It seems that all too often nonfiction gets overlooked in the reading world. There are plenty of great nonfiction titles out there that will entertain even the pickiest fiction reader. Here are a few to get you started:
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Unbroken is the story of WWII Japanese POW Louis Zamperini . The POW story alone would be compelling enough, but add in the rest of this man’s life (juvenile delinquent, Olympic runner, recovering alcoholic, PTSD survivor) and you have a biography that is nearly impossible to put down. A story of extreme resilience and courage shown time and time again; one you have to read to believe.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
When a young Hmong girl living in California is diagnosed with epilepsy, her tradition-minded immigrant parents come face to face with the American health care system and a mindset that is completely new to them. A beautifully written, yet heartbreaking tale of culture clash and the immigrant experience.
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
This National Book Award finalist gives a firsthand look into the mysterious society that is North Korea. The “ordinary” lives that the six defectors featured here lead - deprived of food, shelter, and basic human rights, will leave you intellectually and emotionally challenged.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
The author’s first-hand account of a 1996 Mt. Everest expedition that went terribly wrong, documenting what happened and how he survived. A riveting account of life in one of the most hostile environments on Earth, and the lengths that humans will go to in order to conquer it.
