5 Nonfiction Books We're Looking Forward To in 2022

And What You Can Read in the Meantime

Reading Ahead

As we usher in the new year, we are—as ever—eagerly anticipating the books this year will bring. And 2022 is not letting us down! Every day this week, we're featuring genre-specific lists of five upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on.

So far we've covered literary fiction and poetry, romance, and mystery . Today's focus is nonfiction! Here are five volumes available for pre-order, plus an already published book with similar themes or qualities you can enjoy right now.

The Wok: Recipes and Techniques by J. Kenji López-Alt (Mar. 8)

The chef's debut cookbook revolutionized home cooking with its science-based approach to everyday foods. And for fast, fresh cooking, there's one pan López-Alt reaches for more than any other: the wok. Featuring more than 200 recipes, like Kung Pao Chicken, Pad Thai, and San Francisco-Style Garlic Noodles, this comprehensive guide provides endless ideas for brightening up dinner.

What to read now: The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt

Watergate: A New History by Garrett M. Graff (Feb. 15)

From the bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky comes the definitive narrative history of Watergate, exploring the full scope of the scandal through the politicians, investigators, journalists, and informants who made it the most influential political event of our modern era. Grippingly told, meticulously researched, with new details and never-told stories, this book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the era that upended America.

What to read now: King Richard: Nixon and Watergate by Michael Dobbs

Riverman: An American Odyssey by Ben McGrath (Apr. 5)

The riveting true story of Dick Conant, an American folk hero who, over the course of more than twenty years, canoed solo over thousands of miles of American rivers before disappearing near the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This book offers a moving portrait of a complex and fascinating man and also a view of an America we rarely see: a nation of unconventional characters, small river towns, and long-forgotten waterways.

What to read now: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Find Your People by Jennie Allen (Mar. 22)

Studies show that consistent, meaningful connection with others has a powerful impact on our well-being. Yet many of us are experiencing what has been called an epidemic of loneliness. Here, the bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head draws on fascinating insights from science and history, timeless biblical truth, and vulnerable stories from her own life to help you dive into the deep end and experience the full wonder of community.

What to read now: Community: The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block

The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman (Feb. 8)

The 1990s brought about a revolution in the human condition we're still groping to understand. This wise and funny book by the bestselling author of But What if We're Wrong dissects the forces at play during this decade of massive change: the film, the music, the sports, the TV, the politics, and the changes regarding race and class and sexuality.

What to read now: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman

Hopefully there's something here that gives you some food for thought (or even some actual food)! Next up: Five sci-fi/fantasies to blow your mind.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon