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Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She’s the editor/author of (DON’T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.

View All posts by Kelly Jensen

Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She’s the editor/author of (DON’T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.

View All posts by Kelly Jensen

I have a vivid memory of sitting cross-legged in the school library in first or second grade. The librarian was teaching us how to use the library, and one of the things she asked us to do was think of something that we did not believe could be the subject of a whole book. “Pencils!” I said. I wanted to know why we had to learn to write with pencils before we could graduate to pens, which, to me, was still years away. To my surprise and delight, the librarian showed everyone in the class that, indeed, several books in the library discussed pencils. Not all of the books were entirely about the topic, but I could start my reading in the children’s encyclopedia, and then I could pick up several books discussing school supplies or writing utensils to learn more.

My little mind was blown, even though I did wish to find a whole book entirely about the history of the creation and implementation of pencils as our most common writing tools.

Since those late 80s and early 90s memories, though, books on hyper-specific topics have grown in number and in popularity. Although there’s no single word to capture the kind of book where the author traces a specific object or idea throughout history, one of the most common and accepted terms is “microhistory.” You may also see them categorized as social or cultural histories. What makes this style of book particularly distinctive is its focus on a very specific subject. The writer takes a microscope to a topic and explores as many of its contours as possible.

There’s nothing better than reading a book where the author has gone all out nerd mode on a topic, except when you, yourself, get to join in that deep nerding out over the topic with them. That’s where microhistories come in. If there’s a topic you’re interested in, there may be an entire book dedicated to the history, the pop culture, the uses of, and the challenges with whatever that thing is. We’re not talking about the history of London here. We’re talking about a history of, say, pencils or of avocado or of eyeliner or of tuberculosis. Microhistories turn what can be ordinary objects or topics into something extraordinary and fascinating.

Perhaps the thing that makes microhistories so compelling–even and maybe *especially *if it’s a topic you’ve otherwise never thought much about–is that they’re thoroughly researched, but the story itself is written in a way that is no research report. It has a compelling narrative and writing that’s engaging, leaving the reader unable to put the book down. In some cases, these histories are interwoven with the author’s personal experiences, creating a seamless blend of history and memoir. Microhistories are often also the kinds of books where you tuck away some facts that lead to great conversations, be it small talk at a party or texting your friends with a “did you know?!”

The first task of Read Harder 2026 is to read a microhistory, and the great news here is that there are so many options from which to choose. If you have a topic you’re interested in learning more about, see if there’s a microhistory about it. You might be surprised. If you’re unsure what kind of topic could keep you engaged for 300 pages, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to add several of the microhistories shared here to your TBR.

I personally find these books to be among the best audiobook choices available. It’s something about the specificity of the topic that allows for dipping in and out on audio. If you’re a reader who loves a good aural experience, microhistories might be worth checking out in that format.

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel by Shahnaz Habib

Habib’s book blends the personal with the cultural. A frequent traveler, Habib has been hyper-aware of her brown skin and the color of her passport, carrying a particular weight when she travels. But why?

This is a story about the history of travel, as well as about the various artifacts related to travel, like passports, guidebooks, trains, and wanderlust. It’s an engaging read, made even more interesting by Habib’s background, which extends not only to travel but also to travel writing.

Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America by ​​Leila Philip

Who would think that the beaver would be such a crucial creature in America, both in its pre- and post-colonial history? It’s true, though: beavers have played a pivotal role in shaping this country.

Philip blends personal narrative with history, incorporating conversations and perspectives from a range of people and groups who’ve devoted themselves to this fascinating and enigmatic rodent.

Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke

Calling a book about butts cheeky is a little on the nose, but there’s probably not a more apt description for a book that traces the cultural history of women’s backsides. The writing in this one is a bit like Mary Roach and a bit like Leslie Jamison, in that it’s both witty and surprisingly poignant.

This is one you’ll be excited to share facts from, as it’s both a history and an exploration of the derriere in pop culture.

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

John Green marries his passion for healthcare reform worldwide with his writing skills to present a highly readable book about the history of tuberculosis. Green was inspired to write this after befriending a young tuberculosis patient in Sierra Leone named Henry. The book is a personal narrative about their relationship, married with the science and social history of the disease.

