One of my goals for 2022 is to prioritize nonfiction. I neglected nonfiction last year, which is such a shame because I always love the ones that I do pick up. There are a lot of interesting nonfiction titles coming out this year that I wanted to put on your radar.
I do not read a ton of celebrity memoirs, but every once in a while there is one that catches my attention, and that is definitely the case with Selma Blair and her upcoming memoir, Mean Baby. This book comes out on May 10th, 2022 and in it, Selma Blair opens up about her childhood, her alcohol addiction, her complicated relationship with her mother, and her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Also, if you are like me and you enjoy when celebrities narrate their own audiobooks, I looked it up and Selma Blair is the narrator.
Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School comes out on January 18th, 2022, and it focuses on Kendra James’ time at a mostly white boarding school as both a student and then as an employee.
Who doesn’t love Paul Holes!? I think a lot of us became fascinated with him as he investigated the Golden State Killer case and I am curious to learn more about his career and other cases that he worked on. I also hope we get some insight into his work with Michelle McNamara before she passed away. Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases comes out on April 26th, 2022.
In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial is actually a work of translation and comes out in English on March 8th, 2022. I have read quite a few fiction books about witch hunts, but I cannot say I have ever read any nonfiction on the subject. Mona Chollet explores how three types of women (independent, childless, and elderly) were targeted and how they continue to be persecuted in today’s society.
Brace For Impact is a memoir that comes out on May 24th, 2022. The author, Gabe Montesanti, turned to Roller Derby when she was looking for a sense of belonging. When she is severely injured, it forces her to face her past emotional trauma as well. She shares her journey of healing both physically and emotionally, and it sounds incredible.
I didn’t think there would be two celebrity memoirs on this list, but I had to include Finding Me by Viola Davis, which comes out on April 26th. The blurb does not reveal much, but Viola Davis is narrating her own memoir, so you know I will be listening!
After reading Empire of Pain, I will give anything that Patrick Radden Keefe writes. I cannot wait for Rogues: True Stories of Gifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks, which comes out on June 28th, 2022. It is a collection of twelve articles focused on different crimes.
Speaking of Empire of Pain, The Urge: Our History of Addiction, which comes out on January 25th, also explores the opioid crisis and the author, Carl Erik Fisher, explores his own addiction while also delving into the history of addiction in general.
Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Bell is a random book to include on this list but it just looks like so much fun! As the title suggests, it is a graphic novel that explores the history of pinball. I am looking forward to reading it when it comes out on February 8th, 2022!
The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged The Medieval World has a cover that intrigues me and it comes out on February 22nd, 2022. It focuses on Queen Brunhild and Queen Fredegund and already has so many five-star reviews on Goodreads!
What nonfiction 2022 release are you most excited about?
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Wow I have’t heard of many of these but I’ll have to put some of them on my TBR! Actually, I started reading Empire of Pain off a rec from John Fish on youtube but I never finished it bc I was busy from school and ran out of time. I really want to expand the types of nonficiton books I read this year
Empire of Pain was a book that I started and then put down and picked up again a few months later! It is definitely one you have to dedicated a lot of time and brain space to! It was great on audio!
The book by Selma Blair looks interesting! I love seeing her journey on Instagram.
So do I! She is amazing!
Wow! Good list of nonfiction books you got here! I think In Defense of Witches sounds really interesting
Right!? I cannot wait to read that one!
Dark queen looks interesting,if I wish to read a nonfiction it would be that.
The cover definitely caught my eye and it does sound really good! I love that it is under 400 pages, because I find similar books are often huge tomes.
i also like reading books
I picked up 4 nonfiction books last December with intention of reading them in Jan. I specifically look forward to reading “Think like a monk” and “The power of now”. I also want to pick up Will Smith’s book, this year will be a year for nonfictions for me…with a book or two from fiction of course 😅.
The Dark Queens looks so good!
It really goes! And I love that it is not too long. I often find books like that are over 500 pages!
I’ll bookmark it!!
I’ve made reading more non-fiction sort of a new year’s resolution, so I can’t thank you enough for this post!
Awesome! I’m so glad I could help!
I am adding In Defense of Witches to my list of books I want this year. It sounds fascinating!
Right?! I’m definitely reading that one. I’m so intrigued by it!
I haven’t been keeping up on nonfiction releases, so thank you for sharing this! The Dark Queens sounds really good, definitely adding that to my TBR.
I’m excited about that one too!!
These all sound good. I want to increase my non fiction also, but the one I’m reading now is boring, so I’m going to look for better non fiction books.
In Defense of Witches is on my list. I love reading and learning about all things witchy 🙂
Plus The Dark Queens I don’t see a lot of things from that time period especially and it sounds really interesting!
I am the same way!
Right?! I am so intrigued by The Dark Queens!
The Dark Queens sounds like something I’d definitely enjoy. Thanks for this list 🙂
I am so intrigued by it! Will definitely read it and post a review!
I’ve started listening to The Murder Squad podcast that Paul Holes and Billy Jensen host so I immediately added Paul’s newest to my TBR. Great list!
I’ve been meaning to listen to that. Thanks for the reminder!!
Really want to read dark queens- I’ve heard such good things!
It seems to be a popular one! I am really excited for it to come out.
This was such a helpful post! I’m slowly reading more nonfiction but I’m utterly lost when it comes to what new books are coming out 😄 Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School sounds especially intriguing!
I am so glad that I could help! I am hoping to get to Admissions soon. Will definitely post a full review when I do!