I can't not mention Jesse as the devil with the red horns. Love the look. Seriously. Next, I'm waiting for both the angel and the devel showing up to discuss the good and bad about a book. Even better if you talk about your favourite books. That would make the devil talking about the faults even more suitable!!😂😂
The devil was such a smart choice for getting to be the one critiquing things you maybe was self concious about in the video in a clever and fun way ❤ I LOVED this, so well done and so much fun. New comfort watch for sure
Okay you will LOVE Caitlin Doughty books. I’m reading From Here to Eternity: Traveling The World to Find the Good Death, and it’s SO fascinating. I also think you might like The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. It is slightly memoir-esque but it’s an interesting look at happiest countries in the world. Also Caste: The Origins of our Discontents is one of the best nonfiction I’ve ever read. I learned a LOT and it looks intimidating but it’s actually highly readable.
I think you would like "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" by Caitlin Doughty. She is a mortician and the first one is questions kids have asked her about death and undertaking and the second is a memoir about her working in a creamatory.
"Micro-histories" is the term you want when you're searching for non-fiction. It's my favorite genre. My very favorite book ever like this is The Poisoner's Handbook" by Deborah Blum about the beginnings of forensic science. It's so good.
1) I love that you are diving into non-fiction & loving it! :D The genre is so diverse and interesting :) (dare I say.... fascinating....) 2) I live on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic and can tell you that you do get used to the sight of water at some point. However, when you are having a bad day and you take a stroll down to the coast and just sit there and watch the waves... all that wonder and tranquillity comes back. :)
The choice of matching your shirt to the cover of the book was great! A+ Also, I just wanted to share my reading experience recently. So, I used to read so much, and I think it was because I enjoyed what I was reading (makes sense). I read books, not based on what was popular or what other people thought I should read, and then I went off to college and somehow I got into a reading slump. 10 years later (while still reading on average 10 books a year, still something but super low compared to previous years), I realized that my reading habits have changed. I found that I need to not worry so much about reading stats, or goals, or anything like that. I recently, like within the last month or so, started reading things I was interested in (like diving into thrillers, classics, some nonfiction, etc.) instead of what I thought I liked, which was romance; I can't do romance at all anymore it seems like. But, I thought I would share this since I am looking for more nonfiction books in my life, along with other fictional books, to find my joy of reading again after all this time. edit: Also, I love your 'I would rather bee reading' print!
Today itself I saw Mark Manson's (author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck) latest newsletter with him talking about reading books out of our comfort zones. N then Jesse drops non fiction, books that are out of my comfort zone. Seems like the universe is sending me a sign. So now I'm taking notes and will read the best ones that he found. ❤❤
Loving the devil interruptions (even if he is sometimes too hard on Jesse :P) and the clothes matching the books, it's a small thing, but I always enjoy those
Niche nonfiction is the best! And also the hardest to talk about because when a coworker asks what you're reading, explaining the premise of Stiff is a struggle lol Grunt is one of my favorite Mary Roach books. For weird medical/history books, I recommend Sawbones by Justin & Sydnee McElroy (based on a podcast, so definitely go for the audiobook), The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (super popular narrative nonfiction), and Virus Hunter by CJ Peters (be prepared to be afraid of things you didn't even know existed). The Lost City of the Monkey God is also a good nonfiction intro because as the story progresses you cover everything from history and anthropology to exploration and botany to weird diseases, so you can see if there are any other topics you might like to explore from there. :)
I highly recommend An Immense World by Ed Yong. I think it’s much more of what you were hoping World of Wonder would be. It’s pretty amazing when you learn the ways various animals experience the world in ways people don’t even conceive of.
Out of my comfort zone? Poetry! I've picked up Shakespeare's Sonnets (from the Folger Library because they have really nice explanatory notes). Haven't really read any poetry since my high school English days, so I'm eager (and nervous) to dive back in.
Reading outside my comfort zone sometimes is how I either find a new fav or cement my knowledge in why I don't usually go to that sort of book. Loved this video! I also enjoyed Bonk by Mary Roach. Her writing style is accessible. You might also like Jon Ronson's books.
