As part of our summer reading program, we asked you to write book reviews of what you were reading this summer. We loved getting your reviews and are excited to share them on our blog. If you’re looking for another fun read to get you through the summer, here are some nonfiction recommendations from our patrons.
Adult Nonfiction Recommendations
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
By Charles Duhigg
Adult Nonfiction
This book was really interesting. It gave a lot of different short snippets and stories of real people. It had a lot of scientific experiments that were conducted with results that were quite surprising. I found the book to be very interesting, captivating, and helpful. It gives you the steps and research behind changing your own bad habits, how to do it, and even how it can be beneficial for many specific bad habits.
Review by Devrie W.
Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most
By Greg McKeown
Adult Nonfiction
I have really enjoyed reading Greg McKeown’s books. He brings great insights on how to spend less time working on tasks but still produce a great product/results. It is very well written. It gives great examples of ways to motivate ourselves to start tasks that are boring or mundane. He also talks about ways to make unappealing things more enjoyable by adding music or doing it in a better environment.
Review by Michelle C.
The Folding Lady: Tools and Tricks for Making the Most of Your Space Room by Room
By Sophie Liard
Adult Nonfiction
I love this book. It was such a good mix of stories and content along with practical applications. The graphics were great when it comes to learning how to fold and I love that the folding is more about creating an easier life, not just to look nice, even though it does look nice too.
Review by Oakli V.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
By Susan Cain
Adult Nonfiction
For the last 25 years of my life, I’ve been trying to change the introverted aspects of my character. Until I read Quiet, I never identified that the things I was trying to change about myself were introverted characteristics. As I read, I found myself saying “Yes! Yes! Yes!” as I read about introverts. I felt understood and validated as I realized so many things about myself that I saw as less than desirable are completely normal characteristics of introverts. After reading the book, I feel more comfortable embracing my introversion and have an easier time seeing it as a strength. I know not everybody who reads the book loves it though. Extroverted members of my book club felt like it was devaluing extroverts, and thus didn’t like it. But even the extroverts realized that all of us have some introverted tendencies, especially the need for some quiet recharge time by ourselves. I hope that as extroverts read it, they don’t take it as an attack on their personality, but come with an open mind, ready to understand and appreciate their introverted peers. I’m very grateful to Susan Cain for writing this book. giving a voice to the experiences of introverts, a group of people less likely to voice their experiences.
Review by Julie T.
Why Meadow Died: The People and Policies That Created the Parkland Shooter and Endanger America’s Students
By Andrew Pollack and Max Eden
Adult Nonfiction
This book is about the Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It gives an alternate perspective on how the Broward School District failed the students and what the parent tried to do to change it. Warning: contains some adult themes and language.
Review by Julie R.
The Joy of X: A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity
By Steven Strogatz
Adult Nonfiction
Surprisingly understandable. I feel like I’m finally maybe sort of starting to understand different types of infinity and a tiny bit of calculus. The history of certain mathematical concepts and whatnot was really interesting.
Review by Sarah
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet
By John Green
Adult Nonfiction
A new nonfiction set of essays by John Green is maybe the most vulnerable and truly endearing read I’ve enjoyed in a while. It’s honest and open and hopeful. I love it. The audio version is also really great and performed by the author. The essays, which all tell a story of their own, build this picture of what it’s like to be human and really live now. I highly recommend it.
Review by Arti T.
