From the Librarians: 

The William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle is proud to offer readers recommendations from our librarians. These titles were selected by Sarah Laughmiller, Chrissy Tucker and Alex VanKoughnett. Visit the library to check out these and more. 

Must-read Non-Fiction 

These books are some of the librarians’ favorite non-fiction titles. The selection covers self-help, true crime, cooking and biographies. 

“Rebel Homemaker” by Drew Barrymore 

Most everyone knows Drew Barrymore from her feature films and TV shows; however, in her all-new book, Drew is giving the world a peek into her personal life. “Rebel Homemaker” is part biography and part cookbook. It is full of lessons Drew has learned in her life, pictures from different periods and recipes she personally loves to cook for her family. This book gives a good picture of the person behind the camera. 

“Live your life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero” by Amanda Kloots 

In this biography, Amanda Kloots tells the story of her husband Nick Cordero. In March 2020, Amanda took Nick to the hospital for what they expected to be pneumonia; however, he had COVID-19. He would spend the next three months in the hospital fighting for his life. He lost his battle and passed away in June 2020. Nick left behind Amanda and their 1-year-old son Elvis. This book is a documentation from beginning to end of the life that Nick and Amanda shared. 

“I’ll be Gone in the Dark” by Michelle McNamara 

This posthumously-published account follows Michelle McNamara on her journey to solve the case of the Golden State Killer. From 1973-1986, the Golden State Killer committed more than 180 crimes, ranging from burglary to rape to murder. In this book, Michelle explains in detail all of the gruesome and terrifying details of his crimes that she gathered from detectives, survivors and experts. Without her constantly investigating, the Golden State Killer might have never been caught. 

“Dopamine Nation” by Dr. Anna Lembke 

Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explains the effects of dopamine on our bodies. When released in the brain, dopamine causes us to feel pain and pleasure – whether this is through food, drugs, social media, the news or other sources. Dr. Lembke explains how you can overindulge in dopamine. She has helped her patients find their right balance, despite the dopamine curveballs life throws at us. She shares anecdotes of patients and how they struggled and then thrived through her advice and instruction.  

“A Little Closer to Home” by Ginger Zee 

Ginger Zee is America’s bright, bubbly meteorologist, but few know of the internal storms she’s weathered. In this biography, Ginger is more real and raw than ever before. She shares with readers about her rocky childhood, her deep struggles with depression, her suicide attempts and how she’s navigating life now. Ginger is open and honest about her life, and many will find it very relatable. She is committed to expanding the dialogue on mental health.