This September brings a refreshingly eclectic mix of nonfiction: poignant memoirs, incisive history, and probing social commentary that promise to challenge, move, and illuminate. From reflections on caregiving and loss to explorations of human rights and personal identity, these five titles offer both depth and breadth—ensuring there’s something to spark curiosity and stir the heart.

5 Fascinating Nonfiction Picks For September 2025

1. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

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A luminous and wry memoir in which the acclaimed novelist mourns her mother—an educator who inspired much of her writing—and reflects on grief, creativity, and identity.

2. The Unexpected Journey by Emma Heming Willis

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A deeply personal and empowering caregiving guide, blending heartfelt honesty with resilience, born from the author’s experience caring for her husband during his frontotemporal dementia.

3. The Unexpected Journey by Emma Heming Willis

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A quietly powerful memoir exploring a strained mother-daughter relationship—when silence becomes a weapon—and the emotional journey toward understanding and healing.

4. Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights by Keisha N. Blain

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A compelling historical examination of the indispensable role Black women played in shaping human rights movements—connecting figures like Ida B. Wells to contemporary global justice efforts.

5. Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys by Mariana Enriquez

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A hauntingly poetic travel memoir tracing how mass gravescapes worldwide reveal deeper truths about memory, loss, and cultural burial rituals.

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