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Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
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It’s been a busy few weeks in the world of all things nonfiction. Now that we’re well into July, booksellers across the internet are reporting the bestsellers of the year so far and spoiler alert: nonfiction is doing pretty well.
In other news, Oprah’s team has put together some of the best nonfiction of the past two decades, including so many of my personal favorites. Plus, Book Riot’s own Kelly Jensen gives an update on how Pride is disappearing from libraries across the country.
The Best Nonfiction of the Past Two Decades (Oprah Daily)
I’m always on the lookout for more nonfiction features, and when I saw this article making the rounds again, I knew I had to share it. The editors at Oprah Daily put together a list of the best nonfiction from the past two decades. Their list includes everything from histories to memoirs. A few of my favorites are on the list, including Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden, South to America by Imani Perry, and Know My Name by Chanel Miller.
The Top 10 Bestselling Books of 2025 (So Far) (Publisher’s Weekly)
While the combined special and regular editions of Onyx Storm sold over two million copies, nonfiction showed up in Circana BookScan’s list of the bestselling books of the year so far, too. At the top of the list is The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Robbins encourages readers to throw aside the worries of what others think. Seems like a simple idea, but people are resonating with it. The Let Them Theory has captivated millions of readers since the book’s release in late 2024.
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100 Bestselling Books of 2025 (So Far) (bookshop.org)
Bookshop.org released their 100 bestselling titles of the year, which includes a host of incredible nonfiction. The list includes popular titles like On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad.
Pride Is Disappearing in Libraries Across the U.S.: Book Censorship News: July 11, 2025 (Book Riot)
The fight against censorship in the United States continues. Kelly Jensen reports on the various ways libraries have faced an uphill battle on multiple fronts. In my home state of Ohio, there was an attempt to change the way libraries are funded statewide. Provisions in the bill would have made it a requirement that LGBTQ+ materials be removed from the view of patrons 18 or under. Thankfully, that part of the bill didn’t pass, but it’s just one of many attempts to censor books across the country. In Georgia, a library manager was fired over the inclusion of a book with a transgender main character in a book display. That manager wasn’t the only one who had their job terminated because of inclusive book displays last month, either.
