Non-Fiction

If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)

by Betty White

★★★

I have been a fan of Betty White since I was a child, although I will admit I did not know much about her as a person until after I reached high school. Listening to her narrate some of the experiences she originally wrote about allowed me to understand her in ways I had not previously. While I knew Betty was known for being a fun and sassy animal lover, I didn’t realize just how considerate she was for those around her. I never knew how much Betty focused on living life to the fullest, or how many tough decisions she had to make in regard to her career. I feel like readers got to see a whole new side to Betty since her stories gave the terms people used to describe her more meaning; descriptors that were once just words now felt deepened and validated through how she narrated her story. The experiences related were witty, heartfelt, and brutally honest. Anyone that chooses to read this book should do so as an audiobook if possible.

The Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan

by Enjeela Ahmadi-Miller

★★★

I snagged this as my Prime First Read a year or so ago, and I recently had the chance to actually read it. I found insights into what was occurring in Afghanistan during the 80s as the Soviet Union entered the nation. Enjeela recalls a variety of difficulties faced by her father, who was involved with politicians, and how it compared to her childhood experiences prior to the invasion. However, I did not like that it was written as if these very adult thoughts were coming from a child; while I recognize that children in wartime often grow up quickly, that is not the impression I received from the writing style. I also wish they would have made it more clear that this was written by a ghostwriter, John DeSimone. The pair explain well how Enjeela and her siblings escape Afghanistan by crossing through mountains on foot, traveling to Nepal, and much more to reunite with her mother and other siblings in India. Overall though, I can’t say that this memoir stands out much from the others detailing a similar escape from the same time period. 

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls

by Enjeela Ahmadi-Miller

★★

I randomly stumbled upon this audiobook while searching Libby for something to listen to with my fiancé…. It was odd, to say the least. Sedaris chose to tell stories that are all over the place, and they often left us both looking at each other and wondering what kind of drugs Sedaris was on while writing. The stories range from more mundane experiences- like visiting a dentist- to audio from his comedy performances. I can’t say I needed to hear this book though; while I believe every story is worth telling, this one was one I could have personally lived without hearing. Who knows though; someone is his target audience, so that might be you.

Yearbook

by Seth Rogan

★★★★★

Do yourself a favor and snag this audiobook ASAP! I got my copy on @libby.app and I wish I had got it sooner. Rogan tells stories from throughout his life, including his childhood. While he does mention a few of the movies he has done, they are not the focus of his book. He tells of wild adventures as a child comedian, trips to Amsterdam, and much more. I found his story funny and addictive; I found myself finding excuses to put this book above the others (ex. Cleaning, extra showers, driving others for errands, etc.). I never find myself that hooked on an audiobook, so that was a crazy experience. I wish I could experience this one for the first time all over again.

The Princess Diarist

by Carrie Fisher

★★★.5

If you love Carrie Fisher or the Star Wars series, this is an interesting audiobook to listen to. Fisher tells of her experiences as the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, how she ended up acting herself, and some of the prime developmental moments that made her who she was. Fisher reads the audiobook herself, and has granddaughter Billie Lorde read the chapter that is her diary entries. For Star Wars fans, Fisher tells a variety of stories from behind the scenes; these stories range from how the iconic buns came to be, her experiences with fans, and the controversial chapter on her brief affair with Harrison (or “Carrison” as they dub it). I snagged my copy through @libby.app, so check your local libraries for a copy.

The Subtle Art 0f Not Giving A F*ck &

Everything is F*cked 

by Mark Manson

★★★★

I have to say- these were both interesting reads for someone with an anxiety disorder that cares too much. The Subtle Art reminded me that it’s okay to care; I should, however, try to be more selective about what I really worry about. Obviously, that’s easier said than done, but I find it helpful when I remember all of the other people that are in the same position as me. I found the messages to really be complimented by ETF. Whenever I start to panic, I’ve been working on reminding myself that it does no good to hope or worry about the things that I cannot control; instead, I should focus my energy on things that I can actually change. I’m not a big self-help person, but I enjoyed these. There is something freeing about Manson’s radical views. While they may not be for everyone, I found some information that helped me. 

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsessions, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

by Kirk Wallace Johnson

★★★

I listened to the audiobook of The Feather Thief to complete the true crime prompt in a yearly reading challenge. I found the story of Edwin and his theft of 299 birds to be fairly interesting. While I was not hooked on his story by any means, I thought the concept of his obsession with the feathers was intriguing. Edwin’s crimes occurred in 2011, and the birds stolen included some originally collected by both Darwin and Wallace. His crimes made significant waves within the world of science, as many of these birds were 200+ years old. Johnson will walk you through how he learned of the case, Edwin’s fly-tying background that inspired the heist, how Edwin actually committed the crimes, and even the fallout after the birds were noticed to be missing. This was a weird topic to spend 5+ hours on, but I can’t say I regret it. If you are looking for something different to read or listen to, The Feather Thief just may be worth checking out.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

