The genre of non-fiction books is a big umbrella under which multiple sub genres find its place. Self help books have become quite a rage and are among the most popular types of non fiction books that a wide section of readers have started to pick. Why are self help books becoming bestsellers? You may ask. Reasons are obvious and at times pretty straight forward, people with ever changing dynamics of the modern world are looking for a guiding light, which a self help book sometimes may provide. The second category of popular non fiction books are subject specific and these become the source of feeding the starved mind a potent source of new knowledge. Encyclopedias on the other hand are mere reads about facts and information compressed, compiled and well organized to keep readers up to date, from etymological information to the purpose served by something or someone can be easily found in a hefty volume of encyclopedia. Having the best books of the non fiction genre added to your reading corner will raise the bar of its importance. Choose options from bestselling historical account books, a grounding self help book to perfect daily habits or just grow knowledge about some subject of interest.
Top 10 Books To Read: Bestselling Non Fiction Marvels
As expanding the term non fiction may incorporate multiple sub genres that are interesting and simply put can be a treasure trove of new knowledge, selecting the best books is a challenge. Although the recent trend of liking and reading self help books can be a starting point, to point towards some of the best non fiction reads of recent time. The following list will also have options about skill enhancing reads, knowledge laden books and simple fact finding picks to keep you entertained and make sure that you have the best options aligned in an orderly fashion to pique your interest and eventually let you decide which will be the best book to read on a sunday evening with a gentle cup of coffee in hand (or tea, if that's what your preference is).
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Atomic Habits
This book has made waves in the self help section of books and is quite popular. The reason for its wide acceptance as one of the best self help books of recent times is because it has focused on some of the most practical ways of dealing with everyday life. Atomic Habits have stressed on the importance of minor changes that readers can make and ensure consistency with it, in the long run a human would eventually see signs of improvement and feel happy about their progress for which they didn’t have to get stressed. Making life altering changes in one go may become challenging and stressful and hard to sustain, thus focusing on atomic, molecular habits can make way for a better and enhanced life.
01
Ikigai
The Japanese philosophy of staying focused, happy and motivated is what Ikigai refers to. Without any defined purpose what a person may face is an existential crisis which may become a rabbit hole for varied schools of philosophy, including Nihilism, absurdism and more. To live a meaningful life with a purpose that adds value to not only your vision and way of living but in some way also helps the surrounding preparing the ground for symbiotic relation to thrive can lead to a happier and successful life. The principles of Ikigai is rooted in rejuvenation and a purpose that can be served without feeling burdened. Simply written, this book named Ikigai can become a source of inspiration everyday to overcome challenges and difficulties while ensuring that your focus and purpose of life is not lost in the chaos.
02
Becoming
This is a powerful read about a famous political figure who took on a challenging role and excelled in everything that she put her mind to. Michelle Obama serves as the first lady for the tenure of 8 years. Being the first African-American woman to serve as the first lady makes her a stand out name in the political history of America. Her autobiography Becoming is a witty account of her life and the journey in which she has gracefully talked about her struggles. Intimate and strong are the two words that would describe this read. It will leave behind a remarkable taste for the readers, one may even want to reread because of how emotionally rich and strong the piece of writing is for the readers.
03
Wings Of Fire An Autobiography
If you need an immersive and inspirational story to dive in then looking at the life account of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam may just be the right choice to pick up and start reading. Wings Of Fire is detailed and covers the Mr. Kalam’s struggle in life from humble beginnings to becoming the president of India. A scientist that contributed to both the political and scientific advancement of the country makes him the name to look up to. He is also known as the missile man of India as he played an instrumental role in developing ballistic missile projects of India. His biography is filled with the lived experiences and his humble way of living despite holding a significant state membership. Reading his account of life may become a source of inspiration for young readers.
04
Deep Focu: Reflections on Cinema
Cultural and artistic history of India especially when it comes to cinema will be incomplete without the name of Satyajit Ray. He received the prestigious Academy-award, honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1992. This book by this legend is nothing short of a marvelous read for budding filmmakers that accounts for his measured insights about cinema and its development over the years, lived experiences of participating in film festivals and also as a jury member. Deep Focus is a rich collection of Ray’s writing as a window to see the world of cinema through his lens. People interested in filmmaking would find this read an immersive experience.
05
The Anarchy
William Dalrymple is a well known historian of the contemporary times and this book The Anarchy is the account of the aggressive British rule that started as a business in the land of India but gained absolute power over the land by ruthlessly colonizing and deriving profits at the expense of native people of the Indian subcontinent. It almost serves as a forewarning of how corporate power can topple existing systems and move in a relentless fashion to derive excess profit creating consequences that can have far reaching and irreversible situations. The writing of Dalrymple with India’s history is a rich, well informed and reliable source to believe in.
06
The Encyclopedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information; Volume 28
Being informed is the new flex and one can always rely on the power of reading The Encyclopedia Britannica for all necessary information and updates. The volume 28 of this remarkable way of preserving knowledge, consists of thorough and engaging knowledge, one that will nourish the knowledge and keep readers informed about various subjects. One who seeks absolute undiluted and concentrated knowledge would not be disappointed with reading The Encyclopedia Britannica, it is a storehouse of valuable information and would be one of the best books to include in one’s personal library. Generations after generation can rely on the work and trace back the trail of knowledge stemming from varied sources.
07
Improving Your English Skills
As mentioned above this list was bound to have a skill learning book, which again falls under the wide domain of the non-fiction book genre. This book is included in this list just to show how expansive the genre's reach is and if you are struggling to learn English then this can be your companion to a smooth way of learning the language of importance, without which navigating the technologically advanced modern world may become a challenge. The book is written in an interactive fashion which can help with basic English learning and improve grammar skills, add in new vocabulary and also offer some confidence to use the language as and when required.
08
Mindhunter: Inside the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit
True crime podcasts should not get all the lime light, it's time to turn towards reading a book on true crime. Mindhunter is one such writing that would leave readers in awe and anticipation about criminal psychology. It is written by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Mr. Douglas served as an FBI Special Agent and did criminal profiling. He is one of the pioneers in his field of work and Mindhunter is a mind bending work which was later adapted as a major Netflix web series, which became quite popular. This is one of the best books on true crime and is a riveting read.
09
The Theory Of Everything
Finishing off the list with an important scientific read, The Theory Of Everything by Stephen Hawking is a rewarding read for curious minds. People who like to find meaning in science and are skeptic of everything else. It is a compilation of 7 lectures written in a way that a layman unaware of complex mathematical concepts and theories can also to some extent grasp the meaning of important concepts and questions that are less asked in our day to day life but still stays in the mind. One can find easy understanding of black holes and the big bang theory without getting into the nitty gritties of complex scientific explanations. If you know about Stephen Hawking and his contribution towards science then reading The Theory Of Everything will be a truly rewarding experience.
10
Why Is Non Fiction A Popular Category Of Book Genre For Mature Readers?
The fact that non fiction does not deal with made up stories and oftentimes just presents facts derived from experience and existing knowledge makes the genre a nerd favorite aisle in book shops. But this can be an over generalization as the best books in the non fiction category can become the best read just for anyone if the subject it deals with helps the reader or keeps them hooked enough to finish it off. The primary definition of a non fiction book would be something that deals with facts, information and theories whereas fiction books are all about imaginary characters and situations. Auto biographies, biographies are also some popular sub genres of non fiction books categories. Reading which is oftentimes an inspirational journey for many.
Read More: Best Books To Read For Motivation And Healing
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