I know I say this all the time, but I really cannot believe it is November already. Last month was so crazy, I feel like I completely skipped October. Which of course means I am very behind on my reading goals. I was hoping to catch up this month, but I don’t have high hopes since we’re already a full week in and I have not finished a single book. (Fingers crossed that will change after I finish writing this post.)

You all probably already know that I read a decent amount of nonfiction. But November is when I ramp that up because it is Nonfiction November! I was planning on reading exclusively nonfiction this time around, but I don’t think I’ll be able to and still get back on track with my goals. Next year, though! It’ll happen. I do still want to read a lot of nonfiction, and I have some on my list that I am every excited about. Here are a few of the books I am hoping to read for Nonfiction November this year:

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

This book has been on my radar for so long, and so many people have recommended it. I’ve talked about it before on this blog, but there is a lot of trauma in my past. I also have several health issues (both mental and physical). And in trying to find ways to deal with those, I started seeing the connection between my trauma and my health. Which is obviously when this book came up.

I haven’t had a ton of time to read this month, but I did start this one and got through the first fifty pages very quickly. Honestly, I wasn’t blown away yet. But I’ve heard great things and am looking forward to reading more and seeing if there are any insights that might help me.

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

Speaking of trauma… I added this new release to my reading list the second I saw it. And I’ve been saving it for Nonfiction November. One of the things I was diagnosed with in dealing with the effects of my own trauma is C-PTSD, or complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Which happens not after a single traumatizing event (like a horrible car accident), but prolonged or chronic trauma (like childhood abuse). I had never seen a book by an author with C-PTSD before this one, so I knew I had to read it. We even have the same name, so it feels like fate!

It’s been getting amazing reviews, and my Nonfiction November was definitely missing a memoir. So I’m happy to add this one to my list. I have no idea if this book is going to help me or make me curl up into a ball and cry, but I think it’ll be worth it either way.

How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur

I feel like I haven’t talked about it in a while, but I am a massive fan of The Good Place. If you haven’t seen it, you should, it’s amazing (and it’s on Netflix – at least her in the US). It’s basically a show that will make you both laugh and cry while teaching you about philosophy. Something I definitely haven’t talked a lot about is that I’m low-key a fan of philosophy. I took a few courses in college. And when I reached peak boredom back in 2020, I took a free Harvard philosophy class online.

The Good Place definitely got me back into being curious about philosophy. I even bought one of the books mentioned a lot in the show. So a philosophy book by the creator of The Good Place (and also The Office and Parks & Rec), sounded so fun. Plus, the cast of the show narrates the audiobook, so you know I picked that up. I have a lot of audiobooks to get through this month, so I grabbed some supplies for a knitting project I’ve been meaning to get to. Hopefully that’ll make for a nice, relaxing November.

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

You know I love true crime. And I kind of wanted to include a true crime book this month. But I read one in October, and I’m just not in the mood for another one so soon. This one is true-crime adjacent, but focuses more on the psychology and sociology of cults rather than the crimes the cults may have committed. And I love me a good cult documentary (I have watched all of them in the past few years). If there was a cult that just learned about all the other cults, that’d be the one I accidentally join.

This book just seems like a fascinating read, and I’m very excited to dive in. I’m just about finished with my first audiobook of the month, so I might jump into this one next. It feels like something I’d be able to get through quickly.

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

Finally, we have the third book in Alison Weir’s England’s Medieval Queens series. I love this series so much! It’s straight history and a little more difficult to get through. But I’m a massive history nerd, so I love reading history books. But these books are a little different. Partly in that they really focus on some badass female historical figures I hadn’t even heard of. But mostly because the stories they contain are batshit crazy. I lovingly refer to this series The Real Housewives of Medieval England. Personally, I’m not a fan of the RH franchise (the tone gives me anxiety). But give me medieval drama, and I am in.

This book will be released early next month, so I want to get to it so I can review it for you all. And also because it just sounds like a nice fun read for Nonfiction November. I also want to read more history books, so this is perfect. That said, she is a thicc girl, so I should probably start it soon.

That’s it for my November reading list! I’m hoping to read a lot more books and catch up on my reading goals, so let me know if you have suggestions for a good, short nonfiction read. Are you participating in Nonfiction November? What’s on your reading list this month?

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