Readers, if you are like us, then perhaps you could also use this list to read more non-fiction books. We love fiction without a doubt, but sometimes the pressure gets too much, and we get overwhelmed with how many non-fiction books we’ve actually read. [Which is zero]
So, even if it’s just a single book a month or in a year, we’d really like to include these books in our to-be-read list. You know, expanding genres and all that stuff. Have you read any non-fiction book that has stayed with you?
We’d love to know what books you are reading or have read! Or, if you have zero non-fiction books on your radar, come along because we know just what to read and recommend. These are the top 50 bestselling non-fiction books of all time, and when you’re just beginning, then that’s a pretty good place to start with, we guess.
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A Brief History Of Time
This is a popular science book on by the world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. In this book, you can learn about basic concepts such as space and time, the basic building blocks that make up the Universe, and the forces that govern it.
Hawking has written about the structure, origin, development, and eventual fate of the Universe, along with cosmological phenomena such as black holes and the Big Bang in this book which is perfect for science lovers.
A Grief Observed
This book focuses on the death of C.S. Lewis’s wife, Joy Davidman. It’s written with love, humility, and faith, highlighting Lewis’s mourning and loss, moments in which he questioned everything. Losing someone is never easy, and through this book, the author came to recognize that death is indeed an important part of our experience of love and life.
A Room Of One’s Own
This is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf. It’s based on a series of lectures she delivered at two women’s colleges. The essay uses a fictional narrator and narrative to explore women as writers and characters in fiction.
It’s highly praised for its argument for a literal and figural space for women writers in a world dominated by patriarchy. In case you are a writer and a female, then this book deserves a place in your TBR.
A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman
One of the earliest works of feminist philosophy, this book focuses on equality in a world divided by issues such as race, sex, and class. Mary Wollstonecraft was a British philosopher and women’s rights advocate, and in this book, she voices her feminist thoughts.
She argues that women must be educated and treated equally to men since women educate their children and also so they can be “companions”. After all, women are human beings as well who deserve the same fundamental rights as men, if not more.
Against Interpretation And Other Essays
It’s a modern classic. Additionally, this is Susan’s first collection of essays, a book that has never gone out of print. This book includes Susan’s famous essays along with her other lesser-known essays. This book basically offers an approach to art and literature for what it is instead of what it means.
Ariel
Ariel was published two years after Sylvia’s death by suicide. This is the second book of Sylvia’s poetry to be published, showcasing the poet’s brilliant and moving poems. If you like poetry, then Sylvia’s books must be on your TBR list.
Awakenings
This non-fiction book, published in 1973, recounts the life histories of victims of an epidemic. The author writes about his experience and his efforts in the late 1960s to help the patients at the Beth Abraham Hospital in the Bronx, New York. It’s a horrifying account of what goes on in the real world.
Behind The Beautiful Forevers
This narrative shares the story of families striving in one of the greatest cities of the 21st century. It follows the story of families living in Annawadi.
Abdul is a Muslim teenager, Asha is Annawadi’s “most everything girl,” and Kalu is a 15-year-old scrap metal thief. When their lives take unexpected turns, terror and global recession rock the city, and suppressed tension threaten to turn brutal.
Birthday Letters
Ted Hughes wrote several poems, and most of his poems in Birthday Letters are addressed to his wife Sylvia Plath, except for two poems. These poems are love letters, haunted recollections, and furthermore, ruminations. At last, this volume offers the readers Hughes’s own account of his intense relationship, and in these poems, he recalls his time spent with Plath.
Confessions Of An English Opium-Eater
The author consumed daily large quantities of a legal painkiller at the time. In this autobiography. He describes his surreal visions and hallucinations. He also describes the nightmares, despair, and paranoia to which he became prey. Not surprisingly, this book established a link between artistic self-expression and addiction and paved the way for later generations of literary addicts.
Dispatches
One of the most important accounts of war in literature, this “must read” book was written on the front lines in Vietnam. It became an instant classic of war reportage upon its publishing and has been an important book since then.
This book helps us see the nature of the war as it is and the insane life in the singular combat zone. From its terrific opening lines to the unforgettable final words, this book renders clarity from one of the most nightmarish and heartbreaking events of our time.
Dog Flowers: A Memoir
Danielle Geller’s mother died of a withdrawal from alcohol. When Danielle was forced to return to Florida, she collected her mother’s documents, diaries, and photographs into a single suitcase.
