Spotlight BOOKS 10 best nonfiction books of the year From the 2024 Year in Review series Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024 Updated May 29, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save 'Where Rivers Part' kAmk6>mqJ z2@ z2=:2 *2?8k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 $E] !2F=[ |:??6D@E2[ HC:E6C 925 2? 2DE@?:D9:?8=J AC@5F4E:G6 J62C[ AF3=:D9:?8 7@FC 3@@<D 2:>65 2E G2C:@FD 286 8C@FAD] %96 36DE H2D 96C >6>@:C @7 96C >@E96C[ 2 4@>A2?:@? E@ “%96 $@?8 !@6E” W23@FE 96C 72E96CX E92E 8@6D 324< E@ 96C >@E96C’D J@FE9 E@ EC246 96C 2DE@?:D9:?8 DE@CJ @7 DFCG:G2= — E9C@F89 >F=E:A=6 >:D42CC:286D[ =:76 :? 2 C67F866 42>A[ >2C:E2= H@6D[ F?D276 =:G:?8 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 >@C6] pD H6’G6 4@>6 E@ 6IA64E 7C@> *2?8[ E96 HC:E:?8 :D =JC:42= :? E9:D 362FE:7F=[ 4@FC286@FD 3@@<] Wp?5[ 3J E96 H2J[ E96 E:E=6 C676CD 3@E9 E@ E96 {2@E:2? G:==286 H96C6 {2?8VD >@E96C[ %DH3 — AC@F?@F?465 “r96H” — 8C6H FA 2?5 E96:C 6G6?EF2= 9@>6 :? $E] !2F=]Xk^Am People are also reading… Furniture and a car highlight Joyous Junque yard sale this week in Moneta Inmate 'died in agony' at Western Virginia Regional Jail, lawsuit claims Franklin County High School senior eager to teach farming to next generation Diamond Avenue residents ask for solutions to a longtime problem Carter Bank drawn into Greenbrier ownership fight Virginia Tech board reverses Living-Learning Program cut, proposes alternative Flour returns to the shelves of Big Spring Mill 4 years after closure Governor signs bills on affordable housing, manufactured homes in Rocky Mount In 40th year, water quality program still crucial as ever at Smith Mountain Lake Ben & Jerry's reveals fate of Stephen Colbert ice cream Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center in predawn operation Va. Supreme Court appoints panel to decide if gun ban lawsuits should consolidate Martinsville mayor, ex-city manager sue councilman, law firm Exclusive leaked documents expose growing white supremacist group ‘Winning at all costs:’ Trump wraps himself in UFC’s bareknuckle image k9amVs@8=2?5Vk^9am kAmk6>mqJ %@>>J %@>=:?D@?k^6>mk^AmkAmp=E9@F89 :E DE2CED @FE 2D 2 369:?5\E96\D46?6D A66< :?E@ 5@8 D9@HD[ “s@8=2?5” 6?5D FA 36:?8 >F49 >@C6] %@>=:?D@? HC:E6D E92E 96 3682? H@?56C:?8 :7 “5@8E6DE2?ED” :? A2862?ED =:<6 E96 (6DE>:?DE6C z6??6= r=F3 s@8 $9@H H6C6 92G:?8 2 8@@5 E:>6[ 2?5 2=E9@F89 96 4@>6D FA H:E9 ?