December Nonfiction (12/20/23)

This month was full of thought-provoking nonfiction, including an account of a harrowing journey across the Russian tundra, political essays on millennial socialism, a memoir exploring home and belonging, and a guide on how to get more joy out of your work.

INTO SIBERIA: GEORGE KENNAN’S EPIC JOURNEY THROUGH THE BRUTAL, FROZEN HEART OF RUSSIA BY GREGORY J. WALLANCE

“Wallance contends Kennan’s writings ‘left Americans so appalled and angry at Russia’s mistreatment of its citizens that the relationship between the two countries was never the same’… Resurfacing a mostly forgotten episode of Russian-American relations, this thrillingly narrated adventure enthralls.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

DIRTBAG: ESSAYS BY AMBER A’LEE FROST

“[Frost] peppers the narrative with incisive analytical digressions and unsparing critiques of politics, including the outsized influence of careerists and other toxic personalities. Underneath it all, she remains optimistic: ‘if you ever feel your faith depleted, you can have some of mine’… an informed and original progressive voice.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

UNFINISHED WOMAN: A MEMOIR BY ROBYN DAVIDSON

“Self-awareness underpins Davidson’s unsparing ruminations on her tense relationship with her older sister, the friction in her parents’ marriage, and her own interpersonal struggles… Her rueful tone and assertion that her fate often felt like ‘the playing out of forces [she] had no hand in’ hit hard. It makes for painful yet cathartic reading.”–Publishers Weekly

FEEL-GOOD PRODUCTIVITY: HOW TO DO MORE OF WHAT MATTERS TO YOU BY ALI ABDAAL

“[Abdaal] encourages readers to consider what motivates their work and provides techniques…to help them figure it out… He uses a friendly, readable tone to relay findings from studies and experts and to guide the reader with practical and thought-provoking tips. Readers overwhelmed by their daily routines will find comfort, inspiration, and a game plan.”–Booklist

INTO SIBERIA: George Kennan’s Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia by Gregory J. Wallance; 9781250280053; available now
DIRTBAG: Essays by Amber A’Lee Frost; 9781250269621; available now
UNFINISHED WOMAN: A Memoir by Robyn Davidson; 9781620401620; available now
FEEL-GOOD PRODUCTIVITY: How to Do More of What Matters to You by Ali Abdaal; 9781250865038; 12/26/23