This began a journey of confronting her family’s history that ended at her mother’s home: the Navajo reservation. Using words and archives, she has created a deeply moving narrative of loss and inheritance that remains one of the best memoirs to date that will leave a mark on you.
Dreams From My Father
Barack Obama, son of a black African father and a white American mother, knows his father more as a myth than as a man. In New York, he learns that his father has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death begins an emotional journey. It forces him to confront the harsh truth of his father’s life and his divided inheritance, which has been recounted in this compelling memoir for everyone to read.
Far From The Tree
Readers, do you ever wonder to what extent you would love your own blood? This book, drawing on ten years of research and interviews with over 300 families, explores just that.
This book focuses on questions related to parenting, such as accepting their children for who they are, helping them become their best selves, and how love can triumph over prejudice in the real world.
Fast Food Nation
Fast food has truly changed the food world, but it also hurried the malling of our landscapes, broadening the chasm between rich and poor, igniting an epidemic of obesity, and even boosting American cultural imperialism abroad. Eric, with the help of reportage, and reasoning, has written this book that will open your eyes to the way fast food is consumed today.
Freakonomics
Levitt and Stephen begin with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question that no one wonders about. They show that economics is, at its roots, the study of incentives. In this book, they explore the side of everything from the inner workings of a crack gang to the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan. All of these stories are united by the belief that the modern world is even more intriguing than we believe.
Grand Canyon
One of the most amazing examples of erosion in the world, Grand Canyon is more than just a hole in the ground. After several years of cutting and eroding, it is home to a variety of plants and animals that have lived as well as evolved within its walls. In this book, a father and daughter make their way through this cavernous wonder, discovering life both present and past.
Hiroshima
On 6th August 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atomic bomb ever dropped on a city; a day nobody will ever forget. In this book, written by John Hersey, readers get a firsthand account of what actually happened on that day. The book Hiroshima has become a classic that shakes humanity even today.
Household Education
Martineau wrote this book in 1848. She lamented the state of women’s education and believed that household work went hand in hand with academia for a well-rounded education. Additionally, she proposed that freedom and rationality are the best way to provide education.
How The Word Is Passed
Clint Smith begins in his own hometown, taking the readers through an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks. The tour and these places offer a story of how slavery has been central in shaping the collective history of America and everyone living there.
It’s the story of the Monticello Plantation in Virginia, Whitney Plantation, Angola Prison in Louisiana, and Blandford Cemetery. A deeply researched work, this book reveals how some of America’s most important stories are hidden in plain view for everyone to see.
How To Win Friends And Influence People
Since its release in 1936, this book has sold over 15 million copies and still remains a timeless bestseller. It’s one of the most popular non-fiction books that you must have seen at least in one of your local bookstores, or you must have noticed a stranger reading this book.
It’s as relevant as ever before and will help you achieve your maximum potential in the complex and competitive world. With only six easy ways, you can make people like you. With only twelve simple ways, you can learn the way to win people to your way of thinking.
With only nine ways, you can change people without even arousing resentment. This one book alone can make you change any situation you’re in into a better opportunity.
I Know Why The Caged Birds Sings
This debut memoir which has become a modern American classic beloved worldwide is Maya’s life story that captures the longing of lonely children, bigotry, and the wonder of words that can change things and make the world right once again.
Maya was alone, just a child when she was attacked by an older man. She ruefully had to live with the consequences of that event until she learned ways that allowed her to be free from herself.
In Cold Blood
In the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were murdered. On 15th November 1959, those four people were brutally killed by blasts from a shotgun held just a few inches from their faces. Apparently, there was no motive for this crime, and no clues were ever found. But Truman Capote reconstructs the murder mystery and investigation that led to the execution of the killers.
Into Thin Air
When Jon reached the summit of Mt. Everest in 1996, he hadn’t slept for two days straight; he was still reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion and wasn’t doing particularly well. Later, when he began his descent from 29,028 feet, he collapsed in his tent.
It was the same time when a rogue storm had struck that led to most of his fellow climbers struggling for their lives. In this book, Jon examines what it is about Everest that makes people reckless to the point that they throw caution to the wind and ignore the concern of their loved ones.
Minor Feelings
Poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong is the daughter of Korean immigrants. She grew up steeped in shame, suspicion, and melancholy that she would later grow up to understand “minor feelings.”
