Top Ten Nonfiction Books Read in 2024

Welcome to this week's list of books by category I read in 2024. Today I am looking at my top ten nonfiction books for 2024. I am a nonfiction reader, and I was fortunate to read some good nonfiction books last year. Here is the list below in no particular order and with links to the reviews, if available at this time, so you can check them out. The list does not feature any cartomancy or esoterica books. I did read some great ones, but I am writing a separate list for those books, so stay tuned.

Emily C. Hughes, Horror for Weenies. 

 A good book to help you learn more about the horror genre so you can hang out with your friends who enjoy horror. 

Ken Light, Delta Time: Mississippi Photographs

 A solid collection of black and white photographs focusing on the Mississippi Delta region exploring poverty, racism, rural living, religion, and resilience. 

Timothy Eastman, All the Past We Leave Behind. 

This is a beautiful and at times moving photography book documenting the lives of workampers. If you liked books like Nomadland, you might like this one too. 

Mike Caulfield and Samuel S. Wineburg, Verified: How to think straight, get duped less, and make better decisions about what to believe online.

As I wrote, in my review, "In these Hard Times where the internet and social media are full of scams, click bait, rage bait, and all sorts of assorted bullshit, this book gives you the tools to separate the crap from the few good things that remain. This guide can help you navigate the enshittified internet." 

Brian Keene, End of the Road. 

This is a book I saw mentioned on social media, Bluesky most likely, and I knew I had to read it right away. I am glad I did. If you are already a fan of Keene's fiction, you will likely enjoy this memoir and reflection on writing and publishing and more.

Austin Frerick, Barons.

Right after I read this book, I knew this account of 7 robber baron dynasties and the empires they created was going to be on this list. Robber barons love to portray themselves as self-made men, and they are mostly men, but read this book to learn what the truth is. 

Lenny Duncan, Psalms of My People. 

From my review: This book "offers an interesting and different way to look at the Black American experience of struggle and liberation through hip hop. I do recommend this one for all libraries."

 

 Colin Kaepernick, Robin D.G. Kelley, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, eds. Our History Has Always Been Contraband: in Defense of Black Studies. 

From my review: "This is book is essential reading not just for Black History Month but at any time. Black history is everyone's history, and this book makes it accessible for anyone to read it and start learning." 

Mitzi Szereto, Women Who Murder. 

From my review: "Very often in crime, folks tend to dismiss women or don't think the 'gentler sex' is not capable of deeds like extreme violence and murder. The editor shows in 14 tales that when it comes to crime females are not the 'gentler sex. '" 

Margaret Kaplan, Words to Win By

 From my review: "The book looks at campaign materials as a way to learn about American politics and society." This is one I recommend for all libraries.

If you read this far, thank you for stopping by. Coming up, I will be posting my top list of graphic novels, comics, and manga for 2024, and after that my list of cartomancy and esoterica books read for 2024. Meanwhile, have you read any good nonfiction? Feel free to share in the comments if you wish. 

Happy reading.

 

Book Review: Horror for Weenies

Emily C. Hughes, Horror for weenies: everything you need to know about the films you are too scared to watch. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2024. ISBN: 9781683694250.

Do you feel left out because your family and/or friends like horror movies and you don't?

Do you feel isolated at gatherings when people talk about horror movies, and you stay silent because you don't watch horror films?

Well, worry no more. Here is a book to help you learn about classics in the genre so you can fit in better with your horror loving friends. 

Horror for Weenies is your guide to the horror film genre. It is written for folks who are not into the genre so they can learn enough to be conversant. Let me note up front that movie spoilers are included, so read accordingly. This book is part of a new series to help demystify different genres in pop culture. Based on this book, I may look for the others in time. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction: Why Horror Matters.
• Preface: Horror Cinema's Early Years.
• The 1960s and 1970s.
• The 1980s and 1990s.
• The 2000s and 2010s.
• More Horror Resources. 

