Best nonfiction and history books of August 2025, as chosen by the Amazon Editors
Scandals and shockers abound in August’s best history and nonfiction books. From an unbelievable look at America’s corrupt rehab system to mistreatment at one of America’s largest military bases, and so much more, read on for the Amazon Editors’ top recommendations this month. Be sure to also check out our Best Books of August in popular genres.
Written in the spirit of a Beth Macy or Arlie Russell Hochschild book, Rehab picks up where Dopesick leaves off. How do we help the millions of Americans who are addicted to drugs in the aftermath of the opioid crisis? Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Shoshana Walter expertly unwinds the experiences of four people to tell the story of rehab and recovery in America: a mom who lost her son to addiction (and spends the rest of her life fighting on his behalf), a doctor who prescribes controversial addiction treatment Buprenorphine, a poor Black woman who is addicted to heroin, and a middle-class white man who is addicted to pain pills. Your heart will pound with hope for them all as they navigate a treacherous system that is set up to exploit, bankrupt, and sometimes even kill its patients—run by corrupt executives who threaten violence and get away with unheard-of crimes (some earn presidential endorsements in the process). More than two-thirds of America’s families have struggled with addiction, and there is no magic cure—but this book lays out a clear and helpful path for anyone who has hit rock bottom, and the people who love them. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
The Fort Bragg Cartel blows open the secretive world of “black ops” soldiers, particularly those in the elite Delta Force, for whom it’s no joke to say their job is killing. During the war in Iraq, Delta Force was sent on targeted killing night raids at a rate that rose “…to 10 per day at the height of the surge.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In these pages, we also learn the truth about Afghan heroin production before, during, and after the US occupation, and what happens when the special ops soldiers in the middle of it all return home to Fort Bragg, North Carolina—one of the largest military bases in the world. The widespread drug use, large-scale trafficking (of both drugs and guns), and frighteningly high rates of suicide, overdose, and violent crime at Fort Bragg are jaw-dropping. But it’s the cover-ups at every level of government and law enforcement, and abject neglect of the mental health of soldiers tasked with doing terrible things in service to their country, that struck me most deeply. This is a shocking, fascinating, and important book that I can’t stop talking about. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
When the news comes at you in a rapid-fire clip, it pays to pause and ask yourself, “How did we get here?” Scott Anderson (Lawrence in Arabia) answers that question with breadth and depth in King of Kings, an immersive and transportive take on the explosive end of the Shah’s reign in Iran, which launched the Iranian Revolution and one of America’s worst geopolitical catastrophes, the Iranian Hostage Crisis. But before being forced into exile, he was Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King of Kings, Light of the Aryans, Shadow of God on Earth—seemingly unstoppable, hosting royalty and presidents at the most extravagant party the world has ever seen, surrounded by a coterie of shameless yes-men and his captivating young wife, the only woman who dared to stand up to him. In other words, life was a decadent playground (for some), until it wasn’t. And the fallout not only forever changed the Middle East, but also impacts the US to this day—in politics, power grabs, the rise of religious fanaticism, and the insatiable draw of cult-of-personality leaders. See more of our best history books of the month. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Whether or not you are a familiar with James Baldwin’s work, you will quickly become enamored with Nicholas Boggs’ comprehensive and insightful observations of this iconic literary figure and his oeuvre. Organizing the biography around four important figures in Baldwin’s life—mentors, lovers, fellow writers, and collaborators—Boggs grounds his narrative in the everyday of living, offering rich details that make the book not only page-turning, but illuminating. After all, even though Baldwin is one of America’s greatest writers and champions of civil rights, literature, and gay rights, he was also just a man who had insecurities, love affairs, money problems, and who was easily distracted by the joie de vivre of life while wrestling with sexuality and race. As Boggs reveals the roles that each of these four men played in Baldwin’s life, he also offers the touchstones and inspiration behind Baldwin’s famed essays and novels, giving fans the satisfying knowledge of how seminal works like Go Tell It On the Mountain, Notes of a Native Son, and Giovanni’s Room came to be. This is a fascinating biography, worthy of the fascinating writer who has made an indelible mark on American literature. See more of our best biographies and memoirs of the month. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
A lot can happen in just four years—as this page-turning history proves. And, wow, what a couple of wild years—the cacophonous energy of America’s biggest city pops off each page, which are full of over-the-top, only-in-New York characters. Jonathan Mahler (Ladies and Gentleman, The Bronx Is Burning) uses these hustlers, hucksters, and dreamers to tell the story of how their actions sparked societal and cultural trends that would soon sweep through and deeply impact the rest of America. Although this book takes place 40 years ago, the actions it describes—the hollowing out of manufacturing, the lack of affordable housing, rapidly diversifying populations—still reverberate today. And not just because one of its subjects currently occupies the White House. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Looking for more book reviews and recommendations? Check out:
