I’m looking for non-fiction reads that are also page turners. I really want something that’ll teach me something while also keeping me entertained (there’s something to be said for drier, denser non-fiction but it’s not what I’m currently looking for).
Any subject is fine, whether it’s more about science, historical or some sort of memoir. I’d like to be surprised and learn something new!
by citroenverbena
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The autobiographies of Elias Canetti. The Human Condition and The Rise of Imperialism by Hanna Arendt, The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious by Carl Jung
Erik Larson, Jon Krakauer, and Mary Roach are my go to recs for this request
Cultish by Amanda Montell was one of my fav reads of last year. Fascinating and well written.
Currently enjoying Sapiens; A Brief History of Humankind. Reads like a well-written novel.
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Missoula by John Krakauer. Listening to it on audiobook right now (almost done) and it’s fascinating. My attention is kept, I’m learning a lot. I will say, the subject matter is heavy so warning before you go into it.
I would recommend “Educated” or anything by David Grann (particularly Killers of a Flower Moon — enjoyed it way more than the movie — or The Wager)
I loved Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City, but since he’s recommended often, I’ll suggest Abbott Kahler’s Eden Undone. It’s about this absolutely bonkers group of Germans trying to homestead a remote island in South America at the beginning of the 1940s. Insanely good.
finally got to everything is tuberculosis (audiobook version). wow, did i learn a lot. recommended!
A Life on Our Planet but David Attenborough!!!
Killers of the Flower Moon
Air-Borne by Carl Zimmer
The Art Thief – Michael Finkel
Chronology of Water. Angela’s Ashes. Molly Shannon’s book.
I read almost exclusively nonfiction, my top four from last year are:
Labyrinth of Ice by Buddy Levy. Its the account of the Greely expedition to the Arctic in 1881 to establish furthest north, potentially find the north pole. its a fantastic read that is just tragic. Theres some great photos in it too.
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham. Its such a detailed account of events, down to the minute. It was an intense read, stressy like a thriller but in a good way.
The Shallows: what the internet is doing to our brain by Nicholas Carr. It is a little scientific-dry but its not bad. Its a sobering read about the effects of the internet. Really opened my eyes to the dangers of screens. Super great read
And Lastly, Insane: America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness by Alisa Wroth. Fascinating read about the prison system and mental healthcare in America.
Honorable mention to Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain by Rev. Carroll Pickett. The ins and outs of a death row chaplain. Just an incredible look into such a niche career field.
The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 is the second volume in Rick Atkinson’s Revolution Trilogy, covering the middle years of the American Revolution, from the abandonment of Fort Ticonderoga to the fall of Charleston. Published in 2025, it details pivotal events like the battles of Saratoga, Brandywine, and Monmouth, Washington’s struggles, and Benjamin Franklin’s diplomatic efforts in France, portraying the war as a global conflict with immense challenges for the Continental Army.