What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking. Linking up at Volatile Rune.
I am a sucker for a narrative nonfiction style where the author sets out to learn something and includes the story of their journey in the book. They takes us along as they do research. We travel to each destination to meet people along with them.
Here are a few books that I’ve read recently that fit that genre. I’ll be reviewing each of them this month.
A related subset of nonfiction books that I love is when authors set out to try something new for a year in the spirit of A.J. Jacobs. (Why is it always a year? Personally, I would try a week and see how it goes first. But, maybe that’s why I’ve never written one of these books.)
No Scrap Left Behind ended up being a two year journey into eliminating food waste. I reviewed it here. Spud Fit is the story of a man who lost weight by limiting his diet to only potatoes for a year. Reviewed, sort of, here.
Do you like these kinds of books or would you rather just read about what they found out with the author inserting themselves into the book?
Just a reminder that I am keeping the linky open all month for reviews of nonfiction books that you publish in November. Find it here.
I love all these book covers!! So fun!
Although I don’t like it when an author’s life bits get inserted into a book, I’m a sucker for what I call a “quest” book like these! I loved it when A. J. Jacobs was doing his Biblical year and his wife sat on all the chairs in the house while she had her period so he had to (from memory) crouch uncomfortably on a stool!
I prefer narrative nonfiction as well. I think Liz’s point on her post was excellent though that, as much as I love narrative nonfiction, I really hate when the author puts too much personal information into the book.
Sometimes I love the “for a year” books and sometimes they annoy me, it depends on the goal.
Wait, because do I even know what narrative nonfiction is???? Do I have any reading experience with that??? I’m not sure! Let me add the Grizzly book to my list and find out.
I’m so thankful there are so many narrative nonfiction books available now! It’s easier for me to stay engaged with these.
I agree with you; I love this sort of book.
No Scrap Left Behind sounds so interesting! One of my favorite books of the year, The Third Pole, mixes history with the author’s own Everest adventure.
I do sometimes enjoy books like that. It’s kind of a different way to peek into someone’s life while also learning some things that might work in my life (or some things that definitely wouldn’t work in my life!).
I don’t read narrative nonfiction often but I certainly don’t mind the genre at all.
I agree with you Heather about narrative nonfiction. I enjoy it a lot. I’m not so good at the ‘I tried this for a year’ books as however valid they are I always lump them in with self help which I tend to avoid. Thanks for the reminder of the open for a month link.