I’ve written about adult nonfiction a few times before on this blog – I showcased ten nonfiction titles perfect for people who think they don’t like nonfiction, ten titles that would make great book club reads, and a few nonfiction book hauls and book reviews. In fact, you can find all my nonfiction posts in one handy part of this site. Since I’m such a fan of this often maligned genre, here are six more titles that just might turn nonfiction skeptics into nonfiction fanatics.
Erik Larson is the undisputed master of gripping, fast-paced narrative historical nonfiction, and in Thunderstruck he turns his attention to the notorious, unlikely murderer Hawley Crippen, and the obsessive genius Guglielmo Marconi. With Larson’s signature style, two parallel storylines hurtle forward on collision course in a suspenseful race to the finish.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
I could try to summarize this book, but I think I’ll just quote this Goodreads review, which pretty much says everything better than I ever could: “There aren’t many true-life tales that live up to the hype. There are always some details that make the story just a little less dramatic than in the made-for-TV movie. Not this time. While listening to this audiobook, the thought that went through my head over and over again was “Holy s***!” This is a true man-against-nature survival story that’s almost too incredible to be believed.
Charlatan: America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam
Notorious huckster and con man John R. Brinkley made a fortune swindling unsuspecting farmers, before turning his sights to politics, building a radio transmitter, and spreading country music, blues and rock and roll, becoming a creative genius in the music industry. When “quackbuster” Morris Fishbein set his sights on bringing down this bamboozler, the two were pitted against each other in a cat-and-mouse game spanning decades.
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Two damaged spirits, one a half-blind, half-crippled man and one a neurotic, unstable horse, become the unlikeliest of success stories, earning themselves a place in American sporting history. An inspiring, heartwarming story of triumph over adversity that will have you cheering.
The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst
There are some historical figures whose lives are so incredible, so outlandish, so wildly fascinating, that you honestly couldn’t make them up. William Randolph Hearst, the publishing magnate who inspired Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, is a larger than life figure whose extravagant, incredible life story will open your eyes and drop your jaw.
The Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and the Power of Seeing
Tell me what you see in this blob of ink on a piece of paper, and I’ll provide you with insight into the depths of your psyche. Well, the Rorschach test is a bit more complicated than that. In fact, there’s a fascinating story behind the man himself, and the test he devised.
And there you have it – a handful of exciting nonfiction titles to add to your TBR list! Do you have any favourite nonfiction titles or authors? I’d love to hear about them!