Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
As the chilly weather begins to descend upon the northern hemisphere, my days fill with fall-themed lattes. My barista has even been known to put mini marshmallows in people’s drinks. There are beautiful afternoons spent sitting in the window of my local bookstore. There are few things better than watching the wind whip leaves around sunlit autumn streets. Well, maybe one thing better is that glorious new book smell.
When October rolls in, so do the new book releases! I could start with the debut memoir from indie bookstore owner Mandi Fugate Sheffel. Or I could read the latest book from former Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Or maybe I’ll check out the new memoir by all-star author Beth Macy. What about a book about how the internet just keeps getting worse? And how did I just find out that Gabrielle Hamilton had a new book out?
In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected ten of some of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in October. You might be new to nonfiction or a true stories pro, but whatever the case, there’s sure to be something on this list that catches your eye.
All publication dates are subject to change.
Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow (October 7)
While the internet was once a glorious place of innovation, it’s been getting worse. And it’s not just in our heads. In Enshittification, Cory Doctorow tells us how platforms have been screwing over their customers and why some of the platforms even die because of it. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Doctorow leaves his readers with a solution, describing what we can do about enshittification to make the world a better place.
All access members continue below for this month’s best new nonfiction releases
Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat (October 7)
Julian Brave NoiseCat grew up with a Secwépemc and St’at’imc father and a non-Native mother. But when his father disappeared, NoiseCat threw himself into studying Native history. Now in We Survived the Night, NoiseCat presents the history of First Peoples across the centuries as they face ongoing colonization and press forward for a better future.
Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age by Joy Harjo (October 7)
In Girl Warrior, former Poet Laureate Joy Harjo speaks directly to Native girls as they come of age. She encourages them to use artistic expression as a way to heal from the difficult things they experience in their lives. Art is a tool to encourage empathy and self-expression as they move through the world.
Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America by Beth Macy (October 7)
Beth Macy grew up working as a paper girl for her hometown newspaper in Urbana, Ohio. Over the years, Macy watched her town fundamentally change. It became poorer, angrier, and less welcoming. After her mother died, Macy decided to investigate and get to the bottom of why her town had become a place she barely even recognized.
The Nature of Pain: Roots, Recovery, and Redemption Amid the Opioid Crisis by Mandi Fugate Sheffel (October 7)
Mandi Fugate Sheffel spent her childhood running through Kentucky hollers with her cousin Eric. Theirs was an imperfect childhood, but it was a beautiful one. After the opioid crisis comes to the mountains of Appalachia, Sheffel and Eric find themselves entangled in addiction to the point they aren’t sure they’ll ever get out.
Next of Kin: A Memoir by Gabrielle Hamilton (October 14)
Gabrielle Hamilton made a big splash with her James Beard Award-winning memoir Blood, Bones & Butter. Now she’s back with Next of Kin, a memoir about her investigation into her complex family history. Late in life, she found herself estranged from most of her family. After her brother dies by suicide, she began to investigate why her family relationships are so distant. Her investigation leads to a revelation about why her family treasures independence, even at great cost to themselves.
Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope: A Tragic Vision of the Civil Rights Movement by Brandon M. Terry (October 21)
In this ground-breaking book, Brandon M. Terry examines different narratives around the Civil Rights movement, from the romantic notion of the “arc of justice” to the concept of Afropessimism. Terry presents his own ideas of resilience in the face of tragedy. As he works through his ideas, Terry lays out the details of a new look at the vital moment in history that was the Civil Rights movement.
There are so many good books — I don’t know where to start! If you’re looking for even more nonfiction book recommendations, check out 9 of the Best New Nonfiction Books Out in August 2025 and 7 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of September 2025.
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