2022 wasn’t a big year for reading nonfiction, but the ones I read affected my life in distinct ways. Today, I’m sharing the best nonfiction books of 2022. I will break the books down into categories so you can easily skip t the section you’re most interested in.
Best Nonfiction Books for Authors
Let’s Get Digital: How to Self-Publish, and Why You Should, by David Gaughran
Publish like a pro and start finding readers today with the most comprehensive and up-to-date self-publishing guide on the market. Packed with practical, actionable advice, the new fourth edition of Let’s Get Digital delivers the very latest best practices on publishing your work and building an audience.
- Boost your writing career with marketing strategies that are proven to sell more books.
- Discover expert tips on platform building, blogging and social media.
- Learn which approaches are best for selling fiction vs. non-fiction.
- Implement powerful ways to make your ebooks more discoverable.
- Increase your visibility by optimizing keywords and categories.
- Weigh the pros and cons of Kindle Unlimited, and find out exactly how to tweak your promotional plans depending on whether you stay exclusive to Amazon or opt for wider distribution.
And that’s just for starters…
What I Liked About Let’s Get Digital
Let’s Get Digital: How to Self-Publish, and Why You Should, by David Gaughran gives a comprehensive look at what it takes to self-publish. David Gaughran explained things clearly about what he had observed and experienced. This book would be helpful for beginners or persons who’d already done some research on self-publishing.
Whole Book Marketing: An Indie Author’s Guide to Selling Books, by Victorine Lieske
Are you an indie author struggling to sell fiction novels? Is marketing your book overwhelming to you? Are you wanting to start buying ads, but don’t know where to begin?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the book for you. Let NYT’s and USA Today bestselling author Victorine E. Lieske walk you through the process of learning what marketing is, and how to do it effectively. Victorine will tell you all the things she’s tried that haven’t worked, to save you the time and hassle. Don’t make the same mistakes she did. Learn from someone who has been there and done it.
In this book you’ll learn:
- What marketing is, and what you need to know in order to sell books.
- Why defining your genre is so important, and how to do so.
- What different audiences are and why you need to know which audience you’re marketing to.
- The best ways to find your audience.
- Why people buy books, and how this helps you.
- How to get people to subscribe to your newsletter.
- Best practices for writing a blurb.
- Amazon algorithms and why they are important.
- What an author platform is and what you should be doing with it.
- Victorine’s tips on buying ads.
- What to do when nothing works.
- And more!
Marketing your book doesn’t have to take hours and hours. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task. You don’t have to feel like you’re wasting time and nothing is working. Let this book help you discover what the top indies are doing to sell so many books.
What I Liked About Whole Book Marketing
Whole Book Marketing An Indie Author’s Guide to Selling Books, by Victorine Lieske is a frank take from the author’s perspective on marketing. What I liked was the way she didn’t tell us to do all the things that are sometimes touted as absolutes. She also encouraged authors to focus on doing the type of marketing that you enjoy which is the opposite of the “be-everywhere and on every platform” that is sometimes taught.
Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, by Austin Kleon
A guide to self-promotion explains how to become more known by letting other artists glean inspiration from one’s original work, sharing illustrations, quotes and stories that demonstrate key strategies in generosity-based self-promotion. By the best-selling author of Steal Like an Artist. Turtleback binding is a highly durable alternative to a hardcover or paperback book. The comprehensive cover reinforcement process will drastically combat wear and tear, keeping your favorite books in great condition for years to come! Turtleback books are ideal for any reader, or for use in schools or libraries.
What I Liked About Show Your Work!
Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, by Austin Kleon is the book that encouraged me to show more of my work online. The tendency as creatives is to shield your work because, though you crave feedback, you’re afraid of what others will say about your work. Either that or you worry about exposing too much of yourself for others to see. This book reminded me that if everyone did that, there’d be nothing new or interesting. In fact, would we have anything except what was created by God?
Best Motivational Nonfiction Book
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World, by William H. McRaven
If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university’s slogan, “What starts here changes the world,” he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.
Admiral McRaven’s original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life’s darkest moments.
What I Liked About Make Your Bed
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World, by William H. McRaven is filled with practical advice that if followed, can improve the quality of your life. You’ll be more willing to face challenges and overcome obstacles by following the principles discussed in this book.
Best Nonfiction Book – Christian Living
Hidden Manna on a Country Road: Seeing God’s Daily Provision All Around Us, by Sarah Geringer
Connect with God in new and unexpected ways, seeing hidden manna all around you as you learn to pray while walking outdoors.
Prayer can be an intimidating mystery, even when we have practiced our faith for years. Yet God has hidden prayer prompts for us in nature, right outside our doors. These simple treasures can inspire deep connections with God as you uncover the spiritual truths hidden inside them.
Sarah Geringer discovered many prayer prompts in nature during the worldwide pandemic. On walks with her beloved dog Memphis, she spotted reasons to pray scattered all around her, like the manna God provided for Israel’s sustenance in the wilderness. His loving provision of connections via nature lifted her faith during that challenging time. The metaphors she discovered will inspire your own prayers, whether you live in the country or the city. The beautiful truths you encounter will sustain your faith through all four seasons of the year.
What I Liked About Hidden Manna on a Country Road
Hidden Manna on a Country Road: Seeing God’s Daily Provision All Around Us, by Sarah Geringer is a reminder to pray about everything, regardless of the season. I liked how transparent the author was with her emotions and how she was able to expose them to God. From her experience, we’re reminded that nothing about our lives is insignificant to God.
Believe For It: Passing On Faith to the Next Generation, by CeCe Winans
Believe for It: Passing on Faith to the Next Generation beautifully recounts the pivotal experiences in CeCe’s life that have shaped her faith. From her childhood in Detroit and the miracle of motherhood to her award-winning music career, CeCe brings readers along for a story full of heart, passion, and wisdom acquired from her walk with God.
The Grammy award-winning artist shares stories of her life and career and lessons she’s learned along the way, including:
- Growing up in a musical family with 9 siblings
- Starting a church with her husband
- Planting faith through the Word of God
- Pushing through obstacles that prevent faith from being passed down
- Fostering emotional health―mind, body, and spirit―in order to pour into others
- What it means to be engaged in a community of faith
- How to nurture the faith of younger generations
Inspired by Generations―her popular show and conference―CeCe includes thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter to help readers foster their own intergenerational conversations.
Full of heartfelt and profound teachings, Believe for It offers readers a glimpse into the life of legendary gospel singer CeCe Winans as well as an opportunity to grow in their own faith and wisdom as they pursue a closer relationship with the Lord.
What I Liked About Believe For It
How often do we think about our responsibility to pass on our faith to the next generation? Believe For It: Passing On Faith to the Next Generation, by CeCe Winans is that reminder. Not only do the authors give clear, profound reasons for sharing our faith with the next generation, but they also provide simple ways in which it can be done.
What were some of the best nonfiction books you read this year? Share them with me in the comments below.
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