My Top 10 Favorite Nonfiction Books
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ค. 2024
- *CHECK OUT THE UPDATED VERSION OF THIS LIST!* • My Top 10 Favorite Non...
My top ten favorite works of nonfiction, in no particular order!
-Videos Mentioned-
Robert K. Massie Author Spotlight: • Author Spotlight: Robe...
Choosing to be Childfree: A Joint Book Review and Discussion: • Choosing to be Childfr...
-Books Discussed-
Quiet by Susan Cain: amzn.to/2AGulQC
Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie: amzn.to/2N2eLRT
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie: amzn.to/2URMQbw
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer: amzn.to/2ULrjkQ
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed edited by Meghan Daum: amzn.to/2UK9umj
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald: amzn.to/2N5KIZs
The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum: amzn.to/2Y4CJlU
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande: amzn.to/3e376P4
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking by Anya Von Bremzen: amzn.to/3dbkaAG
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery: amzn.to/3ebqauK
(The above are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase, I will receive a small commission that goes toward the operating expenses for this channel.)
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Finally a video about nonfictional books. Thank you so much for this video
Love your enthusiasm. It’s great the passion. Books are like a new lover. Uncharted territory, excitement in exploring every word and something you can spend hours with or a quick few page read. If it ends badly....easy to find another one that is more stimulating.
I absolutely adore Quiet. I want to make it required reading for every person who has ever told me "you're so quiet" as though there is something wrong with that.
Yes... I am binge watching old videos of yours in search of inspiration in my nonfiction reads.
Adding nearly all of these to my TBR.
Your thoughtful, well spoken summaries are super helpful! ❤
I read QUIET and loved it! H IS FOR HAWK was on my autumn readathon tbr but I never got around to it, looks like I will need to soon! The two that interest me the most are BEING MORTAL and THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS, I remember you talking about the Montgomery before and being super intrigued. I’m so happy you’re doing NFN again!
I’m an introvert...Quiet will be my next read. Thanks for sharing!
Of course! Hope you enjoy the book.
So excited for this video! Added a bunch to my TBR list. "Being Mortal" and "Quiet" are also favorites of mine. Particularly excited to pick up "H is for Hawk" and "The Poisoner's Handbook"!
Thank you for highlighting Selfish shallow book. Added it to my Tbr
Oh wow - I loved this so much! I’ve added Being Mortal, the essay collection on not having kids, and the Russian food memoir to my TBR. I’ve had Quiet on my shelf for a while so I’ll have to pick that up back soon. So much love for nonfiction this month and I am LIVING for this. Thanks so much for all of your hard work hosting this, Olive!
Great video as always! Now I have so many more Non-Fiction books to add to my TBR! Also Quiet seems like a book perfect for me!
Thank You so much for this video! All of these books sound so good! Definitely going to check out some of them.
Thanks for all the recommendations. I’m very interested in checking out Quiet as well as some of the others. And I’m really enjoying Non Fiction November.
Just recently found your channel. SO glad I did!! ❤️
Loved "Nicholas & Alexandra". "Catherine" is on my list for this month.
Thanks for introducing me to Massie earlier this year.
I just listened to H is for Hawk and I agree with you. I have always loved nature but this book has so many layers. I’ll certainly pick it up when I find it in a second hand bookstore. When, but probably far in the future because of lockdown. The soul of the octopus is on my list now 😎 Thanks!
Great suggestions! Between your and Steve’s suggestions this die-hard fiction lover has begun to take an interest in nf. It seems to satisfy in a way that novels(at least the more popular ones) don’t...what a fun month you have given us!😻
Thank you so much for this list! I was looking for some great non fiction books to read and here I am.
Just ordered Catherine the great, thank you 🙏🏽 I love your channel
I am so happy I discovered your channel! I’m also an avid reader of Russian History. I branched out from English/British History. I couldn’t love Robert K. Massie more.
