The Big Picture: March Nonfiction at a Glance

A word cloud breakdown of the month in nonfiction — plus 6 books that caught my eye.

Every month, the nonfiction list gets longer — and in March, I had 82 new titles on my radar. Since I can’t possibly cover every single book (though I try!), I ran all the titles and author names through a word cloud to get a sense of the month’s themes.

And the top word? Memoir.

Closely followed by life, living, and healing — which says a lot about what writers (and readers) are working through right now.

Other standout words: better, essays, guide, love, science, and women. March was a mix of personal growth, cultural reflection, and how-to wisdom.

There was also a strong sense of identity and place, with words like American, feminist, body, art, and change showing up multiple times.

And yes, somehow Michael made the cut — apparently a good month to be a nonfiction-writing Michael.

---

The Ones I Was Drawn To

I can’t read them all, but here are a few March nonfiction releases I am excited about — some I’ve already devoured, some I bought, and a few are just calling my name.

• Say Everything: A Memoir by Ione Skye
  I read this one and loved it — perfect for the Gen X girlies (and anyone who appreciates a thoughtful, reflective life story with 90s heart).

• Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create by

  Elissa Altman
  
  Memoir is a tricky topic, and I’m drawn to the idea of permission — both in writing and in life. Can’t wait to dig into this one.

• Rot: An Imperial History of the Irish Famine by Padraic X. Scanlan
  This Irish girl loves her potatoes and a good microhistory. A grim but necessary read I’m glad exists.

• The Tell: A Memoir by Amy Griffin
  I’m always pulled toward survivor stories — especially ones about resilience. I bought this one and am really looking forward to sitting with it.

• We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something by

  Amie McNee
  
  As a creative person who cannot stand when people say, “I’m not creative,” I’m eager to see what this book brings to the table.

• The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher
  This wholesome trial lawyer from Texas gives some of the best communication advice I’ve seen online — and I get to go to his signing this month!

---

Curious about all 82 titles?

I rounded up the full list of March’s nonfiction titles and authors into a neat little PDF.
If you want to browse the whole batch, click below to download it.

Here’s what you can do with it:
– Keep it handy for bookstore or library trips
– Highlight a few that catch your eye
– Track what you’re reading (or skipping!)
– Share it with a nonfiction-loving friend

---

What nonfiction themes are you craving right now?

Memoir? Microhistory? Creative inspiration? Drop a comment or come chat over on Substack Chat. I’d love to hear what’s catching your eye lately.

Happy reading, nonfiction nerds.

Jaymi

---

February’s Nonfiction—Visualized!

What Do “Life,” “Love,” and “Story” Have in Common?