This summer is becoming a flaming hot reading season, especially for compelling memoirs and true stories! Even if you’re a fiction lover at heart, give these non-fiction reads a try this summer. This genre does an amazing job of painting broad portraits of vibrant realities we never thought possible — it’s like a vacation within your summer vacation! From hilarious memoirs to soul-stirring reflections, we rounded up seven non-fiction books that transport readers to another world.
Accidental Soldier by Dorit Sasson
Girls run the world and soldier Dorit Sasson is no exception. Instead of living out the quintessential college experience, Sasson ditched textbooks and her social circle for the battlefield when she volunteered for the Israeli Defense Forces. A story of survival and thriving on the strength of human spirit, Accidental Soldier is sure to stir the survivor in every reader.
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer
Wrap up your summer with this collection of hysterical observational essays by the queen of funny herself: Amy Schumer. Relatable and fabulous as usual, Schumer divulges the intimate – and painfully awkward – experiences that shaped her personal life and propelled her to the throne as Hollywood’s leading comedian. Satirical, unapologetic and fierce, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo will leave you sobbing and laughing simultaneously in true Schumer fashion.
(R)evolution by Girls Write Now
Distinguished by the White House as one of the nation’s leading after-school arts organizations and hailed by Lena Dunham (star of HBO’s Girls and founder of Lenny Letter), Girls Write Now is officially catching the world’s attention. (R)evolution is the touching new installment of the organization’s famed anthology series by its teen writing mentees and their mentors and features a collection of poetry and prose exploring the the word “revolution.” Dedicated to mentoring underprivileged girls in NYC to reach the summit of their writing potential, Girls Write Now is the hub of promising and courageous literary talent.
Blue Apple Switchback by Carrie Highley
Don’t hit the beach without this one – this memoir is the perfect dose of heartfelt honesty for your summer. Author Carrie Highley bravely pulls back the curtain on the painful years of hiding her true sexuality. From her forbidden love affair with a woman, her passion for competitive cycling and struggling to maintain a heterosexual veneer for the sake of her family, you’ll be drawn in by Highley’s revelations about her tumultuous path to self-discovery.
32 Yolks by Eric Ripert
Escape into the merciless world of celebrity chefs and culinary art. This delectable read is bound to inspire every croissant-loving literary appetite. Hailed by Vanity Fair as “magic,” 32 Yolks explores the rise of Eric Ripert – famed French chef and culinary icon behind NYC restaurant Le Bernardin. From his rough childhood in southern France to the moment he found spiritual refuge in food creation, 32 Yolks is a damn-delicious enlightenment of Ripert’s bittersweet rise to culinary fame.
The Shelf Life of Ashes by Hollis Giammatteo
You’ll need a tissue box. This gorgeous memoir paints a heart-rending picture of aging and life with the elderly. Hollis Giammatteo reflects on her time spent in care wards and her daunting journey of exploring a question every human asks: can we truly age well? Insightful, authentic and raw, The Shelf Life of Ashes will not only make you reexamine the mortality of those around you but will inspire you to face the inevitable aging process with readiness and grace.
The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
This stunning New York Times bestseller belongs in the hands of every reader who wants to better understand their existence. This epic tale recounts the burgeoning quest to understand – and control – hereditary influence. Award-winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee takes readers on a remarkable page-turning journey of genetic history, shares his family’s devastating medical experiences and gives readers a glimpse into the bright and powerful future of hereditary science.
Tell us, Sparks! Which true story are you itching to add to your bookshelf?
Wow, some of those books look pretty interesting! Thanks!
I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but I can’t wait to read THE GENE by Siddhartha Mukherjee.