I have read The Soul of an Octopus and Catherine the Great. I plan to read many more of your recommendations. Thank you!
Great video! I've had Moonwalking With Einstein in my Amazon shopping cart for several months... Sold!
Great list!! I want to read Moonwalking with Einstein and Soul of an Octopus! ♥️
Currently reading the Poisoner's Handbook due to your recommendation and loving it! Looks like I'm going to have to get The Soul of an Octopus as well. You're the second person to recommend that book!
Another great video!
It is so true how books summarize decades of life and genious. But no one talks about how these reviews also make it so easy to look for a particular publication or even a particular subject, many times one that has not been thought of. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and for the joy you portrait and the enthusiasm on each. Regards from Mexico, Maritza
I could listen to you talk about non fiction books for hours :)The Soul of an Octopus is definitely at the top of my favourite non fiction book list too - so beautiful! I just found a copy of one of Sy Montgomery's other books (about pink dolphins) at my local used bookstore so I'm hoping to get to it this month. Fingers crossed it's just as good!
Great list Olive! I have Quiet on my potential TBR for Non-Fiction November this year, so I'm hoping to make the time for it! The Poisoner's Handbook also sounds FASCINATING
Hi Olive! I'm a bit late to the game here but I love your choices. I studied history for nine years at uni (too long, I know) but I really struggle to find commercial non-fiction history books. I love your recommendations of Massie's books, and that you recommended their first and most recent books. I think I have heard of The Poisoner's Handbook before, but now that you have recommended this I will definitely put it on my TBR. Thanks so much!
No worries about being late - I still love these books, so it's an evergreen kind of video, haha! Hope you enjoy The Poisoner's Handbook - LOTS of good history in there.
I've read both of Massies books you mention. I really enjoyed both of them. He portrayed these famous historical figures in such a personable way.
I plan on reading Quiet this Nonfiction November! Also very interested in the book about Catherine the Great and Soul of an Octopus. Think I might have found my love for nonfiction finally 😊
Great list Olive - I’ve added a few to my wishlist. Moonwalking with Einstein and H is for Hawk are two that I’m particularly interested in... Lindsi xx
i have got Quiet and Soul of an octopus on my nonfiction november tbr and you get me interested in Mastering the art of Soviet cooking aswell. I'm loving nonfiction november so far!
I don't know if it's just your personality or your descriptions, but you made me want to read every single one of these books. A few were already on my want to read list but I think I'll definitely be picking them up now.
Second time I learned about Sy Montgomery's book...now I need it in my life! Thanks again for another inspiring collection of non fiction books!
Some great recs! I’ll definitely check some of those out. I have one for you - a biography of Mister Rogers that just came out this month. You’re kind of young to remember his show but it was on for 15 years and was such a calm kind influence for television for children. Kindness and Wonder by Gavin Wards. Also, I’m listening to currently Permanent Record by Edward Snowden and How to Change your Mind by Michael Pollan. Also very interesting : spies and lsd what a combo of books I’m reading lol!
I adore this list. You never let me down with the non fiction recs. ❤️ I don't even realize I am interested in learning about stuff till I see people raving about a book and the I'm all "ooooooooo! I wanna learn too!"
+Julianna Akuchie Aww, thanks ❤ I'm the exact same way. I'm such a learning junkie lol.
I have The Poisoner's Handbook in my possession. As per your recommendations for Non Fiction November, I went a little nuts at the library but I've been devouring everything and I can't wait to dig into this one.
I like so much this video
and i will watching the other suggestions.
I saw Sy Montgomery at the Santa Barbara Zoo when this book was first out. it was such a memorable lecture. I have since read all of her books and I am so very grateful for her kindness toward all living things! I am fairly new to your channel and am going back to look at your earlier recommendations. Thank you!
