The Nonfiction Digest, Issue #4
This Week in Nonfiction: Juicy Corporate Exposés, Bookish Obsessions & a Puzzling Cover Makeover
Welcome back to the Nonfiction Book Party, where the books are fresh, the opinions are snarky, and the covers are up for debate. Grab your beverage of choice and let’s talk nonfiction.
What’s The Drama? | Corporate Exposés That Are Too Juicy to Miss
I’ve noticed a trend in this year’s new titles as I’ve been browsing—there’s no shortage of juicy corporate exposés hitting shelves. Of course, this is nothing new (hello, Bad Blood and Empire of Pain), but it just goes to show that we all love a good drama, especially when it’s ripped from real life.
These titles are just the ones I spotted in a quick glance—there are surely many more.
1/7/25: Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly
2/4/25: Last Call for Bud Light: The Fall and Future of America's Favorite Beer by Anson Frericks
2/11/25: On My Honor: The Secret History of the Boy Scouts of America by Kim Christensen
3/11/25: On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR by Steve Oney
4/8/25: No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
This might make a great deep-dive post in the future—what’s your favorite corporate exposé? And would you be interested in a more in-depth look at this genre in a future newsletter? Let me know!
Coming Soon | Say Everything: A Memoir by Ione Skye
“The Most Anticipated Nonfiction Books of Winter 2025”: Every time I see a list like this, you better believe that I’m really scanning it to see if any new titles have slipped past my radar—and spoiler alert: there always is. In this roundup from W Magazine, one jumped out immediately: Say Everything by Ione Skye. As a Gen Xer, I can tell you that Say Anything was basically required viewing, and John Cusack? Permanent teen crush status.1 So how did I miss this book? No idea, but I’m fixing that now. This one comes out on March 4th. Gallery Books—I’ll be stalking your page for more details!
Review Roundup | The Books That Ruin Your Life
This week’s standout review is for Bibliophobia: A Memoir by Sarah Chihaya, and it’s the kind of review I wish I could write. Listen to this line2:
"Bibliophobia arrives as a welcome splash of lemony sourness to cut the bland sweetness of much popular discourse about books, which can tend toward boosterism, bibliotherapy, or what Jessica Pressman calls ‘bookishness’—a nostalgic relation to books as objects and symbols that sometimes has little to do with the actual practice of reading.”
The review digs into book culture today—how it sometimes feels more about the look of books and being a “book person” than actually reading. If you like in depth and thoughtful reviews, this one’s worth a read.
Click through for the full review, and let me know—do you agree with her take?
Quote of the Week | “Meeting a Writer in Person is Like Seeing a Porn Star.”
Malcolm Gladwell and Kenya Barris sit down with Drew Barrymore3 to talk about their podcast, "The Unusual Suspects." Plus, Kenya Barris reveals what it was like meeting Malcolm Gladwell for the first time!
About the Author: Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five nonfiction bestsellers—The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath. Gladwell is a Canadian journalist and writer best known for his unique perspective on popular culture.
Cover Showdown | The Witches Daughter
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m always fascinated by book covers—who they’re targeting, the trends that pop up, and the similarities between them. Sometimes, the paperback edition looks completely different, and I find myself wondering, “Who decided to change it, and why?” Is it a sales decision? Did the marketing team change? Here’s one example—what are your thoughts?4 (For reference, the one on the right came out first in hardback and the one on the left is the paperback coming out in August.)
That’s a wrap on this week’s Nonfiction Book Party! Don’t forget to vote in the cover matchup, and let me know which books caught your eye. See you next time!
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Happy Reading!
Jaymi
📢 Reminder: I’m giving away TWO copies of Jane Austen’s Bookshelf! Enter by commenting on the pinned post. Closes 2/14.
So. Much. Angst.
Lemony sourness? What an amazing description.
Apparently this is a Drew Barrymore fan account now!
I mean, they even changed the font. These could be two completely different books.
Thank you for keeping us up-to-date on new nonfiction! 2025 seems to be filled with intriguing titles and my ever-growing TBR loves it. And wow - the flashbacks that arrive with your mention of Say Anything! :-)
I'm going to sample Bibliophobia and then circle back to that review. Thanks for sharing.