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Wander the Wild: Parks and Nature in Nonfiction

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Every July, we celebrate National Park and Recreation Month, a time to recognize the importance of public parks, trails, and outdoor spaces in enriching our lives. Originally established in 1985 by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), this observance encourages us to explore the natural world, appreciate its beauty, and support the spaces that allow us to connect with nature and each other.

From the towering peaks of Yosemite to the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, the United States is home to over 400 national park sites that protect breathtaking landscapes and preserve the stories of our shared heritage. Nonfiction books about these parks – and the people who explore, protect, and find inspiration in them – offer readers a chance to wander through wild terrain without leaving home.

Whether you’re planning your next hiking trip or simply want to immerse yourself in stories of adventure, conservation, and awe-inspiring places, the Germantown Community Library has a collection of nonfiction titles to help you celebrate the beauty and power of the great outdoors.

Adventures in the Wild: Memoirs and Outdoor Journeys

Hiking memoirs and travel narratives let readers experience the thrill, challenge, and transformation that come with exploring nature. These personal stories range from solo treks through remote trails to family adventures in the wilderness.

Suggested Reading:

  • A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson
  • Braving It: A Father, a Daughter, and an Unforgettable Journey into the Alaskan Wild, by James Campbell
  • A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko
  • Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed

America’s National Parks: History, Beauty, and Preservation

These books celebrate the iconic landscapes of the National Park Service while diving into their cultural history, preservation efforts, and enduring impact on American life.

Suggested Reading:

  • The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America, by Douglas Brinkley
  • The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, by Dayton Duncan, Ken Burns, et al.
  • Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite, by Dean King

Nature’s Power and Wonder: Essays and Observations

These nonfiction works capture the spirit of the wild through lyrical prose and thoughtful observation, reminding us of the beauty and mystery that exist just beyond the beaten path.

Suggested Reading:

  • Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, by Edward Abbey
  • Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard
  • All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West, by David Gessner

How to Make the Most of National Park and Recreation Month

Whether you’re planning a day trip to a nearby state park or dreaming of your next big hiking adventure, here are some ways to bring the outdoors into your everyday life:

  • Visit a Local Park: You don’t have to travel far to enjoy nature – explore local parks, trails, and outdoor spaces in your community. Germantown has a great variety of parks!
  • Start a Nature Journal: Keep track of your walks, hikes, and moments of outdoor wonder.
  • Use Library Resources: Check out guidebooks, maps, and memoirs to plan your next adventure or learn more about a park you’ve always wanted to visit. And don’t forget, the library has Wisconsin State Park Adventure Passes that you can check out to visit state parks for free! These passes are available first come, first serve.
  • Travel Through Reading: Let books take you to the mountains, deserts, forests, and coasts of America’s most treasured landscapes.

Exploring the Outdoors Through Books

You don’t need hiking boots to experience the magic of national parks and outdoor adventures – just a library card. Visit the Germantown Community Library this July to discover nonfiction books that celebrate the beauty, history, and wild freedom of nature. Whether you’re an avid explorer or an armchair adventurer, we’ve got something for every nature lover.

Erin L., staff writer

Women Who Made History: Nonfiction Celebrating Women’s Lives and Legacies

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March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the women whose contributions have shaped history and continue to inspire future generations. From powerful leaders and courageous activists to brilliant thinkers and creative visionaries, women have made their mark on the world in countless ways. At Germantown Community Library, we celebrate the legacies of these incredible women through a collection of nonfiction books that highlight their achievements, struggles, and transformative influence. Whether you’re interested in influential figures from history or contemporary trailblazers, our library offers a variety of biographies and historical accounts that bring their stories to life.

Why We Celebrate Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month originated as a national celebration in 1981, when Congress passed Pub.L. 97-28, which designated the week of March 8 as Women’s History Week. By 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress expanded the celebration to a full month. This annual observance honors the contributions of women in all areas of life: politics, science, the arts, and more. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress women have made, while acknowledging the work still to be done.