Nicholas & Alexandra was my introduction to Russian history too, along with Mara Kay's historical novel, The Youngest Lady-in-Waiting & I've never lost my love for it. I first read the Reader's Digest condensed version in the 70s because my Dad subscribed to them. My first copy was the movie tie-in edition & I don't know how many times I've read it in the last 40 years. I also have a beautiful Folio Society edition. Love Massie's books. I've read them all except Catherine which is on the tbr shelves. I have the audio book of H is for Hawk, read by the author, & hope to get to it soon.
Quiet was excellent. I have H is for Hawk and The Soul of an Octopus on my TBR for this month. Hoping to have time for both. It's amazing how many nonfiction books I've given only mediocre ratings to and yet have stayed with me for many years. I enjoyed your list.
Great recommendations, I've read about half and added three more to my TBR! Judging from your love of H is for Hawk and Soul of an Octopus (which I loved!), Have you read a Primate's Memoir by Robert Sapolsky?
Moonwalking with Einstein was one of my fav NF reads last year. I tried to incorporate some of those memory techniques in my everyday life, the memory palace in particular. It works!
Eclectic mix. Picking up H is for Hawk next month. Added Quiet to by TBR too.
Thanks for such an inspiring list. I am particularly interested in Quiet and the Robert K Massie books. I should also tell you that due to a couple of your previous non-fiction videos (I don't usually read non-fiction) I have picked up a couple of nature books that I would never have looked at before so thank you so much for making non-fiction sound so interesting. I got The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young, The Hidden Life of Trees and The Inner Life of Animals both by Peter Wohlleben.
Robert Massie! Yes! I’m so glad to see someone talking about him. Peter the Great was the first Massie i ever read, also as part of a Russian History course in undergrad. I’ve re-read it twice already. Currently re-reading Catherine the Great.
I'm due for a reread of Catherine the Great! He was such a master. I already miss him. 💔
I’m currently reading The Soul of an Octopus and I have about an hour left of the audiobook. I was not emotionally prepared for being so attached to the octopuses. I am absolutely loving it. There is a possibility I’m going to be thrusting this book on to people.
Love you and your way of speaking.
Thank you!
I own a surprisingly large number of these books, clearly I have some reading to do!
Honestly though, your channel (and nonfiction November in general) is becoming very bad for my wallet! I'm not minding it though, thank you for all the wonderful recommendations! XD
Beck's Books I feel exactly the same ways.
+Beck's Books hehe 😇 This challenge is bad for my wallet as well - I'm hearing about so many amazing nonfiction picks...and I NEED all of them, obviously.
“Quiet” has been on my TBR for what feels like forever and I’m now reading it for my first nonfiction November book...hope it’s as good as everyone makes it out to be!
Hello!! Still love your show. You may have already done this project, but I would love to see you do an airing on Southern fiction. Some of my favorites are Lee Smith, Reynolds Price, Jill McCorckle and Anne Tyler.
This is damn good. Why did I find you so late? ❤️
Hi, Olive! I have a whole bunch of fiction books on my TBR list, but not much nonfiction, so I was wondering if you could recommend any books about the Romanovs? I've read all of the Robert K Massie books, and I don't know where to go from there. My favorite time period (tsar) is Nicholas II, but I'm open to anything, really!
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
I have placed Mastering the Art of Soviet cooking and the poisoners handbook on my TBR. I just finished Unmentionable last month and I loved it. So I know I will really enjoy these two books. I am hoping to read for non-fiction November.
Amazingly great! Thanks Teacher, for this lot of information.
Is their a Facebook account too?
I had a deep connection with H is for Hawk. However because of it I decided to read The Once and Future King. I should have stopped at The Sword in the Stone as I was incredibly frustrated reading the later books. I have The Soul of an Octopus and Moonwalking with Einstein on my TBR, and have added Quiet and Sixteen writers to the TBR. Being Mortal was also a great read, and I was surprised I went so well with it given that I was (still) struggling with some personal issues with grief. Great list of books!
