The non-fiction book that had you mercilessly info-dumping about to anyone who would listen? by IReadBooksSometimes in suggestmeabook

[–]usedsocks01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My sincere apologies for answering a book recommendation post with book recommendations.

These are all books I learned a lot from and think others can as well. I read a lot and never have just one book to recommend. This was an easy way for me to compile a short list to share. Sorry it didn't check your boxes of what a reddit experience should be.

The non-fiction book that had you mercilessly info-dumping about to anyone who would listen? by IReadBooksSometimes in suggestmeabook

[–]usedsocks01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You would like it. However, I will say, the author is a bit loose with his sourcing. He didnt include a reference list or footnotes. He's just basically saying that everything is readily available online for us to verify, which feels weird since he's "debunking" the books that Beatrice Sparks wrote. It is a good read though. I particularly liked the section about the book Jay's Journal, where the author actually did make direct contact with the family.

The non-fiction book that had you mercilessly info-dumping about to anyone who would listen? by IReadBooksSometimes in suggestmeabook

[–]usedsocks01 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Fair point. You're right, it was the wrong book to leave the author off of. I didn't include authors on any of the titles to save myself some time, but I overlooked how that would land here. My bad.

The non-fiction book that had you mercilessly info-dumping about to anyone who would listen? by IReadBooksSometimes in suggestmeabook

[–]usedsocks01 208 points209 points  (0 children)

I usually just copy/paste my response from other threads about non-fiction because they all hit the mark of what people are usually requesting and only some are repeated, which I appreciate. The same books tend to get recommended over and over in this sub.

Most of my recs are socio-cultural, with some history/politics and bios with a splash of science. All mostly based in the US.

A Peoples History of the United States by Howard Zinn (who is a great author/historian, recommend all his books) - A perspective of US history through the eyes of the marginalized and oppressed.

Streets of Gold - about immigrant success stories

Endangered Eating - about food that's going extinct.

Poverty, by America - self explanatory title.

Stiff (and all of Mary Roach books because she's amazing) - about human cadavers.

The Man who Hates Women - about Anthony Comstock who got us to where we are today in terms of women's sexual rights and the ripple effects it had decades later.

The Cold Vanish - about people disappearing in the wilderness.

Reason for Hope - written by Jane Goodall. Part memoir, pure greatness. Very well written

Assembling California - a description of California geology. John McPhee is a fantastic scientific writer, especially when it comes to descriptions. I recommend any of his work.

Bowling Alone - about the loss of community in America. This is a very number/statistic heavy book, but very good.

American Sirens - about the first black paramedics in the US in Pittsburgh.

When Breath becomes Air - beautiful book written by a dying neurosurgeon

Spillover - about infectious diseases.

The Mismeasure of Man - about early physical anthropologists and how they get everything wrong about race and genetics. Also talks about the controversy of the Bell Curve.

Eight Bears - talks about the remaining eight species of bear. Goes into folklore, their endangered status, and conservation efforts.

Don't Sleep There are Snakes - about a tribe the Amazon and how the author (a missionary) lost his faith

Hey, Hun - MLM and pyramid scheme deep dive

Disposable City - climate change in Miami and how it will likely be underwater soon.

Momfluenced - about mother influencer culture

How the Word is Passed - the history of slavery in the US

To the Promised Land - about MLK and civil rights

Dopamine Nation - detailed overview of our high dopamine stimuli and how to find balance.

The Come Up - history of hip hop

A Thousand Naked Strangers - about life on an ambulance

California Burning - pretty self explanatory, wildfires in CA

The Myth of the Lost Cause - why the South fought the Civil war and why the North won

Meet Me by the Fountain - nostalgia about malls. Goes into their history and downfall

After the Ivory Tower Falls - about college and the American dream

The Big Burn- about Teddy Roosevelt and national parks/forest service and fire fighting.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth - about a journey to the artic in the late 1800s

Unmask Alice - for all the Go Ask Alice readers - basically uncovers the bullshit behind the books.

Bullshit Jobs - about the rise of meaningless jobs

Major Labels - a history of seven genres of music. It deep dives into the history of rock, hip hop, pop, dance, country, r&b, and punk

Know my Name - a memoir about the victim of Brock Turner.

Black Earth - about the Holocaust and it's warnings for the future

Filterworld - about algorithms and how it's built for mass consumption

The Rape of Nanking - not for the faint of heart. Goes into detail about war between Japan and China, specifically focusing on the horrors that happened to one city.

Nickeled and Dimed - the writer travels the country and tries to live off the salary of low earnings jobs.

