Nonfiction, But Make it Cozy: 6 Favorites for Slow Afternoons

Something I'm embarrassed to admit when talking to avid readers: Nonfiction wasn’t really my thing until the last couple of years. I used to stubbornly think of it as dry infodumps or dense biographies that I should read but never actually wanted to. Somewhere along the way, though, I started picking up titles about things I already loved: nature, teaching, farming, weird little science facts -- and suddenly it started to feel… fun? Like, sit-on-the-porch-with-an-iced-coffee kind of fun.

I don’t claim to be a nonfiction expert, not even close - heck, you're probably the expert if you clicked this link and I'd love to learn FROM YOU (check out the end of this post) but I have found a few nonfiction books that have really stuck with me. Here's six books that made me think, scribble notes in the margins like I was preparing for an imaginary pop quiz, or close the book mid-sentence just to sit with an idea for a minute:

• A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold

When people ask me: "What's your favorite book?" This is the one I tell them. Unfailingly.

Sand County is a classic for a reason. It’s a collection of short reflections on the land, conservation, wildlife, and Leopold’s own experiences out on his farm. This is slow reading in the best way - like walking barefoot on familiar ground with someone who is teaching you about all the plants, tracks, and trees you thought you knew everything about.

I find myself going back to this one with a pencil (or pen...or highlighter) in hand, underlining sentences like I’ll need them later (and I usually do). In fact, Shane (my husband) informed me he wouldn't even attempt to read my battered copy - it's definitely well-loved.

• West with the Night – Beryl Markham

Did I expect to fall in love with a memoir about a woman flying planes over Africa in the 1930s? Nope. This is one of those books where the writing itself is the main event though and I did fall in love with it, page by page. Markham’s life is wild enough on its own, but her descriptions? Stunning. This one made me want to sit under the sky and stare at clouds for a while.

If you love adventure stories (or zebras) with beautifully crafted sentences → this is the one.

• The Happiest Man on Earth – Eddie Jaku

This one is short, powerful, and one of those books you’ll want to hand to someone the minute you finish it. I practically RAN to Facebook to talk about The Happiest Man on Earth. Eddie Jaku was a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to kindness and hope - and this book is his story. I finished this one in a single afternoon with a lump in my throat, but also weirdly energized by his outlook on life. 

• Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction – Michelle Nijhuis

This is where my inner ecology nerd really kicked in. Beloved Beasts tells the story of the conservation movement, not as a single story but as a whole tangle of people, mistakes, victories, and learning curves. Nijhuis is honest about the messy parts, which I appreciated, but also hopeful about the work being done today.

Good for anyone who loves a mix of history + environmental science + real talk about the world we live in. Bonus: The audiobook is bangin'. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – Stephen King

I'm not a King reader... so, listen when I say this: Even if you don’t love horror, On Writing is a surprisingly cozy read and it changed my outlook on writing forever. Part memoir, part writing advice, part “hey, here’s how I survived a near-death experience and still managed to write books.” I read this one mostly because I wanted to know how a famous author actually works, but I came away with a whole notebook full of good reminders about writing, discipline, and how to just start.

Also → there’s a whole section about his love for adverbs that makes me laugh every time.

• Unbroken – Laura Hillenbrand

You probably already know this story - I think it makes the cut on EVERY nonfiction list you come across - but if you don’t, buckle up. It’s the true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who survives a plane crash, weeks at sea, and then imprisonment during WWII. I needed several porch sessions to get through this one because it’s heavy, but wow—is it worth it. Hillenbrand’s storytelling is so good that you kind of forget you’re reading nonfiction.

Fun fact: I purchased a classroom set of the Young Adult version and created a unit for my 8th graders when I was teaching Reading. Even they loved it - and, if it pleases an 8th grader - you know it's worth it.

• Bonus Recommendation: A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough

I mean… it’s David Attenborough. His voice alone could lull me into watching a chronicle on snails, but this book is just as thoughtful as his documentaries. This one’s both a love letter and a call to action for the planet. Slow, thoughtful, and beautifully written. I’m really glad this one’s on my shelf.

On My Nonfiction TBR Stack:

Because my to-be-read stack is unconquerable at this point...

→ The Naturalist: Theodore Roosevelt, A Lifetime of Exploration, and the Triumph of American Natural History by Darrin Lunde
→ The World-Ending Fire by Wendell Berry
→ The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line by Mari K. Eder

→ The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

I’ll report back when I’ve worked through them - preferably on the porch when it's not 90 degrees outside. I wasn't ready for this mid-Missouri heat wave. 😅

What nonfiction books have stuck with you? What’s on your TBR stack right now? Leave a comment or share wherever you’re reading these days—I’m always adding to the pile.