I recently described Nicholas and Alexandra as a biography that reads like fiction..and I couldn't recall why and how I phrased it like that- untill I rewatched this video of urs for some book recos.
I love me some true crime books especially with me studying to be a CSI investigator. I love your love for these non fiction books
I just put Shallow, Selfish And Self - Absorbed on hold with Overdrive. Since this subject applies to me as well I am interested in reading it. I also went back after your recommendation video and purchased The Poisoner's Handbook. I should be receiving this later in the week, look forward to reading it. Thank you for these recommendations.
+NicoleMarie My pleasure! I hope you enjoy Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed. I found it to be so thoughtful and gentle in its approach, but it's really illuminating.
Of the ones in your videos I have read, I really loved Quiet, she really understands the introvert. Moonwalking with Einstein is brilliant too. really enjoyed H is for Hawk, but the best of that type of book that I have read is Turning by Jessica J Lee.
Moonwalking with Einstein sounds so interesting... I loved soul of an octopus , I truly didn’t expect to , but it was great ❤️
I read Quiet thanks to your recommendation and I just wanted to thank you, it is amazing and I'm not even a true introvert :)
Nice to see Deborah Blum mentioned. Her book Ghost Hunters is in my top...three non-fiction, I’d say. I’ve read it two or three times.
Just finished reading H is for Hawk and agree is a Great book!
I adore both "Quiet" and "The Soul of an Octopus." I have put a few others on my T-Read list; thanks for sharing!
Of course! :)
I'm already into birds so H is for Hawk is already on my TBR, as is Being Mortal (and all of Gawande's books actually). Soul of an Octopus sounds intriguing.
💛 great selections
Do you know If the film Nicholas and Alexandra is based on the book you recomend?
Your grammar and diction are excellent!
Thank you!
The Soul of an Octopus.... one of my all time favorite books
I adore octopuses because of this book and my greatest fear is the ocean so that’s saying something
I've not read any of these book. But the russian biographies will go to the top of my list.
However you actually showed me one of my favorites non fiction book:. Wicked Bugs. It was such a fun read that I had to buy the sister book Wicked Plants and now I want to know more about poisonous plants and creepy insects. 😊
Thank you for that!
I loved "The Poisoner's Handbook " by Deborah Blum Thumbs up for this video
aww soul of an octopus sounds amazing. As you can tell i love reading about animals and nature. And i cry a lot in books and movies lol
Perfect choice. Me really want to read them too.
non fictions are the best !! amazing video
I have got to check out h is for hawk!
I have actually wanted to ask you for a good Russian nonfiction book to start with, so I'm adding Nicholas and Alexandra to my tbr right away! I'm actually reading the Putin book by Masha Gessen now because of hearing about it in your previous wrap-up, and finding it very enlightening! The Soul of an Octopus is absolutely a book I feel like I'd love, putting on my wishlist because octopuses + larger critical discussions on humanity and consciousness sounds pretty perfect to me.
+We need hunny You and I have such similar taste in nonfiction...it never ceases to amaze me, haha!
Same! It seems to me one of the things we have in common is an undying thirst for knowledge, which for me kind of translates into wanting to read about everything (not quite, but a lot) and resulting in a bit of an eclectic mix of topics, from Victorian hygiene to bird migration. I always add to my tbr after watching your videos, or even browsing your Goodreads shelves, haha.
Amazing selection. Catherine The Great is incredible! A page turner!
+BookCravings It really is - not something you'd necessarily expect from a big biography!
I really want to read H is for Hawk. I'm not really a bird person, but the memoir sounds quite moving.
This was wonderful. I find there is just never enough non fiction on book tube. I really need to get to H is for Hawk and The Soul of an Octopus.
+radiantchristina Thank you! I definitely agree, considering how many amazing nonfiction books there are out there.
A bit random, but since you mentioned your interest in birds, have you heard of cassowaries? I never had until this past week. Then I fell down the YT rabbit hole. What a majestic looking, fascinating, but terrifying creature!
