11 Nonfiction Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Fall

In The Sing Sing Files, veteran journalist and Dateline producer Dan Slepian vividly chronicles the 20 years he spent battling America’s criminal justice system in pursuit of the truth. Slepian’s odyssey began with a tip from a Bronx homicide detective, who informed him of two men serving 25 years to life for a murder they didn’t commit. Spurred by the revelation, Slepian looked into the case — and soon embarked on a relentless quest that spanned two decades and led to the freedom of six innocent men falsely imprisoned for murder. A searing account of injustice and accountability in our legal system, Slepian’s new narrative “should be read by every rookie cop, brand-new prosecutor, and first-year law student. And it should be read by you” (John Grisham, New York Times bestselling author). 

Publication date: September 10, 2024

Late-night comedy fans and foodies alike will devour this new funny cookbook by The Late Show host Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evie. In it, the Colberts invite you into their South Carolina home for a helping of laughs as they share their favorite recipes, from mouthwatering mains and delectable cocktails and desserts to tasty get-together party food — like fresh and zesty lime-mezcal wings! Filled with loving photos of their family and sweetened by Stephen and Evie’s witty banter, Does This Taste Funny? is a joyful tour of delicious home-cooked meals. 

Publication date: September 17, 2024

In 2000, Malcolm Gladwell revealed the inner workings of viral trends in The Tipping Point. This fall, the bestselling author returns to the topic to explore its dark underbelly. In Revenge of the Tipping Point, Gladwell blends his characteristic wit and wisdom with compelling scientific data to examine events that spread like wildfire and take on a life of their own, tracing the spiraling impact these social epidemics have on culture and the planet. Packed with insights on everything from Ivy League sports and the world’s most successful bank robbers to the COVID-19 pandemic and America’s opioid crisis, Gladwell’s new book is sure to open your eyes and expand your mind. 

Publication date: October 1, 2024

In The Elements of Marie Curie, bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Dava Sobel tells the incredible story of Marie Curie and the trailblazing women who forged their own careers under her tutelage. A shining account of Curie’s life and work, Sobel’s sweeping biography captures the lauded scientist both inside and outside of the lab, championing Curie’s achievements and spotlighting the women of science who followed in her path. The New York Times hails Sobel as “a master storyteller,” and her skills are on full display in this portrait of one of history’s greatest scientific minds.

Publication date: October 8, 2024

From New York Times bestselling author and Indigenous scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry explores the many ways society could benefit from following nature’s lead. While most modern economies rely on supply and demand, scarcity and control, the serviceberry tree is a demonstration of reciprocity — it gives its berries to the community, which in turn supports the tree’s survival. In this inspiring new environmental book, Kimmerer advocates for the model exemplified by the natural world, one where healthy relationships allow us all to thrive.

Publication date: November 19, 2024

Award-winning author Jerald Walker follows his acclaimed How to Make a Slave and Other Essays with Magically Black. A lively and insightful portrait of Black life, Walker’s new essay collection offers sharp cultural critique right alongside candid personal reflections, all told with honesty and humor. Covering an array of topics from gentrification and the MAGA movement to DIY home projects and dance moves, Magically Black and Other Essays delivers “a funny and perspicacious essay collection about Black life in America” (Kirkus Reviews).

Publication date: September 10, 2024

In By the Fire We Carry, Rebecca Nagle skillfully interweaves a contemporary legal battle with American history to chronicle the enduring fight for Native American sovereignty and land rights. An excellent blend of storytelling and reportage, Nagle’s book delivers a masterclass on the history of Indigenous resistance while laying out how a small-town murder case in 1990s Oklahoma led to a pivotal Supreme Court decision that redefined the landscape of reservations across the state.

Publication date: September 10, 2024

Call Me by Your Name author André Aciman returns this fall with Roman Year, a sumptuous memoir about his time spent in Rome at the tail end of his adolescence. After being expelled from Egypt, Aciman and his family made their way to Italy to establish a new life in Rome. Though their time in the Italian capital was short, Aciman fell in love with Rome, and his deep affection for the ancient city shines through in this romantic story of self-discovery. 

Publication date: October 22, 2024

In Resist, award-winning journalist Rita Omokha traces the history of young Black activists fighting for justice in America. Originally from Nigeria, Rita grew up in the South Bronx, and she writes from the distinct perspective of a Black immigrant in America as she covers generations of Civil Rights activism, from Ella Baker and the Black Panther Party to 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, who filmed the 2020 murder of George Floyd. “Part history, part memoir, part call to political arms, Resist is a valuable addition to our nation’s protest literature” (Samuel G. Freedman, award-winning author of Into the Bright Sunshine).

Publication date: November 19, 2024

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, shares her life journey in Lovely One. Raised on the stories of her grandparents and parents fighting back against segregation in the South, Justice Jackson has always been proud of her heritage and has lived in the service of her dreams — from high school oratory champion and student body president to Supreme Court justice. Celebrating the joys of her experience and reckoning with its many challenges, Justice Jackson delivers an open, honest, and hopeful memoir. 

Publication date: September 3, 2024

Hollywood icon Al Pacino needs no introduction today. But it wasn’t always that way. In his new celebrity memoir Sonny Boy, the legendary actor shares his journey to the big screen and the lives he lived before he made it. Raised in the South Bronx by his mother and grandparents, Pacino recalls the rowdy friends he ran with and his time at New York’s High School of Performing Arts, where he fell in love with acting — a passion that carried him through failure to dazzling success. 

Publication date: October 15, 2024