It's Not All About War (Part 3 of Holiday Recommendations)

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Nest. I know everyone has been caught up and busy with holiday shopping and keeping warm just like I have of, but the season does not stop and neither do I. So here is Part 3 of my holiday recommendations, this time I will be focusing on some great nonfiction picks.

As the post title suggests, nonfiction does not just mean books about war and other historical topics. So here are six awesome nonfiction recommendations that range from true crime to social sciences, and even fashion.

• Unmask Alice by Rick Emerson

  • This book reveals the truth behind the widely known Go Ask Alice and its sequel Jay's Journal. I devoured these back in high school during my time in AP Psych so when I heard about the "truth" behind these stories my interest peaked. The story follows Beatrice Sparks as she cons her way into the limelight, and field of psychology and rides her wave of lies all the way to the National Book Awards. This book is well worth the read especially when you see just how far she is willing to go.

• You'll Never Believe Me by Kari Farrell

  • Keeping this true crime wave going, this memoir of sorts follows author Kari Farrell who some may know as the Hipster Grifter throughout her life and all the ups and downs that come with it. I loved this book as it felt super approachable and it felt like I was sitting down and catching up with a friend and hearing about all of their wild and crazy exploits since I last saw them.

• Otter Country by Miriam Darlington

  • So for any animal lover, or an otter lover like me you'll need to pick this one up! The author and well-known nature writer goes on a yearlong journey to highlight the importance of the wild otters on an environmental, scientific, and cultural level. With each stop she makes you can really get a sense of the fascination and wonder that otters bring Darlington and it was one of the reasons I loved it so much.

• Ametora by W. David Marx

  • This book should be given to anyone who is into fashion it was fantastic. Historian Marx shows how staples of American traditional fashion, or ametora, have been kept alive by Japanese consumers. They not only kept it alive, but they have adapted it and perfected it, in order to sell it back to us with brands like Uniqlo, Evisu, and Kamakura. This was such a good read especially to see how it affected Japanese culture, and in turn effected our own here in the United States.

• Magical Realism by Vanessa Angelica Villarreal

  • This book was incredibly thought provoking as it covers topics that have disappeared through colonialism and migration through a lens that everyone has a base level of understanding of and that is pop culture. Her series of essays are beautifully connected through fantasy, and music and the things that help us make sense of it all. I thought this was very relatable and gave it five stars, I did give my copy to a friend and I hope that she enjoys it as much as I did.

• In Defense of Witches by Mona Chollet

  • I thought this was the perfect spooky season read, but it's also great as a gift or any time of year really. Feminist writer Chollet traces the lineage of witches back to three distinct groups of people and then brings us back to the present to showcase how those groups of women are still targeted today by other forces. I thought this was unique because her argument is based on this blend of scholarly and cultural points that help connect this image of the witch to the modern-day woman who just wants to live on her own terms.

Hope everyone enjoys these recommendations and keep an eye out for the fourth and final part of my holiday recommendations, the fiction picks! Happy reading and stay warm this holiday season.