Covering all sorts of topics, here’s a list of some recommended nonfiction books from the first part of this year. Thank you for your continued support and enjoy!
As with my past lists, I’ve written a quick blurb and provided a link to my full review.
How to American by Jimmy O. Yang.
You might know him from his role as Jian-Yang on HBO’s Silicon Valley, but this book reveals the whole person, the comedian, the son, and the immigrant. From growing up in Hong Kong to going to high school in Southern California to trying to get his break in the entertainment industry, Yang’s story is funny and has great depth. Definitely worth a read.
ttps://paulspicks.blog/2018/03/05/how-to-american-by-jimmy-o-yang/
Backpacker Magazine’s The Survival Hacker’s Handbook by Ted Alvarez
I did a fair amount of backpacking when I was younger with my family and my boy scout troop, and reading this book makes me want to get back out there. The Survival Hacker’s Handbook is a practical guide to surviving any emergency with real-life stories of survival interspersed throughout. If you want to find out how to make a fish hook out of a beer can, make an igloo, or just find north, this is your book. I really enjoyed it!
Into the Storm by Tristram Korten
Two ships caught in Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. Two very different captains in charge of their vessels. This is the story of their fates. A fast-paced story of rescue on the high seas. Meticulously researched, Into the Storm is a tribute to those men and woman serving in the US Coast Guard (my father graduated from the USCG Academy). Definitely Recommended.
https://paulspicks.blog/2018/03/05/into-the-storm-by-tristram-korten/
The Last Cowboys by John Branch
The Wright family are ranchers and rodeo stars from southern Utah. They are a dying breed who are fighting to maintain a tenuous grip with the bottom line of the business. The narrative shifts between the story of ranch life, to the bronc-rider’s road trips, to some extensive and interesting research of agribusiness and the politics of land management. Branch’s writing gave me a newfound appreciation for cattle ranchers and those who participate in America’s “Blue-collared sport.” Highly Recommended.
Releases on Tues, May 15th.
https://paulspicks.blog/2018/03/05/the-last-cowboys-by-john-branch/
Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth
Jealousy is the first emotion I felt when reading Kings of the Yukon. Weymouth floats 1,000 miles down the Yukon and in doing so, meets a fascinating cast of characters and reports on the state of the king salmon in The Last Frontier. The book serves as a powerful warning in light of a dwindling population and a habitat that has been decimated by overfishing and environmental factors. Weymouth’s book wins in his narrative style and attention to details. Highly Recommended.
Releases on Tues, May 15th.
Paul's Picks 
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