The book discusses 25 movies in total. These are pretty popular films that most folks will at least recognize. Each movie entry includes: 

• The Basic Idea. A couple of sentences on what the movie is about. Think of this as the elevator pitch. 
• You Might Actually Want to Watch If. A reason you may want to actually see it. 
• But You Should Definitely Avoid If. Reason not to watch. This could be a specific issue, a trigger, or other reason. 
• Okay, Here's Exactly What Happens. This plot summary tells you exactly what happens. No detail is left out, and spoilers are included. If you are planning on watching this movie, skip this part if spoilers bother you. 
• Why It Matters. A discussion of a film's significance and place in pop culture.
• Iconic Moments. 
• Can't Watch It? Read These Instead. A short list of books you can ready instead in the genre. If a movie is based on a book, that movie book is included in the list. 
• Throughout the entries and the book you get "pop ups" and insets with tropes and other trivia.

This is a fun book to read. It is not comprehensive; it is not meant to be. The 25 movies it does cover are discussed very well. Usually I am not a fan of movie explications. I just want to watch and enjoy a movie. I did enough criticism in past days, so I prefer to avoid it. The book presents film criticism and explication in an easy to read and fun way. It does not feel academic at all, and that is a good thing. If you are a "weenie," someone not into the genre, you will learn a bit in an accessible and at times humorous way. Movie fans may appreciate some of the trivia and details presented, maybe learn a new bit of movie history too. 

If you want to learn more and delve deeper, the resources list includes documentaries and books that may be of interest. 

Overall, I really liked this book. It is a great book to browse, but you can also read it cover to cover and get a pretty good history of horror films. Recommended for all libraries, especially public libraries. Just place it next to the movies collection. Academic librarians with strong popular culture collections may want to add it. I'd consider it for our collection as recreational reading.

5 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

The author spends a lot of time thinking about horror: 

"But coming to the genre with new eyes, I found myself fascinated by the craft of horror, the storytelling methods and cinematography tricks employed by filmmakers to evoke fear, dread, and anxiety" (9). 

This is in contrast to me. While I enjoy at times thinking about the craft of horror, I am not obsessive about it. For the most part, I don't want to spend time thinking and taking films apart or other minutiae. I mostly just want to watch or read it, enjoy it, and done. I do not feel the need to write the thesis after experiencing it. It does not mean I could not write such a thesis; I do have the academic timing to do so. I just don't want to do it. 

A bit on how the author chose the movies: 

"I did my best to focus on influence over popularity; the vast majority of the movies in this book are those that founded, defined, or irrevocably changed a subgenre, the entire genre, or even the artistic landscape of cinema overall. They're also, yes, generally scary, disturbing, disgusting, unnerving, or some combination of the above" (10). 

This book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge: 

Deck Review: The Zombie Tarot

Stacey Graham (author) and Paul Kepple (illustrator), The Zombie Tarot. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-594745690.  (link to publisher)

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: Zombies, vintage, Cold War era, humor

Format: Deck kit with small book and 78-card deck in box.

Source: I own this one, which I acquired used. 

 

This is a deck to have on hand if the zombie attacks break out. This deck "offers valuable advice on life, love, family, friendship, automatic firearms, premature burials, cannibalistic children, and more" (from description in the box). The deck and book come in a box that is shaped and decorated like a box of ammunition with some nice retro art. The kit includes a small instruction booklet and a deck of 78 cards. 

The small book has 96 pages of instructions and advice for the zombie outbreak and the Hard Times. The book is arranged as follows: 

• The Zombie Tarot: Your Weapon of Choice. A short introduction and description of the deck's concept. 
• Conducting a Reading. This includes some tips on reading the cards. You also get 5 card spreads. 
• The Major Arcana.
• The Minor Arcana.
• The back of the book includes some ads (parody) of products that may be of interest during zombie attacks. These resemble those ads you would see in comic books and some magazines in the 1960s or thereabouts.

 

The Emperor-IV card

The small book does make a good guide for the deck and the Hard Times. The content is simple and concise In these times you need simple instructions, but there is also a strong dark humor element.  If you recall some of the old public service documentaries from the U.S. Government, you will be at home with this book because it has the style of those documentaries. The card entries include a small picture of the card, a few keywords, and a paragraph of interpretation and advice. The interpretations can be humorous, but they also provide some serious messages. You could read the cards without the book, but I strongly recommend reading the book. The text can help you get in the mood to use the deck as well as appreciate its humor. The author did a very good job capturing the essence and setting of a zombie outbreak in the Cold War era with the book and deck.