These minor feelings occur when American optimism violates your own reality, and you believe the lies fed to you about your own racial identity. This book traces her relationship to these lies and minor feelings as she searches to uncover as well as speak the truth.
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No Logo
This book investigates money, marketing, and the anti-corporate movement. All the global corporations are busy competing for the hearts and wallets of consumers. Meanwhile, a new generation battles consumerism with its own methods.
It isn’t just another account of the power of the select group of the corporate world, but it’s an attempt to understand the forces countering the corporate rule and to lay out the conditions that made the emergence of this opposition inevitable.
North
North is Heaney’s fourth collection exploring Ireland as a place of conflict. In his work, the Irish experience is told through images drawn from different parts of the Northern European experience. This idea of the North allows Heaney to contemplate the violence on his home ground, comparing them to the memories which have marked Irish history.
Notes Of A Native Son
This is the first non-fiction collection of essays by James Baldwin. Since its publication in 1955, this book has remained an American classic showcasing its importance. This includes James’s essays on life in Harlem, the protest novel, movies, and African Americans abroad that are still as powerful and relevant as they were during that age.
Orientalism
Yet another famous book that has become a beloved modern classic as well. It traces the origins of “Orientalism” to the period during which Europe dominated the Middle and Near East. Written by Edward Said, Orientalism, which was published in 1978, has become one of the most important books written about our divided world.
Pilgrim At Tinker Creek
This phenomenal book, known as Pilgrim At Tinker Creek, won The Pulitzer in 1974. It’s an amazing book on nature and its seasons. It recounts Annie’s explorations and her countless contemplations on nature and life.
Annie’s Tinker Creek is outside Roanoke in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In the summer, she stalked muskrats in the creek. In the fall, she watched a monarch butterfly migrate, and she experienced other wonders of nature, which can all be read in this book.
Silent Spring
This environmental science book talks about how pesticides damage the environment. The book forced the banning of DDT and even kickstarted revolutionary changes in the laws that affect our land, air, and water.
Later, Carson’s book also played a huge role in launching the environmental movement. The author accused the chemical industry and officials who worked without asking any questions.
Ten Days That Shook The World
John Reed is a legendary journalist who was present at the flash point of the Russian Revolution in 1917. This first-person chronicle by him recounts one of the greatest events of the 20th century, following many prominent Bolshevik leaders. This brilliant and gripping record by John has been acclaimed worldwide since its publication in 1919.
The Double Helix
James Watson and his colleague Francis Crick revolutionized the biochemistry world by identifying the structure of DNA as we know it now. Watson was merely 24 at the time. He was a young scientist hungry to make his mark and dreamt of winning the Nobel Prize.
With great humility, he relates his and Crick’s desperate efforts to beat Linus Pauling. In this book, he captures his work in words taking the readers through a journey filled with roadblocks and uncertainties until he successfully discovers the secret to life. The events mostly take place between the years 1951 and 1953.
The Elements Of Style
As the name clearly suggests, this is a book or a style manual that offers practical advice on how to improve writing skills. The book mainly emphasizes promoting a plain English style. This book can help anyone who is looking for ways to improve their communication skills as well as writing skills. Most readers who are also writers consider this a must-read/must-have book.
The Emperor Of All Maladies
Siddhartha is a physician, researcher, and award-winning science writer. This magnificent book by him tells the “biography” of cancer from its first appearance to the battle to cure, control and conquer it to a new understanding of its essence.
This book basically tells the story of cancer: the discoveries, setbacks, victories, and deaths caused by it. Not only that, but it also provides a glimpse into the future, giving hope and clarity to those who would like to demystify cancer.
The Female Eunuch
In this book, Germaine unravels the biological and psychological differences between men and women. The author draws on history, literature, biology, and popular culture to examine women’s condition. It’s a crucial social commentary that records our pasts and worries about the future.
The Feminine Mystique
In the book, The Feminine Mystique, Betty writes about the beliefs and institutions that undermined women’s confidence in their capabilities, hiding them in their homes. She captures the frustrations and lost ambitions of a generation showing women ways in which they could reclaim their lives.
The Hedgehog And The Fox
The late Oxford philosopher Isaiah Berlin wrote this essay about Tolstoy’s philosophy and view of history. He divides thinkers and writers into two different categories. The hedgehog is someone who relates everything to a single central vision, and the foxes are those who know many things and are fascinated by the infinite variety of things.
