Reading 2024: Non-fiction

As far as quantity of books, I did not have my best year in 2024, coming in at 29. I doubt I will finish another one by year-end, so this is probably a good number. 

Interestingly, non-fiction edged out fiction this year. I must say I read some very good non-fiction books, as follows: 

1.    How to Know a Person by David Brooks

2.    People to be Loved by Preston Sprinkle

3.    American Carnage by Tim Alberta

4.    The Kingdon, the Power and the Glory by Tim Alberta

5.    The Spirit of Our Politics by Michael Wear

6.    Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren

7.    Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard

8.    Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie

9.    LIV and Let Die by Alan Shipnuck

10.    Hannah's Child by Stanley Haeurwas

11.    Ghosted by Nancy French

12.    Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream by Doris Kearns Goodwin

13.    An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin

14.    A Fine Sight to See by Sophie Hudson

15.    On Call by Anthony Fauci

As you can see, there are a couple of repeat authors, Tim Alberta and Doris Kearns Goodwin. 

The first Alberta book listed (America Carnage) is about the Trump presidency, while the second one (The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory) centers around the unlikely, but very real, partnership of Trump with evangelical Christianity. Both are excellent, although I am probably biased as I agree so strongly with Alberta's point of view on Donald Trump. 

The second book listed by Doris Kearns Goodwin is the joint memoir she began with her late husband, Richard N. Goodwin, and finished following his death. The first is a detailed account of the LBJ presidency and more about his life, from the front row seat the author had by working for him, and post-presidency when he asked her to help write his memoirs. I loved both of these.

I would call out three others: Prayer in the Night, Tish Harrison Warren's (my favorite Anglican priest, who also wrote Liturgy of the Ordinary) lovely homage to the Compline Prayer; Hannah's Child, theologian Stanley Hauerwas's memoir which is at times hilarious but also so deep I had to read certain passages over and over; and On Call, Dr. Anthony Fauci's autobiography which, if I had to pick a favorite from this list, this would probably be it. While most of us came to know him because of COVID, this retrospective on his life covers much, much more. 

I would recommend all of these listed and hope you will find something of interest. 

I will be back soon to close the year with my fiction list.

(In the meantime, Merry Christmas!)