Sewhitebooks Wants You to Rebel. A Little.

Let’s talk books outside your usual genre

We all know I’m a romance reader. It’s definitely not a secret that I’m all about lots and lots of smushy fluff. When I need a break from that I generally turn to my *other* source of bodily fluids, which is horror.

Yes. I know that seems strange.

In the midst of this chaos of conflicting reads, certain genres are neglected. Like nonfiction. I don’t often pick up that genre and it has to come highly recommended, whereas I will pick up any romance as long as you assure me the plot is crazybananas AF (see; Ice Planet Barbarians or Hold). This means you can be assured that these nonfiction books I’m calling my favorites are completely fascinating and curious and maybe disturbing but also, unputdownable.

1. Having Faith, Sandra Steingraber

If you have a friend who has been pregnant, is pregnant now, or if you’re considering becoming pregnant, this book is the one you need. Forget What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Seriously, forget it, that book is enough to give anyone an anxiety attack whereas this one explains the science in such a way that even I—completely lacking in spatial visual skills—was able to picture and understand what’s going on during pregnancy.

2. The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson

If you need a raw, fresh, desperate, new appreciation for public sanitation and clean drinking water, consider reading this book. After reading I immediately looked up the water quality index for my city, which wasn’t scary at all. Thank you, Steven Johnson, for my new hypochondriac habit of peering into perfectly clean water glasses as if I can somehow make germs be visible to the naked eye.

3. 1215; The Year of the Magna Carta, Danziger & Gillingham

Honestly the middle ages were terrifying and I’m thrilled and astonished any humans survived. The chapter on medical treatments alone was enough to make me want to hug the nearest doctor. It’s also rather depressing how similar the politics could be a thousand years ago. 10/10 would never time travel to this era.

4. Kill as Few Patients as Possible, Oscar London, MD

Combining dry wit with a practicing doctor is a fabulous idea and makes for hilarious reading. It’s a tough job and I’m so glad I do not in any way feel led to the medical profession. Nope, give me twenty hyper preschoolers and a tub of glitter and I’m satisfied with my lot in life. I may have to wipe boogers and clean up the occasional blood spill but it’s nothing approaching what a doctor has to deal with.