Love that you're reading out of your comfort zone. These vlogs are the best ❤ I can recommend so many nonfiction books now haha. But my favorite is probably The diary of a bookseller by Shaun Bythell (which is also a series). Also for you I would recommend Caitlyn Doughty
Hi Jesse! Always happy to see you. I've been thinking of including at least one nonfiction book a month. I'm a slow reader, and my job has me reading, editing, and writing--so typically only read one book a week. Long books sometimes even take me a couple of weeks. But I definitely want to read nonfiction more regularly.
at the risk of sounding condescending i'm so proud of you for branching out and reading something new! it's pretty easy to tell in this video that you've been re-energized in your reading by this switching of gears--i hope you keep following your instincts when reading even if it's not per se what your target audience wants tbh. reading more randomly means more interesting recommendations that you can't get just from waltzing into a barnes and noble and seeing what they're promoting. for nonfiction recommendations: 1. braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer (nature/eco) -- this book is NOT overhyped. changed my life. 10/10 recommend reading outside. 2. all about love by bell hooks (love, feminism) -- literally Saw God in this book. 10/10 recommend reading it saved my life 3. 10 reasons by jaron lanier (digital society) -- also changed my life but will make you delete youtube probably 4. the gutenberg elegies by sven...something (digital society and READING) -- on reading in the digital age. 5. high conflict by amanda ripley (culture war) -- basically how to be normal in 2023 even though politics make people act unhinged 6. lily pond by hope ryden (nature) -- basically a naturalist follows a beaver family for four years and writes a book about the beavers' lives. it's so so good 7. journey of the pink dolphins by sy montgomery (nature) -- naturalist goes into the amazon to study pink river dolphins. encounters folklore, dolphins, big spiders, and magic. disgustingly long comment but i hope one of your young impressionable viewers takes a rec or two lol
That was such a fun and interesting video! For more than 2 years I used to read only non-fiction books, mostly about astrology, psychology and psychoanalysis, but while I was so engrossed in the experience and passionate about the topics, at some point I realized that I was digging myself into a very dark hole and that's why I stopped. Still though, thanks to this video I got inspired to pick up some new non-fiction books, the first one being Gory Details.
I loved this video so much I watched twice! and i don't even read nonfiction, but you have inspired me to-I'm excited to get in now. Also, that extra character was HILARIOUS; I love the addition. And the outfits matching the book is on point
The books you chose sound like books I might like. I’ve read like 3 nonfiction books that were all really good, but I haven’t found any others that spark interest. Thanks for the recommendations
I used to not read very much nonfiction, but I have been lately! These are some of my favorites that I've read so far this year: What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe (and its sequel. The author has a couple more books I'm interested in that I haven't read yet) Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen P.S. Devil Jesse is my new favorite thing 🤣
The bringing yourself down with that Jesse devil (looked sick btw) is so sad to me:( I really love all the silly goofy stuff you do in videos:( you're my favorite booktuber
Some of my fave nonfiction has been The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Library Book, The Man Who Mistoom His Wife for a Hat, and Stiff. I love nonfixtion!
It’s not quite the same type of nonfiction as a lot of these but HIGHLY recommend killers of the flower moon by david grann. It’s written in sort of a narrative style so it’s very engaging and easy to read. It details trying to solve a series of murders targeting Osage Native Americans. Every reveal was crazier than the last, and it left me enthralled and horrified. Incredibly important story that I think should be required reading.
Some of my nonfiction faves are- Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey through the Science and Culture of pregnancy by Angela Garbes (SO interesting even though I’m child free by choice). The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton (life changing, incredible). Leaving the Witness by Amber Scorah (I grew up this religion so I found it very interesting). A Mothers Reckoning by Sue Klebold (timely read, wise words from the mother of one of columbine shooters). Writing my Wrongs by Shaka Senghor (brought me to tears many times)
wow Jesse! i always find great recommendations when watching your vids and this one is not disappointing! i am definitely checking out a few! i am sooooo curious!
