We are sure that if you are not a fan of non-fiction books, you must have had a bad experience of reading one due to wrong choice of book.
May be you left it in between because you found it boring and not worth your time. If that was the case we are here to suggest some the best books of all time. The books that are meant to change your mindset.
We have suggested you the Non-fiction books of all types from the books that are best sellers to the books on India, history, science and what not.
To make the work easier we have provided reviews of the recommended books for you.
Who knows you will get a non-fiction book that will change your life completely?
Here is our list of 25 essential books that you will actually read-
So, let’s get started.
1) Shoe-dog by Phil knight-
This book is a memoir by creator of Nike and we assure you that it will motivate you to follow your dreams without thinking about failures. I recommend this book for the inspiration, writing style and entertainment. This book teaches you to rise up even after the many downfalls. It will leave you teary eyed many times along the way.
2) We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:
I don't have enough words to explain how beautifully this book is written. It tells us the true meaning of Feminism like Feminism is accepting that man and woman are treated differently in society.
Feminism is accepting that both man and woman are equally important but in society females are not given equal rights. It shouldn’t be confused with feminism lite like acting bossy, not using perfume or not shaving, etc. This book is one of the best non-fiction books and should be included in school curriculum too.
3) A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson:
This is a very famous science book full of amazing facts written in such an easy language that it is loved by common people more than any other core science book.
The history of geology and biology are well explained in this book and it is recommended by Shahrukh Khan also. It is a famous joke that people started writing petitions to bill Bryson to write the science text books for school curriculum to generate student's interest in science from young age.
4) Why I am an atheist is an incredibly thought provoking book by "Bhagat Singh".
I generally don’t comment or give my views on something that I haven’t studied on my own. So when diljit said "Mai fan bhagat singh da, jeda nhisi gulaami krda" I respected him but never have given second thought. BUT now I can proudly say that "Bhagat singh" is a hero and I am his huge fan. I am saying hero because hero is someone who is equally brave and intellectual, hero is a man of his word who breaks society’s stereotypes.
So here is one of my fav. part of the book "Let me tell you, British rule is here not because God wills it but because they possess power and we do not dare to oppose them. Not that it is with the help of God that they are keeping us under their subjection but it is with the help of guns and rifles, bomb and bullets, police and militia and our apathy that they are successfully committing the most deplorable sin against society- the outrageous exploitation of one nation by another.
Where is God ? What is he doing? Is he enjoying all I these woes of human race? A Nero; A Changez : Down with him. Do you ask me how I explain the origin of this world and origin of man? Alright I tell you. Charles Darwin has tried to throw some light on the subject. Study him. “I hope you would also like the book equally.
5) A Promised Land by Barack Obama:
This most awaited book of 2020 gives beautiful insights in Obama's first term as President. It tells us everything from his healthcare plans to how he got support from both democrats and republicans. It is a very honest book which makes us believe that how humble Mr. Obama is and why he is the most loving President of America of all times.
6) The Self-Care Project:
How to Let Go of Frazzle and Make Time for You by Jayne Hardy: This Non-fiction book focus on the priority that should be given to health care. It can give a real wake-up call to the people who need to spend some time for them. If you are a student, a full-time worker, a parent, or elderly or anybody, you will get benefited from the wonderful tips given by the writer. It will boost your confidence and desire to love you more.
7) Sapiens:
A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari: Earth originated about 4.5 bya and human beings came into existence somewhere around 300000 years ago. But still despite of such a short span, we managed to outgrow each and every organism and evolved to become the wisest species ever. We even disposed the top carnivores and acquired their position in the food chain. All these things were so sudden that even nature didn't got time to take a breath and hence it could no longer match the growing pace of our evolution.
From hunters to permanent settlers.
From eating raw meat to the best cuisines in the world, from barely crawling on 4 limbs to running on 2 limbs, we came very far. All thanks to our presence of mind and actions. From now If someone ever says "you look a lot like chimpanzees" don’t ever feel offended, just smile back and educate that fellow by replying "of course I do, they are my relatives".
This book sapiens gives us the exact factual information needed to trace map back to our forefathers and understand how the evolution actually took place.
Enjoy this best book in science non-fiction genre and enjoy the evolutionary twists it unfolds for you ...Discover how your presence is not a coincidence but a mere science dates thousands of years back.
8) Paradox:
The Nine Greatest Enigmas in Physics by Jim-Al-khalili. It includes brainteasers like-Monty Hall's (probability), Zeno's, Olbers's, Maxwell's (demon), Einstein's (pole-in-barn), Einstein's (twins), grandfather's (time travel), Laplace's (demon), Schrödinger's (cat), and Fermi's.
