Best and worst California cities to celebrate the Fourth of July, ranked
Article excerpt
California is home to some of the country's best places to celebrate the Fourth of July, but not every city in the state is brining fireworks-worthy fun.
July means sunny with slices of watermelon and cookouts on the grill. There’s lightning bugs, bubble machines, and long walks on the beach. It’s peak American summer. We might be in a bit of a lull before peak book season starts up again for the fall, but there are still plenty of must-read nonfiction releases coming out every Tuesday.
But there’s so many, where do you even begin?! You could start with an Appalachian memoir about finding yourself again after losing yourself to a church that doesn’t have your best interest at heart. Or you could jump into a discussion about grief and its important role in our communities. You could read a memoir from an influential fashion icon. Or maybe you could check out the memoir of a White Mountain Apache chef. Or if you’re a nature fan, you could spend some time with a book all about how wildlife has adapted to live in cities.
In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected some of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in July. 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.
Our Knives Will Save Us: Dispatches from a White Mountain Apache Chef by Nephi Craig (July 14th)
When Nephi Craig was facing felony charges at 18, the judge gave him probation. The requirement? He could either work or go to school. Craig chose school and enrolled in a culinary arts program. There he discovered a passion for cooking and realized that the European-inspired dishes required native ingredients from the Americas. From there, he found a lifelong love for studying Indigenous cuisine and ingredients.
Every Inch a Lady: My Amazing Journey from Dear Harlem to Haute Couture and Beyond by Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell (July 14th)
Fashion icon Audrey Smaltz has done it all: model, Wall Street broker, editor, and entrepreneur. Her eclectic resume of unique experiences gave her the unique qualities that made her successful in the fashion world. Now she’s drawing back the curtain to let us see her childhood and what drove her to strive for the best. From her childhood in Harlem to becoming an international cultural powerhouse, Smaltz’s story is one-of-a-kind.
Living, Together: Reimagining Community in the Age of Disconnection edited by Samantha Paige Rosen (July 14th)
When Samantha Paige Rosen moved back in with her parents at 29, she realized there was a lot she really enjoyed about living with her parents. It made her wonder, what other kinds of community connections have people found? Living, Together delves into the different kinds of relationships we build throughout our lives, whether that be multigenerational living, found family, or mutual aid groups. The anthology includes essays from writers like Kristen Arnett, Sarah Thankam Mathews, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Adam Vitcavage.
Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World by Dan Werb (July 14th)
When it comes to wild animals, we like to imagine them in the great outdoors, enjoying forests and grasslands away from humans. But wild animals live in cities too, and Dan Werb made it his mission to learn more about them. In Our Wild Families, Werb tells us more about these wild animals and how they’ve adapted to living alongside humans in some of the most unique ways imaginable.
Lost in Curiosity: Field Notes from Scientists’ Adventures into the Unknown by Roberta Kwok (July 21st)
When we picture scientific discoveries in our minds, we often picture a singular lightbulb moment that spontaneously changes the course of science as we know it. But Roberta Kwok wants us to understand that it’s more complicated than that. Scientific progress requires years of planning, research, and often fundraising just to make the possibility of learning more possible. As we learn more about these determined researchers, Kwok highlights scientists’ resilience and perseverance to learn more about the world, against all odds.
All My Dead Cats and Other Losses: Practicing Good Grief in a Culture That Fears Mourning by s. e. smith (July 28th)
Why are so many people afraid of discussing grief? s.e. smith asks that very question in their new book All My Dead Cats and Other Losses. Sure, there is a discussion of pet loss, but smith wants us to examine the bigger picture. If we all experience grief, then wouldn’t we all benefit from open discussions on how to move through it?
All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir by Emilee Hackney (July 28th)
Emilee Hackney grew up in the ridges and coalfields of western Virginia. In the Appalachian Mountains, Hackney finds herself immersed in Pentecostalism and engaged to a man when she’s just 19 years old. But Sam hasn’t been telling the truth about who he is. In All That’s Unseen, Hackney describes how she began to disentangle her life from her partner and her church, slowly finding herself again and eventually leaving Virginia to attend Harvard.
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 some of the best new nonfiction releases of May and June.