@ 567:?:E:G6 2?DH6CD E@ E92E BF6DE:@?[ 96 C6G62=D 2 =@E 23@FE H92E 5@8D >62? E@ FD 2?5 H92E H6 >2J >62? E@ E96>] %@>=:?D@?’D 3@@< H@C<D 3@E9 2D 2 HCJ[ K:?86C\7:==65 =@@< 2E 2 H@C=5 E92E’D ?@E D@ 72C 7C@> “q6DE :? $9@H[” E96 >@G:6 E92E A2C@5:65 :E[ 2?5 E92E >2<6D J@F 4CJ H:E9 9:D :?D:89ED :?E@ H92E >2<6D E96 5@8^9F>2? 3@?5 D@ DA64:2=]k^Am k9amV%96 $:686Vk^9am kAmk6>mqJ q6? |24:?EJC6k^6>mk^AmkAm|24:?EJC6’D 3@@< :D 2? 244@F?E @7 2 9@DE286 4C:D:D 2E E96 xC2?:2? 6>32DDJ :? {@?5@?[ 5FC:?8 E96 D2>6 E:>6 A6C:@5 2D E96 36EE6C\<?@H? xC2? 9@DE286 4C:D:D 2E E96 p>6C:42? 6>32DDJ :? %69C2?] |24:?EJC6[ H9@D6 3@@<D FDF2==J 7@4FD @? (@C=5 (2C xx DAJ4C27E[ @776CD 2 >:?FE6\3J\>:?FE6 244@F?E @7 H92E H2D 92AA6?:?8 :? E96 6>32DDJ[ H96C6 :?6IA6C:6?465 E6CC@C:DED H2G6C65 @? E96:C 56>2?5D[ 7C:89E6?65 9@DE286D 762C65 7@C E96:C =:G6D 2?5 2FE9@C:E:6D H@C<65 E@ A=2?E C6D4F6CD :? ?6:893@C:?8 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 @? E96 7=@@CD 23@G6 E96 6>32DDJ] |24:?EJC6 <66AD E96 E6?D:@? @? 9:89 7@C E96 6?E:C6EJ @7 E9:D 8C:AA:?8[ C62=\=:76 E9C:==6C]k^Am k9amV'2?:D9:?8 %C62DFC6DVk^9am kAmk6>mqJ z2E96C:?6 #F?56==k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 2446?E :D @? H@?56C :? #F?56==’D ab 56=:89E7F= 6DD2JD 23@FE :?4C65:3=6 4C62EFC6D E92E H6 D9@F=5 E2<6 36EE6C 42C6 @7] #F?56== :D 2 H:EEJ[ 7=F:5 HC:E6C[ 2?5 2=E9@F89 96C 3@@< @7E6? =@@<D E@ E96 A2DE[ 96C HC:E:?8 766=D :562= 7@C E96 AC6D6?E >@>6?E] w6C6[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ :D #F?56== @? H9J D96 7:?5D =@?8\=:G65 D92C<D D@ 9@A67F=i “%96J H:== D66 FD A2DD E9C@F89 H9:496G6C DA:??:?8 492@D H6 >2J 4FCC6?E=J 36 =:G:?8 E9C@F89[ 2?5 E96 4C2D9 E92E H:== 4@>6 27E6C :E[ 2?5 E96J H:== =:G6 E9C@F89 E96 4FCC6?E=J F?:>28:?65 E9:?8D E92E H:== 4@>6 27E6C E92Ei E96 EC2?D7@C>2E:@?D[ E96 C6G6=2E:@?D[ E96 A@DD:3=6 =:36C2E:@?D]”k^Am k9amVw:A\9@A xD w:DE@CJVk^9am kAmk6>mqJ "F6DE=@G6[ H:E9 q6? vC66?>2?k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 ~D42C 2?5 vC2>>J H:??6C :D D2J:?8 E92E >F49 @7 H92E 96 92D 2=H2JD =@G65 23@FE 9:A\9@A :D ?@ =@?86C ECF6 2?5 E92E E96 566A=J p>6C:42? 2CE 7@C> :D 2 8C62E H2J E@ EC246 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 A2DE 92=7\46?EFCJ] “w:DE@CJ” :D ;2>\A24<65 H:E9 DH66E 2?645@E6D 7C@> "F6DE=@G6’D 49:=59@@5[ H96? 