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.
And just like that, it’s November. Most of the big literary prizes have been handed out, and my feed is flooded with best of the year lists. But there are still new books coming out every week, and you won’t want to let them fly under your radar.
Of course, as a fan of true stories, nonfiction is always at the top of my to-be-read pile. And November is full of incredible new releases! I could start with Char Adams’s new book about Black-owned bookstores. Or I could read the new book about a shipwreck that left a crew stranded at sea. Or maybe I’ll check out the new memoir from Palestinian author Tareq Baconi, where he describes returning to his homeland to help him better understand his own history.
In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected ten of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in November. You might be new to nonfiction or a true stories pro, but whatever the case, there’s sure to be something on this list that catches your eye.
All publication dates are subject to change.
Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams (November 4)
A November LibraryReads Pic, Black-Owned highlights the importance of Black-owned bookstores. From Malcolm X giving speeches in front of the National Memorial African Book Store in Harlem to Maya Angelou becoming the face of National Black Bookstore Week, Black-owned bookstores have played a huge role in Black activism and community. Char Adams takes us on a tour of these indie bookstores throughout history, giving us a love letter to these treasured havens for Black resistance.
All access members continue below for more of November’s best nonfiction.
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.
Fire in Every Direction: A Memoir by Tareq Baconi (November 4)
Since they were displaced from their home in Haifa in 1948, Baconi’s family has been looking for home. When he was a boy in Amman, Baconi realized that he was in love with his best friend. After moving to London for university, he begins to come to terms with his sexuality, but he still feels out of place. This sends him back to Palestine, where his family’s displacement first began.
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity by Tim Wu (November 4)
Tim Wu, the scholar who first coined the term “net neutrality,” examines how our world became dominated by a handful of tech platforms. What was first pitched to users as a great equalizer has now turned into a way for these platforms to exploit their users for information and has hindered economic growth for everyday people.
Captain’s Dinner: A Shipwreck, An Act of Cannibalism, and a Murder Trial That Changed Legal History by Adam Cohen (November 18)
Perfect for fans of The Wager and The Heart of the Sea, Captain’s Dinner follows a crew adrift at sea that is faced with an impossible decision. After their ship sinks, Captain Thomas Dudley and his crew must decide to starve to death or eat one of their crew members. They decide to eat the cabin boy and find themselves facing dire consequences after they are rescued.
Black, White, Colored: The Hidden Story of an Insurrection, a Family, a Southern Town, and Identity in America by Lauretta Malloy Noble and LeeAnét Noble
On election day in 1898, white supremacists attacked the Black residents of Laurinburg, North Carolina, forcing them to flee. Lauretta Malloy Noble and LeeAnét Noble have meticulously researched the events of that day, presenting the first book that details the impact this violence had on the Black residents of the town.
Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much by Cynthia Erivo (November 18)
Singer and actor Cynthia Erivo invites readers into her life with her new book, Simply More. In a series of vignettes, Erivo shares examples of when she was told that she was too much or not enough. Sometimes she made mistakes and had to pick herself back up and try again. Using these stories from her own life, Erivo encourages her readers to believe in themselves and understand that they are enough.
There are so many good books — I don’t know where to start! If you’re looking for even more nonfiction book recommendations, check out 7 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of September 2025 and 7 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of October 2025.
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