The Best of Everything Nonfiction for 2009

Here is my list of the very best books, films, and documentaries that I’ve seen or read this past year. Only books or films that got a four star rating or higher made the list. Anything getting a five star rating is indicated with an asterisk. The items in this list do not necessarily have to have been released in 2009.

Review of the Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

This is the second memoir I’ve read from someone dealing with the hardships of growing up in Africa. The first one was A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. Ishmael grew up in the war-torn Congo area and became a boy soldier. William Kamkwamba’s struggle deals with poverty. Both stories are inspirational and worthy of the praise each book has received.