My non fiction top 3 for now would consist of Quiet, Eating Animals (Jonathan Safran Foer) and Working Stiff (Judy Melinek).
Soviet Cooking sounds fascinating. I love books that marry big political ideas with the simple parts of everyday existence. Thanks for the recs. Hope your NFN reading is going well too. It's great to see how many people are getting involved and reading different books than they would usually do. Well done for making that happen!
+Bookaxe I'm so thrilled at how many people in the community are joining in and, most importantly, are enjoying the nonfiction they're reading!
Another book by Sy Montgomery I would recommend is Birdology, which is essays on her encounters with a variety of birds including chickens, crows, parrots and emus. I picked it up at Dollar Tree and found it highly readable and fascinating.
So many great recommendations, about every books I was thinking "I need to read that." I've picked up H is for Hawk so many times at my used bookstore but somehow haven't managed to bring it home, that may need to happen now.
+Amy Pool I hope you end up getting it! I also heard the audiobook is great as she narrates it herself. Having heard her give a lecture last year, I can confidently say she's wonderful to listen to, so I imagine the audiobook is fantastic.
I already knew I was an introvert but I loved "Quiet" because it gave me so much more understanding. I especially appreciated that it talked about the strengths introverts can bring to their workplaces, families, and friendships! Introversion is usually looked at as a negative quality, a problem to be solved, something to "deal with" because you're just... well, odd. (And in this world geared toward extroverts, you are looked at this way.) It never occurred to me that we could actually bring positive things to our relationships, workplaces, and even the world!
As a side note to any of your viewers who may be church attending Christians, "Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture" by Adam S. McHugh specifically deals with the challenges we face in the church. And like "Quiet", it touches on the strengths we have to offer, not just the struggles that we face.
I wish that extroverts would read these two books so they could better understand the introverts in their lives. I don't know if there are similar books on extroversion as well. Each group could complement the other, if we just better understood each other!
Yesica1993 I found it very interesting empowering as an introvert in this extrovert-loving worldwide.
The only book on your list that I've read was Quiet, which I downloaded from the Libby app. Have you read Robert K. Massie's *Peter The Great: His Life and World*? An independent bookstore in downtown Philadelphia had a jacketless hardcover copy of it in a plastic tub of free books.
Since you liked Montgomery, Gawande and Macdonald I will highly recommend Bernd Heinrich's "Life Everlasting: The Animal Way of Death". And have you read any of Peter Wohlleben's books? The Hidden Life of Trees or The Inner Life of Animals?
I like to read some of these now I heard of the octopus book so like to read that and some more.
The way you speak is magic
Non fiction books are not my favorite but now you've defenitely made me want to read more of this genre
You mission to get me more interested in nonfiction books is starting to work... I will likely read a few of these books :)
FYI right now I’m reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. It hilarious and spot on.
+Katherine Tohanczyn yessssss! My persistence is starting to pay off!
I really liked A Primate's Memoir... not sure if you ever have read that... (just found your channel) :)
You had me at Quiet 🤫
Okay, the first book is a tremendous YES for me as an Introvert myself!
It's a great one - enjoy!!
Gotta get this AP Language summer assignment done....
Have read only Being Mortal.
Based on this excellent list, I think you might really enjoy Alex & Me by Irene Pepperberg. Have you read it? Pepperberg is an animal psychologist who adopted and studied an African Grey parrot with a fun personality. I first heard her story on The Moth: themoth.org/storytellers/irene-pepperberg -- and read the book after. She's a great storyteller!
Quiet seems like a good read for those with anxiety. ♥️
I have yet to get through one of your videos without adding to my tbr😊
+Ety That's such a lovely compliment, thank you! Booktube is dangerous for all our TBRs, haha!
It will be interesting to see how these 16 writers approached the subject of 'non-nesting'.