2013 Staff Nonfiction Favorites

You could sum up this book by one of its best chapter titles: "Some days it's OK to just knit dishrags." A compendium of heartbreaking and uplifting short essays on knitting by some great writers like Barbara Kingsolver and Sue Grafton, this book had me laughing out loud and feeling utterly lost and found at the same time.
Well worth the read!

This is my favorite cookbook of the year. Pictures, art, tips on table settings, and of course, delicious, close-to-the-heart food; this cookbook could not be more of a complete package. Split into sections that each reveal a new place/person/people (each section more delicious than the last), this cookbook is a testament to what makes everyone want to cook in the first place: each other.

Richard Pryor’s particularly troubled genius is chronicled in this wonderful biography from singer/songwriter Joe Henry and his brother David Henry. Pryor was an incredible comedian, addressing issues no one else was willing to touch and reinventing what stand-up meant. The Henrys include personal and historical background to set the scene before delving into the hot mess that was Pryor’s life and the legacy of social change he left behind. “Part memoir, part biography, part poem, part history, part ballad, Furious Cool manages to sing a wakesong for an incredible American.” —Colum McCann

Hyperbole and a Half, the greatest blog ever, finally has a book, filled with old and new essays, each brilliantly illustrated with MS Paint and all guaranteed to make you howl with laughter. Whether struggling to decide whether her dog is mentally challenged, or tackling the issues of identity and self-worth that many of us struggle with, Allie is hilarious. This book made me laugh until I cried, repeatedly. I love it so, so much.