I read a lot of nonfiction in 2020, a lot of good nonfiction. Here are 12 of my favorites;

The Library Book by Susan Orlean. How could I not like this book all about libraries, specifically the Los Angeles Public Library, main branch, and the fire that almost destroyed it in April 1986? Part true crime, part nonfiction exploration of a subculture, part LA history, this book was my favorite nonfiction of 2020.

The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity by Axton Betz-Hamilton. Creepy. The more I read about this family in hiding from identity thieves, the more I suspected that something just didn’t jive. And indeed, there is more deception and lying and all round creepiness in this book and in this family than meets the eye at first. Family secrets and family dysfunction make this memoir a difficult and sad read, but fascinating nonetheless.

God’s Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance by Andrew Brunson. Pastor Brunson, imprisoned in Turkey in 2016 and accused of being a spy, owes his release to the negotiations undertaken on his behalf by the Trump State Department. And he does thank Donald Trump and his administration for their work to gain his freedom. However, the story of his imprisonment and eventual release is riveting, and the author is vulnerable and honest about his weaknesses and his wavering (but never extinguished) faith as he endured over two years of trial, prison, and false accusation. He also acknowledges to Whom he owes the real praise and gratitude for his ability to persevere and eventually gain his freedom.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou. Discouraging. People can be such liars that they even deceive themselves. This book and the one by Axton Betz-Hamilton cited above showed me how easy it is to get caught up in a web of lies—and how easy it is to deceive the people closest to you, partly because they want to believe.

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson A very odd story. Who knew that certain feathers were so valuable and coveted? And how much damage can one thief do? Apparently a lot of damage to the historical record—just by stealing feathers!

Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo. Gina is an internet friend and a good author. She has another book out this year about Charles Dickens that I would like to read soon.

Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944 by Aranka Siegel. I think I read this memoir a long time ago when I was a teen, but re-reading it was good, although it ends rather abruptly in the middle of the ongoing war.

Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave by Virginia Hamilton. An excellent Messner biography about a man I had never heard of.

What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachel Denhollander. This memoir/advocacy is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. I read the copy that I purchased for my daughter for Christmas, but I may need a copy of my own.

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield. Hospitality can take many forms, but however it manifests, sharing one’s home and life with friends and strangers is a part of the Christian mandate. Even during a pandemic?

New Found World by Katherine Shippen. A history of South and Central America. I found this absorbing, maybe because I’ve never actually read a chronological history of Latin America. It’s written for middle grade readers, but I can testify that it’s fine for adult readers, too.

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne. Absolutely fascinating. I am a Texan, steeped in Texas history, but much of the information in this book was new to me. I thought it was fair to both Native Americans and to the incoming immigrant settlers who come from all over the world, but mostly the U.S., to completely change their own lives and the lives of the Comanche people they displaced.