The cards' art has a realistic style that combines a 1950s-1960s Cold War era aesthetic with a bit of dark humor. The zombies are threatening, but they also can have a playful element. The card suits in the Minor Arcana are swords, wands, cups, and hazards (for pentacles). Major Arcana cards retain their traditional names. The images at times fall within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) but not always. The art is colorful, in light coloring. This is not a bright deck. 

Some folks may look at the art and think this is not a serious deck. However, this deck is a solid deck for various readings. It gives good and reliable readings, and it can go in-depth. The images provide plenty of detail for intuitive readers. It also works well for readers who use the RWS system. 

Seven of Swords card

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches. The card back image is not reversible. Card stock is a bit on the thick side; it has a soft matte finish. The cards slide fairly well, but the deck's thickness can make the deck a bit heavy on the hands. The card stock thickness means the cards are not very flexible. It could be an issue for riffle shufflers. They do feel durable with care. 

Overall, this is a very good deck. It may seem playful, yet it is a reliable reader. For some, it could work for shadow work. It is a deck you can use any time of the year. If you like zombies with a bit more humorous element and/or you enjoy decks with a vintage aesthetic, especially the 1950s-1960s, you will probably enjoy this deck. If you enjoy the Housewives Tarot deck by the same publisher, you'll like this one, especially if you want a deck with a darker element. This is certainly a good deck for the Hard Times. I really like it, and I am happy to have it in my collection. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

Book Review: Paperbacks From Hell

Grady Hendrix with Will Errickson, Paperbacks From Hell: the Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2017.  ISBN: 978-1-59474-981-0.

 

Genre: books about books, literary history, horror

Subgenre: horror, pop culture, 1970s, 1980s

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

I always enjoy books about books and reading, and this one fit the bill nicely. This was a book that was fun to read and left me wanting more. 

Grady Hendrix, with Will Errickson, present a history of horror fiction paperbacks from the 1970s and 1980s. If you lived during that era, and you are a horror reader, odds are you've read and even enjoyed some of the books highlighted. If you are not a horror reader, but you lived during the time, odds are you do remember some of those paperback book covers. Paperbacks From Hell is just about the stories; it is also about the cover art and the artists who made them. This is what folks mean when they say they don't make them like that anymore. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction.
• Prologue.
• Chapter 1: Hail Satan. (Anyone out there remember the Satanic "panic" of the time?)
• Chapter 2: Creepy Kids.
• Chapter 3: When Animals Attack. (Keep in mind this was before the Fox Network.)
• Chapter 4: Real Estate Nightmares.
• Chapter 5: Weird Science. 
• Chapter 6: Gothic and Romantic.
• Chapter 7: Inhumanoids. 
• Chapter 8: Splatterpunks, Serial Killers, and Super Creeps.  
• Select creator and publisher biographies. 
• Credits. (This lists published and cover artist information for each book presented. This is helpful if you want to find some of the works.) 

This is a really fun book to read. It may not be comprehensive, but it is pretty close. The authors clearly put in the effort, did the research, and put together a selection of horror works that highlight the time. It's a literary history, but it is also a fun ride back in time when horror was fun, often drawing from the context of its time, and publishers did all kinds of stunts hoping to sell paperbacks. Each chapter looks at one subgenre within horror. In addition, the authors provide various asides to highlight  specific artists and other topics. The narrative is well written and interesting, plus the authors add a bit of humor and snark now and then. 

The illustrations are well done and a joy to look at. The images are a strength of the book, and for many readers they will bring back memories. I know I recalled seeing some of those covers back in the day. The illustrations alone are a great reason to get this book. The informative text makes it even better. 

Overall, this is a great book. It can make a great gift for a horror fan in your life. This is one I would definitely buy for myself not just to have the book but to help me track some of the paperbacks the book presents. I will warn readers that once you read this book, you may be adding more titles to your TBR list. I know I am doing just that. On a side note, I did read one of the books featured: Live Girls (link to my review). 

