What Should I Read Next? – Ep 504: Niche and Nerdy Narrative Nonfiction
Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Anne Bogel
Guest: Laura Howard
Overview of the Episode
This episode revolves around the search for engaging, “niche and nerdy” narrative nonfiction for readers who crave history told in a lively, page-turning style, but want books that aren’t overwhelming in length. Anne welcomes guest Laura Howard, a faculty developer from Atlanta, who seeks immersive nonfiction that bridges narrative storytelling with real historical moments, ideally under 350 pages. Laura wants books that fill gaps in her knowledge, particularly regarding the history of cities, institutions, and scientific discovery, and prefers history told by experts rather than through fictionalized accounts. Anne walks Laura through her reading history and preferences, then offers tailored recommendations that combine nerdy topics with compulsive storytelling.
Meet the Guest: Laura Howard
[06:07]
- Faculty developer at a university near Atlanta; former professor.
- Loves the variety of sitting in on diverse classes and seeing how faculty build relationships with students.
- Lifelong, wide-ranging reader balancing fiction and nonfiction, physical, audio, and ebooks.
- Enjoys books about “growth and reinvention,” but not coming-of-age stories or books focused on childhood.
- Uses audiobooks and “purse books” to fit more reading into her busy life with young kids.
- Sees reading as a bridge to community, mentioning lively book-club exchanges and inspiring others to start family book clubs.
Quote:
"Learning is my jam." — Laura [08:11]
What Laura’s Looking For
[14:44]
- Wants shorter narrative nonfiction on history/science that “reads like a novel.”
- Overwhelmed by endless repetitive lists online; wants recommendations off the beaten path.
- Interested in “hinge points” of history, formation of institutions, national parks, cities, medical/educational histories, disease, technology, and the history of human writing/communication.
- Skeptical of historical fiction—prefers primary sources, expertise, and authentic engagement, not events romanticized through fictional lenses.
Quote:
"If you Google 'best history books,' you get all kinds of responses…and I’m more interested in things that I wouldn’t necessarily stumble across on my own." — Laura [16:20]
Books Laura Loves and Why
1. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones [23:33]
- Audio version praised for performance.
- Explores psychological journeys, social justice, resilience, and what happens when life diverges from expectations.
- Sparks curiosity about Atlanta’s history.
2. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro [26:17]
- Character-driven with reflective psychological depth.
- Subtly reveals how self-perception can shift over time.
- Notable for what’s left unsaid.
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot [28:11]
- Nonfiction with the feel of a thriller.
- Fascinated by intersections of science/humanity and parents’ hidden histories.
- Appreciates complexity, especially the character of Deborah Lacks.
Quote:
"I love this juxtaposition of science and humanity, where those things meet. That's really, really interesting to me." — Laura [29:26]
Book That Wasn’t Right
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen [30:39]
- Read for book club, but disliked due to satirical cruelty and too many characters.
- Too long and not a fit during her current season.
Recently Read
- Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game (audio, fun escape)
- Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books (book club pick, not resonating)
- Bombshell by Dara Horn (loved its originality and surprise ending)
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott (reflects professional/personal themes of humanity and leadership)
Laura’s Historical and Nonfiction Interests
[35:15]
- National parks, growth of cities, formation of institutions.
- Medical/education histories, histories of disease and technology, trade, and written communication.
Anne’s Recommendations
1. The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson
[37:28] Time Stamp:
- The 1854 cholera epidemic in London; science, cities, and disease intersect.
- Describes a “hinge moment” when a doctor (John Snow) revolutionized thinking about disease transmission in urban environments.
- Short, propulsive, but descriptions of waste can be squeamish.
- Fits interests in science, city history, and how technology changes society.
- Quote:
"Johnson describes some…waste removal and what happens when it can’t…Some of the descriptions can make you a little squeamish, understandably." — Anne [39:14]
2. A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
[41:10]
- Exploration of notebooks and their influence on human thought.
- Ties together artists, scientists, writers, and how notebooks shaped thinking (Leonardo da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, Newton, and more).
- Unique, “niche and nerdy” approach to history; covers commonplace books, labs, logs, and journaling.
- Recent release; combines history of writing, communication, and creativity.
- Quote:
"What he really argues is notebooks weren’t just something handy we use. They changed the way we think." — Anne [43:20]
3. Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman
[44:10]
- True story of 29 people escaping under the Berlin Wall in 1961-62.
- Explores the historical/political context, the logistics of the tunnel, and the role of NBC.
- Fast-paced, suspenseful, and packed with little-known history.
- Audio version is under 7 hours; immersive, cinematic.
- Quote:
"It’s a 'truth is more thrilling than fiction' account of how 29 people escaped from East Berlin...by tunneling under the Berlin Wall." — Anne [44:10]
4. Candice Millard’s Narrative Biographies
-
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President
- Focuses on James Garfield’s assassination; blends medicine, politics, and inventions (e.g., Alexander Graham Bell).
- Uncovers surprising details rarely taught in school; under 400 pages.
- "I couldn’t have told you any of this before reading this book…Like, Alexander Graham Bell popped by. He’s trying to help." — Anne [47:09]
-
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey
- After losing his bid for reelection, Teddy Roosevelt explores the Amazon, a trip that nearly kills him.
- Combines adventure, psychological journey, and environmental history (includes roots of national parks and conservation).
- Both books ideal for readers who like Erik Larson but need shorter, brisker nonfiction.
Laura’s Pick
[49:34]
- Chose Tunnel 29 to read first, attracted by its thriller pace and shared interests with her husband.
Quote:
"As you talked about each one, I thought, well, that's the one I'm going to say I'm going to read…But I think I'm going to go to Germany and read Tunnel 29 first. I loved the way you described it as a thought thriller, an escape story, and I love suspense." — Laura [49:34]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Learning is my jam.” — Laura [08:11]
- “I just get so excited when people want to talk about books with me.” — Laura [09:09]
- “If you Google 'best history books,' you get all kinds of responses… I'm more interested in things I wouldn’t necessarily stumble across on my own.” — Laura [16:20]
- “I love this juxtaposition of science and humanity, where those things meet. That's really, really interesting to me.” — Laura [29:26]
- “Both [Candice Millard books] sound great. It’s going to be hard to choose.” — Laura [48:52]
Key Timestamps for Segments
- Laura’s background and approach to reading: [06:07–13:30]
- Why nonfiction and history right now? [14:44–19:22]
- Books Laura loves: [23:33–30:32]
- Book that wasn’t a fit: [30:39–32:00]
- Recent reads: [32:03–34:57]
- Specifics on historical interests: [35:15–36:14]
- Recommendations and discussion: [37:18–49:34]
- Final choice and sign-off: [49:34–50:23]
Final Thoughts
Anne skillfully surfaces lesser-known, thought-provoking narrative nonfiction that’s perfect for the intellectually curious reader short on time but high on curiosity. She highlights the value of “matchmaking” off-the-beaten path narratives and making book talk a source of community—demonstrating, as Laura says, "learning is my jam."
For further info, book lists, and recommendations, visit:
whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com