Some of the Best Nonfiction Books Ive Gifted

Since my spouse loves to read American history, I knew this modern classic would be a must-read for him. The Warmth of Other Suns follows three Americans who were part of the Great Migration, where Black people from across the South moved to the North, Midwest, and West Coast. Isabel Wilkerson also examines the impact of the Great Migration on generations of Black Americans and the broader impact the movement had on America as a whole.

I first recommended this book a few summers ago, and my spouse is still talking about it. “It has pirates on the high seas!” he said. Henry Every, the 17th century’s most notorious pirate, rules the high seas. The British government wanted him dead. But more than that, Steven Johnson argues that his nefarious deeds changed the course of the global economy. So, if you’re looking for adventure, epic sea battles, and just a general good time, Enemy of All Mankind is a must.

My spouse stumbled upon my copy of High on the Hog, and I couldn’t have been more delighted that he decided to pick it up. In her book, Harris describes how African cooks created one of the primary foundations for American cuisine as we know it today. She follows African American foodways, describing the growth of Black Southern cooking and how those food traditions traveled across the country during the Great Migration. High on the Hog is a must-read book (and now must-watch docuseries) for any food lover.