bethben Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 I'm looking for non-fiction books to read for myself. I've read some biographies (not many), books on good food choices, and some historical stuff (non-political). I guess I'm looking for just interesting topics. I'm not looking for Christian topic books right now. I'm plowing through all the C.S. Lewis books for that genre at the moment. Fiction books are just fluffy to me right now and I can seem to concentrate on the classics as much since I read fiction at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 A good list that I shared the other day...https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/11/50-best-nonfiction-books.html I've been reading history for the high school humanities curriculum I've been writing. Some things I read or reread that I thought were really enjoyable recently included Tulipomania (the tulip market bubble in the Netherlands), The Ghost Map (disease and city planning in Victorian London), and Blood Work (the invention of blood transfusions). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 I loved Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller. And along the same lines, Twenty Chickens for a Saddle by Robyn Scott is also excellent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration - Wikerson Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln - Goodwin Rising Tide - John M. Barry - also about the Great Migration Bad Land - Jonathan Raban White Fragility Hillbilly Elegy Appalachian Reckoning Ramp Hollow Reading Behind Bars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Born a Crime by Trevor Noah How Much is a Girl Worth is very good, hard read though, that details the exposure of the Larry Nassar scandal. Author is a Christian though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Teacher, by Sylvia Ashton-Warner is one of my absolute favorites, as well as Spearpoint by the same author. She was a teacher of Maori kids and saw they were not thriving in the British system of education in NZ, so she taught reading in an unorthodox way. She tried something similar in America (Spearpoint is her American experience in a Summerhill-like school) but there were marked differences. Highly influential and thought-provoking to me as a young teacher 30 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 I have several non-fiction I like to recommend As a sponsor enthusiast who loves to write, we start with: _I will always write back: How one letter changed two lives_ by Martin Ganda The history of the state of Ohio: The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough Then some medical books The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee History of antibiotics: The Demon Under the Microscope: From Battlefield Hospitals to Nazi Labs, One Doctor's Heroic Search for the World's First Miracle Drug by Thomas Hager Information about how the flu virus works and why its so dangerous: The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History By John Barry Space History The Man Who KNew the way to the moon by Todd Zwillich One Astronaut's story: The Sky Below: A True Story of Summits, Space, and Speed by Scott Parazynski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Food: A Love Story, by Jim Gaffigan. It makes me laugh out loud - even on a public bus. His first book, Dad is Fat, is really funny, too. The people on the bus must have thought I was a little nuts with all my chuckling. When you are on a bus at 6:30 am and laughing because of a book you're reading, I personally define that as a great day! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 (edited) I enjoyed 'Gut' - it has a lighthearted tone, like Horrible Science for adults: https://www.waterstones.com/book/gut/giulia-enders/david-shaw/9781911344773 Also The Age Well Project https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-age-well-project/annabel-streets/susan-saunders/9780349419701 Factfulness - it was strangely optimistic https://www.waterstones.com/book/factfulness/hans-rosling/ola-rosling/9781473637498 Why we sleep https://www.waterstones.com/book/why-we-sleep/matthew-walker/9780141983769 And this memoir: https://www.waterstones.com/book/somewhere-towards-the-end/diana-athill/9781847080691 Oh, and H is for Hawk https://www.waterstones.com/book/h-is-for-hawk/helen-macdonald/9780099575450 Edited November 22, 2019 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 I just finished and highly recommend The Woman Who Smashed Codes about a woman who broke Axis codes during World War II. I've read a number of books about British code breakers (Bletchley Park, Alan Trurig, etc.), but this is the first I've read about American code breaking. I am working from home today and sitting in my "library," where my shelves are, and some random favorites I spy are Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven (not at all what it sounds like--an amazing memoir); Perfect Predator (woman epidemiologist finds the treatment for her husband's crazy-resistant infection); and The Glass Castle (memoir made into a movie; the book was better). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted November 22, 2019 Author Share Posted November 22, 2019 (edited) Such a cool variety so far! I KNEW I would get some great ideas here. Keep them coming. I have to make it through winter. I have a book on hold at the library. Home Work by Julie Andrews. That sounds interesting although I hate to smash my view of Maria from the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Edited November 22, 2019 by bethben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 24 minutes ago, bethben said: Such a cool variety so far! I KNEW I would get some great ideas here. Keep them coming. I have to make it through winter. I have a book on hold at the library. Home Work by Julie Andrews. That sounds interesting although I hate to smash my view of Maria from the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Oh Sound of Music is not at ALL accurate You need to read the books by Maria herself though. "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria A Trapp and "Maria, my own story" are the two I have read (multiple times) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 The Upward Spiral...brain chemistry and depression with small, positive, evidence-based changes you can make Wild Swans: Three Women of China...late 19th century-the Cultural Revolution history of China following one family of women Color: a Natural History of the Palette...history of engineering color for art/craft, focuses more outside of Europe than in The Little Book of Talent...great grad book with short chapters focusing on productive habits for life Forest Forensics: a Guide to Reading the Forested Landscape...very short but interesting look at how to read the ground and trees in a forest to estimate human habitation/farming/clear cutting/fires in the area. Really succinct with most of the book as a guide. And if you think that's interesting, you may enjoy Botany in a Day (great book to break down plant categorization) or Nature's Garden (in-depth plant foraging). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Laura Corin said: I enjoyed 'Gut' - it has a lighthearted tone, like Horrible Science for adults: https://www.waterstones.com/book/gut/giulia-enders/david-shaw/9781911344773 1 hour ago, Laura Corin said: Why we sleep https://www.waterstones.com/book/why-we-sleep/matthew-walker/9780141983769 I second Both of those. (Haven’t read the others on Laura’s list, maybe should do so if we have similar tastes in books.) Also have gotten a lot! Out of Atomic Habits by James Clear and positive about, but not as huge in my life: Nudge by Thaler and Sunstein Stonewalled by Sharyl Attkisson (yes, unusual name spelling) about journalism / propaganda etc Inner Life of Trees by Wholleben several related to health, nutrition and brain function 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted November 22, 2019 Author Share Posted November 22, 2019 33 minutes ago, vonfirmath said: Oh Sound of Music is not at ALL accurate You need to read the books by Maria herself though. "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria A Trapp and "Maria, my own story" are the two I have read (multiple times) I guess I meant my view of Julie Andrews as seen in the Sound of Music and in Mary Poppins. I have a friend who actually became a Christian due to the influence of the Von Trapp family. She actually knew some of the children very well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Farm City - The Education of an Urban Farmer: this was enjoyable and not too difficult Small Is Beautiful - older but I keep returning to it On Immunity: An Inoculation - interesting insight into why people feel so strongly about vaccinations (among other things) Mistaken Identity: Race and Class in the Age of Trump - a bit intense but short Ideas on the Nature of Science - a series of interviews from radio series Ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 I like Andrea Wulf's books; my favorite is Brother Gardeners, about 18th century plant collecting. She's a great writer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder by Kent Nerburn (This and To Kill a Mockingbird are my two favorite books!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted November 22, 2019 Author Share Posted November 22, 2019 32 minutes ago, Bluegoat said: Farm City - The Education of an Urban Farmer: this was enjoyable and not too difficult Along these lines, I watched "The Biggest Little Farm" on Hulu. It made me want to garden or at least near a farm like this. It also made me a little bummed that I live in a high desert where not much grows well. Super interesting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guilfordlake Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Are you on Instagram? Search hashtags for #nonfiction or #nonfictionbooks or similar things & you can find many, many recommendations. I love the Instagram book community 💙📚 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 World of yesterday, Stefan Zweig. I’m listening to Fraser’s Marie Antoinette but that’s because I’m in that frame of mind right now. Recommend. I need to finish The Queen Must Die because I need to complete my bee education before I build some hives. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 (edited) · The Day The World Came to Town https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+day+the+world+came+to+town&crid=3L0OF447D7GB0&sprefix=the+day+the+%2Caps%2C177&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_12 A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Moreland Indianahttps://www.amazon.com/Girl-Named-Zippy-Haven-Kimmel/dp/0767915054/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Zippy&qid=1574467742&sr=8-2 Essentialismhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=essentialism+by+greg+mckeown&crid=LLEMCYB3KYQ1&sprefix=Essnetialis%2Caps%2C172&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_4_11 Hillbilly Elegyhttps://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300555/ref=sr_1_3?crid=IGOOC0RRGGN1&keywords=hillbilly+elegy&qid=1574467960&sprefix=Hillbilly%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-3 American Nationshttps://www.amazon.com/American-Nations-History-Regional-Cultures/dp/0143122029/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RIPNIB6RBDFE&keywords=american+nations+a+history+of+the+eleven+rival+regional+cultures&qid=1574468353&sprefix=american+nation%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1 Dreamlandhttps://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-True-Americas-Opiate-Epidemic/dp/1620402521/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RFTQTEP9M74S&keywords=dreamland+the+true+tale+of+america+opiate+epidemic&qid=1574467919&sprefix=dreamland%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1 Deep Workhttps://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IQZVOMECBSCM&keywords=deep+work+cal+newport&qid=1574468011&sprefix=Deep+Work%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-1 Being Mortalhttps://www.amazon.com/Being-Mortal-Medicine-What-Matters/dp/1250076226/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VHI47ZOKO4TA&keywords=being+mortal+atul+gawande&qid=1574468043&sprefix=Being+Mortal%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1 Edited November 23, 2019 by Homeschool Mom in AZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery by Robert M. Poole https://www.amazon.com/Hallowed-Ground-Arlington-National-Cemetery/dp/0802715494 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 Yes. Seconding Being Mortal. Both good and important @Homeschool Mom in AZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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