These give the well-qualified author a framework for talking about many topics in science, mostly in physics and astronomy. The Schroedinger's cat paradox is one of the most famous in physics -- and possibly the most misunderstood by non-scientists. Why? How should non-scientists be thinking about this paradox for a better understanding of the nuances? Ooh,well! To know the answer please read this book.
9) A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf:
This is a book every woman must read. When Woolf was asked to write on "Women and fiction", she ended up writing the whole philosophy. I loved the whole book a lot but the line that touched me the most was "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind." Her thesis is simply that women must have a fixed income and a room of her own with a lock on the door.
This book is of 113 pages and damn how many books are there which can say this much in just an hour! Hence, it is one of those non-fiction books that will blow your mind.
10) When Breath Becomes Air by American Neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Kalanithi :
This is an exquisitely observed memoir by a neurosurgeon diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer who helps us answering "What makes a life worth living?" Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015 but his words are with us like a gift. He said and I quote "I began to realize that coming face to face with myown mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything." "Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: 'I can't go on. I'll go on."
11) Ikigai:
The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Albert Liebermann and Hector Garcia: It is one of most recommended book to read before you die. It tells us the Japanese secret of long life especially focussing on your Ikigai which means finding your reason to get out of bed every morning, something that makes you happy. This book tells us that how to live life to the fullest. The line I liked in the book is ''The happiest people are not the ones who achieve the most"". They are the ones who spend more time than others in a state of flow."
12) Main pakistan me bharat ka jasoos tha (A memoir of an Indian spy in Pakistan) by Mohanlal bhaskar:
Mohanlal bhaskar is one of the many unsung heroes of India unlike Ravinder kaushik who gave their everything from their family to their life in the services of mother India.
This autobiography gives us an insight in the life of a spy and especially the life when they get imprisoned that too in a country like Pakistan and how our own country's officials stop recognising them when spies need them the most and how they still love doing their job by hiding all the secrets inside their heart considering it their duty for the country.
We should really thank Hariwanshrai Bachhan for asking Bhaskar ji to pen down his journey as a spy in Pakistan and the tortures and struggle he faced during that tenure.
The time in which he celebrated a sentence of "14 years of jail" like crazy that everyone started thinking if he got mad while he was overwhelmed because he was expecting a death sentence. The incidences in the book gave chills to my spine every now and then. The true mettle is how he retains his sanity through all the tough times. He remained in Pakistani jails from 1967 to 1974. He and dozens of his fellow Indian spies were released as part of a prisoner exchange with India following the signing of the Shimla Accord by Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It is indeed a very emotional and a patriotic read.
13) The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X:
It is one of the most captivating non-fiction books which is a must read. It is an unbiased book that supports and denies both segregation and integration very beautifully. This book has a capacity to change your view for once and for all. A quoted of Malcom that touched me was "So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise."
14) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki:
I don’t think this book needs any introduction. This is one the best book I read in 2020 and the most thought provoking. I think everyone should read it because money is not just the subject matter of CA's and accountants..We all want to get rich. Right! So we should all at least learn how to and where to invest money, we should all learn about mutual funds and stock market.
My favorite point was how we should invest on taking property which will earn for us even if are not present there and not on luxury cars and home and how we should take risks more often and celebrate our failures like success.
15) THE GOLDEN BIRD 2.0: Resurgence of India by RAINA SINGHWI JAIN:
The Book is about History of India. Why Ancient India was called "sone kichidiya" in the first place? What Britishers did to our country? What we have in common with China,the land of dragon, and what happened that now on a global level china and India are different? India and China, both are compared on Many Parameters and how Relationship is between them is also mentioned.
The Author has explained the condition of India and China Before and After Independence in detail. How china developed so much after 1978? How Pandemic and Aatam nirbharta has affected India as the country? This book gives the answer of these questions in a very statistical way and in a very colloquial language. The book is full of very Well Researched Ideas and Facts. "Raina Singhwi jain", urges Indian denizens to act now for the revival of a genius that lies dormant within each of us. This Book is a Must Read for someone who likes to read about Economy of India.
16) In Cold Blood by Truman Capote:
This amazing masterpiece with stupendous narration. In this novel, cold blooded murders are described in the form of interviews of family, relatives and community via a distant narrator. It is a real page turner and stories of murderers, Perry and Bovy, will give you goose bombs.
17) The ONE Invisible Code:
An Uncommon Formula to Breakthrough Mediocrity and Rise to The Next Level by Sharat Sharma: “You will meet chaos and confusion on your path to clarity. Own this truth!” This book tells us the importance of knowing our strengths and weaknesses. It also tells the effect our mindset has on our life and helps us in discovering many new phases of ourselves. This book has something to be taken from almost every chapter written in very crisp and engaging style.
