We’re already half way through the month (holy crap…) but it’s never too late for a list of must-reads!
Nonfiction can be challenge for some – flashbacks of school texts and essays just a few of the deterrents out there. But done right, there’s an incredible wealth of knowledge, perspective and insight just waiting to be mined from their pages. It’s a genre that most people have to be in the mood for (me included). Rarely about the lovely soft moments of life, a lot of the most memorable nonfiction has a tendency to hit hard with just the right drizzle of awe to inspire humanity to get their acts together. So it makes sense that they pile up on TBR shelves waiting for their moment to shine.
That said, we’ll always be in a time where knowledge and information is the most invaluable tool to our futures. The world is shifting in so many ways that it can be daunting and down-right terrifying right now, but that doesn’t mean anything is hopeless.
I’m a strong believer in the power of words and their ability to impact change, so here are a few of my favourite nonfiction pieces that have left their mark on me:
10. In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
First of it's kind and incredibly well written, In Cold Blood is a chilling glimpse into the psyche of a killer.
9. A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
Written in Bryson's signature style, A Short History of Nearly Everything will have you rapt and giggling all at once.
8. I Am Malala – Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai
A stunning portrayal of a girl's fight for the right to learn and her powerful message that has made her a renown activist and leader.
7. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari
Sapiens is a thought-provoking and informative trek through the history of humankind that raises many questions and is sure to spark conversation.
6. Know My Name – Chanel Miller
Insightful and deeply moving, Chanel Miller was the anonymous voice behind one of the most powerful victim statements of our time.
5. White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo
Memorable, blunt and unapologetic, Robin DiAngelo holds up the uncomfortable mirror to all that's wrong with our language, society and perceptions.
4. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History – Elizabeth Kolbert
A lucidly written, and deeply engrossing account of the Earth's future in the hands of mankind.
3. The Omnivore’s Dilemma – Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan is an incredible reporter who leaves you with a flawlessly researched account of exactly where your food is coming from.
2. The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson
The Great Migration - an untold history of America that is masterfully chronicled by Isabel Wilkerson in this stunning collection of interviews and stories from the people who lived it.
1. The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
Classically important and agelessly relatable, The Diary of a Young Girl is one of the most moving stories ever told about World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust.
Just Keep Writing 