Hello, nonfiction fans! This is Kim, filling in on the mid-week newsletter send for Kendra. Today, I’ve got book recommendations from across the nonfiction spectrum — history, memoir, science, and public policy. Let’s dive in!
Bookish Goods
Rainy Day Reading Candle from FlickTheWick
I’m not a huge candle person, but the slide into fall always makes me *wish* that I was. This 11 ounce, double wick candle seems like a great addition to any reading nook. $25
New Releases
The Evolution of Charles Darwin: The Epic Voyage of the Beagle That Forever Changed Our View of Life on Earth by Diana Preston
In 1831, Charles Darwin joined the crew of the HMS Beagle as they headed out on a five-year voyage around the globe. Twenty-two-year-old Darwin had no idea of the impact the voyage would have, on his life and on our scientific understanding of the world. This book uses letters, diaries, and recollections from other participants to chronicle the entire voyage as it happened, following Darwin’s adventures and scientific discoveries. This book caught my attention because I know so much about what happened after Darwin returned to England, but almost nothing about the trip itself. Should be interesting!
Token Black Girl: A Memoir by Danielle Prescod
This book caught my attention for two reasons: the note about how it covers “racial identity, pop culture, and delusions of perfection” and the really striking cover. Danielle Prescod grew up in a largely white community, further marginalized by the whitewashing of nearly all the media her friends consumed. This resulted in her trying to “shrink her identity” through chemical hair treatments, impeccable fashion, and disordered eating. She continued in that way as she made her way into the fashion industry, until finally deciding to confront the damage white supremacy in the media has caused.
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
As Florida continues to reel from the enormous impact of Hurricane Ian, I thought this week I could highlight a couple of books related to weather and climate change:
The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast by Andrew Blum
If you want to dig deep into how weather forecasting works, this is the book for you! Andrew Blum is interested in systems and infrastructure, the nitty gritty of how things we take for granted actually work. The book explores the history of weather forecasting, the current network of weather monitoring stations, the computer models that run current forecasts, and the potential impacts of climate change, privatization, and more on the forecasts we take for granted.
The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System, edited by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman
This book is a little more of a stretch, but I didn’t think it was fair to suggest books about the weather without acknowledging the impact that climate change is having on the extreme weather we’re experiencing. This book is a collection of essays by Black intellectuals and experts across disciplines looking at how anti-racist policies would impact all of us. There’s a fascinating section looking at the climate movement, highlighting the systematic changes needed to ensure environmental justice for all.
For more nonfiction reads, head over to the podcast service of your choice and download For Real, which I co-host with my dear friend Alice. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @kimthedork or send an email to kim@riotnewmedia.com. Happy weekend!