This March, take the opportunity to explore the lives of extraordinary women through the following themes. Each one shines a light on remarkable women who made history, broke barriers, and paved the way for future generations.

Trailblazing Leaders and Pioneers

These women shattered glass ceilings in their respective fields, from politics and civil rights to space exploration and business. Their courage, vision, and determination changed the course of history.

Suggested Reading:

  • The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
  • My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
  • A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell
  • The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies by Jason Fagone

Activists and Change Makers

Many women throughout history fought for justice, equality, and civil rights. Their activism and dedication sparked monumental social and political change, often at great personal cost.

Suggested Reading:

  • I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
  • We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders: A Memoir of Love and Resistance by Linda Sarsour
  • The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss

Groundbreaking Scientists and Innovators

These women were not only brilliant scientists, mathematicians, and inventors, but their groundbreaking work also laid the foundation for modern science and technology.

Suggested Reading:

  • Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
  • The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore

Creative Visionaries and Cultural Icons

Women have also shaped our world through art, literature, music, and culture. Their creativity, vision, and artistry have left an indelible mark on our culture.

Suggested Reading:

  • Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg
  • Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland
  • Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reiser
  • Mary Shelley: Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters by Anne K. Mellor
  • Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford

Why Read About These Women?

Reading about the lives and legacies of these women can inspire us to continue fighting for equality, social justice, innovation, creativity, and progress in our own lives. Their stories remind us that history is shaped by those who have the courage to make change, and that one person can have a profound impact on the world. By learning more about the struggles and triumphs of these extraordinary women, we honor their legacies and keep their stories alive for future generations.

At Germantown Community Library, we have an extensive collection of biographies and historical accounts that celebrate the lives of these women and others who made history. Visit us this month to discover the incredible women who have shaped our world and continue to inspire new generations of trailblazers.

Erin L., Staff Writer

Matters of the Heart: Nonfiction Reads on Health, Wellness, and the Human Heart

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When February rolls around, hearts are everywhere—on cards, candy, and decorations—but American Heart Month reminds us that it’s also the perfect time to focus on your actual heart. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but the good news is that lifestyle choices can make a big difference. This month, we’re spotlighting nonfiction books that focus on heart health, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and wellness habits that support a healthy heart.

Whether you’re looking to build better habits or just want to learn more about how your heart works, these books offer valuable insights and inspiration to help you take care of the organ that keeps everything running.

Heart Health: Understanding and Protecting Your Heart

Learn more about how your heart functions and what you can do to prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular concerns.

Suggested Reading:

  • Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain: The Personalized Path to Protect Your Memory, Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes, and Avoid Chronic Illness by Bradley Bale MD, Amy Doneen DNP, and Lisa Collier Cool
  • Heart: A History by Sandeep Jauhar
  • The 30-Day Heart Tune-Up: A Breakthrough Medical Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Steven Masley, MD
  • Undo It! by Dean Ornish, MD and Anne Ornish

Nutrition: Eating for Heart Health

The foods you eat play a huge role in heart health. These titles offer guidance on how to fuel your body with heart-smart nutrition.

Suggested Reading:

  • The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner
  • How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD
  • Disease-Proof: The Remarkable Truth About What Makes Us Well by David Katz

Exercise: Moving Toward a Stronger Heart

Regular physical activity strengthens your heart and improves circulation. These books explore different ways to make movement part of your daily life.

Suggested Reading:

  • Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, MD
  • Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey, MD
  • Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully by Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett

Stress Management: Calming the Mind to Help the Heart

Chronic stress can take a serious toll on your heart. These books explore mindfulness, meditation, and other techniques to lower stress and boost emotional well-being.

Suggested Reading:

  • The Stress Prescription: Seven Days to More Joy and Ease by Elissa Epel, PhD
  • Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • Real Self-Care: Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included by Pooja Lakshmin, MD
    Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki

Wellness Habits: Everyday Choices for a Heart-Healthy Life

Sometimes small, consistent changes can make the biggest impact. These titles help you create routines that support long-term heart health.

