Your Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide!

To all who consider nonfiction as much of a ‘beach read’ as anything else, here are 30+ books - divided into some unique categories - to add to your summer reading possibilities!

Please note this article may be too long for email - you can read it in its entirety on the website or via the Substack app. Also, our next nonfiction book club meetings are in June and we love to welcome new members! Learn more, get the book list for the rest of the year (the 2026 lineup is already in the works, too!), and join us here.

I’ve had so much fun sharing my monthly reading wrap-ups since joining Substack a little while back, but I’ve kept wondering how I can bring previously-read (ie, pre-Substack) winners - or books we simply haven’t discussed much yet - into the conversation.

That question, in conjunction with some clients and friends who have a bit more time to read in the summer and are asking me for suggestions, prompted me to put together this Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide! Which, of course, you can enjoy whatever season you are entering or whenever you read this article.

Below I’ve created several different categories and offered a few book suggestions within each. Most of these books I haven’t talked about much if at all here on Substack; some of them I read years ago and would like to reread now, too. I’ve included a brief note about each of the 30+ books to help you decide if it’s one you want to look into further.

And since I’m focusing on backlist titles, you will hopefully be able to secure them from your library without a huge wait list, or else purchase them at a lower price point in paperback. (I’ve linked the paperback copies in my Bookshop.org store where possible and appreciate your support there, too!)

Feel free to pull out your TBR (to be read) list and add a few more titles in the areas that pique your interest most! And if you’re new to me or would like a bit more context, here are a few places to start:

• You can learn more about me, my expertise, and my reading tendencies here;

• If you want to read and discuss more nonfiction throughout the rest of the year (with 2026 selections already in the works, too!), you can join us in the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club here;

• For tips on reading - and enjoying! - more nonfiction, read here;

• And if you’d like to learn my favorite nonfiction (and fiction) books of all time, you’ll find that info here.

Happy summer - or whenever - reading!

Beautiful Humanity

With all of the hefty challenges and heavy headlines these days, we might at times forget how good and kind most people are. These books can help restore your faith in humanity and inspire ideas for making the world a better place, too.

HumanKind by Rutger Bregman

A beautiful view of our world from a perspective that is both scientific and optimistic. Bregman cites so many facts and shares so many stories that don’t make the sensationalized headlines but point to the abundant goodness of people. The epilogue shares ten humanity-focused rules to live by, summing up the various points and examples throughout the book. I took my time with this one and really appreciated the reading experience.

The Well-Lived Life by Gladys McGarey

We read this for one of the first Your Best Self book clubs that I hosted at Dog-Eared Books and had such a fun discussion as a result! McGarey writes from the incredibly unique perspective of a 103-year-old physician who very much lives life to the fullest and is happy to share about it. She offers six secrets relating to purpose, movement, mindset, and other contributors she considers necessary for a well-lived life. Reading this feels like you’re chatting with her over a cup of tea.

The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams

I just loved learning about Goodall’s perspective, her one-of-a-kind life (and wildlife!) experiences, and her ‘four reasons for hope’ in this collection of conversations between her and Abrams (who also wrote The Book of Joy, and which I also recommend!). Goodall was in her late eighties at the time of these conversations and her firm belief in hope for us and our planet is like a balm to the soul.

Living ‘The Good Life’

Defining ‘the good life’ is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and these three books provide stellar food for thought in crafting a personal, purposeful definition for yourself.

The Connection Cure by Julia Hotz

A thorough and very interesting look at ‘social prescriptions’ - things outside of drugs that can support our healing physically, mentally, and in other ways. The author traveled extensively to examine different programs (ie, healthcare systems) and speak to various people, and her findings really make you think! She sums up her work into five major social prescriptions - movement, nature, art, meaning, and relationships - that can fuel our need for joy and meaning in life.

Life In Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi

The author opens the book by stating how most studies on ‘the good life’ focus on happiness and/or meaning as the main factors, but he wondered about about a third component. The result: considering a ‘psychologically rich’ life - one characterized by experiences, openness to new things, variety, playfulness. I struggled with some examples given but by the end of the book had taken pages of notes that I have pondered many times since. A thought-provoker, for sure! (Disclaimer: This one is actually not a backlist book yet, as it was published earlier this year.)

The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz

An excellent resource backed by 80 years of research through the Harvard Study of Adult Development, focusing on what - in people’s own words, health records, and lived experiences - contributes to happiness, satisfaction, and meaning in life. This one admittedly took me a little while to get into, but once I did I was truly all in, tabbing and making all kinds of notes! Connection typically shows up as a major factor in a good life, and I like the different types of relationships they consider here.

Gifts Of Nature

In addition to being insightful and well-written, these three books could also fall into the category of ‘making me obsessed about things I hadn’t previously thought about too much.’ I’ve continued reaching for books by these authors.

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

I learned so much about octopuses (including that that is the correct way to pluralize the word!) and gained such wonderful appreciation for these enthralling creatures and the people who care for them. The respect and compassion shown to the animals throughout is just beautiful, and I love the personal stories woven in on topics like belonging, grief, identity, and more. I inadvertently read this book and the novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, quite near each other, and I think I will now forever be seeking out octopus stories and knowledge.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

A beautiful, educational, and inspiring look at nature from someone with incredible insights from her cultural background, extensive education, and lived experiences. She focuses on appreciation, reciprocity, the ‘honorable harvest,’ and so many topics that I just could not get enough of; I have since read and loved Gathering Moss and, if you’re an audiobook listener, would recommend both of these on audio. (Her new book, The Serviceberry, is wonderful as well; I’d suggest the print copy of this one.)

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

An absolute delight of a book filled with beautiful prose, rich descriptions, and the author’s clear love for nature. Each essay focuses on a different plant or animal, and I learned so much while also simply enjoying the gorgeous word choices and beautiful rhythms of this writing. Barnes & Noble booksellers selected this as their book of the year in 2020 and once you read it, I suspect you’ll understand why.

Meaningful Work

Helping people find meaning in, engage in, and make a difference through their work is a big part of my coaching, which I absolutely adore. I could list at least 30 books but here are three to get us started.

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

Rosamund writes this book from her perspective as an executive coach and therapist, and Benjamin as the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic; this unique blend makes for such an enjoyable, applicable reading experience. The section around ‘giving yourself an A’ alone made this book worth it for me! If you’re seeking more of an ‘invitation to possibility’ than a list of rules and how-to’s, this might be right up your alley.

Great At Work by Morten Hansen

A terrific evidence-based look at what helps - and what hinders - our success at work. Hansen outlines seven principles that help us improve performance and feel, well, great at work! The examples shared, which come from over 5,000 employees and managers included in the study, cover a wide range of work experiences/industries and make for a compelling read. This was a random library find that I’d never heard of and ended up loving - particularly the chapter on passion and purpose.

True Work by Justine Willis Toms and Michael Toms

This was one of the first books on the topic I discovered when I began my coaching business and might be the oldest book on this list (1998 publication date), but it remains in my mind and on my shelf as a valuable resource. Perhaps it is because of sentences that feel so clear and ring so true, like this one: “Clarity of purpose comes from honoring what gives your life meaning.” Subtitled ‘Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do,’ this book blends passion, spirituality, relationships, and more to help us understand our own true work.

Essay Collections

If you want books you can easily put down and pick up again for shorter periods of time - in between dips in the pool, perhaps - essay collections are a wonderful resource. These three expanded my thinking in all kinds of unexpected ways.

Disability Visibility by Alice Wong (ed)

This vast collection of essays features a number of people with disabilities sharing their stories, experiences, advocacy, and more. I found it so eye-opening and filled with diverse voices and examples, plus important commentary on how disabilities often cannot be visibly seen by others but still impact lives and accessibility. I initially read this from the library and subsequently purchased a copy to easily refer back to its insights.

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

Although I’ve enjoyed several of Green’s young adult novels, I initially had no interest in reading this nonfiction release from him - and then it landed a spot on my top ten list the year I did pick it up! I so enjoyed this random, informative, heartfelt, relatable collection and honestly haven’t read anything quite like it. (On a side note, I haven’t read his newest release - Everything Is Tuberculosis - but let me know in the comments below if you recommend it!)

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

Subtitled ‘Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot,’ this incredibly eye-opening book emphasizes the importance of feminism but how it has largely focused on benefiting white women. Kendall shines an important light, backed by statistics, on the need for making the movement more inclusive for people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and others. Topics range from housing to healthcare to micro-aggressions and so much more, offering not only background but ideas for forward movement as well.

Positive Psychology

One of my coaching certifications is in the field of positive psychology coaching, and I am endlessly fascinated at the science behind this topic. Positive psychology is about so much more than simply smiling or feeling happy (though also important!); below are three of my favorite researchers in the field who also write very accessible, applicable books.

Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson

I first heard of Barbara Fredrickson while at a coach training intensive in Santa Barbara, CA. I was instantly enamored with her work, went to a nearby bookstore and purchased Positivity, and absolutely devoured it on my flight home. Not only is she a brilliant researcher, she has a gift for writing in such a clear and applicable way. Although over fifteen years old, with science advancing a great deal in that time, I still consider this a foundational resource and often refer to its positivity ratio concept, broaden-and-build theory, upward spiraling, and more.

Flourish by Martin Seligman

Considered by many to be one of the founders of positive psychology, Seligman has numerous publications from which to choose; I’ve enjoyed several but think Flourish leads the pack for me. He focuses on not just one aspect of a positive life but rather the variety of factors that science has shown contribute to human flourishing and overall well-being. Learning the PERMA model and then taking action to apply that in your life, relationships, workplace, and so forth can make such a difference; I have incorporated it into my coaching work ever since learning it years ago.

The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky

The practicality of this book is what makes it stand out in my mind and prompts me to continually pull it off my shelves for a refresher. Like the other books in this section (and throughout much of this list), The How of Happiness is founded in evidence-based science, but it is presented as a series of practical action steps we can take to enhance our own happiness, positivity, and flourishing - as well as help others around us do the same. If you need a tool kit filled with ideas that you can choose from and implement in order to build your happiness, this book delivers.

The Power Of An Intentional Mindset

Henry Ford is famously credited with saying, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t - you’re right.” While there often may be more to it than that, mindset is an excellent area to continue building up in a beneficial, intentional way.

Awe by Dacher Keltner

Subtitled ‘The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life,’ this book offers a great mix of science and stories to demonstrate the value of awe in our lives. Many of the stories brought me to tears in the most meaningful way, showing the numerous and varied forms awe can take. The author is a professor, researcher, and co-director of The Greater Good Science Center, and writes about awe in a very accessible and actionable way.

Chasing The Bright Side by Jess Ekstrom

I don’t recall hearing much about this one when it came out several years ago, but I picked it for yet another book club I lead and it was a favorite among many! A delightful memoir by someone who saw a need, blended it with a passion, and turned it into an organization called Headbands For Hope; Ekstrom credits optimism for this and other successes she’s experienced and shares numerous ways to lean into it. This is one of those books that you can easily find yourself smiling and feeling more optimistic simply in the reading process.

Mindset by Carol Dweck

I don’t think we can write about the topic of mindset without including perhaps the top pioneer on the subject. I first read Mindset years ago after seeing it cited in so many other articles and books; I’ve since reread it for a professional book club I lead, a parenting group I was part of, and just as a refresher for myself. If you’ve heard of the growth mindset and fixed mindset, you can thank Dweck for this brilliant insight, and turn to this source material for the details.

Made Me Laugh (But Also Had Heart)

Humor is such a subjective experience, and I often find that books labeled as ‘hilarious’ or ‘laugh out loud funny’ tend to not speak to me, let alone make me laugh. These three are exceptions!

A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost

I am not a big Saturday Night Live watcher and had only seen Jost a handful of times before reading this memoir, but by the end he practically felt like a new friend. I appreciated his blend of humor, thoughtfulness, wit, kindness, and self-deprecation; a few parts I liked less than others but overall really enjoyed listening to this on audiobook.

Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInerny

A funny, relatable, touching, and thoughtful collection of essays that I whipped through via audio in two days. I’m not sure what initially drew me to this book, which by its title sounds pretty opposite to what I strive for in life (she also hosts a podcast called Terrible, Thanks For Asking), but I loved her funny yet touching approach to these essays, which also cover some difficult topics.

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

I laughed so much throughout this book, which I listened to on audio and therefore got to benefit from Gaffigan’s goofy voices, odd pauses, whispered commentary, and all-around excellent comedic style. I had the good fortune of seeing Gaffigan perform in person a few years back, and I have found him - and all I’ve read from him so far - just hilarious. I was so gripped by this one I read it in less than a day!

Unique Memoirs

I did share several of my all-time favorite memoirs in this article, and here are a few more to add. While all memoirs are unique, of course, another aspect that stands out with these three is their unique structure.

Good Talk by Mira Jacob

While I’ve enjoyed numerous graphic novels, I hadn’t read many (any?) graphic memoirs before Good Talk; this was such an interesting format as well as an engaging and eye-opening account. Essentially written as a ‘memoir in conversations,’ Jacob shares her perspective as an Indian American woman responding to her young interracial son, who is full of questions about the world around him. She addresses a number of poignant topics, through both words and artwork, in this thoughtful memoir.

When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams

I first heard of this on the Book Riot podcast and was immediately intrigued by the premise: At age 54, Tempest Williams decides to finally read her mom’s journals, which her mom left for her upon her death at that same age. When Tempest Williams opens the dozens of journals, however, she discovers they are all completely blank. She then spends the rest of the book contemplating what her mom was saying, and/or not saying, through this action. Very unique!

Songteller by Dolly Parton

An absolute delight of a memoir by someone I find so inspiring - for her musical gifts, literacy contributions, and so much more. Parton is a spirited, confident, and generous woman, and while she has endured her share of difficulties, I absolutely loved her resilience and optimism shining through this book. I listened to the entire audiobook on a roadtrip, enjoyed every minute, and still remember my heart just melting at the final few lines!

Midlife Delight

The more I delve into life ‘of a certain age,’ the more I want to fuel myself with inspiration and reminders of the gifts that accompany midlife. These books offer very thought-provoking perspectives.

Learning to Love Midlife by Chip Conley

A positive, inspiring approach to midlife, this book shares story after story of people in their 50s, 60s, and beyond trying new things, taking creative action, and loving life! I really appreciate the perspectives that challenge the notion some people have that everything goes downhill after age __ (different people will fill in the blank differently) or that ‘midlife’ is associated only with ‘crisis.’ In addition to numerous examples, the author himself talks about learning a new language and taking up surfing in his 50s. Inspiring, affirming, and encouraging.

From Strength To Strength by Arthur Brooks

A really interesting look at making the most of midlife and beyond. I’ll admit I found the first chapter or so a bit of a bummer, all about strengths diminishing over time, and I wasn’t sure I’d continue reading. I’m glad I did, however, because the rest of the book focuses on developing new strengths and pursuits, and defining things differently for ourselves, in the second half of life. I highlighted quite a bit and really liked his idea of a ‘professional reset,’ too.

The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch

Subtitled ‘Why Life Gets Better After 50,’ you will probably quickly tell if this book is for you or not! I wasn’t familiar with the ‘U’ curve that examines levels of happiness, contentedness, anxiousness, and so on in relation to different life chapters and found this really enlightening. I also appreciate the languaging this book offers (ie, midlife ‘discontent’ vs. ‘crisis’), the discussion of natural times of change during life, and the points about not comparing yourself to others or to your past self. Several unique perspectives!

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Which of these will you be adding to your TBR? What other books do you recommend I add to mine? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

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Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, and self-proclaimed book nerd, is a certified coach who helps achievers work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals. Feel free to share your questions, comments, or topic/book suggestions below or via email to readingandpurpose (at) gmail (dot) com.

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