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What’s a good nonfiction book that is as exciting and reads as well as a novel?

What’s a good nonfiction book that is as exciting and reads as well as a novel?

Joel #questionnaire #fiction #nonfiction

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60 Answers

Allison

Depends what you think is exciting. Look for the nonfiction version of what you like in fiction. People who like thrillers can pick up true crime books. Memoir can be comedic, literary, or popular/narrative. If you’re into fantasy, do like I do and look for something science/history/discovery related. Nonfiction is HUGELY diverse.

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Madalyn

River of Doubt by Candice Millard.

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Paula

I love Last King of the x John Ibrahim’s autobiography

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Germaine

Concussion by Jeanne Marie Laskas

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Dan

Lost City of Z

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Lori

Into thin air by Krakauer. One of my favorites and I think I spelled his name wrong?

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Lori

Yeah, I loved it. I’ve liked most of his books.

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Lori

Yep, liked that one too. That kid had issues. Whew.

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Catherine

@Joel, I enjoyed Into the Wild.

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Catherine

Unbroken, The Glass Castle, Brain on Fire.

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Catherine

@Joel, The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender is also quite good.

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Swantje

“Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari

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Mark

The Candy Bombers by Andrei Cherny. It is about the Berlin Air Lift

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Molly

The Tender Bar

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Pamela

Diary by Anne Frank

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Gail

Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. Or. Catch me if you can by Frank Abongale (last name probably spelled wrong)

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Sylvia

Oh.. I shall have to seek these out. I loved the movie of Catch me if you can.

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Catherine

@Joel, You May like Half Broke Horses by the author of The Glass Castle. It is about her grandmother.

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Lina

I am reading I Am Malala at the moment. I am pretty sure it is my first non fiction book but I really like it.

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Catherine

Just finished that one. She is one brave girl.

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Lina

That she definitely is. This book makes me so sad though.

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Regina

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Barbara

Between man and beast.

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Leighkaren

The Lost City of Z; Into Thin Air; In Cold Blood.

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George

“A Distant Mirror”

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Siri

THIS ONE!!????

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Cathy

Vincent Bugliosi wrote some fascinating true crime novels.

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Ann

Helter Skelter….for one

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Ann

I like to learn something new everyday…sooo….the constellations, geology, history,science, etc..is also a good read for me.

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Krisne

Have you tried the book of general ignorance ? It also has an audiobook version – the sound of general ignorance . ( I love QI , and adore bite sized factoids )

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Lela

I really liked “Alex and Me” by Irene M. Pepperberg. It is about study of an African Grey parrot that went on for 30 years. he was taught to speak (converse) and revealed great intelligence and thinking skills. He could even do arithmetic!

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Jennifer

The Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck by Erik Larson are both wonderful non-fiction. David McCullough’s books are excellent, as well. The Johnstown Flood and The Path Between the Seas are two of my favorites.

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Germaine

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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Gail

I love Oliver Sacks

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Catherine

@Joel, Maus is amazing.

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Jennifer

Any history book by Alison Weir or Helter Skelter about the Charles Manson crimes .

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Kristy

Wait, do you mean all history or just Manson history?

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Jennifer

Alison Weir writes predominantly English history, usually about women in the 18th century while Helter Skelter is a true crime book about the Manson murders written by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. Bugliosi was the prosecuter in Manson’s trial. It’s true crime but reads like a story because the whole Manson thing is so out there!

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Kristy

Cool, thanks. ?

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Nikol

a piece of cake by cupcake brown (warning: you will cry)

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Agnieszka

The Diving Bell and a butterfly, anything by Jon Krakauer

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Larisa

Any book by @Mary! 😀 I really liked Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Packing for Mars.

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Carolyn

The Mayflower, Nathianal Philbrick.

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Priya

Clara’s War

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Holly

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is a memoir, if you’re interested❤️

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Jeannette

Marley and Me.

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Khalia

Frida: a biography by Hayden Herrera

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Khalia

The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up by Liao Yiwu

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Khalia

Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood by Michael Walker

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Khalia

How to Grow Up: a memoir by Michelle Tea

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Khalia

When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago. This is the first memoir in a series about the author’s youth.\

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Susan

Yeager: an Autobiography, Chuck Yeager

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Lizvette

I’m reading this one is… wow!! ? Well written, it trapped me from the very first page.

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Adeyanju

Sun Tzu’s Art of War

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Tammy

Killing Lincoln. Ghost Soldiers. Lone Survivor. I may have a penchant for military history.

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Tammy

Quickly boy wonder; to the Goodread’s Reading list! There’s not a moment to waste!
(Thanks for the recommendations!)

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Germaine

Concussion by Jeanne Marie Laskas

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Sarthak

You could try Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs. It kept me hooked, thanks to the fact that Steve Jobs’ life was quite a rollercoaster.

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Sarthak

Yes, that too. Mostly, perhaps, even.

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Rose

Just read Educated by Tara Westover. Really enjoyed her writing.

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