Winter Newsletter 2023 Nonfiction

Fans of Roxane Gay, rejoice! And if you are unfamiliar with her writing, what have you been waiting for? This new collection of published pieces from the past decade ranges from meditations on racial and sexual injustice to an analysis of the Fast and the Furious franchise to why TV food competitions work. Read them in order or pick your favorites—all are worth it. Sit back and enjoy the sharp wit, nuanced intelligence, and clear opinions of Roxane Gay.  

—Jocelyn

McWhorter’s Nine Nasty Words explores the history of renowned English swear words, providing an educational and entertaining experience. The well-written and well-researched book combines history, sociology, and pop culture to investigate the three stages of swearing throughout the development of the English language. The accounts of metaphorical word evolution in the book are particularly fascinating. A truly interesting and appropriate book for language enthusiasts.  

—Kristina

A Harvard professor and staff writer for the New Yorker, Jill Lepore writes powerful and important essays about every imaginable aspect of contemporary American life, covering history, law, literature—even Bratz dolls. (She’s also the author of the surprise hit The Secret History of Wonder Woman.) Her new book of essays offers a panoramic look at our country and culture, capturing the current era in all its fractious, surreal, and occasionally hopeful glory.  

—Rico

OMG, get this for the gamer in your life. If you know someone with a fascination for video games who also happens to love insightful literature, writing, and queer commentary, this is the book for them. The people who like video games get it, and the people who don’t, don’t; I think this collection of essays helps to close that gap as much as it helps people like me find community with people who are naturally a little more closed off.  

—Nikole

The pioneering Ms. magazine is celebrated in this new monograph, which features pivotal articles, ground-breaking covers, photographs, and fiction. Presented decade by decade, beginning in the 1970s, it is a fascinating look at feminism and the fight for equality that continues to this day. As Representative Sheila Jackson Lee says, “Who would have believed that the fiftieth anniversary of Ms. magazine would find us in a fight for our bodies, our lives, and our dignity?” Regrettably, voices and activism are needed more than ever.  

—S.B.

Comedian Ziwe wants to know about your Black friends. She also wants you to know exactly how messed up it is to talk about your Black friend. She spends her time in this brilliant collection of essays roasting Well Meaning White People™, celebrity culture, and flat-out racism. Come ready to laugh, learn, and poke fun at your own biases.  

—Ivy

Sarah Ogilvie’s book is a fascinating account of one of the world’s first crowdsourcing projects. In each chapter, Ogilvie explores a different set of the volunteers who made the Oxford English Dictionary what it is today. The Dictionary People is filled with unique words, intriguing characters, and fascinating anecdotes. If you’ve ever wondered how dictionaries are created, this is the book for you.  

—Sofia

As a lifelong Patagonia fan, I was elated to get my grubby little hands on The Future of the Responsible Company. While discussing the negative impact of traditional capitalism on the planet and communities, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, advocates instead that businesses work to reduce harm to the planet and its people. This is a great gift for anyone from your tech friends to your climbing gym pals.  

—Lindsay