Welcome to July 2023, a month ripe with opportunities for expanding our knowledge and diving into captivating real-life narratives. As the world continues to evolve, so does our appetite for compelling nonfiction literature that enlightens, educates, and entertains. In this blog post, we invite you on a literary journey through nine exceptional nonfiction books that are sure to captivate your imagination and satisfy your thirst for knowledge. From thought-provoking memoirs to illuminating explorations of history and science, these carefully selected titles are guaranteed to transport you to different worlds, challenge your perspectives, and leave an indelible mark on your intellectual pursuits. So, grab your reading glasses and prepare to embark on an unforgettable reading adventure with our handpicked selection of nonfiction gems for July 2023.
1. The Last Courtesan by Manish Gaekwad
The 1993 Bow Bazaar bomb blast in Calcutta marked the end of kothas, the vibrant hubs of the busy commercial district. As dance bars and disco music replaced traditional art forms like mujras, kathak, and thumri, the tawaifs faced an uncertain future. Rekhabai, a courtesan from the Kanjarbhat tribe, found herself at a crossroads. In a society that disapproved of their art, she defied the odds and became a singing-dancing star in Calcutta and Bombay. Her memoir recounts her survival story with candor, grace, and humor, as she navigated danger, raised a family, and provided for her son’s education.
2. Balidan by Swapnil Pandey
Deep within the realm of anonymity, the Indian Para Special Forces embody a rare breed of unparalleled courage. These brave warriors, distinguished by the prestigious Balidan badge, bear the weighty responsibility of safeguarding treacherous heights and eradicating the darkest depths of terrorism. Shrouded in an aura of legend and secrecy, their mystique lingers, known only by code names such as Dagger, Ghost, Viper, and Desert Scorpio. Unveiling the enigmatic tales of valor, Swapnil Pandey’s Balidan chronicles the extraordinary exploits of Colonel Santosh Mahadik, Captain Tushar Mahajan, Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, Subedar Major Mahendra Singh, and others. Through painstaking interviews with their friends and families, conducted over countless journeys to Special Forces Units near the LoC and the LAC, this groundbreaking work aims to resurrect these shadowed heroes, finally bringing them into the limelight.
3. Leading through Disruption by Andrew Liveris
In “Leading Through Disruption,” Andrew Liveris offers a unique leadership paradigm for navigating a rapidly changing world with resilience and agility. This essential guide equips leaders from various sectors with powerful tools to tackle challenges swiftly and responsibly while prioritizing a more equitable and sustainable future. Liveris, renowned for his role as the head of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee and former Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company, shares invaluable insights from his four decades of global leadership experience. From creating impactful metrics to fostering collaborations, broadening company focus, strengthening communities, hiring proactive team members, and becoming an influential advisor, this book empowers aspiring leaders to drive meaningful change in an ever-evolving landscape.
4. Who Cares About Parliament by Derek O’Brien
Derek O’Brien, India’s favorite quizmaster, and an award-winning parliamentarian, has observed parliamentary proceedings from the front row of the Rajya Sabha, playing a crucial role for the Opposition by raising difficult questions. In his book “Who Cares about Parliament: Speaking Up to Protect India’s Great Institution,” he sheds light on how Parliament has been undermined in the last decade. O’Brien reveals how rules, precedents, and conventions established over the years have been bypassed and ignored, resulting in the mockery and destruction of this esteemed institution. With a deep understanding of legislative procedures, he reminds us that Parliament is not just a new building, but an establishment rooted in traditions and values—a foundation of Indian democracy. “Who Cares about Parliament” is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges our nation faces today.
Read – 10 Books to Read in July 2023
5. The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell
The world is awakening to a new reality: California experiences seasonal wildfires, the Northeast sees reduced snowfall, and the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets are rapidly melting. Heat is the primary threat driving the climate crisis, exposing fault lines in governments, politics, the economy, and values. The solution is simple: stop burning fossil fuels to halt rising temperatures. However, delay in action means enduring escalating temperatures for decades, rendering parts of our planet uninhabitable. Award-winning journalist Jeff Goodell’s book, “The Heat Will Kill You First,” explores these extreme changes, from earlier springs to later autumns, impacting food supply and disease outbreaks. It examines the consequences of scorching summer days reaching 110°F in cities like Chicago or Boston. Goodell unveils how heatwaves, once predatory events affecting the vulnerable, are becoming more intense and common, impacting everyone. Through scientific insights and captivating storytelling, he reveals the transformative force of extreme heat, urging us to confront this unparalleled challenge.
6. Nuts and Bolts by Roma Agrawal
In the realm of modern technology, from smartphones to skyscrapers and spacecraft, complexity reigns supreme. Yet, beneath the surface lies a remarkable simplicity. In her captivating book, Nuts, and Bolts, award-winning engineer Roma Agrawal unveils the hidden wonders of seven fundamental inventions: the nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string, and pump. These unassuming objects, born from countless iterations and refinements, have enabled humanity to achieve the extraordinary: seeing the invisible, constructing the spectacular, communicating across vast distances, and even exploring the cosmos. Roma’s journey through time reveals surprising connections, like Roman nails shaping skyscrapers and the potter’s wheel propelling space exploration. She highlights the unsung heroes behind these innovations and invites us to marvel at the tiny yet transformative components that have shaped our world in profound ways.
7. Owner of a Lonely Heart: A Memoir by Beth Nguyen
Experience the poignant memoir of an award-winning author, recounting a mother-daughter relationship fragmented by war and displacement. At eight months old, Beth Nguyen fled Saigon with her father, sister, grandmother, and uncles, leaving her mother behind. They didn’t reunite until she turned nineteen, and in their adult lives, they spent less than a day together. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” delves into parenthood, absence, and the refugee experience, as Beth reflects on her journey from a Midwestern childhood to becoming a mother herself, intertwining her first encounter with her mother. This deeply personal tale explores family, connection, and belonging through the lens of a Vietnamese refugee in America.
Read – 9 Best Children’s Books to Read in July 2023
8. President Garfield: From Radical To Unifier by C.W. Goodyear
In this remarkable biography, C.W. Goodyear presents a captivating portrait of James Abram Garfield, one of America’s most extraordinary Presidents. Garfield embodied contrasting qualities: a progressive firebrand and conservative compromiser, a Union war hero and founder of the first Department of Education, a Supreme Court attorney and abolitionist preacher, and more. Throughout his nearly two-decade congressional career during the polarized era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, Garfield served as a peacemaker, ultimately becoming President in an effort to overcome divisions. Tragically, he was assassinated while striving to unite the nation. This compelling narrative showcases Garfield’s journey from poverty to the Presidency, his quest for a more righteous and peaceful Republic, and the impact of his untimely death in reshaping American politics.
9. Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death by Laura Cumming
Renowned author and art critic Laura Cumming unveils a captivating narrative around the Thunderclap—an explosion at a gunpowder store in Holland that killed Carel Fabritius, a renowned painter of The Goldfinch, and nearly claimed the life of Johannes Vermeer, painter of Girl with a Pearl Earring. Through this singular event, Cumming explores the profound impact of art on everyday life, linking Dutch art, history, and culture. She skillfully weaves observations about paintings and their connection to the world, from country to interior details, revealing the power of art to shape our thoughts and understanding. Accompanied by beautiful full-color images of Dutch paintings, this stunning book brings to life one of Europe’s most vibrant artistic periods.
Which nonfiction book from the above do you plan to read? Share with us in the comments section below!
