As much as my book clubs have always tended to gravitate towards fiction for our meetings, I am relentless in my pursuit of throwing good non-fiction books for book club into the mix. I feeling like we have had some of the most engaging and interesting discussions centering on some of non-fiction book club picks.
Memoirs, general non-fiction about interesting or relevant topics and even self-help have all generated some great book club discussions in my many book clubs I’ve been apart of through the years.
So if your book club is looking for some good non-fiction books for book clubs, here are some that I think would be GREAT for book club or ones I’ve personally read WITH my own book clubs over the years.
I’ve tried to not pick some of the SUPER popular ones that most book clubs have probably already read (Educated, Wild, The Glass Castle, Hillbilly Elegy, etc.) just because I want to give some different picks. Those books are all super worthy of book club discussions though if your book club hasn’t yet read them.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. Please see my disclosure policy for more info
Other Book Club Resources:
- The Ultimate List of Book Club Books
- Short Book Club Books
- Best YA Books For Book Clubs
- How To Find A Book Club Near You
- How To Start A Book Club
- Great Book Club Ideas
- Best Book Club Gift Ideas
Want a seamless way to manage and organize your book club?
Book Clubs is a (FREE!) game-changer when it comes to managing and organizing your book club all in one place so you can focus on the books and the conversation without endless text threads, Facebook groups, etc! You can start or organize a club, get great book club suggestions, managing what your club is going to read or even find a book club to join. Check it out here.
Great Non-Fiction Books For Book Clubs
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
A short book club book but a powerful one!
The author is one of the first undocumented Americans to graduate Harvard and in this book she shares the stories of undocumented Americans from all walks of life and different situations.
It’s honest, raw and I guarantee you there will be so much to talk about from the stories to themselves and the larger picture of what it means to be an undocumented person in this country.
I still could cry think about some of these stories and this is one book and this is one of my latest non-fiction book club recommendations I can’t shut up about because it left such a lasting mark on me!
Know My Name By Chanel Miller
This is a popular one that probably many have read but I cannot recommend it enough (the audiobook especially!) if your book club hasn’t. I wanted to discuss this, all of its facets, immediately after reading it!
All the triggers for sexual assault but this is one of those books that I will never forget.
So many things to talk about — victim blaming, rape culture in society, how the justice system fails victims sometimes, media coverage of stories like this etc. Chanel’s voice is so powerful and gives so much more beyond the headlines we all saw during the time this story dominated the news cycle.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
This one is so thought-provoking and intimate! It’s a coming of age memoir about a Black queer boy coming of age and the intersection between those two identities for him. It is vulnerable, powerful and I hung on to every word as he told his story and explored things like identity and belonging. One of the best memoirs I’ve read!
North of Normal by Cea Sunrise Person
If your book club enjoyed books like The Glass Castle or Educated, definitely give this one a try.
It tells the story of woman who grew up completely off the grid in the Canadian backwoods with her young mom and hippy grandparents as well as a ill-fated stint on the road with her mom and mom’s boyfriend. As she explores more of the world she craves a normal existence and as a teen makes a huge decision to afford her that shot of “normal.”
Definitely a story of an unconventional and dysfunctional family! It’s also an upcoming book to movie adaptation!
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
This was the non-fiction book that made me realize that I actually liked non-fiction outside of memoirs! It tells the story of what it was like for being during the Dust Bowl as well as gives context and understanding to why it happened. If your book club enjoys non-fiction about history or stories of environmental disaster, check this one out. Could also be an interesting one to pair with The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.
The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
Oh my heart! This is a book about a man who spends 30 years on Death Row for a crime he didn’t commit. Incredibly infuriating that the legal/justice systems can fail so greatly but also a great story of strength, hope and perseverance in the midst of truly unimaginable circumstances.
His story is gripping and definitely a book to examine and discuss racial injustice, the legal/justice system, corruption within these systems, incarceration in America, etc. If your book club loved Just Mercy, check this one out!
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
If your book club just loves interesting non-fiction books that aren’t memoirs, check this one out!
This one is so FASCINATING and will give so much fodder for discussion! It dives into cults and cult influence — from real live cults like Jonestown to Scientology to cult-like adjacent things like SoulCycle, MLMs and social media influencers. But she really dives into the language aspects of it which I find fascinating!!
Such an interesting and good non-fiction book for book clubs –especially if you are looking for something outside of memoirs!
Good Talk by Mira Jacob
Graphic memoirs are quickly becoming my new favorite sub-genre (Dancing at the Pity Party blew me away!).
This one is a wonderful graphic memoir depicting (mostly) the conversations between the author and her 6 year old mixed race son. It delves into topics like race, the political climate we find ourselves in, immigration and more! As a parent, this is a must read!
It’s so thoughtful, emotional and it made me think so much about all the future conversations I will have with Riley on these important topics. There’s humor mixed with some heavy stuff and will definitely be a good non-fiction book to get your book club talking!
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb
This is such a thought-provoking, relatable book and would be such a good non-fiction book club suggestion for your group! It’s about a therapist who, after a breakup that causes her world to crumble, finds herself going to a therapist herself. It delivers wisdom and insight in between her sessions with her own therapist and those with some of her clients as well as a look into the profession. A great book about mental health and therapy that I think will resonate with book clubs!
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Another one of the best non-fiction books for book club if your group previously loved books like The Glass Castle or Educated. It’s about a woman’s story of growing up in a polygamist community/cult in rural Mexico. It’s a heart-breaking read but you won’t be able to put it down! Such a good memoir for book clubs!
In The Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez-Savado
This one is a newer one that I think is great for book clubs who like inspiring and adventurous memoirs like Wild as well as memoirs about people overcoming great adversity.
The author is one of the few women who has ever summited Mt. Everest and she tells her story of that adventure while also weaving in her story of her upbringing (so difficult to read at times!), her struggle with alcoholism, her sexuality and her rising career as a Latina in a male-dominated Silicon Valley. Definitely trigger warnings abound on this one so check out reviews (this review has a thorough list of them).
After The Last Border by Jessica Goudeau
A look at the lives of two women and their families seeking asylum in the US, as part of the refugee resettlement program, woven in with the story and history of immigration as well as the policies that shape it all right now. It’s the kind of book where I feel like I was gripped by the stories but I also came away learning something about a topic I didn’t fully understand. Definitely makes for a great book club conversation if your book club likes talking about social issues in a way that feels personal but also doesn’t shy away from delving in to the policy/history side of things, too.
So those are the books that I think are the best non-fiction books for book clubs! What are your non-fiction book club suggestions? I’d love to hear which ones have produced great discussion or that you’ve really enjoyed yourself?
P.S.
Check out these other posts for more book recommendations:
- Must Adult Fiction Books For 2024
- Most Anticipated YA Fiction Books For 2024
- Most Anticipated Thrillers & Mystery Books
Leave a Reply