Stiff was my entry into niche non fiction, recommended through the true crime podcast i listen to! None of the books im about to mention ive finished but im very excited to get to them so recommendations : "Written in Bone" by Sue Black about forensic anthrophony and what the human skeleton can reveal about its life, "The Invention of Murder" by Judith Flanders about Victorians being fascinated by death and how its shaped crime today, and " The Republic of Pirates" by Colin Woodard about the real story of Caribbean Pirates
I started reading light fantasy again, which I stopped reading like ten years ago and I am very happy! The book that got me back into it was Nettle & Bone.
I felt the exact same way about Fuzz when I read it. It was really disappointing. But I read World of Wonders a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, though I was pretty sure you'd be slightly disappointed by it after your review of Why We Swim. I read about 25-50 non-fiction books a year, usually, so I have a long list of favourites across a wide variety of sub-genres. A couple that I can think of off-hand though are You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane (about AI); Reality is Not What It Seems by Carlo Rovelli (about quantum physics); Extraordinary Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson; Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake; Humankind by Rutger Bregman; Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer; and a whole lot of others. I'm glad you found some favourites! :)
I think the best way to make sure you are experiencing new books and not see it as going out of your comfort zone is reading something without knowing much about it. "But how do i knoe i will have high changes of liking it?" I personally put on my goodreads want to read every book i find interesting on youtube videos and that doesnt have less than 3 star rating. Then after half a year, a year I have no idea what those books are about and I just read them knowing nothing and it is amazing. I dont remember if it is going to be fantasy or contemporaty or anythinf. If i hear a very positive review, if I know that youtuber has similar tastes to me, im putting it on my list even if it isnt my cup of tea. And sometimes we find a new favorite like that. With books we dont even remember being interested in
Some of my favorite nonfiction: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Evicted, Dreamland, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage.
I love nonfiction!! I feel like the bookish community often overlooks it (or doesn't even glance that way at all) but they're missing out on so many amazing books!
I’ve gotten into non fiction over the last couple of years. I started of with true crime podcasts then transitioned to true crime non fiction audiobooks. I love doing non fiction as an audiobook.
Speaking of books bound in human skin, my local museum's prize exhibit is a book bound in the skin of a locally famous 19th century murderer. It documents his crime, the Red Barn Murder, which is either cruel irony or poetic justice, I guess. The whole thing was a huge deal with media coverage a public execution, tourism, souvenir hunters and everything. Worth checking out if you're ever in East Anglia, lol.
I am reading "Dark Archives " on Audible got it when you first did it sounded facilitating and is. I read a lot of non-fiction I am a social worker and read medical and psychological stuff so a significant amount
A lot of non-fiction isn't written in an engaging way, so I often have to have a fiction book going at the same time I read non-fiction, to give me a break.
I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but my recent favorites are probably Testosterone Rex by Cordelia Fine, and The Nation on No Map by William C Anderson. Testosterone Rex is science based and dispels many myths surrounding sex and gender, and exposes gender bias in science and how science gets wrongly used to 'prove' 'facts' about gender and sex. The Nation on No Map is in its essence about black anarchism, and in a broader sense about how anarchist principles can be applied to achieve tangible change. I thought it was written in a very accessible way, obviously targeting those who aren't yet well versed on such topics, without compromising on its radical message.
I never knew I needed the devil Jesse😂 On the topic of books boind with human skin - wasn't it done sometimes in medieval times or earlier? Or am I thinking of some fantasy story?
