December may be a slow month for new releases; however, it brings readers ten compelling nonfiction books that shine a light on extraordinary lives and pivotal historical moments that have often gone unnoticed. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, reflect on 2025, or find your next five-star read, these ten books promise to leave a lasting impression. Each of these selections offers readers stories that inform, inspire, and captivate, keeping you turning pages all month long.
1. Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton by Martha Ackmann
Releasing on December 30 is a new biography all about the life and legacy of country icon Dolly Parton. Starting from the very beginning, Ackmann recounts the life of the country legend, from her impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains all the way to the international icon we know and love today. Through interviews with Parton’s friends, family, and collaborators, along with never-before-seen documents and photos, Ain’t Nobody’s Fool provides a look into the social, historical, and personal forces that have shaped Parton into the beloved American figure we know today.
2. A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls by Adam Morgan
Releasing on December 9 is a bold new biography that explores the life of overlooked queer icon Margaret C. Anderson, known for founding the groundbreaking magazine The Little Review, which first published literary icons like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound. Morgan chronicles Anderson’s life from her run as a radical publisher to her time as a cultural rebel as she became a courageous voice for progress in early 20th-century America. Through a blend of history, politics, and literature, A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls gives readers a look into the life of Anderson and her fight for artistic freedom and women’s rights.
3. Cake Eater by Carl Radke
Releasing on December 30 is a new raw and revealing memoir from Summer House star Carl Radke. Known for his party-loving reality TV persona, Radke is finally ready to open up about the painful realities that take place behind the scenes, such as his struggles with addiction, the loss of his brother, and the pressure of needing to constantly perform under the public eye. With his classic honesty and humor, Radke shares the intimate details of his transformation while offering a candid look at what it means to rebuild. Cake Eater is an inspiring story of growth and healing that proves that the truest fun comes from within.
4. In the Arena: Theodore Roosevelt in War, Peace, and Revolution by David S. Brown
Releasing on December 2 comes a new compelling and deeply researched look into the life of one of America’s most dynamic presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. Reflecting back on Roosevelt’s frail childhood in New York and his stint as the 26th president, Brown captures the discrepancies that made Roosevelt an unforgettable force in American politics. Through vivid storytelling, Brown explores Roosevelt’s triumphs and tragedies, from his Square Deal reforms to his conservation efforts that helped preserve millions of acres of land. In the Arena offers readers a portrait of the man who helped shape America, making it an essential read for history lovers everywhere.
5. Queens at War by Alison Weir
Releasing on December 2 is the conclusion of historian Alison Weir’s acclaimed series on the queens of medieval England. Weir paints a riveting portrait of five 15th-century monarchs, including Joan of Navarre and Anne Neville, who helped shape a nation amid chaos and conflict during the Hundred Years’ War and the War of the Roses. Through deep research and vivid storytelling, Weir showcases the monarchs’ triumphs and tragedies as they navigate treachery, ambition, and power in a world strictly ruled by men. Queens at War beautifully blends history and drama as Weir brings to life the courage and complexity of some of England’s most powerful queens.
6. Daring To Be Free by Sudhir Hazareesingh
Releasing on December 2 is Sudhir Hazareesingh’s groundbreaking new history of slavery, resistance, and self-emancipiation across the Atlantic. Hazareesingh challenges the traditional narrative that credits abolition to European reformers, centering the voices of the enslaved themselves. Through stories of those who fought, fled, and forged their own paths to freedom (such as Toussaint Louverture and Nat Turner), Daring to Be Free showcases the power, courage, and resilience that shaped one of history’s most intense struggles for liberation.
7. The Sea Captain’s Wife by Tilar J. Mazzeo
Releasing on December 9 comes the extraordinary true story of the first woman to command a merchant vessel through the treacherous waters of Antarctica, Mary Ann Patten. Set against the backdrop of 1856, during the height of the California Gold Rush, Mazzeo follows 19-year-old Mary as she takes command of her husband’s ship, Neptune’s Car, after he falls gravely ill. Utilizing newly uncovered archives and Mazzeo’s own voyage to trace Mary Ann’s route, The Sea Captain’s Wife captures a striking tale of courage, love, and survival while shining light on a woman who defied all odds and steered her way into history.
8. The Work Of Our Hands by Adrian Sutherland
Releasing on December 30 is Juno-nominated Cree musician Adrian Sutherland’s powerful reflection on resilience, spirituality, and the meaning found through work and connection. Set against the backdrop of the Northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat, this memoir offers readers an intimate look into Sutherland’s life, revealing the realities of life in a place marked by hardship yet defined by strength. Sutherland explores how the simple acts of creating and playing music became his source of purpose and healing while offering readers a personal meditation on freedom, faith, and the lessons we learn from the world around us.
9. The Museum as Large-Room Pinball Machine, Edited by William J. Buxton
Releasing December 2 comes William J. Buxton’s uncovering of a lesser-known yet groundbreaking moment in museum history. Buxton tells the story of when, in 1967, media theorist Marshall McLuhan and exhibit pioneer Harley Parker led a seminar at the Museum of the City of New York that challenged conventional ideas about how museums communicate and engage with their audiences. Utilizing extensive archives and research, Buxton explores the seminar’s context and participants, while also examining Parker’s collaboration with McLuhan. The Museum as Large-Room Pinball Machine offers readers a captivating look at a pivotal period of innovation and how we experience museums.
10. The Heart Code: The Breakthrough Method to Open Your Heart and Transform Your Life by Dr. Bradley Nelson and Jean Nelson
Releasing on December 2 comes a follow-up to Dr. Bradley Nelson’s bestseller, The Emotion Code, that dives deeper into breaking down the emotional walls that hold us back. With compassion and honesty, Dr. Nelson draws from thousands of real-life stories to examine the concept of “Heart Walls.” The Heart Code provides readers with practical tools to help them release their inner emotional blocks and open themselves up to healing in every aspect of life.
From groundbreaking biographies and memoirs to transformative stories from history, these ten December nonfiction releases offer something for every reader. Make sure to add them to your TBR to explore the lives and ideas that continue to shape our world.
Looking for last month’s nonfiction new releases? Check out our article, Fresh Off the Press: November 2025 Nonfiction Releases!
Find these books and more on our 2025 New Releases You Need to Grab Today shelf on Bookshop!