Eyeliner: A Cultural History by Zahra Hankir

Could one style of makeup be a portal to history? That’s what led Hankir down a rabbit hole on the topic of eyeliner, which is a method of applying ink, kohl, gel, or powder around the edge of the eyes. Eyeliner was present in Ancient Egypt, and it abounds in contemporary pop culture. But why? What made this endure, and how has it shaped global history?

We don’t take makeup seriously, in large part because it’s associated with women (hello, misogyny). What makes this book especially worth picking up is that it not only takes a feminized topic seriously, but it also centers the role eyeliner has played in communities of color.

Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh

If you’d like your microhistory to be a bit more of a food memoir, look no further than this fresh exploration of the orange. The orange has a complicated global history, and that story is braided with Goh’s experiences growing up queer in a Chinese-Malaysian-Irish home.

Throughout, Goh confronts questions about both her own identity and the history of the orange that have no easy answers.

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8. Lee

It’s been more than a decade since I read this book, but it’s one that I probably think about more than most other books I’ve read. This is a fascinating history of Chinese food, and among the most interesting threads in it is the story of how Chinese restaurants were established in America. They’re not really Chinese restaurants, as you’ll learn, and you’ll also learn about the ways that fortunes inside the cookies you get after a Chinese meal came to be. You have likely had the experience that those fortunes aren’t, well, fortunes. There’s a reason for that!

Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer

One of the best nature writers is Robin Wall Kimmerer. She has a way of taking something that feels quite ordinary, even overlooked, and giving it a fully fleshed-out life that forces you to look at things differently. In Braiding Sweetgrass–not a microhistory–it was the ways that yellows and purples in nature pop against one another in the fall; I’ve never looked at the plants on the side of the road the same way again.

*Gathering Moss *weaves Wall Kimmerer’s distinctive voice and perspective, weaving Native wisdom with scientific insight, and turns it all to moss. Did you know there are tens of thousands of varieties of moss worldwide? That it plays a super important role in the well-being of nearly every living being? You will find yourself seeking out opportunities to observe moss, viewing it through fresh eyes.

Green Gold: The Avocado’s Remarkable Journey from Humble Superfood to Toast of a Nation by Sarah Allaback and Monique F. Parsons

As an avocado-for-breakfast-every-morning person, the history of this fruit has always been a fascination of mine. Allaback and Parsons write a detailed but engaging story about where and how the avocado became such a popular food in America. Fun fact: one of the many original names of the avocado was the alligator pear. Second fun fact: there have been at least two Supreme Court cases over the avocado, too.

Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall by Alexandra Lange

If you miss the mall or miss thinking about the mall, you’ll want to pick up Lange’s social and cultural history of the once hot and happening hangout. There’s a lot here that led me down internet rabbit holes to learn about some of America’s mega malls, and perhaps the most interesting takeaway was understanding why so many cities had malls named North Gate/South Gate/East Gate/West Gate.

Over My Dead Body:* Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries *by Greg Melville

For a period of time, I had a family member who worked in cemetery maintenance. Whenever we drove by a city cemetery, they would comment on how well-maintained it was and/or some of the problems it would eventually have because of its design.

There’s so much fascinating information related to cemeteries, and Melville’s book offers a look at the whys, wheres, and hows of America’s places for burying the dead. In addition to the social, cultural, and political elements of cemeteries, the author also visits numerous ones throughout the U.S. This isn’t a grotesque book but one filled with curiosity and wonder.

Photobooth: A Biography by Meags Fitzgerald

Last but not least, for readers who want to try out a microhistory told through comics and/or who love the history of art, this look at photobooths is tough to put down. You might need to track this one down in a used bookshop or at the library, as it looks to be out of print (which is both a bummer and also too on-the-nose for the subject of the book).

Fitzgerald’s biography of the photobook explores its history in public spaces, as well as its rapid disappearance from those spaces. It highlights the people from across the world who’ve been working together to save these bits of history, as well as those who helped make them so magical to begin with. Fitzgerald’s own narrative is woven throughout, and after reading this book, you will be on the lookout for photobooths when you’re out and about in the world.

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Want more great microhistory book recommendations? We’ve got a bunch more recommendations, including 50 of the best microhistories (published in 2018, so you’ll get a nice array of backlist picks!), some stellar feminist microhistories, and microhistories of the peculiar variety.

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