Episode · The Book Review · 2025-09-12
Books mentioned on 17 Nonfiction Books We’re Looking Forward to This Fall
Gilbert Cruz recommended All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert, Dark Renaissance by Stephen Greenblatt, The Tragedy of True Crime by John J. Lennon, We the People by Jill Lepore, Water Mirror Echo by Jeff Chang, The Great Contradiction by Joseph J. Ellis, The Wounded Generation by David Nasaw, and Replaceable You by Mary Roach, and discussed Will in the World How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt, The swerve by Stephen Greenblatt, Poems and Prayers by Matthew McConaughey, Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, These Truths by Jill Lepore, Can't stop, won't stop by Jeff Chang and others, History Matters by David McCullough, Gulp by Mary Roach, Stiff by Mary Roach and others, Bonk by Mary Roach, Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, and Fuzz by Mary Roach. Joumana Khatib recommended Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy, Electric Spark by Frances Wilson, Joy is Calling by Susan D Elliott, Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton, Paper Girl by Beth Macy, and Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood, and discussed The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, Blood, Bones, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton, Dopesick by Beth Macy, and Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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All the Way to the River
All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert is a memoir detailing the author's relationship with her terminally ill best friend, Rya Elas.
Recommended“So, this is called All the Way to the River.”
Where to get it
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Dark Renaissance
Dark Renaissance is a compelling historical and literary non-fiction work by Stephen Greenblatt that investigates the dangerous times and fatal genius of William Shakespeare's greatest rival, Christopher Marlowe.
Recommended“It is called Dark Renaissance, the dangerous times and fatal genius of Shakespeare's greatest rival by Steven Greenblat.”
Where to get it
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Will in the World How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare
Discussed“His book that I think people may be most identifying with is a book called Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare.”
Where to get it
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The swerve
The swerve by Stephen Greenblatt is an acclaimed historical non-fiction work examining how the rediscovery of a long-lost Latin codex by Lucretius helped shape the emergence of the modern world.
Discussed“And then he won a Pulitzer for his book The Swerve, which was a book I have not read, but our own Dwight Garner in 2011 reviewed it extremely positively.”
Where to get it
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Mother Mary Comes to Me
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy is a deeply personal memoir focusing on the author's complex relationship with her mother.
Recommended“So, this is Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arand Roy, and she is the of course is the author of The God of Small Things”
Where to get it
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The God of Small Things
The God of Small Things is the Booker Prize-winning debut novel by Arundhati Roy that traces the childhood experiences of fraternal twins in Kerala, India, whose lives are shattered by the destructive societal rules governing love and caste.
Discussed“So, this is Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arand Roy, and she is the of course is the author of The God of Small Things, which is a novel that honest to God I think was one of the more profound reading experiences I had.”
Where to get it
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Poems and Prayers
Poems and Prayers by Matthew McConaughey is a collection of reflections, poetry, and prayers drawn from decades of the author's life, starting from his teenage years.
Discussed“I guess his new book is called Poems and Prayers.”
Where to get it
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Greenlights
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey is a bestselling memoir that blends autobiographical stories, lessons, and reflections from the acclaimed actor's life.
Discussed“So his last non-fiction book or his last book, Greenlights, do you remember this?”
Where to get it
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The Tragedy of True Crime
The Tragedy of True Crime by John J.
Recommended“So, his new book is called The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us.”
Where to get it
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These Truths
These Truths by Jill Lepore is a sweeping, critically acclaimed one-volume history of the United States that offers a moving and beautifully written examination of the nation's past.
Discussed“If you know her name outside of the New Yorker, you might know her 2018 books, These Truths, a History of the United States. big modern history of this nation”
Where to get it
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We the People
We the People by Jill Lepore is a comprehensive history of the United States Constitution and its amendment process.
Recommended“and her new book we the people a history of the US constitution looks at the constitution looks at the amendment process to the constitution”
Where to get it
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Electric Spark
Electric Spark by Frances Wilson is a biographical work exploring the life and enigma of author Dame Muriel Spark.
Recommended“So this is Electric Spark, The Enigma of Dame Muriel by Francis Wilson.”
Where to get it
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The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark follows an unorthodox schoolteacher in Edinburgh who shapes the minds and lives of a select group of students during the interwar years.
Discussed“She's best known for the slim but mighty novel called The Prime of Miss Jean Brody.”
Where to get it
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Joy is Calling
Joy is Calling is a memoir written by Susan D.
Recommended“This is called Joy Ride and Memoir.”
Where to get it
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The Orchid Thief
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean is a non-fiction narrative exploring the eccentric world of orchid poachers and the fascinating obsession surrounding rare flowers in Florida.
Discussed“Her book, The Orchid Thief, was essentially adapted into the movie adaptation, the Spike Jones Charlie Kaufman movie”
Where to get it
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Next of Kin
Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton is a deeply anticipated second memoir by the acclaimed chef and author, exploring complex familial relationships and personal evolution.
Recommended“This is Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton.”
Where to get it
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Blood, Bones, & Butter
Blood, Bones, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton is a celebrated food memoir that details the author's unconventional path to becoming a chef and running her restaurant.
Discussed“Her first one, Blood, Bones, and Butter, came out in 2011.”
Where to get it
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Dopesick
Dopesick by Beth Macy is a harrowing chronicle of the opioid epidemic and the pharmaceutical companies that fueled addiction in America.
Discussed“She's best known for the Dopessick, which has also become a Hulu series, Raising Lazarus.”
Where to get it
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Raising Lazarus
Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy is a deeply reported piece of investigative journalism that examines the ongoing American opioid epidemic and the heroic community efforts combating it.
Discussed“She's best known for the Dopessick, which has also become a Hulu series, Raising Lazarus.”
Where to get it
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Paper Girl
Paper Girl by Beth Macy is an intimate personal memoir set in Ohio that explores themes of community, resilience, and personal history through the author's characteristic journalistic lens.
Recommended“This is called Paper Girl, and it's coming out the beginning of October”
Where to get it
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Water Mirror Echo
Water Mirror Echo by Jeff Chang is a thoughtful and comprehensive nonfiction work exploring the cultural legacy of Bruce Lee and his profound impact on Asian American history and identity.
Recommended“His new book is Water Mirror Echo.”
Where to get it
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Book of Lives
Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood is a memoir of sorts written by the celebrated author.
Recommended“This is a book of lives by Margaret Atwood.”
Where to get it
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The Great Contradiction
The Great Contradiction is a historical nonfiction book by Joseph J.
Recommended“The first is the great contradiction, the tragic side of the American founding. This is by Joseph J. Ellis.”
Where to get it
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History Matters
History Matters by David McCullough is a concise and reflective collection of essays and speeches highlighting the profound lessons that the past offers for human behavior.
Discussed“It's called History Matters.”
Where to get it
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The Wounded Generation
The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After World War II by David Nasaw is a historical non-fiction book that examines the experiences, struggles, and trauma faced by veterans returning from the global conflict.
Recommended“And then finally, I'm going to talk about The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After World War II by David Nassau.”
Where to get it
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Replaceable You
Replaceable You by Mary Roach is a popular science book exploring the fascinating and unusual aspects of human anatomy through the author's signature investigative journalism and wit.
Recommended“is called Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy. This is by Mary Roach.”
Where to get it
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Gulp
Gulp by Mary Roach is a work of popular science that humorously and thoroughly investigates the biology, mechanics, and cultural history of the human digestive tract.
Discussed“Gulp. Adventures on the elementary canal.”
Where to get it
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Stiff
Stiff by Mary Roach is a popular science nonfiction book exploring the strange, fascinating, and historically significant uses of human cadavers in medical research and scientific progress.
Discussed“Stiff. The curious lives of human cadaavvers.”
Where to get it
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Bonk
Mary Roach's popular science book Bonk takes a fascinating and humorous look into the scientific study of human sexual physiology and the historical attempts to understand it.
Discussed“Is this one bunk the curious coupling of science and sex?”
Where to get it
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Packing for Mars
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach is a witty and thoroughly researched popular science book that investigates the bizarre, uncomfortable, and fascinating physical realities of space travel.
Discussed“Packing for Mars, the curious science of life in the void.”
Where to get it
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Fuzz
Mary Roach's Fuzz investigates how the natural world intersects with human law through wild animal behavior and wildlife crime.
Discussed“Last one is Fuzz When Nature Breaks the Law.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“You might also have heard of Momento my or a Far Cry from Kensington.”
“You might also have heard of Momento my or a Far Cry from Kensington.”