★★★

I’ve always had an interest in science, but I have also had a limited attention span for learning about mathematics-based sciences such as physics (I can admit that I’m a math hater). The audiobook, read by deGrasse Tyson himself, squeezes a ton of information into 5 hours of listening for listeners with minimal time to devote to learning about astrophysics. I found myself listening to his explanations of theories and various hypotheses when I needed something factual to help reduce my anxiety. While deGrasse Tyson presents a variety of new vocabulary and advanced astrophysics concepts, he definitely does so in a way that most people could follow along (although having taken high school or college-level physics would probably help enrich the listener’s understanding). While deGrasse Tyson’s book won’t leave you prepared to conduct your own experiments or call yourself an astrophysicist, AFPIH will provide you with the basic understanding of astrophysics that you will need to follow along with a variety of scientific news and discussions. I found my copy via Libby, so it was worth listening to for free. I would recommend this book to someone who does want to learn about astrophysics quickly. 

Dolly Parton, Songteller

by Dolly Parton

★★★

I love Dolly’s music, so I decided to check out the audiobook. I found my copy via @libby.app. I thought it was cool that Dolly could explain the inspiration and meanings behind many of her famous songs, and I was able to immediately hear a part of the very song being discussed. I didn’t know very much about Dolly’s upbringing, besides her having been a Christian woman raised in Tennessee, so her book gave a lot of interesting background information. Dolly addresses everything from her philosophy, to her musical beginnings, to the rumors that followed her throughout her career. While I liked learning more about Dolly, I didn’t find myself super hooked or constantly wanting to listen to the audiobook. Overall, I can’t complain; I wouldn’t listen to the audiobook a second time, but I would recommend it to Dolly fans.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

by Matthew Perry

★★★★★

I’m not a huge memoir person, but I decided to give Perry’s a go since I loved how he portrayed Chandler; I became intrigued when I heard that he was practically playing himself. His story is heartbreaking, and it truly shows the complexity of addiction and maintaining sobriety. While I thankfully have never fallen down that rabbit hole myself, I have known enough addicts to have seen life like Perry’s play out (minus the resources that come with Hollywood money). I was intrigued by his traumas and I had moments where I felt I could relate to some of his self-deprecating thoughts during my darkest moments, however, this eventually got to be a bit repetitive. While the memoir is the story of Perry’s life, a solid 85% is actually about his addiction. I get addiction essentially becomes a person's life, but it could get tedious at times to repeatedly read how he felt that he wasn’t good enough or how much Vicodin he was taking. I wish I could have learned more about his relationships with people, his interests outside of acting and tennis, etc… Like in his daily life, he seems to have allowed his addiction to become his story. While I still hold great respect for Perry as an actor and writer, I found his memoir to be fairly average. I would recommend checking his book out if you are curious about how the mind of an addict works, but it will only help so much if you hope to get to know Perry as a person. 

I'm Glad My Mom Died

by Jennette McCurdy

★★★★★

I waited for months before this book became available via Libby. It was absolutely worth it! McCurdy’s story touched me in ways that I didn’t expect. While Jennette details everything from her Hollywood start to her journey to better health, I found myself most intrigued by her descriptions of her struggles with anxiety and OCD. It’s never been a secret that I have depression, nor is it much of a secret that a large portion of the population does too; however, I have not had one of my childhood icons actually express that they were dealing with so many of the same anxiety issues as I was at the same age. She put some of my hardest-to-describe feelings into words, especially those pertaining to myself and food. Although she’ll likely never see this, I still want to thank Jennette for making me feel seen and understood; I just hope that now she feels seen for who she truly is as well. I had so much frustration and judgement towards her mother while reading this, and it makes me sad to know there are others out there going through the same things McCurdy did. I’m grateful for her candor, and I applaud the efforts she went to in order to get better. I don’t want to try to summarize her complex combinations of experiences, so you’ll have to check this one out to learn more! 

Greenlights

by Matthew McConaughey

★★★★★

I snagged the audiobook edition on @libby.app from my local library. I loved every minute of it. McConaughey discusses everything- his hopes, his dreams (both normal and wet), and the hardest lessons he’s learned. This isn’t a traditional memoir, but it is full of his life stories. His tales are funny, brutally honest, and full of knowledge to share with listeners. McConaughey doesn’t set out to tell listeners what to do; he strives to tell listeners what he has done. I loved learning about his travels and the reasons for some of the choices that would be most questionable in public opinion. The six hours it’ll take to listen to this story (beautifully told by McConaughey himself) will pass by in no time. I highly recommend checking out Greenlights if you’re looking for something funny but reflective.

From Crook to Cook

by Snoop Dogg

★★★★

If you know how to make some magic happen in the kitchen, you should definitely check out Snoop’s cookbook. He provides recipes for fancy meals, but he also includes some hood staples. His recipes are clear to follow, and many of them can be made for a low price. His commentary can be pretty entertaining too. This cookbook has everything from breakfast to Snoop’s favorite drinks. He even provides lists of his favorite restaurants, cereals, chips, etc… I found a few new recipes I’d like to try.

