The Nonfiction Digest, Issue #6
This Week in Nonfiction: Prize Contenders, A Measles Mystery & A Cover Showdown
Welcome Readers!
The nonfiction confetti has been tossed, and your weekly Nonfiction Book Party has officially begun. New books, fascinating links, and a dash of humor—let’s get into it.
On the Longlist: The Women’s Prize for Nonfiction just dropped its longlist. Which titles stand out? Any must-reads?
A Measles Mystery: A new book explores the history, impact, and resurgence of measles.
Now Playing: A just-released book trailer for an upcoming nonfiction title—does it make you want to read it?
Quote of the Week: A standout quote on writing that might just inspire your next read or your next chapter.
Author Directory Updates: What’s new with the directory? A quick update on recent additions and how to make the most of it.
Cover Showdown: One book, two covers. Which design wins this round?
Awards Spotlight | A Peek at the 2025 Women’s Prize Nonfiction Longlist
I’ll admit, I’m not usually someone who follows book awards closely, but when I came across this, I couldn’t resist sharing it with you all! The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 is celebrating some seriously impressive books written by women, and the longlist is full of diverse topics, styles, and voices.
Take a look at this 4-minute video that highlights each of the 16 titles. It’s a great way to get a peek at what’s on the list this year!
Review Roundup | Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children's Health by Adam Ratner
Measles is making a comeback, with over 107,000 children worldwide losing their lives to the disease in 2023, mostly because they weren’t vaccinated! In the U.S., vaccination rates are dropping, especially among kindergarteners, as more parents are opting out of school vaccine requirements. This puts kids at higher risk not just for measles but also for other serious illnesses like meningitis and diarrheal diseases. Adam Ratner's new book, Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children's Health, explores why this is happening and what it means for children’s health.
Read the full article from NPR here.
Book Trailer | The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir by Martha Jones
Historian Martha S. Jones opens up about the complexities of being Black, white, and other in America. Watch the official book trailer for her forthcoming memoir, The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir—a powerful, thought-provoking read coming March 5, 2025.
Quote of the Week | One Piece of Advice From 35 Nonfiction Authors in 2024
This week’s quote of the week comes with a bonus—I’m sharing a quote from Writer’s Digest’s “One Piece of Advice From 35 Nonfiction Authors in 2024,” which is packed with inspiring insights from some of the best voices in nonfiction.
“Keep going. There are so many moments where you come back to what you wrote and just want to tear it all up. You start to think perhaps no one cares what you have to say or maybe it’s all been said before. But there are people waiting for you to write in your tone, with your experience, and we have to almost recite this to ourselves daily as we write. So, show up and let what’s there come to the page—without editing. Editing is for later, in my opinion. In the beginning, our only job is to be in our creative space and write."
- Yasmine Cheyenne, author of Wisdom of the Path: The Beautiful and Bumpy Ride to Healing and Trusting Our Inner Guide
Resources | The Nonfiction Author Substack Directory
The Nonfiction Author Substack Directory is nearly at 100 authors, and I couldn’t be more excited about how it’s growing! Just added three new sections: Published Nonfiction Authors, Emerging Nonfiction Voices, and Nonfiction Mentors & Community Leaders.
Here are just a few of the newest additions:
| | | | |If you or someone you know would like to be included, feel free to reach out!
Cover Showdown | The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
This week, we’re comparing the US and UK covers of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt.
The US version has a bright, bold cover with a flurry of balls in the background, giving a sense of busyness and movement.
The UK version features a lighter, more illustrated design with a softer background that feels calmer and more reflective.
Which one would you be more likely to pick up? Let me know in the poll below!
Are you a nonfiction author? Drop your latest book or WIP in the comments so readers can check it out.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Nonfiction Digest! Don’t forget to vote in the cover matchup, and let me know which books caught your eye. See you next time!
Happy Reading!
Jaymi
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Yay excited to discover this! I love nonfiction - currently reading Eve by Cat Bohannon, which is brilliant.
Thanks for the link to the Nonfiction longlist. I don't pay a ton of attention but would like to start. I've only read A Story of a Heart but I loved it. Have you read any of the nominees?