NPR staffers recommend their favorite nonfiction books of the year so far

NPR | By Joanna Kakissis,

Anastasia Tsioulcas, Darian Woods, Matthew Cloutier

Published August 9, 2026 at 8:48 AM EDT

NPR staffers recommend "The Theater," "In Trees," "The Infinity Machine," and "Restrung" for this nonfiction installment of "Books We Love."

Joanna Kakissis

Joanna Kakissis is an international correspondent based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

See stories by Joanna Kakissis

Anastasia Tsioulcas

Anastasia Tsioulcas is a correspondent on NPR's Culture desk.

See stories by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Darian Woods

Darian Woods is a co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money.

See stories by Darian Woods

Matthew Cloutier

Matthew Cloutier is a producer for TED Radio Hour.

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