Best Nonfiction Books of 2025 for AdultsUnpublished

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“Dirtbag Queen is a love letter to a woman who didn't bother herself with any motherly or traditional housewife duties. Renay Mandel Corren was a chain-smoking, dirty mouthed, vulgar Jewish redneck who was good at bailing kids out of jail, rolling joints, and making sure she was never without a pedicure, but not so good at doing laundry or keeping food on the table. Brash, loud, hilarious, heartbreaking, and unforgettable; Dirtbag Queen is a fitting tribute to a one of a kind woman. The audiobook is STELLAR!”

Erin (Adult and Teen Services Librarian, Clark Pleasant Branch)

“This made me realize how ignorant I was to this still very present, debilitating, and deadly disease. A beautiful blend of science and history, you will be left informed and in awe of how much this particular bacteria has affected our world, in the past and modern day.”

Elysia (Library Assistant, White River Branch)

"A brisk but engaging look at the history of tuberculosis in the modern era, contrasting its now high level of treatability with its status as the world's deadliest infectious disease."

Andrea (Shelver, White River Branch)

"Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is seen as a disease of poverty that walks the trails of injustice and inequity we blazed for it. In 2019, author John Green met Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, preventable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing over a million people every year."

Katie (Reference Assistant, White River Branch)

"This memoir packs a powerful punch, detailing what it was like being the daughter of Ruby Franke - a controlling family vlogger turned devoted cult member. While not for the faint of heart, this book adds clarity and conclusion to the story of the family and teaches many valuable lessons." 

Ollie (Circulation Assistant, Franklin Branch)

"I found this book to be immensely helpful in understanding the importance of using our yards and gardens to support the local ecosystem. Doug Tallamy is THE expert in this area and his book uses an easy question-and-answer format to clarify how and why we need to plant purposefully for the good of the environment. I highly recommend it!"

Linda (Branch Manager, White River Branch)

"When the 2020 pandemic forced Stephen Starring Grant into a totally new career after being laid off from his corporate job, he found unexpected contentment as a rural mail carrier in Appalachia. This was funny, heartwarming and an interesting look at a profession many people probably don’t think too much about! I really enjoyed the stories about the craziest things he got to deliver and the relationships he developed with the people on his route and it made me think about how my grandparents mail carrier always chatted with them and even attended my grandpa’s visitation at the funeral home when he passed away. This would be a fun read for your America 250 reading list as it also covers some USPS history I didn’t know about."

Kelly (Programming Manager, Library Services Center)

"It's basically about swapping out body parts. Think prosthetic limbs, cataract surgery, skin grafts, organ transplants, etc. "

Megan (Adult Reference Librarian, White River Branch)