Ngl, the dark archives reminded me of when I was a teen, I found a website that sells books bound in human skin. I was really fascinated by it (still am) and I wanted to buy the books. I am so curious that I’m morbid about it 😂.
my favorite non fiction book is written by an austrian woman who spend a winter in antarctica as a researcher for the european space agency. very interesting, sadly only available in german ("südlich vom ende der welt")
Based on these I really think you would love Vagina Obscura By Rachel E. Gross. It delves into the insane history and science of the vagina (duh) and has so much just absured information. So well written. I also really loved how trans friendly it was, really respectful language, and a beautiful chapter on gender affirming surgery
I used to think I didn't like non-fiction, until I got older and realised non-fiction =/= textbook, and that chances were, whatever I was interested in probably had a book written about it! If you like more morbid topics, you might like The Royal Art of Poison by Eleanor Herman and Sawbones by Sydnee McElroy. I couple I like recently were What If? by Randall Munroe and Atlas of Abandoned Places by Oliver Smith
I honestly couldn't finish Stiff. Maybe I'm just as thick-skinned as I thought, but it felt like the author wasn't taking the subject with the respect that I think it deserved. And she just felt cringe at times, like even the specialists she was working with (people that work with cadavers everyday), felt weirded out by her. Idk, maybe just my opinion. I much enjoyed All that remains by Sue Black. It is part memoir, but that element just enriched the book so much more for me. And the tone she uses is sooo different than Mary Roach's
My personal favourite of Mary Roach would be „Spook. Science tackles afterlife”. Might be a good Halloween read. As for the non-fiction, many I really like are not in English, such as „Imperium szamba, ścieku i wychodka”- „Empire of the cesspool, sewage and privy”, which is about sewage systems (or a lack of them) in ancient greek and roman cities, not prefect but interesting. Other one being „Światło wiedzy zdeprawowanej” - „The light of science deprived”, which is about the process of the „deformation” of the german sociology into the „biological sociology” of n@z1 race propaganda. Ones in English that I find interesting are „Politics of Erasure. From „Damnatio Memoriae to Alluring Void”, which is collection of essays and art projects/discussions and „Medicine in the crusades. Warefare, wounds and the medieval surgeon”, to round down to two. Going outside comfort zone that would be romance. I tied, read „Emma”, I really enjoyed that book, except for the ending, so feels like that genre just isn't for me. Maybe I should try a queer romance, I don't know. Edit. Also thank You for letting me mention these books and putting them out there. I could talk about the ideas analysed in them for hours, but I have no one who would listen, so thank You!
I can't not mention Jesse as the devil with the red horns. Love the look. Seriously. Next, I'm waiting for both the angel and the devel showing up to discuss the good and bad about a book. Even better if you talk about your favourite books. That would make the devil talking about the faults even more suitable!!😂😂
Can we please keep Devil-Jesse around forever?!
The devil was such a smart choice for getting to be the one critiquing things you maybe was self concious about in the video in a clever and fun way ❤ I LOVED this, so well done and so much fun. New comfort watch for sure
Okay you will LOVE Caitlin Doughty books. I’m reading From Here to Eternity: Traveling The World to Find the Good Death, and it’s SO fascinating. I also think you might like The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. It is slightly memoir-esque but it’s an interesting look at happiest countries in the world. Also Caste: The Origins of our Discontents is one of the best nonfiction I’ve ever read. I learned a LOT and it looks intimidating but it’s actually highly readable.
I think you would like "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" by Caitlin Doughty. She is a mortician and the first one is questions kids have asked her about death and undertaking and the second is a memoir about her working in a creamatory.
"Micro-histories" is the term you want when you're searching for non-fiction. It's my favorite genre. My very favorite book ever like this is The Poisoner's Handbook" by Deborah Blum about the beginnings of forensic science. It's so good.
1) I love that you are diving into non-fiction & loving it! :D The genre is so diverse and interesting :) (dare I say.... fascinating....)
2) I live on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic and can tell you that you do get used to the sight of water at some point. However, when you are having a bad day and you take a stroll down to the coast and just sit there and watch the waves... all that wonder and tranquillity comes back. :)
I read Stiff as part of my Anatomy class in college. It sparked some really cool discussions.
The choice of matching your shirt to the cover of the book was great! A+ Also, I just wanted to share my reading experience recently. So, I used to read so much, and I think it was because I enjoyed what I was reading (makes sense). I read books, not based on what was popular or what other people thought I should read, and then I went off to college and somehow I got into a reading slump. 10 years later (while still reading on average 10 books a year, still something but super low compared to previous years), I realized that my reading habits have changed. I found that I need to not worry so much about reading stats, or goals, or anything like that. I recently, like within the last month or so, started reading things I was interested in (like diving into thrillers, classics, some nonfiction, etc.) instead of what I thought I liked, which was romance; I can't do romance at all anymore it seems like. But, I thought I would share this since I am looking for more nonfiction books in my life, along with other fictional books, to find my joy of reading again after all this time.
edit: Also, I love your 'I would rather bee reading' print!
Great collection of non fiction. You should do this more often😀😀I’m going to read dark archives and stiff. Thank you for sharing
Today itself I saw Mark Manson's (author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck) latest newsletter with him talking about reading books out of our comfort zones. N then Jesse drops non fiction, books that are out of my comfort zone. Seems like the universe is sending me a sign. So now I'm taking notes and will read the best ones that he found. ❤❤
I love all the different bookish backgrounds throughout the video!
Loving the devil interruptions (even if he is sometimes too hard on Jesse :P) and the clothes matching the books, it's a small thing, but I always enjoy those
Niche nonfiction is the best! And also the hardest to talk about because when a coworker asks what you're reading, explaining the premise of Stiff is a struggle lol Grunt is one of my favorite Mary Roach books. For weird medical/history books, I recommend Sawbones by Justin & Sydnee McElroy (based on a podcast, so definitely go for the audiobook), The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (super popular narrative nonfiction), and Virus Hunter by CJ Peters (be prepared to be afraid of things you didn't even know existed). The Lost City of the Monkey God is also a good nonfiction intro because as the story progresses you cover everything from history and anthropology to exploration and botany to weird diseases, so you can see if there are any other topics you might like to explore from there. :)
I am the same way! Always memoirs never anything else. I have a couple of non fiction books that are patiently waiting to be read haha.
I highly recommend An Immense World by Ed Yong. I think it’s much more of what you were hoping World of Wonder would be. It’s pretty amazing when you learn the ways various animals experience the world in ways people don’t even conceive of.
I saw 'non-fiction' and immediately thought of this book. It is amazingly well written as well.
I have had Gory Details on my TBR forever. I definitely need to push it up on my list!
Out of my comfort zone? Poetry! I've picked up Shakespeare's Sonnets (from the Folger Library because they have really nice explanatory notes). Haven't really read any poetry since my high school English days, so I'm eager (and nervous) to dive back in.
Reading outside my comfort zone sometimes is how I either find a new fav or cement my knowledge in why I don't usually go to that sort of book. Loved this video! I also enjoyed Bonk by Mary Roach. Her writing style is accessible. You might also like Jon Ronson's books.
Love that you're reading out of your comfort zone. These vlogs are the best ❤
I can recommend so many nonfiction books now haha. But my favorite is probably The diary of a bookseller by Shaun Bythell (which is also a series).
Also for you I would recommend Caitlyn Doughty
Hi Jesse! Always happy to see you.
I've been thinking of including at least one nonfiction book a month. I'm a slow reader, and my job has me reading, editing, and writing--so typically only read one book a week. Long books sometimes even take me a couple of weeks. But I definitely want to read nonfiction more regularly.
at the risk of sounding condescending i'm so proud of you for branching out and reading something new! it's pretty easy to tell in this video that you've been re-energized in your reading by this switching of gears--i hope you keep following your instincts when reading even if it's not per se what your target audience wants tbh. reading more randomly means more interesting recommendations that you can't get just from waltzing into a barnes and noble and seeing what they're promoting.
for nonfiction recommendations:
1. braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer (nature/eco) -- this book is NOT overhyped. changed my life. 10/10 recommend reading outside.
2. all about love by bell hooks (love, feminism) -- literally Saw God in this book. 10/10 recommend reading it saved my life
3. 10 reasons by jaron lanier (digital society) -- also changed my life but will make you delete youtube probably
4. the gutenberg elegies by sven...something (digital society and READING) -- on reading in the digital age.
