Every year we ask our staff across the library system for their favorite books published in the current year. Enjoy this variety of nonfiction staff favorites, with annotations by staff members or as noted. (Created November 2023)
Pageboy
"One of those books you hear loads about before it's even published. While the revealing nature of the book was worth picking this one up, Elliot Page layers in heartfelt and personal stories that let it stand aside from its "Celebrity Memoir" buzzword. Audiobook is narrated by Page himself." (Dylan Z.)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View PageboySweet Enough
"Those who like a more casual, carefree approach to baking will appreciate this, where the aim is for a delicious, not perfect, result." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Sweet EnoughThe Creative Act
"Grammy-winning music producer Rubin debuts with a meditative manual on how to boost one’s creativity. Music fans will rejoice." (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View The Creative ActBlack Ball
"A fascinating look at the Black basketball players of the 1960s and 70s who challenged the prevailing attitudes and rules of the NBA, ultimately creating the league we know and love today – from the style of play, to the deep engagement with wider social issues." (Andrea)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Black BallThe Flavor Thesaurus
"Times food columnist Segnit explores the power of unexpected flavor combinations in this tantalizing and inspiring follow-up to "The Flavor Thesaurus." Focused on plant-forward ingredients, this handy reference offers tasty vegetable match-ups for creative cookery, organized within 19 "flavour families.""Â (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View The Flavor ThesaurusBrave the Wild River
"I found the tale of these two intrepid women braving the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon captivating, and loved the details of process and procedure. Quite honestly, it had never occurred to me to wonder how all the myriad plants of our world were (re-)discovered, organized, categorized, by white folks. And I appreciated the repeated acknowledgement of Indigenous land stewardship and knowledge that predate the narrative time frame. "(Andrea)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Brave the Wild RiverSocial Justice Fallacies
"Short read, covering five areas including “equal chances". Has extensive bibliography of more than 50 pages." (Marion)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Social Justice FallaciesEasily Slip Into Another World
"An American composer and saxophonist recounts a long, extraordinarily accomplished life in music. A vivid, vigorous memoir that every budding musician should read." (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Easily Slip Into Another WorldMud Ride
"Turner, guitarist for the Seattle grunge band Mudhoney, offers his recollections about the rise and fall of the grunge scene. … his book, with its insider's perspective, takes music fanatics on an enjoyable romp through the grunge heyday." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Mud RideFire Weather
"A riveting, sobering look at why wildfires have become so destructive in the 21st century, digging into how fires behave, the impact of climate change, and the case study of the devastating 2016 fire in Fort McMurray, home to Alberta's bituminous oil sands." (Andrea)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Fire Weather