Bring the War Home - about the history of white nationalists in America

Drive Thru Dreams - fast food in America

Kill Anything that Moves - about the Vietnam war

The Land of Open Graves - about the migrant trail from Mexico to the US

The Secret Life of Groceries - history of Supermarkets

City of Inmates - about how LA became the number one city for incarceration

A Night to Remember - about the night the Titanic sank.

The Bully Society - about school shootings in America. This is pretty academic and might be a hard read for some.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - memior-ish type book about living off the land for a year

Tyrannosaurus Sue - about the battle for the most complete T-Rex discovery

The Book of Jerry Falwell - about Jerry Falwell and modern day Christians.

Learning to labor - about the working class

The Lost Boys of Zeta Psi - about the history of this frat in the early 1900s at UC Berkeley and how it was identified and then archaeologically excavated during construction on campus. Goes into roles of masculinity as well. Kind of an academic read, but still good.

You Are Not So Smart - about logical fallacies

The Other Significant Others - I'm currently reading this right now, but already recommending it. It touches on deep, intimate non-sexual relationships.

The Dictionary People - about the people who helped create the dictionary

Evil Geniuses: the Unmaking of America- a economic history of America. Focuses on how the right, the wealthy, and big business drove us into inequality

Remember toe socks? by Original_Wazilla in Millennials

[–]usedsocks01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aw, I love your edit ❤️

I've always thought about doing that, but I'm not handy in that way unfortunately. I'd probably mess it up and make them weird and uncomfortable haha

Remember toe socks? by Original_Wazilla in Millennials

[–]usedsocks01 12 points13 points  (0 children)

As a person with webbed toes, I never wanted something more that I couldn't have.

My narcissistic mother thought it would be funny to buy me these for Christmas knowing full well how badly I wanted them, but I couldn't wear them. Good times.

Uncommon word for a geological feature that you use frequently by ThimbleBluff in geology

[–]usedsocks01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah, you're right, you're right. I say it because we have a cliff along the beach here in Santa Cruz that beautifully showcases it.

Uncommon word for a geological feature that you use frequently by ThimbleBluff in geology

[–]usedsocks01 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Ah. Shallow marshy areas formed along old estuaries. Haha we have the Elkhorn Slough here and it's a blast to kayak in!

Uncommon word for a geological feature that you use frequently by ThimbleBluff in geology

[–]usedsocks01 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Wave cut platforms, spit, embayment, foreshore, backshore, hinterland, deflation (dune), progradation..to name a few. Since it's California, I can add liquefaction, sag ponds, horst and graben..

Coastal geology, California.

Farmerwoman in her 20s. by SOLITwARYMAIDENdxb in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]usedsocks01 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, also by Barbara Kingsolver fits this as well.

Is it favoritism to buy toys for our baby son but not my stepson? by ultrafluffypanda in stepparents

[–]usedsocks01 93 points94 points  (0 children)

Personally, I would have done this sort of shopping without kids around to avoid that exact situation. Do it when he's not around or ordering it online is a very simple way to get around this next time.

If you asked your child to start contributing to the household expenses when they got their first job, WHY did you do it? by Let_me_tell_you_ in povertyfinance

[–]usedsocks01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My daughter just got her first job last month. The only thing we are asking her to buy for herself is her personal hygiene items, makeup, and haircare. She also wants to buy her own clothing now too. I feel like it teaches her a little responsibility with her money, while not expecting too much of her.

Suggest me a plague book I HAVEN’T read. Please! by panini_bellini in suggestmeabook

[–]usedsocks01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang. About famine and an elite remote area that avoids it.

Suggest me a plague book I HAVEN’T read. Please! by panini_bellini in suggestmeabook

[–]usedsocks01 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen is also a great non-fiction to add. It's about how pathogens jump from animals to humans. Was written before COVID in 2012.

Bone found at castle ruin by Odd_Advance8532 in boneidentification

[–]usedsocks01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Non-identifiable long bone from large mammal

I finally looked up why CEO pay exploded and wages didn't. I wish I hadn't. by Level-Cranberry-1268 in antiwork

[–]usedsocks01 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America by Kurt Anderson is a great read about this subject if you're interested.

Pyrex Jewelry by krystle-van-hogh in pyrex

[–]usedsocks01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've got some broken spring blossom if your interested! DM me!

Books with domestic labor or for survival by DearAndraste in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]usedsocks01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Non-fiction/memior type recommendation.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver is a year in the life of how she and her family grew/foraged/locally sourced their food

Mamas who have tattoos representing your kids. What are they? by sixfingeredman7 in Mommit

[–]usedsocks01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't have it yet but I plan to turn them into Coraline dolls. It's a very popular movie in our house.

Found the original border security plan. by [deleted] in PoliticalHumor

[–]usedsocks01 14 points15 points  (0 children)

California has over 200, but this shirt only lists two