5. high conflict by amanda ripley (culture war) -- basically how to be normal in 2023 even though politics make people act unhinged
6. lily pond by hope ryden (nature) -- basically a naturalist follows a beaver family for four years and writes a book about the beavers' lives. it's so so good
7. journey of the pink dolphins by sy montgomery (nature) -- naturalist goes into the amazon to study pink river dolphins. encounters folklore, dolphins, big spiders, and magic.
disgustingly long comment but i hope one of your young impressionable viewers takes a rec or two lol
Devil Jesse is so mean, he's making me feel sorry for you 😅 Also, great selection of non-fiction!
That was such a fun and interesting video! For more than 2 years I used to read only non-fiction books, mostly about astrology, psychology and psychoanalysis, but while I was so engrossed in the experience and passionate about the topics, at some point I realized that I was digging myself into a very dark hole and that's why I stopped. Still though, thanks to this video I got inspired to pick up some new non-fiction books, the first one being Gory Details.
I loved this video so much I watched twice! and i don't even read nonfiction, but you have inspired me to-I'm excited to get in now.
Also, that extra character was HILARIOUS; I love the addition. And the outfits matching the book is on point
The books you chose sound like books I might like. I’ve read like 3 nonfiction books that were all really good, but I haven’t found any others that spark interest. Thanks for the recommendations
I used to not read very much nonfiction, but I have been lately! These are some of my favorites that I've read so far this year:
What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe (and its sequel. The author has a couple more books I'm interested in that I haven't read yet)
Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen
P.S. Devil Jesse is my new favorite thing 🤣
Just yesterday I was thinking about how I missed your videos, and then you post? Talk about perfect timing. Made my day, probably my week xx
The bringing yourself down with that Jesse devil (looked sick btw) is so sad to me:( I really love all the silly goofy stuff you do in videos:( you're my favorite booktuber
Omg Jesse flashing KARD's Icky in the video made my day!! I love KARD so much.
Haha me too!
@@jessethereader who is ur bias? mine is somin!
The editing and creativity of this video was ❤! Your ability to make non fiction so interesting is 🎉
Great vid!
Love this! I've been trying to add more nonfiction to my reading so this is a great challenge
Thanks! It was a lot of fun dipping my toes into the world of nonfiction 😊
Some of my fave nonfiction has been The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Library Book, The Man Who Mistoom His Wife for a Hat, and Stiff. I love nonfixtion!
It’s not quite the same type of nonfiction as a lot of these but HIGHLY recommend killers of the flower moon by david grann. It’s written in sort of a narrative style so it’s very engaging and easy to read. It details trying to solve a series of murders targeting Osage Native Americans. Every reveal was crazier than the last, and it left me enthralled and horrified. Incredibly important story that I think should be required reading.
Some of my nonfiction faves are- Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey through the Science and Culture of pregnancy by Angela Garbes (SO interesting even though I’m child free by choice). The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton (life changing, incredible). Leaving the Witness by Amber Scorah (I grew up this religion so I found it very interesting). A Mothers Reckoning by Sue Klebold (timely read, wise words from the mother of one of columbine shooters). Writing my Wrongs by Shaka Senghor (brought me to tears many times)
I definitely recommend looking into Mark Roach's other books. She's covered a number of topics.
wow Jesse! i always find great recommendations when watching your vids and this one is not disappointing! i am definitely checking out a few! i am sooooo curious!
Stiff was my entry into niche non fiction, recommended through the true crime podcast i listen to! None of the books im about to mention ive finished but im very excited to get to them so recommendations : "Written in Bone" by Sue Black about forensic anthrophony and what the human skeleton can reveal about its life, "The Invention of Murder" by Judith Flanders about Victorians being fascinated by death and how its shaped crime today, and " The Republic of Pirates" by Colin Woodard about the real story of Caribbean Pirates
I started reading light fantasy again, which I stopped reading like ten years ago and I am very happy! The book that got me back into it was Nettle & Bone.
