My reading is around 90% fiction, and I tend to struggle with non-fiction, both in terms of actually finishing them and in getting good recommendations, particularly for books that aren't memoirs. I saw a post on Instagram where a fiction reader gave their top non-fiction recommendations, and I would be interested in hearing from people who predominantly read fiction about any non-fiction reads that have really stuck with them? It might help fiction fiends like me broaden our reading horizons 🙂
Mine would be "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot – the story of how cervical cancer cells, taken from Henrietta Lacks before she died without her permission, were then replicated in labs and sold for use in medical research and have been the foundation for significant medical developments. All without the knowledge of her family, involvement or permission of her family. I also enjoy Jon Krakauer's writing, particularly "Under the Banner of Heaven" and "Into Thin Air".
by Sorry-Grateful
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I know everyone and their mom says to read “Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann – but seriously, read it! It’s very good and flows like a fiction book but, unfortunately, occurred in real life.
Check out Underland by Robert MacFarlane! I’m predominantly a sci fi reader and this one had me hooked
“Say Nothing” it’s riveting and Hulu did a great adaptation mini series of it. The story of the modern day IRA is astonishing.
I was going to suggest Krakauer but you’re already there.
non-climber Andrew Grieg wrote another climbing book I like: summit fever.
If you are a bit morbid: The Hot Zone, anything by Caitlin Doughty or Mary Roach
Here to second David Grann’s books (Lost City of Z, Killers of the Flower Moon), but also to rec Kate Moore (Radium Girls, The Woman they Could Not Silence).
I loved The Art Thief by Michael Finken and (similarly titled) The Feather Thief by Kirk W. Johnson. Apparently, I’m fascinated by niche thieves because I couldn’t put down either of these books.
Just curious why you feel that you have to read non-fiction if you don’t really enjoy it? I’ve definitely gotten a lot of flack over the years for reading primarily fiction, which I think is ridiculous.
*Endurance* by Alfred Lansing is great; it is the true story of a 1910s would-be Antarctic expedition led by Ernest Shackleton whose ship never made it to Antarctica. The book draws heavily from journals kept by the men. Make sure you get an edition with photos!
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
“The Hot Zone”
Best horror book I ever read in high school.
“Into Thin Air” despite some of its potential inaccuracies/critiques was one of my favorite non-fiction books of all time. It was gripping and impossible to put down. My favorite from this year was “The Myth of Normal” By Gabor Mate. It is not a narrative and the first few chapters were a little bit slow but the subject matter was very interesting that it became an easy read in the second half.
I think the best way to make sure you enjoy the non-fiction you read is to make sure it is a subject you are interested in. Even though reading them may feel like a slog sometimes I think it is worth mixing in.
“The Age of Deer” by Erika Howsare.
I did make it through Devil in the White City. I usually never make it through non-fiction that is not a memoir. But, I liked this. I think he made the less interesting parts fairly interesting.
Older one but The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin. Could not put it down!
Murakami: Underground; What I Talk About When I Talk About Running; Absolutely On Music.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Killers of the Flower Moon
Crying in H Mart
I’m primarily a fiction enjoyer too. Here are the non fiction books I’ve read that captivated me as much fiction!
And the band played on, Randy Shilts– a journalists account of living through the AIDS epidemic. Heartbreaking, full of characters who really existed, and a tense timeline even though you know things get better in the future. I cried, I flew through it even though its thick.
Why fish dont exist, Lulu Miller– part memoir, part biography of a gentleman scientists going a bit wild with taxonomy and behaving questionably. It was so wild, and it was a topic I had no opinions on. It was so interesting to dig into!
At the existentialist cafe, Sarah Bakewell– part exploration of existentialist philosophy, part chronicling of the creation of this philosophy and biographies of the main players. I read it in 2020, and nothing helped soothe my soul more. Reading about Jewish folk in Germany and resistance thinkers in France finding meaning and purpose in life amongst the horrors of life in that time was so impactful and has changed my thinking more than any other book has. Keep in mind it doesnt even try to persuade you of anything, but its a solid read for the current era of our world
Madhouse At The End Of The Earth by Jullian Sancton is fantastic, it’s about a Belgic expedition to Antarctica at the end of the 19th century, and pulls from crew journals to create a very engaging narrative, I really enjoyed it.
An Immense World by Ed Yong.
Might be too specific if you aren’t Australian but “from secert ballot to democracy sausage” by judith brett is a really great history of our voting system and how it was formed (i feel the need to clarify a “democracy sausage” refers to the BBQs we hold at polling stations!) And goes into how we learnt from the mistakes of the UK and US when forming it. My favourite anecdote from it was learning about how voting used to be done in pubs and you would vote by publicly declaring it, and the man you voted for would then buy you a beer. If you turned up too late in the day and everyone was drunk you’d be heckled by either side to vote their way.
“Fair game” by Steve cannane looks into the history of Scientology in Australia which was VERY interesting also.
“Dark archives” by megan rosenbloom is about the history and science behind books bound in human skin.
“Word by word” by kory stamper is about the history of dictionary writing (i promise it’s more interesting than it sounds!)
“Lords of chaos” by michael moynihan is about the Norwegian black metal scene in the 90s including church burnings, murders, the whole lot.
I like to read pop science books that relate to scifi I enjoy.
For example, Peter Godfrey-Smith’s Other Minds pairs well with Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea.
Steve Brusatte’s The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs pairs well with Crichton’s Dragon Teeth and Jurassic Park.