Looking for an engaging, well-paced nonfiction read? Check out this list made by librarians at The Seattle Public Library. Annotations from review sources, as cited. (December 2024).
Frostbite
An oddly fascinating look at the world of refrigeration. A literate treat for tech- and history-inclined foodies. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Wonder Drug
In this mind-boggling horror story of pharmaceutical malfeasance, journalist and novelist Vanderbes profiles one of the most notorious drugs in history…Surfacing new documents and interviewing individuals involved who have never spoken on the record before. It's a deeply researched and chilling must-read. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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National Dish
An award-winning food journalist searches for the connection between a nation’s people and what they eat. Is it food that defines the culture or the culture that defines the food? In this piquant platter of a book, von Bremzen tackles questions of culture, history, and the meaning of a good meal. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Master Slave Husband Wife
A suspenseful, sensitively rendered account of [Ellen and William Craft’s] four-day journey to the North...Woo tells the story [with] a cinematic eye. She excels at setting scenes, conjuring the sensations experienced by the Crafts at each harrowing point... The vivid details help Woo to convey the Crafts’ attention to every element of their plot. (The New York Times Book Review)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Anansi's Gold
’Catch Me if You Can’ meets ‘Coming to America’ in this epic tale of one of the greatest scammers of all time. (NPR)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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