Largehearted Boy: Favorite Nonfiction of 2021

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December 9, 2021

Favorite Nonfiction of 2021

Largehearted Boy's Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2020

The highlights of my reading this year have been suffused with nonfiction. Books by Brian Broome, Elissa Washuta, and Melissa Febos in particular offered worldviews that shook and tilted my own.

These are the nonfiction books I have most recommended to friends, family, and anyone else who has crossed my path this year (my personal metric for "favorite").

Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome

Brian Broome's memoir Punch Me Up to the Gods is transportive, moving, and unforgettable. One of the strongest memoirs I have ever read.

White Magic by Elissa Washuta

Elissa Washuta's collection White Magic is yet another example of why she is one of the most talented essay writers writing today. Moving, smart, and resonant, these intertwined pieces are brilliant.

Night Rooms by Gina Nutt

Gina Nutt's magnificent essay collection Night Rooms is filled with views of life filtered through the lens of horror cinema. A moving and unforgettable book.

Black Boy Out of Time by Hari Ziyad

Hari Ziyad's memoir Black Boy Out of Time is a moving and important testament about being queer and Black in America.

Flight of the Diamond Smugglers by Matthew Gavin Frank

Creative nonfiction is one of my favorite literary genres, and Matthew Gavin Frank is one of its most talented writers. Flight of the Diamond Smugglers blends investigative reporting, memoir, and natural history into a compelling and unforgettable book.