In recent years, there has been a concentrated ramp-up on adapting books into films and TV shows, with headline news for rights sold and casting selections having become a regular part of the news cycle. It feels as if in volume, and attention, genre fiction is the big winner, but nonfiction should absolutely not be overlooked. While I think it can offer a bigger challenge, starting with the ethics of centering real people, there are so many fantastic nonfiction works that should also benefit from finding new audiences on screen.
While having the same first choice of whether to adapt into a film or a series, nonfiction works also open the door for how to present the material: Interviews? Reporting? A narrative series? A mix? Below are seven nonfiction works that show the range of adapting styles which can be streamed across different services. There’s something for foodies, fans of drama, readers of true crime, history buffs, and more! And for fans of the-making-of, I’ve added links to the creators talking about the adaptation process.
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 From Scratch by Tembi LockeAbout the book: This is a beautifully written, poignant memoir about love, loss, family, and food. Tembi Locke recounts her love story with Saro, his death, and her building a relationship with his estranged Italian family. Bonus: the audiobook is narrated by the author, who is also an actress. About the adaptation: Netflix’s eight-episode limited series stars Zoe Saldaña and Eugenio Mastrandrea, and the showrunner is mystery author Attica Locke (!), Tembi’s sister. The series is created to feel like a romance/family drama with delicious food and gorgeous scenes in Italy. Have tissues and Italian food handy for both formats! Behind the making of the adaptation: The Sisterhood Behind Netflix’s From Scratch: “There’s Something Here That Has the Potentiality to Heal a Lot of Hearts” |
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 High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica B. HarrisAbout the book: This is an excellent read for fans of history and food! Harris traces how American cuisine has changed throughout history, beginning with enslaved Africans who prepared food and tracing Black Americans throughout history, including the history of soul food and much more! About the adaptation: Netflix’s High on the Hog is part travelogue, history documentary, food documentary, collection of interviews, and scenes of watching people cook. It hits so many notes of what makes a great—and most importantly delicious—food show. Behind the making of the adaptation: The Making of High on the Hog, Bringing Black Food History to TV |
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 Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden KeefeAbout the book: Patrick Radden Keefe is an investigative journalist who writes excellent narrative nonfiction (Empire of Pain, Rogues). Say Nothing blends history with true crime by using the kidnapping and disappearance of Jean McConville, widow and mother of ten children, to explore the Troubles in Northern Ireland. About the adaptation: The FX production, streaming on Hulu, is a nine-episode historical drama limited series that should receive plenty of nominations during award season. It starts in early ’70s Belfast with a large group of mostly masked people kidnapping Jean McConville at gunpoint in front of her children. It then jumps to Dublin in the early aughts, where an oral history interview is taking place as a woman tells her story of growing up with parents in the IRA and how she joined after being a peaceful protestor. Behind the making of the adaptation: How Say Nothing writer Patrick Radden Keefe turned a real Troubles murder case into gripping TV |
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 Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel WilkersonAbout the book: Isabel Wilkerson followed up The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration with Caste, in which she poses that in America, race is a caste system like Nazi Germany and India. About the adaptation: Rather than using a documentary style, Ava DuVernay (A Wrinkle in Time, When They See Us) adapted Caste into a narrative film based on Wilkerson’s life and work on the book, starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, and Niecy Nash. You can currently stream Origin on Hulu. Behind the making of the adaptation: Why Ava DuVernay felt compelled to adapt a nonfiction bestseller into a character-driven narrative |
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 God Save Texas: A Journey into the Soul of the Lone Star State by Lawrence WrightAbout the book: This is a blended nonfiction title that combines reporting, history, and memoir to tell the story of a state frequently in the news that is much more than just the headlines. About the adaptation: The book inspired a three-part docuseries which also blends reporting, history, and memoir. Each part showcases a different director’s voice looking at the complexities of Texas. In “Hometown Prison,” Richard Linklater looks at the state of Texa’s capital punishment and prison industrial complex. In “The Price of Oil,” Alex Stapleton focuses on the Gulf Coast’s oil/gas industry and its effect on Black communities. In “La Frontera,” Iliana Sosa focuses on the border between Mexico and the US. Both the book and docuseries are about one state and its complexities, but its policies can be felt throughout the country. Behind the making of the adaptation: Holding On to a Good Story: Making God Save Texas |
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 The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times MagazineAbout the book: This book is an expansion of The New York Times Magazine issue in the form of 18 essays and 36 poems and works of fiction. It’s a study on enslaved people and Black history, with the focus on how this history has shaped America today. About the adaptation: In this six-part docuseries, Nikole Hannah-Jones travels across the country and speaks to a wide range of Black Americans, showing today’s America while talking about music, culture, history, justice, and so much more. Behind the making of the adaptation: Nikole Hannah-Jones Reflects on the Importance of The 1619 Project as Hulu Docuseries Launches: “This Is the Work of My Life” |
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Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon GreenAbout the book: It’s a safe bet that when a serial killer is widely unknown, it’s because they preyed on a marginalized community. Elon Green tells the stories of the victims of a man who killed gay men in the ’80s and ’90s, while spotlighting New York’s LGBTQ+ community. About the adaptation: HBO’s four-part docuseries uses historical videos and photos as well as interviews (including with the victim’s family and friends) to bring to life queer New York during the ’80s and ’90s. The series thoughtfully shows the lives of the victims murdered by a serial killer and the panic it caused in the gay community—and the lack of care from the police. There is also a companion podcast, hosted by Jamilah King. Behind the making of the adaptation: HBO’s Last Call Director Almost Passed on the True Crime Docuseries: “My Biggest Concern Was Re-Victimizing the Queer Community” |
Looking for more to add to your to-watch list? Check out The 7 Best Book-to-Screen Adaptations Out in January 2025, (Probably) All of the Big Comic Book Movies and TV Shows Coming in 2025, and Your Guide to YA Book-to-Screen Adaptations in 2025.
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