He argues that Tolstoy was one of the most brilliant foxes who desperately wanted to be a hedgehog. This essay was first published in 1953, and since then, it has become a small masterpiece.
The Light We Carry
Life is full of challenges, and they will never stop coming at us, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all use a set of tools to help us navigate change and remain steady. She intends to open an honest dialogue with her readers, talking about questions that so many of us fight with. Furthermore, she also offers a series of fresh stories and reflections on change, challenge, and power.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma
To put it very plainly, today, America is suffering from a national eating disorder. Food is an important part of our life, and we spend so many hours thinking about food or planning our meals.
Questions such as what to eat, fast food or organic, and what to eat for dinner and breakfast is a part of our daily routine. In this book, Michael explains that how we answer the questions related to food may very well determine our survival as a species.
The Right Stuff
The Right Stuff, written by Tom Wolfe and published in 1979, is about the Mercury Space program. It focuses on the personalities of the test pilots, as well as the social significance of beating Russia into space.
It begins with the terror of being a test pilot’s wife, then cuts back to the late 1940s when America was trying to break the sound barrier, moving forward to focus on Chuck Yeager, and then once again, it shifts its focus to the seven initial astronauts. This is easily one of the best books ever written about America’s manned space program.
The Sea Around Us
This book was published in 1951. Since then, it’s become one of the most successful books about the natural world. In this book, Carson writes about the newly formed Earth, the rain that created the oceans, powerful tides, squids, and whales, all while capturing the mystery and allure of the great ocean with a mixture of imagination and amazing expertise.
At a time when we have become careless with mother nature, this book serves as a much-needed reminder of both the fragility and the importance of the ocean and the life that depends on it.
The Second Sex
This book, written by the French existentialist Simone, is a masterwork, a powerful analysis of the Western notion of “woman.” It’s also a mind-blowing exploration of inequality. This book is often regarded as a major work of feminist philosophy and the beginning point of second-wave feminism. If you are a woman, and a reader, then this book is a must-read for you.
The Selfish Gene
In this book on evolution, the author uses the term “selfish gene” as a way to express the gene-centered view of evolution. He discusses the origin of life, DNA’s role in evolution, and its organization, and he also introduces the term meme. This book has been listed as one the most influential science book of all time, so in case you are a science enthusiast, then you must add it straight to your cart.
The Sixth Extinction
The New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert wrote this book saying that the sixth extinction is likely to be mankind’s most lasting legacy, forcing us to rethink what it means to be a human.
There have been five mass extinctions to date, and one of them was the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. However, this time, it’s most likely to be us, humans. This book offers a look at why and how humans have altered life on Earth and how it may affect us in the future.
The Waste Land
The Waste Land is filled with religious texts of Hinduism and Buddhism, ancient literature, and Eliot’s own life. The poem has been celebrated for its eloquence, depth, and subtleties and still continues to be admired and studied in higher education English Literature courses. This might intrigue poetry lovers; hence you must add this to your list of books to read soon.
The Year Of Magical Thinking
This book explores a personal and universal experience that will speak to anyone who has ever dared to love. Joan’s only daughter Quintana went through a lot, and this book is Joan’s attempt to make sense of those weeks and months that changed the way she thought about death, illness, memory, marriage, children, sanity, and life itself.
Unnatural Selection
The gender ratio is a topic that concerns our world now more than ever before. Our world is becoming increasingly male, and it might not look like a problem right now, but this will most likely create a problem in the coming years.
Gender imbalance has become a huge problem that demands our attention, and Mara, with facts and research, has written this book examining the consequences of policies of sex selection and the Western complicity with them, compelling us to think about it.
Walden
This book is an intense account of the time the author lived alone in a secluded cabin at Walden Pond. The author openly challenges the materialistic ways of living, all while trying to appreciate the minimal way of living.
He writes about why he started living at Walden, reading or walking outside, the delights of being alone, having visitors, and basically, how he lived and enjoyed his time alone in a secluded place, away from the fast city life.
When Breath Becomes Air
This is one of the most popular memoirs, written by a young neurosurgeon. Paul, at the age of 36, was facing a terminal cancer diagnosis when he tried to answer the question that bothered him severely: what makes a life worth living?
One moment Paul was a doctor, and the next, he was yet another patient struggling to live. Paul died in 2015, yet this book offers us wisdom and acts as a life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death.
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