My Favorite Non-fiction

These are some of my favorite non-fiction books that I’ve read thus far. The titles include The Great Displacement by Jake Bittle, Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis, The Book of Delights by Ross Gay, Orientalism by Edward Said, and The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.

The Great Displacement by Jake Bittle includes stories of migration due to climate change. The climate crisis is not a future problem; it is happening now. Listen to the perspectives of people whose lives have been affected by the ongoing climate crisis.

This book was equal parts depressing and inspiring. This reminded me that the climate crisis is much closer than some people realize. I hated learning about how the U.S. government denies Indigenous people the rights to their land. I loved hearing from all the different people who, despite everything, still persisted. Overall, this is an amazing book for people interested in learning about climate justice!

Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis is a collection of essays, interviews, and speeches from the trailblazing activist Angela Davis. She connects oppressive systems from Palestine to South Africa to Ferguson.

I knew that I needed to read at least one book by Angela Davis, and I wanted this to be my first. I read this book in 2024, and I needed it at that time. I listened to the audiobook, so it felt like Angela Davis was sitting and telling me about her perspective on things. If you are looking for an intersectional view of justice, please read this book!

The Book of Delights by Ross Gay contains a collection of essayettes from famed poet Ross Gay. He documents each day of the year with its own delight. The book serves as a reminder to remember that mundane things can spark joy.

My dear friend gave me this book before I graduated from college. I read this book when I felt confused, lonely, and hopeless. This book reminded me that joy is around every corner. There are delights for those with eyes to see. This book is for those of you who could use a little joy each day.

Orientalism by Edward Said serves as a critical analysis of the history and theory of Orientalism, the academic discipline that studies Northern Africa and South Asia. Said argues that othering the East is a form of Western domination.

My two main loves include history and hating on Western colonialism. This book satisfies both of those. I will admit that it took me a long time to read this book, but it is worth it. I have a physical copy, and I made myself an audiobook version. Please read this if you want to better understand the ongoing relationship between the West and the “Orient.”

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander offers an account of the rebirth of a caste-like system in the United States through the prison industrial complex. This book reveals that slavery did not end, instead, it just changed shape.

I read this book for a class in high school. After reading it, I felt fundamentally changed. I knew that the prison industrial complex was bad and disproportionally affected Black and Brown people, but this gave me quantitative proof. Since reading this, I have continued learning about incarceration rates, police brutality, and the prison industry. This research is not for the faint of heart, so please proceed with caution.

Some honorable mentions include All About Love by bell hooks (go read my November 2026 book reviews), Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, A Fort of Nine Towers by Qais Akbar Omar, Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H (go read my September 2025 book review), The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates (go read my July 2025 book review), and Who is Wellness For by Fariha Roisin.