Ep. 208 brings the third installment of our "Best of…" series. Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop joined Sarah for the Best of Narrative Nonfiction, sharing her ALL-TIME TOP books in this genre. Plus, she brings a few popular nonfiction reads that didn't work for her.⁠ This episode is chock-full of fantastic book recommendations to get you ready for Nonfiction November or just your next nonfiction pick.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• How Elizabeth got started with narrative nonfiction.
• How the pull of "real stories" has her returning to this category again and again.
• Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn't work for her.
• Elizabeth picks a book from her list that would be a good starter book for those new to the genre.

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All books mentioned in this episode are linked through Fabled Bookshop or Libro.FM. If you decide to purchase, we'd love for you to use our Fabled links in the show notes — if your budget allows.  As a bonus, use promo code SARAH at checkout on Fabled's website for 10% off your order! Prefer audio? You can find the titles on Libro.fm and select Fabled as the store you'd like to support. You can also find a list of Elizabeth's books from this episode on both Fabled's website.

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Elizabeth's Favorite Narrative Nonfiction Sub-Genres [9:53]

NATURAL DISASTER STORIES

• In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides (2014) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [10:42]
• The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin (2004) | Fabled | Libro.FM [11:13]
• The Vortex by Scott Carney and Jason Miklian (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [11:29]
• The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown (2009) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [12:18]
• What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross (2015) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [13:11]
• Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson (1999) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [13:33]

LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS

• One Summer by Bill Bryson (2013) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [14:24]
• Pappyland by Wright Thompson (2020) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [15:05]
• The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [15:43]

POP SCIENCE

• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport (2019) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [16:54]
• The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [17:50]
• Replaceable You by Mary Roach (2025) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [18:35]

HISTORY TOLD IN INTERESTING WAYS

• Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [19:03]
• The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon (2017) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [20:21]
• The Big Rich by Bryan Burrough (2009) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [21:17]
• In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton (2001) | Fabled  [21:43]
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (2010) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [22:11]

ORDINARY PEOPLE MEMOIRS

• Red Notice by Bill Browder (2015) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [22:32]
• Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin (1988) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [23:06]

GOTCHA / PEOPLE BEHAVING BADLY

• Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [24:22]
• Bad City by Paul Pringle (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [24:24]
• Bully Market by Jamie Fiore Higgins (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [24:31]

Elizabeth's All-Time Top Narrative Nonfiction [26:07]

• Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr. (2013) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [26:56]
• The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (2006) | Fabled | Libro.FM [28:07]
• The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (2016) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [29:13]
• Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard (2011) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [30:57]
• The Deepest South of All by Richard Grant (2020) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [33:03]
• Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall (2019) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [35:01]
• All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg (1991) | Fabled | Libro.FM   [37:41]
• Sudden Sea by R. A. Scotti (2003) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [39:52]
• The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede (2002) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [43:09]

High-Profile Narrative Nonfiction That She Didn't Love [47:37] 

• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [47:52]
• When the Sea Came Alive by Garrett M. Graff (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [49:19]
• Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [50:48]

Other Books Mentioned

• Finding Flora by Elinor Florence (2025) [4:51]
• Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose (1996) [5:21]
• The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (2013) [12:22]
• Patty Reed's Doll by Rachel K. Laurgaard (1956) [12:59]  
• In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross (2023) [13:15]
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (2024) [17:45]
• Grunt by Mary Roach (2016) [18:27]
• Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin (1984) [23:48]
• Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (2018) [25:10]
• I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (2018) [25:39]
• A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan (2023) [28:57]
• The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan (2016) [29:02]
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (1994) [33:48]
• Natchez Burning (Natchez Burning, 1 and Penn Cage, 4) by Greg Iles (2014) [34:49]
• Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (2009) [35:21]
• My Southern Journey by Rick Bragg (2015) [39:03]
• Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce (2023) [41:45]
• A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams (2013) [42:33]
• The Only Place in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff (2019) [45:44]
• The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by Garrett M. Graff (2025) [50:41]
• Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham (2019) [42:33]