My husband is open to trying to read more, but not sure where to start in terms of specific books. He was recently diagnosed with ADHD and has been feeling stressed and I think this would be more calming than scrolling on Instagram reels at night.
For now, I’m looking for nonfiction. He’s into
– politics
– cooking
– American history
– sports
– trains and planes
– general science and technology
– potentially theology, but it has to be about Catholicism.
Anything that you think a 23yo guy might enjoy, recommend!
by Revolutionary_Can879
14 Comments
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
It’s an engrossing true story, with small aspects of everything you listed in one way or another
Engineering in Plain Sight by Grady Hillhouse.
The Patriot by Alexei Navalny.
Oral history books. There is one on 9/11 and one on D-Day, both by Garrett M. Graff.
I wonder though if he would enjoy audiobooks more? Nature walk plus listening to audiobooks, chores plus audiobooks, jogging/working out plus audiobooks, …
How to survive history,
The world without us,
The bomber mafia,
Anything by Bill Bryson.
Maybe Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel. It’s a biography of the scientist that draws primarily on his correspondence with his daughter, who was a cloistered nun. It might scratch both his interest in science and Catholicism.
Red Notice. A true story and reads like a thriller.
Get him to try audiobooks if the act of reading takes too much focus.
My husband doesn’t like to read but I got him to enjoy the Murderbot series (great sci-fi novellas!) in audio.
I know you didn’t list sport, but if he enjoys sports there’s an annual book award called the William Hill Sports Book of the Year; its been going for a while, there’s a long list, short list and annual winner. I’ve read a few and they’ve all been excellent quality. You might like to try some of those if he likes sports.
a short history of nearly everything is the best science book there is for the general public. if he’s interested in science he’ll love this
Anything by Rose George, Judy Melinek, Caitlin Doughty, or Mary Roach. All very interesting, about subjects you never considered.
What about biography? Is there a celebrity he particularly likes?
I’m not big on biography in general but reading about some of my favourite rock stars has been fascinating.
Anything by David McCullough is excellent, his “John Adams” book is what they based the HBO series led by Paul Giamatti and I still watch that almost once a year. I also found his book “The Pioneers” completely fascinating, and “1776”. He also written books on Truman and Teddy Roosevelt.
Sometimes I read and listen to the audiobook at the same time because I have a lot of mind chatter, I either need to do that or put music on or I’ll be having a whole other coversation in my head and forget I’m reading, haha. With audible sometimes you can buy the book together with the audio for cheaper if that’s helpful for him.
Try *What Really Happens in Vegas* by James Patterson and Mark Seal. Each chapter is a separate story (good bite sized chunks for both a newer reader and the ADHD brain), full of history, some politics, and some cooking. Plus it’s light and fun like Instagram scrolling.