8 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of April 2026

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A Northern Indigenous Path Toward Sustainable Living by Katłıà

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Here in the American South, April means bright green grass shoots, flowering trees, and warm spring days. Some of my best memories are of afternoons spent sitting in a park or at an outdoor table reading until the sun goes down. You couldn’t ask for a better spring evening.

When it comes to my TBR, it’s full of new, must-read spring nonfiction releases. But there are so many—where do you even begin?! You could start with physicist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, who has a new book out about space-time. For poetry fans, former Poet Laureate Ada Limón gives us a beautiful book of prose describing why poetry is vital for our everyday lives. Or you could dive into Patrick Radden Keefe’s new book, full of hard truths and secret identities. Or maybe you could check out a slim tome all about food justice in our modern political landscape. And, finally, if you’re a biography fan, you have to check out this look at the first Black female executive at Barmon Brothers Company.

In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected some of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in April. 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

The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (April 7)

Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein broke onto the literary scene with her debut, The Disordered Cosmos. Now she is back with The Edge of Space-Time, where she argues that physics is for everyone. Physics allows us to see the big picture of the universe. Informed by her background in postcolonial, Black feminist thought, Prescod-Weinstein’s new book is a must-read rumination on the cosmos.

Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry by Ada Limón (April 7)

Ada Limón, the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States, has made it her mission to bring poetry to everyone and spread her belief that poetry is essential to our everyday lives. Her new book argues that poetry plays a vital role in community connections and better understanding ourselves and each other.

All access members continue below for more of the best new nonfiction coming out in April.

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (April 7)

In 2019, MI6 caught a video of a young man jumping into the River Thames and appearing to die by suicide. His parents are devastated. Their son never seemed depressed or suicidal, but as they look more into his life, they begin to realize that they barely knew their son at all.

Mother Earth Is Our Elder: A Northern Indigenous Path Toward Sustainable Living by Katłıà (Catherine) Lafferty (April 14)

Katłıà’s Indigenous community, the Dene, has watched over the land for generations, protecting the earth’s natural resources through their traditional practices. Now, Katłıà shares their wisdom and helps readers better understand ways we can care for the earth, living with nature instead of against it.

A Soldier’s Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood by Blaire Underwood (April 14)

In A Soldier’s Wife, Blaire Underwood celebrates his mother’s legacy as a sought-after fashion designer and entrepreneur. Marilyn Ann Scales Underwood eventually became the first Black female executive at Barmon Brothers Company, establishing herself as a trailblazer in the fashion industry.

Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness by Ashanté M. Reese (April 14)

In her new book, Ashanté M. Reese asks the question, in today’s world, what does food justice look like? Gather explores Reese’s ideas on how Black communities can achieve food equity and offers a path forward to a better, brighter future where no person goes hungry.

Small Town Girls: a Writer’s Memoir by Jayne Anne Phillips (April 21)

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jayne Anne Phillips turns to nonfiction to tell the story of her Appalachian upbringing. Born in West Virginia, Phillips grew up in a culture far too often misunderstood. Now, in her memoir, she shares the joys and challenges of growing up in these mountains, contemplating how her connection to this place has informed her art through the decades.

Body Weather: Notes on Chronic Illness in the Anthropocene by Lorraine Boissoneault (April 21)

In this lyrical exploration of chronic illness and chronic pain, Lorraine Boissoneault relates her condition to weather events. At first, this analogy was just a way to help her understand her own body. But then it became an apt way for her to better understand humanity’s connection with our fragile bodies.

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 8 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of February 2026 and 8 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of March 2026.