Best Books 2016 - NonfictionLike this list

25 items

• Evicted

  Poverty and Profit in the American City

  Desmond, Matthew,

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  This gripping, groundbreaking book examines the housing crisis in America through the lens of two landlords and eight tenants. Their harrowing stories are interspersed with extensive research and policy suggestions.

• Grit

  the Power of Passion and Perseverance

  Duckworth, Angela

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  An inspiring examination of grit - the combination of persistence and passion that leads to success. Learn how to develop grit in yourself and in others, including a chapter on parenting for grit.

• The Immortal Irishman

  the Irish Revolutionary Who Became An American Hero

  Egan, Timothy

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  Local author and National Book Award winner Egan returns with a biography of dashing Irish revolutionary Thomas Francis Meagher, whose heroic escapades read like the stuff of legend.

• Atlas Obscura

  An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

  Foer, Joshua,

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  Part guidebook, part bucket list, Atlas Obscura gathers 700 of the world's strangest places. The collection spans all 7 continents and includes natural and man-made sites plus festivals and more. From the creators of the website of the same name.

• The View From the Cheap Seats

  Selected Nonfiction

  Gaiman, Neil

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  A collection of more than 60 essays, speeches, and other assorted bits of writing from Gaiman. Topics range from Batman to Douglas Adams to the plight of Syrian refugees; on all subjects Gaiman is warm, wise, and witty.

• The Bad-ass Librarians of Timbuktu

  and Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts

  Hammer, Joshua, 1957-

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  As Islamic extremists in Mali rose to power, a team of librarians worked to smuggle priceless manuscripts out of Timbuktu to protest them from the militants' destructive purges. A heist thriller set against a compelling history of contemporary Mali.

• Magic and Loss

  the Internet as Art

  Heffernan, Virginia,

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  In a fascinating combination of cultural criticism and art history, Heffernan examines the internet in all its myriad forms (social media, apps, news sites, and more) as a tool for creativity.

• Strangers in Their Own Land

  Anger and Mourning on the American Right

  Hochschild, Arlie Russell, 1940-

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  Hochschild, a noted sociologist and champion of liberal causes, spent five years in Louisana talking to conservatives. What she uncovers is the deep role of emotion in American politics and the need for across-the-aisle empathy from both sides.

• Lab Girl

  Jahren, Hope,

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  This funny, insightful, and moving memoir portrays the author's lifelong fascination with plant life, her friendship with her lab partner and best friend Bill. Jahren's sense of wonder, her intelligence, and her tenacity shine through on every page.

• When Breath Becomes Air

  Kalanithi, Paul,

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  Kalanithi was about to begin his career as neurosurgeon when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer. Instead, he spent his last days writing this profound and courageous memoir about living a life full of purpose and meaning.

• A Mother's Reckoning

  Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy

  Klebold, Sue

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  The mother of one of the shooters at Columbine High School examines his life and role in the massacre, as well as her own guilt and sorrow. A painful, heart-wrenching but important read.

• Hidden Figures

  the American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  Shetterly, Margot Lee

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  A World War II labor shortage compelled NASA to hire Black women as human computers who did the complex calculations need to support rocket launch projects. A fascinating slice of American history, much of it told by women who were there.

• March. Book Three

  Lewis, John, 1940-2020,

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  The third volume in Rep. John Lewis' graphic memoir series covers 1963-1965, when the tireless work of Lewis and many others lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Essential reading for understanding both historical and current events.

• The Joy of Leaving Your Sh*t All Over the Place

  the Art of Being Messy

  McCartney, Jennifer, 1980-

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  Part parody, part examination of the business of being minimalist, this hilarious ode to life's messiness is a profane rebuke of the "tidying up" trend.

• Eruption

  the Untold Story of Mount St. Helens

  Olson, Steve, 1956-

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  Combining science writing with social history, Olson creates a compelling account of the devastating 1980 eruption, the 57 lives that were lost, and the politics and policy that could have saved them.

• The Nordic Theory of Everything

  in Search of a Better Life

  Partanen, Anu,

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  A Finnish journalist and American citizen compares life in the Nordic region with life in the US. Clear, concise writing and Paranten's evenhanded approach make for a compelling argument in favor of doing things the Nordic way.

• Once & Future River

  Reclaiming the Duwamish

  Reese, Tom (Thomas William), 1958-

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  Illustrated with striking photographs, Once & Future River documents the history and present of the Duwamish. The river, central to Seattle's founding, is plagued by pollution, but the book makes a compelling case for its possible restoration.

• The Other Slavery

  the Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America

  Reséndez, Andrés,

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  Combining original research with other recent scholarship, Reséndez illuminates the long and disturbing history of enslavement and oppression of Native peoples in the Americas, a situation that lasted well into the 20th century.

• Grunt

  the Curious Science of Humans at War

  Roach, Mary,

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  Perennial favorite Roach brings her winning combination of investigative journalism and humor to the military. Her interest is in the everyday lives of troops in extreme conditions and her curiosity takes her to unexpected sites around the world.

• While the City Slept

  a Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man's Descent Into Madness

  Sanders, Eli,

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  In this elegant, powerful portrayal of a brutal Seattle murder, Sanders examines the lives of both murderer and victims, as well as the failure of the mental health system that lead to the tragedy.