I am so happy to go on this journey with you! I have been wanting to read more non-fiction myself and this video is incredibly motivating.
I felt the exact same way about Fuzz when I read it. It was really disappointing. But I read World of Wonders a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, though I was pretty sure you'd be slightly disappointed by it after your review of Why We Swim. I read about 25-50 non-fiction books a year, usually, so I have a long list of favourites across a wide variety of sub-genres. A couple that I can think of off-hand though are You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane (about AI); Reality is Not What It Seems by Carlo Rovelli (about quantum physics); Extraordinary Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson; Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake; Humankind by Rutger Bregman; Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer; and a whole lot of others. I'm glad you found some favourites! :)
I think the best way to make sure you are experiencing new books and not see it as going out of your comfort zone is reading something without knowing much about it. "But how do i knoe i will have high changes of liking it?" I personally put on my goodreads want to read every book i find interesting on youtube videos and that doesnt have less than 3 star rating. Then after half a year, a year I have no idea what those books are about and I just read them knowing nothing and it is amazing. I dont remember if it is going to be fantasy or contemporaty or anythinf. If i hear a very positive review, if I know that youtuber has similar tastes to me, im putting it on my list even if it isnt my cup of tea. And sometimes we find a new favorite like that. With books we dont even remember being interested in
I definitely need more bookish devil skits! 😂
Such a clever video idea!
I absolutely loved this video. I’m also wanting to read more nonfiction.
Some of my favorite nonfiction: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Evicted, Dreamland, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage.
I love nonfiction!! I feel like the bookish community often overlooks it (or doesn't even glance that way at all) but they're missing out on so many amazing books!
I’ve gotten into non fiction over the last couple of years. I started of with true crime podcasts then transitioned to true crime non fiction audiobooks. I love doing non fiction as an audiobook.
one of my favorite is Caitlin Doughty's Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, I think you might like it :)
Adding Gory Details & Dark Archives to my TBR immediately
This makes me so happy!
Speaking of books bound in human skin, my local museum's prize exhibit is a book bound in the skin of a locally famous 19th century murderer. It documents his crime, the Red Barn Murder, which is either cruel irony or poetic justice, I guess. The whole thing was a huge deal with media coverage a public execution, tourism, souvenir hunters and everything. Worth checking out if you're ever in East Anglia, lol.
you need to listen to braiding sweetgrass. it's not scary but her voice is like a lullaby
I started Stiff a while ago.. haven’t finished it, but plan on getting back to it eventually. It was good. I was just in a slump.
I cannot recommend Caitlyn doughty’s books enough. From Here To Eternity is my fav!
Also good for you for stepping out of your comfort zone! Hopefully I’ll see more nonfiction on the channel! ❤
Loved Devil J.😎
I’ve never seen a book with human skin but I had a professor bring in a really old book with vellum pages and that was wild to hold
This video was so fascinating 😂
😂😂😂
I am reading "Dark Archives " on Audible got it when you first did it sounded facilitating and is. I read a lot of non-fiction I am a social worker and read medical and psychological stuff so a significant amount
I need to get back into reading non-fiction. I say I will, then BOOM! Fae smut. Don't know how that happens lol
Haha 😆
Can confirm that bugs like to crawl into ears. One of my patients had a wolf spider in her ear---that was fun to remove.
Am going to get 2 books ,dark archives and Gory details. Thanks Jesse
Amazing! Hope you enjoy them. ❤️
@@jessethereader oh I definitely will with that description 😊😂
A lot of non-fiction isn't written in an engaging way, so I often have to have a fiction book going at the same time I read non-fiction, to give me a break.
I feel that!
I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but my recent favorites are probably Testosterone Rex by Cordelia Fine, and The Nation on No Map by William C Anderson. Testosterone Rex is science based and dispels many myths surrounding sex and gender, and exposes gender bias in science and how science gets wrongly used to 'prove' 'facts' about gender and sex. The Nation on No Map is in its essence about black anarchism, and in a broader sense about how anarchist principles can be applied to achieve tangible change. I thought it was written in a very accessible way, obviously targeting those who aren't yet well versed on such topics, without compromising on its radical message.
