Diving into a well of new information with a good nonfiction bio, poli-sci, or history tome sounds like a dream. Learning everything you could want to know about a particular subject is thrilling. These books may seem denser, but nonfiction reads can be a lot of fun if the subject interests you. So, if you’re looking to learn something new, these nonfiction summer books are sure to keep you turning the pages.

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

Believe me when I say that this book is heavy. The Color of Law is a deep dive into the history of housing segregation, redlining, and government policies. Both locally and federally, they act as a roadmap of discrimination in America. This book is incredibly dense and will take a while to wade through. However, it’s definitely worth your time.

“In this groundbreaking history of the modern American metropolis, Richard Rothstein, a leading authority on housing policy, explodes the myth that America’s cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation… Rather, The Color of Law incontrovertibly makes clear that it was de jure segregation―the laws and policy decisions passed by local, state, and federal governments―that actually promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day.”

Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free by Hector Tobar

This one comes from the Bookmans Midtown Backroom Bookclub. I still talk about it and recommend it to customers. Tobar does an amazing job with the details while keeping this compelling true story moving along. There’s also a movie about the miners, The 33.

“When the San José mine collapsed outside of Copiapó, Chile, in August 2010, it trapped thirty-three miners beneath thousands of feet of rock for a record-breaking sixty-nine days. After the disaster, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Héctor Tobar received exclusive access to the miners and their tales, and in The 33, he brings them to haunting, visceral life… A masterwork of narrative journalism and a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit, The 33 captures the profound ways in which the lives of the Chilean miners and everyone involved in the catastrophe were forever changed.”

Pure Land: A True Story of Three Lives, Three Cultures and The Search For Heaven On Earth by Annette McGivney

Everyone is talking about this book, and they should be. Pure Land tells the true story of a gruesome murder that took place in Havasupai Falls. It delves into childhood trauma and intersects three lives. Set against the backdrop on the southwest, Pure Land is a compelling story of heartbreaking circumstance across different cultures. Annette McGiveney is a local author to boot. Flagstaff residents will recognize the settings and places the book talks about. It hits very close to home.

“Pure Land is the story of the most brutal murder in the history of the Grand Canyon and how McGivney’s quest to investigate the victim’s life and death wound up guiding the author through her own life-threatening crisis. On this journey… Pure Land offers proof of the healing power of nature and of the resiliency of the human spirit.”

There you have it! Three nonfiction reads that will teach you something new and keep you turning pages this summer.

Bookmans is your store to explore! If you are interested in a book mentioned here call your local store and one of our staff members will be happy to check our shelves.