9 Nonfiction Titles that Should Exist (but Dont)

9 Nonfiction Titles that Should Exist (but Don’t) Heres a reading dilemma: sometimes the book you want to read next just doesnt exist. Yet. Among the books Ive craved to read (and the projects Ive dreamed of undertaking myself) are these nine (currently) imaginary titlesâ€"projects ripe with potential, but that are not yet a reality. Someone pen them, please?* (*except #2. #2 is mine, damnit.) A Feminist History of Tupperware: A Tupperware history exists, but its not the one I want. I love vintage Tupperware, and I know Im not the only one. But did you know that theres much more nuance to the tale of Earl Tupper turning plastic sludge into gold than fits in a simple buy my wares party invitation? A debate rages about whether or not Tupperware parties were actually a huge step forward for womens financial independence, and thats fascinating to me. (Nope, Im not just trying to justify my odd collection of bright plastic tumblers and lettuce savers.) I crave a rich cultural biography that enlivens womens stories from Tupperware parties past and presentâ€"of women making their own way; of business challenges; now, of collecting. There  are nonfiction authors who could do this in a lively way! Pretty please? A Travelogue following Historical Markers Across the U.S.: given endless free time and money, I would totally do this myself, but for now I just have to dream about it. You know all of those not terribly well kept up historical markers that pepper small towns all over the States? Id love to get in my car, travel backroads, happen upon them by chance, and then touch base with locals in diners and pubs and such to chat casually and see just how much of that history is still present in the lives of their towns. Lets talk history at a microcosmic level; lets find it in the stories that even the folks next door seem to have forgotten about (and lets have some good ol diner pie along the way.). A Coffee Table Book of Bad Art  The walls of my home are crowded with canvases and framed prints about which kind visitors say things like well, if it makes  you  happy… Ive dubbed my space the Gallery of Questionable Art, and always think fondly of Davis Squares Museum of Bad Art when I rescue a new piece from a thrift store bin. Wouldnt it be wonderful to collect 2D versions of these marvels in a full color, large scale, glossy coffee table book? I think so. Dirty Laundry: A collection of candid photographs of celebrity laundry rooms, far in to their should I buy new underwear at this point, or just do the wash already? phases. I want  Annie Leibovitz to take the pictures when nobodys lookingâ€"I know shed catch the angles that no Hollywood giant would want us to see, ooky marks and all. A Cultural History of Breakfast:  My brilliant chef boyfriend is a breakfast/brunch fiend; one of his first questions when  traveling abroad is about what locals eat in the morning. Hes said that he would snap this book upâ€"if it existed. In his conception, the text  would move all around the world, photographing and fun-essay-commenting on what people in different places consume when they wake, as well as the context behind those choices. Harry Burnss Mother: And Other Unsung Historical  Heroines:  The 19th Amendment, which granted some women the right to vote, only narrowly passed. As the legend goes: Tennessee Congressman Harry Burns was seconds away from voting no when he got a telegram from his mother, who set him straight in no uncertain terms. He voted yesâ€"and he gets all of the accolades for that. Thats total crap. Id love a multi-woman biography that lauds the true heroes of unlikely historical victories, treating tough women on their own merits, and bringing them the fore for the credit they deserve. Transcendent: The Story of an American Religious Movement: There are books that gather transcendentalists writings together. There are certainly books by individual transcendentalists available. But there is no story-rich, thoroughly-researched, lively, and encapsulating history of the movement itself, and I want one. Ideally, someone like Candice Millard, who brings even outwardly dry historical tales to vibrant life, would be the one to pen it; shed tease the good humor, bold aspirations, and creativity out of the old records and make transcendentalismâ€"a weirdly defunct nineteenth century movement celebrating the divinity in humanity and all living thingsâ€"enrapturing once more. Elves: In the late 1970s, Harry N. Abrams released two awesome mythical beings books, Faeries and  Gnomes.  They feature fantastic, colorful artwork accompanied by short, evocative, sometimes scary-story-flavored insights into worldwide myths around the daydreamy beings. Ive loved my copy of Faeries since childhood; I only recently obtained Gnomes from an antique store. But, uh: elves are my favorite. Why no elves, Abrams?! Get Brian Frouds pen cranking again, please. An Illuminated 25th Anniversary Edition of Pale Blue Dot: Carl Sagans book is holy.  Holy.  Fight me (or dontâ€"Im right, anyway, and I dont want to fight). This beautiful volumeâ€"already flush with lovely, awe-inducing photographs in its earlier versionsâ€"warrants the careful attention devoted to other sacred texts throughout history. Dear Random House: Get out the gold leaf, hire some artists skilled in iconography, and paint this beauty up, please, for a 2019 anniversary edition. What currently fictitious nonfiction book would you most like to see in print? Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.