96 7:CDE 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 E96 >FD:4 W9:D A2C6?ED H6C6 >FD:4:2?DX 2?5 3682? EC25:?8 >:IE2A6D H:E9 @E96C !9:=256=A9:2 <:5D[ >2?J @7 H9@> H@F=5 2=D@ 8C@H FA E@ 36 8:2?ED @7 9:A\9@A] "F6DE=@G6 D66>D E@ 92G6 =:DE6?65 E@ 6G6CJE9:?8 6G6C C64@C565] %96 36DE 6G:56?46 @7 E9:D :D E96 `e\A286 2AA6?5:I[ 42==65 “w:A\9@A $@?8D x p4EF2==J {:DE6? %@[” H9:49 :D =:<6 92G:?8 2 A2= E6==:?8 J@F H92E EC24<D J@F ?665 E@ 962C]k^Am k9amVb $9256D @7 q=F6Vk^9am kAmk6>mqJ y2>6D z2A=2?k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 E:E=6 :D D=:89E=J 5646AE:G6j @?6 >:89E 6IA64E 2 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 >2<:?8 @7 “z:?5 @7 q=F6[” E96 36DED6==:?8 W7@C 8@@5 C62D@?X ;2KK 2=3F> @7 2== E:>6] %92E 2=3F> H2D 4C65:E65 E@ ECF>A6E6C |:=6D s2G:D[ 3FE :ED C@DE6C H2D A24<65 H:E9 3:8 ?2>6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 EH@ @E96C =686?5D E92E z2A=2? 7@4FD6D @?i D2I A=2J6C y@9? r@=EC2?6 2?5 A:2?:DE q:== tG2?D] %96C6’D 2 =:EE=6 369:?5\E96\D46?6D :?E6= @? “z:?5 @7 q=F6” :? “b $9256D[” 3FE :E’D >@C6 :?E6C6DE65 :? EC24:?8 H92E 3C@F89E E96 >6? E@ E96 >@>6?E @7 :?DA:C2E:@? 2?5 H92E E96J 5:5 E@ 7@==@H FA E92E >2DE6CA:646] z2A=2? 92D A24<65 E9:D 3@@< H:E9 DE@C:6D @7 2CE:DE:4 EC:F>A9D 2?5 A6CD@?2= EC2865:6D]k^Am k9amVr92==6?86CVk^9am kAmk6>mqJ p52> w:88:?3@E92>k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 “|:5?:89E :? r96C?@3J=” HC:E6C :D 324< H:E9 2?@E96C 56E2:=65[ 9F>2?6 244@F?E E92E C6D4F6D >62?:?8 7C@> EC2865J] w:88:?3@E92> E6==D FD E96 DE@C:6D @7 2== E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 5:65 :? E96 `hge 6IA=@D:@? @7 E96 DA246 D9FEE=6 r92==6?86C W?@E ;FDE E62496C r9C:DE2 |4pF=:776[ 2=E9@F89 w:88:?3@E92> 92D DFCAC:D:?8 :?D:89ED 23@FE 96C[ E@@X] w6 2=D@ EC246D E96 564:D:@?D E92E =65 E@ E96 EC2865J 2?5 DE6AD 324< E@ D66 9@H E96 r92==6?86C 5:D2DE6C 4@?E:?F6D E@ 27764E 564:D:@?D 4FCC6?E=J 36:?8 >256 23@FE DA246 6IA=@C2E:@?] w:88:?3@E92> 4@?4=F56D E92E[ 2=E9@F89 E96 EC2865J D9@4<65 E96 H@C=5[ :E H2D 6>:?6?E=J AC6G6?E23=6 2?5 :E 92D 492?865 E96 H2J p>6C:42?D D66 E96>D6=G6D]k^Am k9amVu665:?8 v9@DEDVk^9am kAmk6>mqJ %6DD2 wF==Dk^6>mk^AmkAmxE 42? 36 2 =:EE=6 :?E:>:52E:?8 5:G:?8 :?E@ wF==D’ 8C2A9:4 >6>@:C] t249 A286 :D 56?D6=J A24<65 H:E9 :?7@C>2E:@?] qFE 2 =:EE=6 A2E:6?46 :D C6H2C565 H:E9 2 8@C86@FD 2?5 D9@4<:?8 E2=6 @7 86?6C2E:@?2= EC2F>2] xE 368:?D H:E9 E96 2FE9@C ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H D96 4@??64ED E@ E96 r9:?6D6 96C:E286 3@E9 96C >@E96C 2?5 8C2?5>@E96C 36=:6G6 D96 5:D52:?D] qFE :E 364@>6D 2 >@G:?8 DE@CJ @7 >F=E:86?6C2E:@?2= 7@C8:G6?6DD 2D wF==D 5:8D :?E@ 96C 72>:=J’D D64C6ED] }@ DA@:=6CD 96C6[ 3FE 2== E9C66 H@>6? 