I do recommend this book for public libraries. If you still have some of the paperbacks highlighted, bring them out and promote them along with this book. I also recommend it for academic libraries with strong pop culture collections. I'd say this book is essential for horror fiction aficionados. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 *****

Additional reading notes: 

 Why these books are timeless: 

"Though they may be consigned to dusty dollar boxes, these stories are timeless in the way that truly matters; they will not bore you. Thrown into the rough-and-tumble marketplace, the writers learned they had to earn every reader's attention. And so they delivered books that move, hit hard, take risks, go for broke. It's not just the covers that hook your eyeballs. It's the writing, which respects no rules, except one: always be interesting" (9). 

I do get the impression, from some observation, that some of these paperbacks have become highly collectible, I am sure due in part to this book. 

Defining Gothic romance, or the genre of "Women Running From Houses":

"Gothic romances were adult fairy tales. Young governesses appeared at glowing ancestral piles and fell in love with the dark, brooding master of the house. There was murder, confinement, and ancient curses. Dark secrets piled up at an alarming rate. In the end, the young governess fell into the arms of the dark lord, realizing that her confused feelings of attraction and revulsion could only be love" (12). 

The Gothic romance genre peaked between 1960 to 1974. It was mostly overtaken by what we now call bodice rippers. 

The 1980s as a party decade, well, for some at least. The consequences of the excess for some have stayed with us to this day, though much of the pop culture was good. 

"Welcome to the '80s, where life was a bitchin' ride in a sweet Porsche! Manufacturing was dead! We were a service economy and technology economy now! Everyone get rich! Let's kill a commie for mommy and head for the mall!" (138). 

Naturally, horror fiction picked up on that for some stories.

*****

This book qualifies for the following 2021 Reading Challenges: 

 

 

Booknote: How to Survive a Horror Movie

Seth Grahame-Smith, How To Survive A Horror Movie. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781683691464.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: horror, reference, humor, movies, films
Format: paperback
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

This is a fun book that fans of horror movies will appreciate. Would you know what to do if you find

yourself in a horror movie? How would you even know if you are suddenly in a horror movie? If you want to survive, this book can help.

The book is arranged as follows:

• A foreword by Wes Craven, apologizing for all the dead people in his movies and being glad this book was written. 
• A short introduction.
• Six chapters on topics such as types of horror movies, slashers, ghosts, aliens, and more. 
• An appendix of additional study materials. This is a list of recommended horror films. 

The book is written as an educational text that takes you from knowing the signs of being in a horror movie to how to deal with specific monsters and situations. The strength of the book is in the humor throughout the text. You'll find yourself smiling here and there as you read. In addition, the book is very informative. The author is clearly knowledgeable about horror movies, and he has fun playing with the horror movie conventions. Note also the book has some illustrations that add a bit to the horror mood.

Overall, this is a fun and entertaining read that I really liked. Fans of horror movies may want to add it to their collections. This is also a good selection for public libraries; it is one to display any time you do horror themed displays like for Halloween. I'd consider it optional for academic libraries,  but it may be good for those with strong popular culture collections.

4 out of 5 stars.

Booknote: Jane Austen: Cover to Cover

Margaret C. Sullivan, Jane Austen Cover to Cover: 200 Years of Classic Covers. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781594747250.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: books, publishing, book trade, art, Jane Austen
Format: coffee table art book
Source: Contest win at BookLikes.

This art/coffee table book is a collection of book covers of Jane Austen novels plus some of the minor works which get collected here and there, often attached to a novel or omnibus edition.

In terms of aesthetics, this is a very nice book from the cover to the inside the cover to the overall layout. It really looks nice, and Austen fans will likely enjoy it.

The book is arranged as follows:

• Introduction.
• Six chapters. Each chapter has a short introduction to the time period it covers. Then you get the covers and text with history and information on the cover, the publishers, and even information on book making and the book trade.
• An appendix. This includes some material on collecting Austen novels. 
• A bibliography. 
• Acknowledgments and a note from the author. 

On the positive, for Austen fans this book will be a delight. The author put in serious work to find every book cover and edition out there of Austen works from the 1800s to today. The editions even include film edition/tie-ins and foreign language editions. In addition, this is a good look at the book trade business over time, specially as it concerns the publishers who've have and sold Austen's works over time. You get a lot of material in 200 pages or so.

