We all have our strategies to discover the best nonfiction books. Friends’ recommendations, editor’s picks, and book reviews are some of them. If you don’t know what to read next, this article may help you choose a great nonfiction book. I’ve selected a travel book, two language books, two memoirs, a history/humor book, and a psychology book.
Where the Wild Winds Are: Walking Europe’s Winds from the Pennines to Provence by Nick Hunt
Can you imagine what it’s like to disconnect from the real world for months and explore Europe on foot in search of the Foehn, the Mistral, the Helm, and the Bora? Nick Hunt’s fascinating account of his wild wind chase is one of the best travelogues I’ve read. It’s melancholic overall, hilarious and quirky at times, and infused with wonderful imagery throughout. With many descriptions, a balanced mix of history, trivia, and geography bits, Where the Wild Wilds Are is the perfect nonfiction book to read when you’re in a rut but vacation is many months away.
Recommended for: everyone except those readers looking for fast-paced adventure travel books
One of my favorite quotes: “The mountains roared like the sea. The tops of the trees were heaving, being threshed and churned about, their upper branches shrieking as they skinned each other’s bark.”
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
When I picked up this book, I was probably the only human in the Solar System with YouTube access who hadn’t heard about Chris Hadfield. But the title hinted at great nonfiction, so I bought the e-book. And I discovered that An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is an inspiring story about leadership, teamwork, life purpose, diligent work, and more. This memoir revolves around Hadfield’s career as an astronaut, but it’s about life in general and the lessons he learned.
Recommended for: everyone with an interest in space exploration
One of my favorite quotes: “Truly being ready means understanding what could go wrong—and having a plan to deal with it.”
Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up by Tom Phillips
The title says it all, and the book doesn’t disappoint. It’s entertaining, informative, shocking, and thought-provoking. You’ll often stop to ask yourself, how was this possible? Or, did it really happen? The stories cover many aspects of human history, including evolution, agriculture, science, technology, politics, and war. Humans may leave you feeling better about the world we live in. Or you may realize we don’t learn from history, and we tend to make the same mistakes.
Recommended for: everyone who appreciates a sarcastic, witty account of history
One of my favorite quotes: “[Our brains are] a loose collection of hacks and bodges and shortcuts that made our distant ancestors 2 per cent better at finding food, or 3 per cent better at communicating the concept ‘oh shit, watch out, it’s a lion.”
Accidence Will Happen: The Non-Pedantic Guide to English Usage by Oliver Kamm
This book by British writer and journalist Oliver Kamm is far from being a boring English usage guide. Accidence Will Happen is concise and well written, as you would expect from someone who writes for The Times. English is a living language, so it changes. Conventions become obsolete, the vocabulary evolves, and idioms that seem illogical enter mainstream usage. As well as getting language advice, you’ll discover who decides when a word becomes a word, why style guides often disagree, and what good English really is.
Recommended for: those with an interest in language and those who want to write better
One of my favorite quotes: “Good writing is what enables you to express yourself in a way that communicates most vividly and persuasively to the audience you’re addressing.”
Wired for Story by Lisa Cron
As well as entertaining us, stories teach us lessons we might not have learned from our own life. They change the way we think and shape who we are. In Wired for Story, Cron gives a detailed recipe for writing a book that captivates readers from the first paragraph. She says, “A good story doesn’t feel like an illusion. What it feels like is life.” She uses psychology and neuroscience research to back up her claims, and illustrates the guidelines of good storytelling with lots of examples.
Recommended for: fiction writers, avid readers, anyone interested in storytelling
One of my favorite quotes: “Our brain evolved with just that goal—to see into the minds of others in order to intuit their motives, thoughts, and thus, true colors.”
The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence
This is not a story about a conservationist who saved a herd of rogue elephants. As Lawrence Anthony said, this is their story. And it’s a moving, inspiring story that may make you shed a tear or two. It’s set in the Thula Thula Wild Animal Reserve in Zululand. For readers hunger for adventure, this book has a good dose of danger, tension, and even mystery. But above all, The Elephant Whisperer is about love, compassion, loyalty, leadership, resilience, and respect for all forms of life. Don’t let the title put you off. It’s a wonderful, touching memoir that’s very high on my list of the best nonfiction books.
Recommended for: those who love inspirational stories, anyone who loves nature
One of my favorite quotes: “Until we allow not only elephants, but all living creatures their place in the sun, we can never be whole ourselves.”
The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatté
Being the result of 15 years of research in the lab and tests in therapy centers and private organizations gives this book the credibility so many other self-help books lack. And this is why it’s on my list of the best nonfiction books. The Resilience Factor does feel too academic at times, and this may put off some readers. But if you don’t mind the heavy information load, the book can be immensely helpful. Reivich and Shatté make a case that by changing the way you think, you will improve your ability to cope with the adversities life throws your way. Being resilient is not a personality trait, it’s a skill you can build throughout your life. And this book teaches you what knobs to turn to do just that.
Recommended for: people who want to boost their resilience and think better
One of my favorite quotes: “The better you are at identifying what you say to yourself the moment adversity strikes, the easier it will be for you to change your nonresilient beliefs so they don’t throw you off course.”
How I choose the best nonfiction books for my lists
If I think about a book long after turning its last page, it’s a great book. If I read it again, it’s a book I love. And if it’s a great book that I love and I think you might like it, too, I add it to my list of the best nonfiction books.
Are you a nonfiction book author who needs a freelance editor? Send me a message at editor@languageediting.com.
Related posts:
- The best nonfiction books I read in 2020
- Nonfiction books for your summer reading list
- The best academic writing books: My list
Last revised on 6 August 2022