92G6 >@C6 :? 4@>>@? E92? E96J C62=:K6[ 2?5 :E E2<6D 2 EC:F>A92?E H@C< @7 2CE — DA64:7:42==J[ E96 @?6 H6 2C6 C625:?8 — E@ 96=A E96> F?56CDE2?5 E92E]k^Am k9amVr:C4=6 @7 w@A6Vk^9am kAmk6>mqJ t=:K2 vC:DH@=5k^6>mk^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 :?E:>2E6 56E2:=D @? ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ A286 @7 vC:DH@=5’D 244@F?E @7 2 !9:=256=A9:2 49FC49 E92E :D C64<@?:?8 H:E9 :?;FDE:46 :? E96 H2<6 @7 E96 >FC56CD @7 v6@C86 u=@J5 2?5 @E96C q=24< >6? 2E E96 92?5D @7 A@=:46] vC:DH@=5AC24E:46D :>>6CD:G6 ;@FC?2=:D>[ 6DD6?E:2==J 6>3655:?8 96CD6=7 H:E9 2 8C@FA @7 A6@A=6 7@C 2? 6IE6?565 A6C:@5 @7 E:>6] vC:DH@=5 D9:7ED 36EH66? E96 A@:?ED @7 G:6H @7 7@FC A2DE@CD[ H9@ :?4C62D:?8=J 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D 5:G:565 3J E96 G6CJ E9:?8D E96J’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 8C2AA=6 H:E9 :? E96:C D6C>@?Di :?;FDE:46[ D6I:D>[ :56?E:EJ[ C24:D>] vC:DH@=5 D9@HD FD E92E E96 A2DE@CD H6C6 :? 28C66>6?E @? >@DE E9:?8D 3FE 4@F=5?’E 67764E:G6=J 4@>>F?:42E6 E92E E@ @?6 2?@E96C]k^Am k9amV$EC@?8 !2DD:@?DVk^9am kAmk6>mqJ q2C32C2 (6:D36C8k^6>mk^AmkAm“$EC@?8” 7@4FD6D @? 2 E:?J[ =@?8\28@ DE@CJ E92E H@F=5 ?@E D66> E@ 92G6 =67E >F49 @7 2? :>A24Ei E96 4@==2AD6 @7 E96 >2CC:286 @7 !6E6C 2?5 |2CJ $EC@?8[ H9@ DE@AA65 =@G:?8 6249 @E96C >@C6 E92? `e_ J62CD 28@] u@CEF?2E6=J[ E96J =67E 369:?5 =@ED @7 =6EE6CD 2?5 D2:5 >2?J 7@@=:D9 E9:?8D :? 4@FCE — 2== @7 H9:49 (6:D36C8 DA:?D :?E@ 2 =@@< 2E E96 E9:?8D E92E 42? =625 E@ 2 >2CC:286’D 72:=FC6 2?5 E96 H2JD @FC D@4:6EJ 92D 364@>6 2E =62DE 2 =:EE=6 D>2CE6C 23@FE 8C2AA=:?8 H:E9 9F>2? 7@:3=6D W:? E96 $EC@?8D’ 52J[ 564:D:@?D @? H96E96C 2 4@FA=6 4@F=5 5:G@C46 H6C6 ?@E FA E@ E96> 3FE E@ 2 ;FCJX] k^Am In this Series 2024 Year in Review Updated May 29, 2026 PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 Updated May 29, 2026 PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 Updated May 29, 2026 PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 7 updates Previous Next 0 comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story 10 best fiction books of the year Here's a look back at some of the year's best fiction.
