Lizard Queen navigates adulthood. Now you’ll have new, up-to-date dino facts to share with everyone you know!
The Zorg by Siddharth Kara
Yet another example of excellent, epic narrative blended with historical facts, the author utilized primary-source research (the best kind) to uncover the harrowing events of this slave ship’s story. While thousands of ships carried human cargo in the late 1700s, a series of unpredictable weather and navigational mistakes led to such a nefarious outcome, one that turned into a heated legal battle which sparked headlines and the beginning of the abolitionist movement in England and the U.S.
The Un-Natural State by Brock Thompson
Written by an Arkansan who now works at the Library of Congress, this is a book we cannot stop recommending- whether you live in Arkansas or not, this journalistic exploration of Arkansas’ queer history will not disappoint! Thanks to tireless hours spent in archives, libraries, and calling or talking face-to-face with folks, this account paints a different, more nuanced picture of the South, specifically Arkansas, one based in queer roots (and did I mention there are pictures?!).
Freedom's Daughters by Celeste Headlee
From an incredible journalist and author comes an even more incredible story about the untold stories of the group of remarkable Black women who fought to ensure Black education was an established right, paving the way for a generation’s right to read. While the history books may not have recorded their stories and others have tried to erase these women’s names and legacies, Headlee has spent over a decade pouring into research, from diaries to public record, to cement her own family history, these women’s work, and an examination of the power of access to education.
Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
One of our recent Nonfiction Bookclub picks, this oldie-but-goodie is a classic staple for any true crime lover (bonus, you can watch the show based on this book when you’re through)! The legendary John E. Douglas, FBI criminal profiler and former Chief of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit , developed the idea of psychological profiling allowing agents to move quicker on crime scenes and predict actions and next moves. This account follows his years building evidence as he confronted, interviewed, and studied numerous serial killers and assassins, like Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein.
Salty, Not Sweet by Florence Fabricant and Thomas Keller
For any foody-obsessed, Anthony Bourdain stan, or The Bear fan, will take you through the evolution of dining and restaurant culture, but from an insider’s perspective, Florence Fabricant, a beloved and influential food writer who wrote for the New York Times for over 50 years. Both memoir and historical account, the sharp prose and wit is sure to delight the palate of even the harshest critic, while also exploring how dining culture has affected how the average person eats and cooks today.
Rock* by Chuck Klosterman
Rock fans and music history nerds, this one’s for you! This bestselling author and cultural/music critic takes the history of rock and flips it on its head, rewriting history to critique it; what if The Beatles had only a small cult following while the Velvet Underground took off as one of the most renowned bands in the world, setting the stage for the rest of the 20th century? Not only a master class of humor and history for rock fans, the author also poses questions about what makes art popular, how success defines perception, and how subjective history can be (Psst, did I mention we have a few signed copies left?!).
Lessons from the Housewives by Evie Psarras
Whoever said reality tv is junk food for the brain and that nonfiction is just boring history books, clearly hasn’t read this entertaining and provocative peek behind the curtain of the cult-following franchise, The Real Housewives. Drawing on interviews with the Housewives themselves and show producers, the author explores the feminist storytelling that lies at the heart of this show, illuminating the surprising wisdom tucked into taglines and table flips and how the show speaks to questions about feminine identity, ambition, and vulnerability.
I'll Believe in Anything by Jacob Tierney
Does the line, “I’m coming to the cottage” also make you want to weep and go back to reread and rewatch every moment of the cultural phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry? Then you cannot miss out on this exclusive behind-the-scenes content from Jacob Tierney, who adapted the book to tv alongside Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu. You’ll get the complete collection of annotated scripts, never-before-seen pictures, and how they decided what went into the show and what got cut. This book will keep you content and cozy at the cottage until Season 2, watching as the creator started with a dream that took the world by storm, giving all the feelings and reigniting your love for one of our favorite fictional queer couples.
If you’re interested in growing your knowledge about various topics and growing your community, check out Under Investigation, our Nonfiction Book Club!
In December, they’re be diving into The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby, a revelatory account of how the family behind Hobby Lobby rose to political prominence and used their influence—and fortune—to push a radical religious agenda.
“Eye-opening . . . Blanding is at the height of his arts and crafts in telling exactly how Hobby Lobby’s adventurers went so far astray in their effort to raid so many lost and phony arks.” —The New York Times