Jesse likes Kard!! now I like Jesse even more! 😊
I never knew I needed the devil Jesse😂
On the topic of books boind with human skin - wasn't it done sometimes in medieval times or earlier? Or am I thinking of some fantasy story?
I always try to read non-fiction about or by ppl I like, such as Bill Nye the Science Guy and his book Everything All at Once.
Ngl, the dark archives reminded me of when I was a teen, I found a website that sells books bound in human skin. I was really fascinated by it (still am) and I wanted to buy the books. I am so curious that I’m morbid about it 😂.
my favorite non fiction book is written by an austrian woman who spend a winter in antarctica as a researcher for the european space agency. very interesting, sadly only available in german ("südlich vom ende der welt")
Great reading vlog 🎃☕📚👻🦇☠️🍁🍂🍁
Thank you!!
Based on these I really think you would love Vagina Obscura By Rachel E. Gross. It delves into the insane history and science of the vagina (duh) and has so much just absured information. So well written. I also really loved how trans friendly it was, really respectful language, and a beautiful chapter on gender affirming surgery
I used to think I didn't like non-fiction, until I got older and realised non-fiction =/= textbook, and that chances were, whatever I was interested in probably had a book written about it! If you like more morbid topics, you might like The Royal Art of Poison by Eleanor Herman and Sawbones by Sydnee McElroy. I couple I like recently were What If? by Randall Munroe and Atlas of Abandoned Places by Oliver Smith
The courage required to read this much non fiction is impeccable
If you're looking for more Nonfiction, I highly recommend Why We Sleep, it was fascinating 😅
I picked up my phone to turn it and discovered you can zoom in videos...
I've never read much non fictiob myself. But I did get to books today at the bookstore although they are fiction
I honestly couldn't finish Stiff. Maybe I'm just as thick-skinned as I thought, but it felt like the author wasn't taking the subject with the respect that I think it deserved. And she just felt cringe at times, like even the specialists she was working with (people that work with cadavers everyday), felt weirded out by her. Idk, maybe just my opinion.
I much enjoyed All that remains by Sue Black. It is part memoir, but that element just enriched the book so much more for me. And the tone she uses is sooo different than Mary Roach's
No not reading non fiction. 😢 Am here to hear Jesse gush over books.
aw… hopefully you still find this enjoyable lol
The immortal life of Henrietta lacks by Rebecca skloot
I feel like nonfiction via audio is my preference
I haven't read it but I've heard of it have you read I'm Glad My Mom Died?
Welp, i learned i cant handle Gory Details. 😂
Pretty unrelated but I wonder If Jesse reads Stephen King . If he does , i hope he makes a video on it.
Best nonfiction I've ever read is "Desert Flower" by Waris Dirie
Literally just adopt me
My personal favourite of Mary Roach would be „Spook. Science tackles afterlife”. Might be a good Halloween read.
As for the non-fiction, many I really like are not in English, such as „Imperium szamba, ścieku i wychodka”- „Empire of the cesspool, sewage and privy”, which is about sewage systems (or a lack of them) in ancient greek and roman cities, not prefect but interesting. Other one being „Światło wiedzy zdeprawowanej” - „The light of science deprived”, which is about the process of the „deformation” of the german sociology into the „biological sociology” of n@z1 race propaganda.
Ones in English that I find interesting are „Politics of Erasure. From „Damnatio Memoriae to Alluring Void”, which is collection of essays and art projects/discussions and „Medicine in the crusades. Warefare, wounds and the medieval surgeon”, to round down to two.
Going outside comfort zone that would be romance. I tied, read „Emma”, I really enjoyed that book, except for the ending, so feels like that genre just isn't for me. Maybe I should try a queer romance, I don't know.
Edit. Also thank You for letting me mention these books and putting them out there. I could talk about the ideas analysed in them for hours, but I have no one who would listen, so thank You!
I neverrrr read non fiction. I feel the same way of being intimidated by them 🥹