Here are our staff picks for the best nonfiction books published in 2017. See our favorite adult fiction and young adult and children’s books for 2017.
Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best Holiday Entertaining: THE perfect gift for someone who is just starting to host the holiday dinners. Beautifully simple-yet-delicious recipes for everything from soup to drinks. Mouth-wateringly illustrated. – Karen S., Doylestown Branch
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty: If you’ve watched Doughty’s popular “Ask a Mortician” YouTube videos, you know she’s spearheading the Death Positive movement and making it her mission to help us confront mortality, both our own and that of our loved ones. In her second book, Doughty takes us along as she travels the globe, from a Colorado mountaintop to a remote village in Indonesia, to explore how different cultures handle death and how our American relationship with death and dead bodies stacks up against the rest of the world. Doughty’s witty, refreshing voice makes her the perfect tour guide on your journey to death positivity. – Nicole L., Doylestown Branch
F*ucked: Being Sexually Explorative and Self-Confident in a World That’s Screwed by Krystyna Hutchinson and Corinne Fisher: Comediennes of the “Guys We F*ucked” podcast bring a hilarious book about sexuality, confidence, relationships, and loving yourself. – Marie D., Margaret Grundy Memorial Library
The Gift of Anger by Arun Gandhi: The grandson of Mohandas Gandhi recounts his childhood visits to his grandfather’s ashram. I never imagined life with the Mahatma to be easy. Still Gandhi-ji always had time to be a loving teacher to the children in his family. – Karen S., Doylestown Branch
The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria by Alia Malek: This memoir vividly narrates the history of a family and, through them, the history of a place and of the many peoples that have shaped it all the way up to the conflicts of today. It is highly readable, engaging, and personal. – Emily K., Quakertown Branch
It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree by A. J. Jacobs: An amusing and informative look at the nature of family, after all, if you go back far enough you are related to everyone. We learn a lot about cousins and genealogy, plus how to plan a reunion for 3,000 of our closest relatives. – Ceil H., Doylestown Branch
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley: An excellent biography on everything there is to know about Jane Austen, including good descriptions of the many places she lived, and which houses are gone and which remain. – Mary Beth C., Morrisville Free Library
Magical Destinations of the Northeast by Natalie Zaman: So, looking for magic in the northeastern USA? Go no further than this guidebook. Extensively researched, this handy reference will lead you to places you didn’t know existed. If De Lint is the King of Urban Fantasy settings, Natalie Zaman is the Queen of Magical Locations. – Karen S., Doylestown Branch
Nabakov’s Favorite Word is Mauve by Ben Blatt: Big Data meets literature in this playful and informative look at some of our favorite authors and their masterpieces. The differences between men and women authors, U.S. and U.K. authors, and how many authors don’t take their own advice when it comes to writing. Plus the answer to a mystery dating from Colonial times. – Ceil H., Doylestown Branch
Nomadland by Jessica Bruder: A journalist sets out on the road to explore the new phenomenon of “workampers,” who are migrant workers made up of transient older Americans who took to the road after discovering that their Social Security came up short and their mortgages were underwater. When your biggest expense is housing, going off the grid in a van or camper, becoming “houseless,” not homeless, is a way to stay independent. – Ceil H., Doylestown Branch
A Paris Year by Janice MacLeod: A year in Paris with a journal and a sketchbook. Not too much to ask, is it? I’d like to think that I could have created this beautiful book, full of whimsy, feeling, photographs, and fun facts. Maybe next year …. – Karen S., Doylestown Branch
Radical Candor: Be a Kick Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott: Building good relationships with your employees is key to good management. Scott’s method of radical candor identifies three ways to make that happen: make it personal, get it done, and understand why it matters. She builds on Sheryl Sandburg’s idea of “bring your entire self to work” and outlines and gives examples of ways people can be great managers and leaders. – Tracey R., Levittown Branch
Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen by Brittany Wood Nickerson: I’m an herbalist. I get picky about these kinds of books. This is a perfect book for someone wanting to learn more about incorporating herbs into their meals. Full of flavor and healthy choices. – Karen S., Doylestown Branch
Red Rooster Cookbook by Marcus Samuelsson: Exceptional recipes surrounded by stories of how music and food can influence and heal a community. Worth the read for the musicians’ stories alone, although there are some darn good recipes. – Karen S., Doylestown Branch
Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give by Ada Calhoun (Audiobook): I loved this audiobook. Wonderfully written (and read) by the author about the ups, downs, and all arounds of modern marriage and parenthood. Smart, funny, and sad at times, but honest writing. – Marie D., Margaret Grundy Memorial Library
