23 Riveting Nonfiction Books - Yes There is Such a Thing!

Whether it's learning something new or learning about what's actually going on behind the scenes of people's lives, I love a page turning nonfiction read

I’ve always been a (mostly) fiction reader and, my reading statistics (85% of my 2022 reads were fiction) tell me, I still am. But over the last few years I’ve found myself being drawn more and more to true stories. I think my love of learning, combined with my fascination of human behavior (why do people DO what they do!?), have really come full circle in my reading life and I want to read more true stories! These two aspects aren’t new to me- I have a degree in psychology and criminology - but where I once only read true crime stories (something I rarely read now), I’m now gravitating to stories about fascinating people, fascinating jobs, amazing athletes, inspiring stories…the list of incredible nonfiction topics is truly endless!

FUN FACT - Nonfiction holds the top 5 spots for the best selling hardcover books on Amazon. That’s impressive! What’s more, of the whopping 18 categories of popular nonfiction categories (compared to 12 for fiction), Memoir and autobiography hold the #1 spot and (surprisingly to me) true crime holds the last spot. Check out this article for more in depth best selling book genre information and additional fun facts.

I think I’m going to consider this post ‘Part I’ of riveting nonfiction reads I’ve loved because I have many more I want to share. Plus, I’m currently reading an excellent nonfiction title as a slow read/listen and have several more I want to read over the next few months. I’ll share a couple of those upcoming nonfiction releases with you today as well

RIVETING NONFICTION READS

The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schultz 🎧

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen

Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInerny 🎧

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad

I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones 🎧

Sex and the City and Us: How Four Single Women Changed How We Think, Live and Love by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong 🎧

Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation by Erika Krouse

Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross 🎧

Personal Effects: What Recovering the Dead Teaches Me About Caring For the Living by Robert Jensen

Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi 🎧

How Do I Un-Remember This?: Unfortunately True Stories by Danny Pelligrino

My Time Will Come: A Memoir of Crime, Punishment, Hope and Redemption by Ian Manuel

American Radical: Inside the World of a Muslim FBI Agent by Tamer Elnourey 🎧

Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict 🎧

The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in America’s Wildlands by Jon Billman

You Can’t Make This Up: Life Changing Lessons From Heaven by Theresa Caputo 🎧

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. My top book of 2023! I especially love the audio, Rick Rubin narrates and has one of THE most soothing voices I’ve ever heard. I’ve already bought a print copy because there’s so much I want to highlight. Everyone could find something to love in this book, it’s not just for creatives!

Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper

Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky

UPCOMING NONFICTION I CAN’T WAIT TO READ

This Isn’t Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew by Daniel Wallace

The Pleasures of Reading in An Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs

I loved putting all these titles together and revisiting these stories, inspiration, amazing people etc. What’s wild is that I know I binged most of these books in one or 2 sittings, so if you’ve previously thought nonfiction wasn’t “bingeable” I hope you’ll pick up one of these books and give it a try:) Now I’m even more excited to put together my Riveting Nonfiction
Reads Part II…stay tuned!

Do you have any favorite nonfiction reads to recommend or titles you’re looking forward to reading this year?

Hope you’re having a great weekend & thanks for reading

-Renee