Here is my nonfiction compilation post for the year. I
had hopes of completing a second one, but it’s already September and reading
nonfiction is never my strong suit, so it’s moved onto being a 2026 goal.
With
Richard Wolffe.
Food is powerful. Food can be an introduction to other
cultures or regions. It can cement traditions, and it can be a love language.
Food is sustenance and brings people together. José Andrés is
best-known as a Michelin-starred chef, but he’s also a humanitarian, TV host,
author, husband and father of three. The humanitarian leader founded World
Central Kitchen (WCK) in 2010. It’s a nonprofit dedicated to feeding the
hungry. They’re boots-on-the-ground asap after natural and man-made disasters.
It’s going to be uncomfortable, but, “Don’t settle for the comfortable or the
familiar. That will always be the safety net for a circus performer.” Andrés
takes the lifetime of experience he’s gained so far and uses this book as a
collection of life lessons. He reminds readers, “It’s up to us to change the
recipe.” (The backmatter includes several recipes, as well as a
moving eulogy to the seven WCK workers who were killed in Gaza.) Remember
to build longer tables, not higher walls.
From
humble beginnings to smashing successes, kitchens to conflict
zones, Andrés’ newest authorial bestseller is part memoir, part manifesto
and all lively. His rise to celebrity chef is fascinating and his growth into
food philanthropist is inspirational. His conviction that food brings us closer
together and that each of us is capable of contributing to positive change in
the world is palpable throughout this slim volume. “We’re all in this country
together. We’re all on this planet together. Your success is my success. We the
People.” His insights are heartwarming and funny. His wisdom is hard-won and
ever-growing. His heart is big, his patriotism apparent and his dedication to
feeding the hungry is unrivaled. Let’s all bring food to the table like we’re
having the biggest, most joyous potluck. We all have the power to help!
Growing Up Urkel (Nov. 19, 2024) by Jaleel
White.
“Did I do that?” – Steve Urkel, Family Matters.
Jaleel White’s memoir takes readers on his journey, from booking a commercial
when he was three to landing one of the most iconic and memorable character
roles of the 1990s to beyond TGIF. Readers like me may not have known Steven
Urkel was only supposed to be a one-episode arc. He shares with readers his naïveté
in dealing with the “game” of show business. He talks of his parents’ goal of
him going to university, their joy when he was accepted at UCLA and the tricky
balance of being a college student while also being an actively working famous
actor. He isn’t shy about the high highs and the low lows, his luxury rides and
name-dropping. He says his story is “a testament to the power of perseverance,
authenticity, and reinvention.”
I
checked this book out from my local library. I rooted for it and for White,
having grown up loving Family Matters and the entire TGIF
lineup. I pictured reading his memoir to be nostalgic. It wasn’t. I struggled
like I might not make it across the finish line. Don’t misread me. White’s book
is insightful, and his journey is memorable. He’s seen so much and therefore
has a lot of industry knowledge and a plethora of experience. I don’t doubt
that his parents raised him with core values, but it’s hard to believe in his
multiple-times-mentioned humility when he’s seeking out the hot girls and the “it”
people and overdoing the name-dropping. There’s who he played hoops with, whose
places he went to and the nightclubs he once attended with a mega rapper. He
also dropped names of those in important positions before ticking off
their less desirable attributes and said that he doesn’t give into pettiness,
except for that one time when he wanted the pro dancer to sit in coach. Then
there’s one moment in Chapter 15 where he can’t even be bothered to list an
actress’ name, just that the movie starred “an unknown young actress,” after
all these previous chapters of name-dropping. His story didn’t feel authentic
to me and overall has a veneer of pettiness. Jaleel White could be the nicest
guy in the world, but that’s not the impression given from the book. Yes, he’s
lived a life many of us will never live. He writes his memoir like it’s an ode
to the big life he’s led, but he’s really continuing to live in his own shadow.
He may have grown up Urkel, but it doesn’t truly seem like he’s grown up.
In Gad We Trust (Jan. 14, 2025) by Josh Gad.
It’s easy to hear the name Josh Gad and think of his
smashing success as the original Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon on
Broadway or his ultra-popular voice role of Olaf in the worldwide popular Frozen film
franchise or his turn as LeFou in the iconic, live-action Beauty and
the Beast movie. As tends to be the case with people, Josh Gad is so
much more than his famous roles. For the first (and possibly last) time, Josh
Gad gives readers a “Tell-Some” on a variety of personal topics. He talks of
his parents’ divorce and the lasting impact it’s had on his life. He shares his
struggle with weight and being typecast, his take on fatherhood and growing up
Jewish. He talks of his history as a speech and debate team member and, at the
time he was writing his book, he was “somehow the most decorated speech
competitor in the country, a stat that still humbles me to my core and boggles
my mind.” (Note: The National Forensic League has since changed its name to the
National Speech & Debate Association.) He talks of working with some who
have passed like Robin Williams and Chadwick Boseman. No topic is off-limits.
He encourages us to keep moving forward and take a chance at those riskier
choices. Because that’s what he has done, and through the struggles and the lows,
there have been incredible highs and a charismatic snowman who likes warm hugs.
From
what I’ve seen Gad in, he’s an entertaining performer. Now having made his
adult debut with a memoir, he’s an entertaining author. His stories are
reflective and transformative. The man admits loving to talk about himself, but
any arrogance is offset by his vulnerability, especially when readers can see themselves
in their own vulnerable moments, from body issues to losing loved ones (family
and friends alike) to dealing with all forms of racism and discrimination. His
characters may be known for garnering laughter, but Gad undoubtedly needed all
the mental toughness he could muster to get where he is today. Gad’s story is
conversational and cheeky, heartfelt and hilarious. I knew he had comedic
talent, but he’s also a gifted storyteller, and this book has depth.