We’re closing out our 2018 Staff Picks lists with Best Adult Nonfiction. The titles suggested focus on true crime, memoir, history, and the opioid crisis.
- Barracoon; the Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston:
- Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropologist who later became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, wrote Barracoon based on a series of interview with Cudjo Lewis (born Oluale Kossola), the last living enslaved person brought to the United States in the slave ship, Clothilda. Although importation of enslaved persons into the United States was illegal at that time, he was brought into the country on a smuggler’s ship and held in slavery until the end of the Civil War. Unable to raise enough money to return to Africa, Lewis and other former captives from the Clothilda purchased land and began a community where they retained some of the language and customs of their home. Hurston made a controversial decision which is part of the reason that Barracoon was not published until almost ninety years after it was written — she relayed Lewis’ words in the vernacular. Although there was some concern that this would make the book too hard to read, or that it would take away from what he had to say, I felt that the use of Lewis’ own vocabulary and emphasis conveyed the power of his life. He endured overwhelming losses, but created life and hope and community for the people around him. This is a history book that documents humanity, and it is well worth reading. — Mary Catherine B., Doylestown District Library Center
- Hurston’s finally published account of one of the last-known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. Hurston’s perspective and Cudjo Lewis’ words are an essential piece of history. — Tracey R., Warminster Township Free Library
- Dopesick by Beth Macy: A gripping look at the way the opioid crisis has taken hold of rural America. Critical in understanding how we got to where we are today, and the roles and responsibilities of Big Pharma. — Tracey R., Warminster Township Free Library
- Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond: More people are evicted in this country every day than die from opioid overdoses. Desmond looks at this epidemic from eight different perspectives with eye-opening intimacy and heartbreak. — Tracey R., Warminster Township Free Library
- Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis: Realistic, relevant, and relatable, Girl, Wash Your Face will motivate women to be the best version of themselves in today’s world. — Jess R., Langhorne Branch
- Heavy by Kiese Laymon: “In this powerful and provocative memoir, genre-bending essayist and novelist Kiese Laymon explores what the weight of a lifetime of secrets, lies, and deception does to a black body, a black family, and a nation teetering on the brink of moral collapse” (from the publisher). — Steve L., Levittown Branch
- I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara: McNamara was an incredible investigator and writer, and this book is worth the read (or listen) just due to her strong, blunt prose. Her hunt for the Golden State Killer, and her untimely death, make this a must-read. — Kate T., Doylestown District Library Center
- Let it Bang: a Young Black Man’s Reluctant Odyssey into Guns by R.J. Young: “A story of race, guns, and self-protection in America today, through the quest — funny and searing — of a young black man learning to shoot a handgun better than a white person” (from the publisher). — Steve L., Levittown Branch
- The Library Book by Susan Orlean: for anyone who loves books about books and libraries. Orlean sheds light on the mystery behind the fire at the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, which burned four hundred thousand books and damaged another seven hundred thousand more. She delves into the history of the library from its humble beginnings and introduces readers to the librarians who helped the Los Angeles Public Library become what it is today. — Holly A., Doylestown District Library Center
- Northland by Porter Fox: It was a quick read, encompassing travel, history, and societal concerns of present-day populations in the areas of our northern border. Very interesting! — Robin T., Levittown Branch
- The Radium Girls by Kate Moore: Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives. — Terri R., Riegelsville Public Library
- Under the Knife by Arnold van de Laar: If you like vivid descriptions of notable surgeries, from ancient times to the present, mixed in with the famous people who needed them, this is the book for you. From JFK to Pope John Paul II to Bob Marley, these essays are filled with trial and error, plus some gore. How our bodies can heal from all kinds of terrible things is amazing. — Ceil H., Doylestown District Library Center
