The Nonfiction Digest, Issue #10
This Week in Nonfiction: A tasty look at women and food, music books to turn up the volume, and a cover showdown worth celebrating!
Settle in for another Nonfiction Digest! New books, interesting links, and a cover comparison you won’t want to skip—because judging is half the fun.
In this issue:
Pop Culture: The latest music titles you won't want to miss
Substack Spotlight: A deep dive into an author who's changing the way we think about food and compassion
Review Roundup: Exploring a few of our favorite books on women and food
Preordering Perks: Why getting your hands on that new release early can make all the difference
Cover Showdown: Two stunning covers, but only one can come out on top
Pop Culture | Celebrating Women in Music
Music has this amazing way of grabbing you by the soul, right? A song can take you back to a moment, an album can become the soundtrack to your life, and there's nothing quite like it. And when that magic of music is captured in a book? It’s like the best of both worlds.
That’s why I’m so excited to share a conversation with Ann Powers, NPR Music critic, and editor Alison Fensterstock about their collaboration on How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music. The audiobook is a brilliant mix of essays and archival recordings that celebrate the revolutionary contributions of women in music. It’s an Earphones Award winner and one of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2024.
You can hear their full conversation about the project on the Behind the Mic podcast below:
AND… if you're craving even more books on music publishing THIS year, be sure to check out these titles:
The Harder I Fight the More I Love You: A Memoir by Neko Case, pub 1/28/2025
I'll Love You Forever: Notes from a K-Pop Fan by Giaae Kwon, pub 3/18/2025
John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie, pub 4/8/2025
Life's Too Short: A Memoir by Darius Rucker, pub. 5/27/2025
The Story of Abba: Melancholy Undercover by Jan Gradvall, pub 6/17/2025
And After All: A Fan History of Oasis by Melissa Locker, pub 7/1/2025
Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story by Barry Mazor, pub 7/22/2025
Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers, pub 7/22/2025
Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion by Chris Deville, pub 8/26/2025
Cher: Part Two: The Memoir by Cher, pub 11/18/2025
Substack Spotlight | Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
I’m always excited to share authors who are doing amazing things, and
is one of them! She’s all about helping people embrace plant-based eating with compassion—not just for animals, but for each other, too. As a bestselling author of 8 books, a podcaster, and a speaker, she’s been a true advocate for a cruelty-free lifestyle.Her latest book, A Year of Compassion: 52 Weeks of Living Zero-Waste, Plant-Based, and Cruelty-Free, is full of practical tips and ideas to live more mindfully. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, her Substack is a great place to get started!
Review Roundup | 7 Books That Explore Women's Stories Through Cuisine
Curated by the author of the newly released Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly by Hannah Selinger, this list features seven books about women in all kinds of food-related roles—whether they’re cooking professionally, writing about food, or just navigating the world of home cooking. These women are deeply connected to the act of feeding, whether it’s through their work or their love of food, and the books celebrate their passion and instincts. For more details on each book, check out the full article {HERE}
Preorder Perks | Why Securing Your Copy Early Matters
Preordering books is a way to support authors and publishers. It helps boost a book’s visibility, showing that there’s demand before the official release date, and can even make a huge difference in a book’s success.
If you're looking to get your next read on your shelf before anyone else, take a look at this informative post on why preordering matters and how it can make a difference!
Cover Showdown | How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
Welcome to this week’s Cover Showdown, where we’re mixing a little bit of style with a lot of heart! This book is one of my favorites: How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis. Now, I love both covers, so picking a winner is tough!
The cover on the left is a soothing shade of green, and it’s filled with all sorts of visual clues that make it clear this is a book about cleaning and organizing. But the cover on the right? It’s probably the winner for me, mainly because I can’t resist the imagery of the waves. To me, it symbolizes the waves of grief, tying in beautifully with the title and the gentle approach the book takes.
Which one do you prefer? Vote in the poll below.
That’s it for this edition! Hope your nonfiction-loving heart is happy, and I’ll see you back here for the next Nonfiction Book Party.
If you’re loving this nonfiction celebration, why not bring a friend to join in the fun?
Happy Reading!
Jaymi
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Great share about preordering!
Great suggestions! I’d also add The Song Machine to your books about the music industry. It’s a little older, but the behind the scenes and perspective of the producers. It mostly covers pop, and was so fun to read.