Lost at School

by Ross W. Greene

★★★★★

If you are a parent or teacher that works with “problem” children, this is a must read. Greene uses his educational experience and research to introduce the Collaborative and Proactive Strategies (CPS) model. He will give you ways to work with challenging children (and these tips can be used with adults too) rather than constantly having to tell them what they should be doing or disciplining them. Greene’s goal is to solve the problems before they begin- children’s misbehavior is a symptom of lacking skills, but the behaviors are not the problem themselves. Greene is essentially coming up with a way to cure the child issues rather than educators continuing to just putting a band aid on them. I’m not normally into professional development books, but Greene had my interest. I especially like that we get to follow the story of one teacher’s struggle with “challenging” kids to help reinforce the concepts learned in each chapter. Greene will really challenge you to reconsider the way you see the classroom if you give this book a go. I can’t wait to try this in my own classroom. There is so much more I could say about this book, but I’ll leave it at this: get to reading 

Will

by Will Smith

★★★★

If you grew up watching the Fresh Prince in action, you’d probably love this book. Smith tells readers about his childhood, his introduction to the hip-hop scene, and later how he begins his career as an actor. I’m not big on memoirs, but Will had me unsure if I wanted to laugh or cry. Smith serves as a fantastic reminder of why it is important to find that work-personal life balance, as he explains his struggles and successes as he tries to navigate both parts of his life. Smith does not hide the mistakes he has made, so this allows readers to get to know Will in a way we haven’t previously. He tackles universal issues such as anxiety, fear of abandonment, and much more. If you saw the conversation starting slap at the awards recently like I did, then this book just may help you understand what was going on in Smith’s head as that happened. I loved Smith as a kid, and I’ll still support him now.

The Cannabis Apothecary

Laurie Wolf

★★★★

As a cannabis patient and someone that makes edibles regularly, I read this from the perspective of "would I recommend this to someone looking to add CBD/THC to their life?" The answer is yes. Wolf gives a rundown of the basics of what wacky tabacky is, and explains the differences between the variety of strains and terpenes so users can understand how they may affect them. Wolf also provided tips on how patients (or even recreational users) can make their tinctures, oils, and edibles. I found the edible recipes were up to snuff, although they are purposefully done at reduced THC/CBD levels since Wolf plans for people with the lowest tolerance (and explains how to increase potency for those with higher tolerance). Wolf manages to balance background knowledge and written information with recipes and how-to guides surprisingly well. Whether you're a cannabis rookie or a long-time user just looking to find ways to make more of your own products, this is a handy book to have around.

A Dream Called Home

by Reyna Grande

★★★★★

Grande tells the story of her efforts to secure her dream- to have a real home, a family that loves her as much as she loves them, and to make it as a writer- in her latest memoir. She describes the difficulties she faced within her personal life, as well as the struggles she faced within the world of academia. Grande reminds Latinx writers, especially Latina writers, that there is a space for them in the world. She emphasizes her first experiences getting to learn about Latina writers in her university courses, and how much is meant for her to finally find something that reflected her own life. With tales of poverty, healing, and determination, Grande's story is one that most can empathize with. 

The Dirt

by Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Neil Strauss

★★★★★

Their story is hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful. The Dirt details Mötley Crüe’s rise to fame as well as the band’s end. There were so many moments that I found myself actually laughing out loud, and yet, they could have me ready to scream or cry the next moment. The Crüe men convey the sense of wildness and adventure so well that the feeling is almost tangible. I loved that they did not hide their darkest moments in an attempt to make themselves look like better men; they acknowledge the pain they have caused themselves and others. Each member explains some of the past traumas and experiences they went through that made them the men they are- but they also admit that they weren’t always able to overcome those moments in life. The most heartbreaking moment of all was Vince’s chapter about Skylar; seeing her little chubby cheeks in combination with learning of the hell she went through left me ready to cry. I can’t begin to imagine the depths of pain and helplessness in that situation. After reading each members’ stories, it is no wonder that they all come off a tad bit crazy; it was also likely partially why their music was so great. I do warn that there is an abundance of sex and chaos, and enough drugs to make you wonder if *you* are the only sober one left (I can bet that the story is more fun though if you’re not). Readers, approach with caution- this book is not for the sensitive or weak-of-heart.

The Complete Maus

by Art Spiegelman

★★★★★

Maus is the perfect novel for people who enjoy reading historical fiction and biographies. Art's father, Vladek, tells Art of his time in the Holocaust and the events surrounding it- but his tale is told in graphic novel format. I have found that war stories make some of the most compelling stories, and Maus is no different. As Spiegelman bounces between modern day with his dad as he collects his stories and the 1940s, readers can see some of the ways the war altered him for life. The different ethnicities are represented by animal species (frogs for the French, mice for the Jews, cats for the Germans, dogs for the Americans, etc.). Readers will follow Vladek from before the war begins to his release from Auschwitz, learning about a variety of people along the way. The graphic novel can be purchased as a complete edition as shown above, or individually (Maus 1 and 2). This is a super quick read, and I found it worked great in my classes when we opted to discuss the Holocaust.