non fiction

A travel writer retraces Hiram Bingham's historic journey through Peru, combining adventure narrative with the fascinating history of the 'discovery' of Machu Picchu.

A thought-provoking exploration of the modern food chain, tracing four meals from their origins to the table while examining America's relationship with food.

A gripping true story of the last American evacuation from Can Tho, Vietnam, as the city fell to the Viet Cong in 1975.

A fascinating exploration of how four plants - apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes - have shaped human history as much as we've shaped them.

The inspiring memoir of Heather 'Anish' Anderson's record-breaking Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and her journey to find herself in the wilderness.

Colin O'Brady's gripping account of his solo, unsupported, and unassisted crossing of Antarctica - a feat many thought impossible.

John C. Maxwell explores eleven types of thinking that successful people use, offering strategies for developing better mental habits and decision-making skills.

An anthropologist examines how job seeking has transformed in the modern economy, exploring the new rules, rituals, and frustrations of finding employment today.

The true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who abandoned everything to live in the Alaskan wilderness, and the tragic end of his journey into the wild.

Gregg Olsen's devastating true crime account of the Knotek sisters and their mother's horrifying abuse and murders. Difficult but important reading about survival, sisterhood, and finally breaking silence. Expertly researched and sensitively handled despite disturbing content.

Mollie Player's memoir-meets-guide about her family's experiment living with minimal possessions for a year. Personal narrative about discovering what's truly essential through radical decluttering. Engaging storytelling but limited practical application.

Chloe White's minimalism guide about simplifying life to achieve more with fewer possessions and commitments. Practical advice on decluttering, time management, and intentional living. Familiar minimalism territory without much innovation.

A profound memoir by neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi, written as he faced terminal lung cancer at age 36. An extraordinary meditation on life, death, meaning, and what makes life worth living when facing mortality. A modern classic of the genre.

Legendary climber Anatoli Boukreev's firsthand account of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, offering a different perspective on the tragedy that claimed eight lives and sparked intense debate about high-altitude mountaineering ethics and decision-making.

A renowned Stanford psychologist examines how racial bias works in the brain and society, drawing on decades of research to reveal how unconscious bias shapes our perceptions and actions in profound ways.

The true story of the secret World War II operations between Shetland and Norway. A gripping account of courage, danger, and resistance during the Nazi occupation.

A compelling philosophy for technology use in the modern age, arguing for a minimalist approach to digital tools. Cal Newport makes the case for being highly intentional about which technologies you allow into your life and how you use them.

The riveting story of Alex Honnold's historic free solo climb of El Capitan's 3,000-foot Dawn Wall, and the obsessive pursuit of perfection in one of the most dangerous athletic achievements ever attempted.