18) Be Obsessed Or Be Average by Grant Cardone:
“Don’t be held hostage by average” was my favorite line in this book. Grant Cardone is a famous billionaire who writes inspire people to earn big. Grant’s sales strategies are right on point. This book is very popular in “win-at-all-cost type of people”.
19) The Rudest Book Ever by Shwetabh Gangwar:
This book received mixed reactions from the readers but it often rules the best non-fiction books by Indian authors category. It may look boring and repetitive in the starting but at the end you will realise how witty the book is. As the title says it is a very rude book it the terms of straight-forward statements. It is one of those non-fiction books that will change your life.
20) The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma:
It is a very popular Non-fiction book for beginners. This is written by Robin Sharma, author of "Who will cry, when you die" which is also one of those books to read at least once in life. Robin Sharma’s books are highly recommended from my side.
21) Crushing It:
How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk: This book is full of stories of folks successfully using the Crush It! principles. In case you are not aware, crush it is one of his previous book whose summery is also included in crushing it. Author says “What really matters is a pretty short list: intent, authenticity, passion, patience, speed, work, and attention.” and then each aspect is described in detail. This book is a fun read and has a huge fan base in reader's community.
22) A Geek in Japan by Hector Garcia:
It is like a travel guide written in very simple way, telling us about the culture, history, maps, tourist places, movies, manga, etc,etc...You name it and you will find a whole chapter about it in this book..
This book gives beautiful tips too that should be followed before visiting Japan like - Visit shrines before 5'o clock otherwise they will get closed and if u want to see a Shinto wedding, visit shrines on Sunday morning, buy a japan rail pass from local agency of your native country as transportation is very costly in japan, use electronic devices between 100-240V as plugs and everything is different there...
This book also tells us about which hotels to stay in and which restaurants, bars and Shops to visit..I personally learnt a lot about ikebana, chado, geisha, kabuki, ofuro, onsen, ohanami, yakitori, nihonshu, roppongi hills, akihabara, yokohama, odaiba, cosplay bridge, kiddyland, todai-ji, aoyama, Zen philosophy, hachiko's statue and a lot more...
Most of these things were new to me before reading this book but now I have some basic idea. I like this book because I love Japan a lot but it all depends on personal choice...Some people may not like the fact that there is a lot of repetition of same things and same words like Nihonkai, otaku, honne which may irritate someone but I found that good because this helped me in remembering them. The only thing I don’t like is there was no focus on festivals as I wanted. And there was way too much focus on business life.
Overall It is a must read before going to Japan as it has almost everything you want to know about this Land of Rising Sun and at the very least this book will definitely convince you to read Manga and will help you to be a better person ready to help others in need as the book has lots of Zen philosophy.
23) Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps” by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease:
Relationships become rocky when men and women fail to acknowledge they are biologically different and when each expects the other to live up to their expectations. Much of the stress we experience in relationships comes from the false belief that men and women are now the same and have the same priorities, drives and desires.
The good news is that when you understand the origins of these differences, you not only find it easier to live with them, you can manage, appreciate, and end up cherishing them too. To clear the confusion I want to add that Feminists are asking for equal rights for men and woman and not that they are same.
This book is giving answers to many questions. While reading this you will realise that the problem is that we are getting modern each passing day but what we are today is the result of million and million of years of evolution and our biology is adjusted like that only. You will realise Human biology is dangerously out of date. So ,if you are in relationship or getting married or want to know about the opposite gender, it is a must read.
24) Tuesdays with Morrie:
Tuesdays with Morrie is Mitch Albom’s memoir, it will leave you inspired and teary eyed as you experience the beautiful bond between Albom and his former sociology professor ‘Morrie Schwatz’. This is a book that will make you cry. This book is raw, thought provoking and real. You can Read and re-read this book many times over as it is the best Non-fiction book written.
25) You do you: How to be who you are and use what you’ve got to get what you want by Sarah Knight:
A Book full of realistic advices with a tadka of humor. This is a self help book that gives you confidence to do whatever you desire to do with your head held a little higher. You can also hear this book in her voice on Audible.
Hence, these were some of our personal suggestions of some of the greatest Non-fiction books of all times. We would love to hear your reviews on that. Please check ‘Emoha blogs’ for more such book reviews and recommendation. Emoha is an organisation that focuses on welfare of elderly people and provides nursing care to elderly. Emoha treats its clients more than a family member. So, if you have any query or confusion please feel free to contact our team at eldersfirst@emoha.com or call us at 1800-123-445555.
Image credit from amazon.