On the not so positive,  this is basically all Jane Austen, all the time. She only wrote a few works, so you are basically seeing the same books all the time, just different covers. For serious Austen fans, this is great. For casual readers, it can get tiring halfway through the book. It can feel like you are seeing the same thing over and over, and while the history can be interesting, again, for non-Austen fans this can be a bit of overload.

Bottom line. Highly recommended for Jane Austen fans. This may be a must for them. For public libraries, this may be a good option, specially if their Austens are popular. For casual readers, this is definitely optional. It may appeal to readers who like books about books a bit. It is optional for academic libraries; it may be good for academic libraries with strong book history, publishing interests, and if there are strong Jane Austen courses, this book may be of interest too.

In the end, I liked it, but it is not something I would add to my personal collection. I'd say unless you are a hardcore Jane Austen fan, borrow it.

3 out of 5 stars.

Booknote: The Jedi Doth Return

Ian Doescher, The Jedi Doth Return: Star Wars Part the Sixth. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-59474-713-7.

Find it at a library near you (link to WorldCat). 
Buy via the publisher Quirk Books (link to publisher page).

Genre: Drama, play
Subgenre: science fiction, space opera
Format: hardcover
Source: Provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

I finished reading this, and I have to say it is a great wrap-up for the trilogy. Doescher's Shakespearean channeling elevates the Star Wars story to the moving and exciting epic it is. This volume really brings it home. We get solid and insightful soliloquies, humor, wit, wordplay, and drama.

Since it is set as a Shakespearean play, there are some liberties the author takes. Basically he sets up the scenes so we see them as performed on stage. Our imaginations then can see the saga in full as we read. An interesting detail is the language. Though most of the play is in iambic pentameter verse, there are variations, which are consistent with Shakespeare. Boba Fett the bounty hunter speaks in prose. The Ewoks speak in short lines of AABA rhyme. These examples reflect the uniqueness of characters. Doescher discusses how he uses language in the afterword of the book. If you find such details interesting, reading the afterword is worth it.

Like a good Shakespearean play, this one does have five acts. The action builds up to the climactic lightsaber duel and the space battle to determine the fate of the galaxy. If you already know the story, you'll get a deeper appreciation here. If not, there you are in for a treat and a great play. In addition, Doescher does pepper the play with real Shakespearean lines, as in lines you may seen in other plays. It was fun finding those lines and seeing how the author made them fit in. Think of it as a small bit of fun.

In the end, the volume is a great addition to the trilogy, and it is an excellent read. If you've already read the previous two, you have to pick this up. I definitely recommend it as a fun read. It is also a great choice for libraries. Both fans of Star Wars and Shakespeare alike will enjoy this.

5 out of 5 stars.


This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenge:

Booknote: The Empire Striketh Back

Ian Doescher, William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back: Star Wars Part the Fifth. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-594747151.

Genre: drama
Subgenre: space opera, science fiction
Format: hardcover
Source: Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

I continue to enjoy Ian Doescher's Shakespearean take on the Star Wars saga with The Empire Striketh Back. I recently watched the movie trailer for the new episode seven movie, which I believe is due out in December of 2015 (go Google it if you must. I am pretty much passing up on the whole film since it looks from the trailer it will be a lot of CGI visual bloat). A book like this reminds me once more that Star Wars (at least as presented in the original films) is an epic story. This book highlights the epic and tragic elements of the drama.

The author continues to channel Shakespeare in this volume. The Empire strikes, and the days get darker for the Rebellion. Young Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training as Han and Leia will fall into a trap. The duel scene between Luke and Darth Vader is one of the greatest passages in the book. Tension, drama, action, all in the great Shakespeare tradition.

The only issue I had with the book is that some of the monologues and asides do seem a bit drawn out. One example for me was the guards scene in Cloud City. This could have been shorter. However, that was a minor issue for me, and in the end, there is much to love in these books. Fans of Star Wars need to be grabbing this series. I really liked this one, and I will continue on to the last volume of this trilogy. Public libraries need to have this one on their shelves. It is also a definite must-have for academic libraries with recreational reading collections.

4.5 out of 5 stars.