Suggested Reading:

  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
  • Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD

Stop by the Germantown Community Library this month and check out these titles—and plenty more—that can help you take better care of your heart. Whether you’re looking to eat healthier, move more, or just stress less, there’s something here for everyone. Your future self will thank you!

Erin L., Staff Writer

Reader’s Advisory

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Are you looking to read more, read “better”, or read something “different”? Do you ever feel clueless when you’re trying to find something to read? Does it seem like you keep seeing the same book, different title over and over? No surprises there, 80% of the US book market is published by just five companies! If a title does well, they will print many, many versions of it in the future. How many versions of stories about quirky, intrepid female spies evading the Gestapo while pining for an enigmatic co-worker “is he/isn’t he a covert enemy” love interest can they publish anyway?

This blog post is dedicated to introducing you to a variety of resources that can help you find something new and/or different to read.

Resources at the library

BookPage – This monthly magazine is available free at the library. It features articles on new books for all ages, book club suggestions, and usually has special features such as author interviews or in depth looks at different genres. January’s issue just arrived, and it’s a good one!

NoveList – If you’re a Wisconsin resident, you have free access to BadgerLink, Wisconsin’s Online Library, which provides licensed trustworthy resources from a variety of content providers. You can access BadgerLink from our website, or go directly to BadgerLink here: https://badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov/resources. Scroll down to NoveList. If it’s your first time, there is a short video to help users learn how to make the most of what NoveList has to offer.

New York Times Bestseller List – The current NYT bestseller lists can be found at the library’s New Book display. Each side (fiction and nonfiction) has a stand with the current week’s bestsellers. Bestsellers tend to be popular, so you might not find the book on the shelf; however, the Information Desk staff will be happy to put a copy on hold for you.

Library Reads – This monthly list of books is created from suggestions by library staff across the nation. It’s not a bestseller list, but you’ll probably see some items on the list that will also be found on best seller lists. You’ll find the Library Reads list on top of the New Fiction book shelf.

Magazines and Newspapers – Many magazines available at the library regularly feature articles on books. Time and Atlantic are both known for their coverage, but don’t forget that other magazines have them too. For example, if you’re interested in the outdoors or nature, Outside magazine and Mother Earth News are possibilities. For an all in one source, try the Library Journal, which covers hundreds of titles every month. Newspapers that the library carries also regularly feature articles on books. The Wall Street Journal has articles on new releases, and the Journal Sentinel is a good source for articles on books by authors from Wisconsin.

Book Club Lists – The library’s website lists all the books ever read by all our book clubs. Go to https://germantownlibrarywi.org/book-groups/, then search under the different groups to see what they’ve read.

Resources outside the library

Online book groups – Search for “online book clubs”. Even if you’re not interested in participating, these sites are a good source of ideas for books to read. A couple of the most popular groups are:

Additional online resources for book club suggestions, discussion questions upcoming books, book trends and more:

Need more tips? – Try googling “best books” or “reading suggestions” and then select the sites that look interesting to you. A recent search I did for “reading suggestions” came up with a wide variety of lists, including books recommended by TED Talk speakers. If you enjoy listening to TED Talks, you’re likely to find something of interest on this list. Some sites will require you to create an account, but if you don’t want to do that, you’ll still find plenty other sites to access.

And just like love, sometimes you find the right one when you’re not looking: the book I enjoyed most last year was Whale Hunt: The Narrative of a Voyage by Nelson Cole Haley, Harpooner in the Ship Charles W. Morgan 1849-1853. First published in 1948, this memoir was a fascinating look into a world long gone. I was looking over the shelves of the library’s ongoing book sale, and it caught my eye. Someone read it, donated it, and it found a new home on my own shelves.

Lynn R.
Adult Reference Librarian