Nonfiction You’ll Actually Love (Even If You’re a Fiction Reader)

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Nonfiction doesn’t have to be intimidating—or boring. In this episode, I’m joined by Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks Podcast, to talk about the changing book landscape, how she built her long-running show, and why nonfiction can be just as binge-worthy as your favorite romcom.We dive into trends in publishing, the rise of BookTok, and why Traci believes there’s a nonfiction book for everyone. She shares practical tips for finding the right style of nonfiction for your taste, her favorite starter recommendations, and how to embrace memoirs, microhistories, and narrative nonfiction.📚 Books Mentioned A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhurst — Genre: Survival Nonfiction | Reads like a novelAllow Me to Retort by Elie Mystal — Genre: Law, Politics | Audio ✅Bad Company by Megan Greenwell — Genre: Business, Private Equity | Audio ✅There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone— Genre: Social Issues | Audio ✅Evicted by Matthew Desmond — Genre: Sociology, Housing | Audio ✅Open Book by Jessica Simpson — Genre: Memoir | Audio ✅The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (narrated by Michelle Williams) — Genre: Memoir | Audio ✅Heavy by Kiese Laymon — Genre: Memoir | Audio ✅Paved Paradise by Henry Grabar — Genre: Microhistory (Parking) | Audio ✅Shade by Michelle Nijhuis — Genre: Microhistory (Public Spaces) | Audio ✅Selling Sexy by Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez — Genre: Business, Fashion History | Audio ✅The Kingdom of Prep by Maggie Bullock — Genre: Business, Fashion History | Audio ✅🕑 Time Stamps00:00 — Traci’s podcasting origin story and The Stacks03:00 — Shifts in publishing and BookTok trends06:00 — Diversity, representation, and trans authors09:00 — What to expect from The Stacks Podcast12:00 — How Traci picks book club selections14:00 — Publishers vs. audience-first book content18:00 — The role of influencers in book discovery22:00 — Why Traci champions nonfiction24:00 — How to pick a nonfiction book you’ll love27:00 — Keywords that reveal nonfiction styles28:00 — Starter nonfiction recommendations31:00 — Business, microhistories, and niche nonfiction33:00 — Gossip, culture, and memoirs35:00 — Where to find Traci online✨ Follow Traci Thomas:thestackspodcast.komi.io Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:Advertise with UsDo you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us.Advertise With Us