If you are looking for an upbeat story, but aren’t really into the usual rom-coms, give our NoveList service a try. This database allows you to search through 100,000s of titles by appeal factor, genre, and subject matter, so you can discover books that you’ll find interesting and feel-good. The following are ten examples of “upbeat” non-fiction books that I discovered using NoveList. They all can be borrowed on-demand with your library card via Hoopla.

If you are in the mood for some upbeat and accessible nature writing, check out The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. After a lifetime managing and studying forests, the author taps his distinct perspective on trees in this heartfelt homage, combining his personal observations with elements of folkloric wisdom and the latest scientific research.

Notorious RBG: the life and times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon is an upbeat, amusing illustrated biography of the feminist icon and legal pioneer. Readers can get to know the Supreme Court Justice and fierce Jewish grandmother, who has had a major impact on not just America, but the world. Hoopla has it in both ebook and audiobook formats.

Sports fan may be interested in The Glory Game by Frank Gifford, a descriptive and upbeat fiftieth anniversary tribute to the 1958 National Football League championship game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts, as told by a recipient of the MVP award.

If baseball is more your thing, another upbeat choice is The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created. Available in audio, this engaging book serves as portrait of Babe Ruth and his partnership with business manager Christy Walsh and traces how their strategies, achievements and notoriety established a blueprint for modern athletic stardom.

Available as a Hoopla audiobook, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by the legendary Haruki Murakami is an engaging, upbeat and conversational reflection on the author’s four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City marathon.

Love Does by Bob Goff is an inspiring, upbeat book that recounts lessons the author learned through taking on challenging opportunities, offering commentary on love's ability to encourage and inspire action. Hoopla has it available in e-book and audiobook formats, as well as a study guide, and in children’s edition ebook and audiobook formats.

Hopeful and upbeat, The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun recounts how the author left a lucrative career to found the award-winning Pencils of Promise nonprofit, describing his travels through dozens of countries and the evolution of his "for-purpose" combination of nonprofit idealism with for-profit business principles.

A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi is an engaging, lush and (of course) upbeat piece of travel writing that chronicles the life of the chef and food writer from the beginning of her relationship with an Italian man through her eventual move from St. Louis to Venice to marry him.

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams is an upbeat, conversational investigation into the restorative benefits of nature. It draws on cutting-edge research and the author's explorations with international nature therapy programs to examine the relationship between nature and human cognition, mood and creativity.

Driving Miss Norma by Tim Bauerschmidt, a memoir based on the popular Facebook page of the same name, chronicles the remarkable cross-country journey of the effervescent 90-year-old Miss Norma, who in the face of terminal illness embarked on a transformative road trip with her son (the author), daughter-in-law and giant poodle. It is described as “uplifting and life affirming.”

As mentioned, all the titles can be borrowed for free from the library using Hoopla. Click here for more information on how Hoopla works, and here for how you can sign up for an online library card.

This article was originally published in The Napanee Beaver. 

 

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