New non-fiction books for November 2023
by Brandon King
Take a look at our latest non-fiction titles for November 2023.
Looking for something new to read? Browse our recommendations.
Went to London, Took the Dog: A Diary, by Nina Stibbe
Twenty years after leaving London, Nina Stibbe is back in town with her dog, Peggy. Together they take up lodging in the house of writer Deborah (Debby) Moggach in Camden for 'a year-long sabbatical'. It's a break from married life back in Cornwall, or even perhaps a fresh start altogether. Nina is not quite sure yet. Debby does not have many demands - only to water the garden, watch for toads, and defrost the odd pie - so Nina is free to explore the city she once called home.
Between scrutinising her son's online dating developments, navigating the politics of the local pool, and taking detergent advice at the laundrette, this diary of a sixty-year-old runaway reunites us with the inimitable voice of 'Love', Nina, as the writer becomes, as she puts it, 'a proper adult' at last.
Borrow Went to London, Took the Dog: A Diary →
Norfolk: A Photographic Journey Through the Land of Ruth Galloway, by Elly Griffiths
Norfolk, a land of peaceful broads, marshy fens, sprawling coastline and shady brecks, is the home of Dr Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist. A place steeped in folklore and history, visibly shaped by the lives of those who have come before, it has become an integral character in Elly Griffiths' bestselling crime series. In this book Elly takes us through a year in the Norfolk landscape, featuring the fascinating locations that have inspired her series and her writing.
Borrow A Photographic Journey Through the Land of Ruth Galloway →
My Name is Barbra, by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is by any account a living legend, a woman who in a career spanning six decades has excelled in every area of entertainment. She is among the handful of EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) and has one of the greatest and most recognisable voices in popular music. She has been nominated for a Grammy 46 times, and with Yentl she became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major motion picture.
In 'My Name Is Barbra', she tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl (musical and film) to the long string of successes in every medium in the years that followed. The book is, like Barbra herself, frank, funny, opinionated, and charming.
The Wisdom of Sheep & Other Animals, by Rosamund Young
We talk about people behaving like sheep, which assumes that sheep all behave in the same way. That has not been my experience. Some are affectionate, others prone to head-butting. Some are determinedly self-sufficient, others seek our help when they need it. And some can be trusted to lead the flock home. They are as individual as we are. Farm animals are familiar to us from childhood but little did we know that their inner lives are full of complexity, deep bonds and family dramas. Rosamund Young has been an organic farmer for over 40 years and this is her record of a life at the beck and call of the animals while observing and preserving the abundant wildlife at Kite's Nest Farm.
Borrow The Wisdom of Sheep & Other Animals →
How to Be the Love You Seek: Break Cycles, Find Peace and Heal Your Relationships, by Nicole LePera
Why are our closest relationships so often a source of more stress than solace? Whether the relationship is with a romantic partner, a parent, a child, a friend or a colleague, the dynamic is so often the same - you'd like the relationship to change for the better, yet nothing you try seems to work. Dr Nicole LePera has heard frustrating patterns of loneliness, disconnection, and resentment described time and again, both from patients in her clinical practice and from her global online community @the.holistic.psychologist. In this groundbreaking book she offers a new path to healing our relationships by tapping into the power of the heart.
Borrow How to Be the Love You Seek →
Notes from the Henhouse, by Elspeth Barker
Following the publication of her acclaimed, darkly funny novel 'O Caledonia', Elspeth Barker's sharp and witty essays appeared regularly in the national press. 'Notes from the Hen House', a selection of the most personal of these pieces, welcomes readers into the celebrated writer's life.
Borrow Notes from the Henhouse →
The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison's Legacy Goes on Trial, by John Densmore
Author and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore offers a powerful exploration of the 'greed gene' - that part of the human psyche that propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles, friendships and the well-being of society. This is the gripping account of the legal battle to control The Doors's artistic destiny. In it, Densmore looks at the conflict between his bandmates and him as they fought over the right to use The Doors's name, revealing the ways in which this struggle mirrored and reflected a much larger societal issue: that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.
Bruno's Cookbook, by Martin J. Walker
Bruno Courrèges, the protagonist of Martin Walker's internationally acclaimed mystery series, is not only the local police chief of the idyllic village of St Denis. Bruno also happens to be an impressive amateur chef, and in this delightful new cookbook, the culinary and cultural inspiration behind Bruno's fiction world comes to life. Featuring local recipes, charming anecdotes, and a history of its French setting, 'Bruno's Cookbook' invites readers into the bucolic life of Walker and his wife, Julia, and showcases their passion for the region's rich cuisine. Brimming with truffles, pate, top quality fruit and vegetables, famed regional cheeses and wines, the Périgord is a gourmet's paradise.
The Everyday Family Air Fryer Cookbook, by Sarah Flower
No matter the complexity of your daily routine, these air fryer recipes take no time at all and allow the entire family to come home to a delicious and wholesome meal.
Borrow The Everyday Family Air Fryer Cookbook →
For F*ck's Sake: Why Swearing is Shocking, Rude and Fun, by Rebecca Roache
Why do we love to swear so much? Why do we get so offended when others do it? With wit and insight, philosopher Rebecca Roache seeks answers to these and other puzzling questions about bad language.
Endgame, by Omid Scobie
On the 8th of September 2022, the world stood still as news broke of Queen Elizabeth II's passing. Her death dismantled the protective shield around the world's most famous family, and saw a long-simmering crisis of confidence in the British monarchy begin to resurface. Now, with unique insight, deep access and exclusive revelations, journalist Omid Scobie pulls back the curtain on an institution in turmoil, exposing the chaos, family dysfunction, distrust and draconian practices threatening its very future. This is the monarchy's endgame. Do they have what it takes to save it?
The Bill Gates Problem: Reckoning With the Myth of the Good Billionaire, by Tim Schwab
'The Bill Gates Problem' offers readers a provocative and timely counter-narrative about one of the world's most widely recognized individuals - a true global celebrity with international reach. But more than that, this book speaks to a vital political question around economic inequality and the erosion of democratic institutions - why should the super-rich be able to transform their wealth into political power, and just how far can they go?