best of 2021: nonfiction

And now it's time for my favorite nonfiction books of 2021!  A few notes before I begin:

- I didn't have enough titles to make it an even ten, so this list only has nine titles.  Hopefully I read another worthy nonfiction book by the end of the year; if so, I'll add it here.

UPDATE 12/26:  Number ten added!

- I'm not sure if all of these were originally released in 2021 or not, but that's when I read them.

- These are in random order, although I did make note of my favorite.

- And as always, your mileage may vary.

1. Want Me by Tracy Clark-Flory:  The author grew up with conflicting messages about sex fed to her by the media, and when she got older, she decided to explore her own sexuality by writing about sex and desire. 

2. The Babysitter by Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan:  When Liza was young, her mother often left her in the care of a motel handyman named Tony.  Liza adored Tony, especially because he was one of the few kind and responsible adults in her life, but when she got older, she found out he was the infamous serial killer known as the "Cape Cod Vampire".  Engrossing. 

3. Broken by Jenny Lawson:  A collection of essays ranging from the humorous (weird pets she's had; a collection of embarrassing tweets) to the moving (her struggles with mental illness).  My favorite nonfiction book of the year!

4. Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough:  A collection of essays about the author's time in the military during "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", growing up in the infamous Children of God cult, and serving time for accidentally breaking her girlfriend's ex-girlfriend's wrist during an argument.  It's a shame that the author's online kerfuffle (Cliff's Notes: she got upset over some of her Goodreads reviews and went off on Twitter) overshadowed her work, because it's excellent.

5. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner:  An emotional memoir about the author's occasionally difficult relationship with her mother and how they connected best over Korean food.  The author lost her mom at the same age I did, which made this especially painful at times, but it's a fantastic read.

6. The Ugly Cry by Danielle Henderson:  After her mother abandoned her in favor of an abusive boyfriend, the author went to live with her unassuming grandfather and her foul-mouthed, horror-loving grandmother.  An absorbing, often quite funny, story of resilience.

7. Fuzz:  When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach:  An entertaining and informative  look into the science of human-wildlife conflict, from dumpster-diving bears in Aspen to monkeys in India that pick pockets and break into hospital rooms to slurp glucose from IV drips.

8. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford:  The author's father had been in prison for as long as she could remember, but nobody would tell her why.  When she got older, she finally learned the truth behind his incarceration.  

9. Tacky:  Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer by Rax King:  A very funny appreciation of the joys of tacky things like Cheesecake Factory and Hot Topic.

10. Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott:  For almost ten years, the author followed a young girl named Dasani as she moved in and out of New York City homeless shelters.  Absorbing.