At the beginning of 2020, I set myself the goal of reading more non-fiction. It’s a genre I’d seldom pick up, and usually took me a while to get through.
I really focused on picking books which would interest me, keeping to topics that I know I want to read about, and also read these books around fiction, to keep the pace up.
I have successfully read around 20 non-fiction books this year, and whilst there were some which I really enjoyed, these 8 are particularly memorable, and worth picking up – without further ado, here’s Bookmark That’s Non-Fiction Books of the Year…
In no particular order of greatness:
The War Doctor, David Nott – I read this back in January, and 11 months on, still think about what an amazing man Nott is. It’s not a particularly easy read due to its content, but genuinely inspiring. A brave man, and a powerful book.
A Human Algorithm, Flynn Coleman – Anything to do with the all too near tech world, like cryptocurrency and AI, I’m sold. This is a quick book to read, although I did read a chapter every other day, as there’s lots to learn. One chapter I found extremely interesting was how the people programming AI may not have diversity in mind, with some worrying statistics – how will this affect our future?
Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You – I’m personally not a fan of the editor of this book, but if you take out the 3 pages written by them, it had to make the top list. Not only do all profits go to NHS Charities Together and The Lullaby Trust, but it parades famous names from different generations – you’re bound to find a letter in here which resonates with you, and one minute you’ll shed a tear, and the next you’ll be howling with laughter.
Know my Name, Chanel Miller – This is definitely not an enjoyable read due to its topic; I took this one slowly and considered putting it away several times. I’m glad I didn’t, because whilst it is horrific, it’s incredibly important and everyone needs to read it. It will make you cry with its power and Miller’s voice, and you’ll be passing this book along to anyone and everyone as soon as you finish.
The Reading Cure, Laura Freeman – This is an incredibly well written memoir about the author, who battled with an eating disorder, and how she reached out to literature in all its glory to fight it. This isn’t a guide, nor a self-help book; Freeman has taken her personal experience, and told readers how books restored her appetite; I feel privileged to have read it.
Crime Dot Com, Geoff White – my review here – When I finished this book, I said it should be someone’s go-to ‘crime on the web’ book, and I still stand by this. It’s well researched without forcing the reader off tech for life, and I can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t appreciate/enjoy reading it.
101 Facts You Didn’t Know About Space – Mark Thompson – I’ve bought this book time and time again for friends and family, and not just because it has awesome pictures in. The facts are interesting and quirky, and I’ll be picking it up again soon. It has earnt a place on my coffee table, and I strongly urge you to read this. Thoroughly enjoyable, and would have to say is up there in the top 3 of this list.
Badly Behaved Women, Anne-Marie Crowhurst – my review here – Another book which has earnt a space on my coffee table and a ‘recommend to all’ read – this book is fantastic! It follows a timeline from 1900s-present, and is empowering, whilst also educating the reader. If you’re a feminist (hopefully all of you), read this book.
That’s it! A lot of my non-fiction reads have been tech or true crime focused, so next year I’m going to try and branch out of my comfort zone, and maybe chuck in some autobiographies for good measure.
Let’s get social – if you’ve read any of these, or have any more recommendations for non-fiction books, you can find me on Twitter and Instagram – I’d love to chat with you!
