I pretty much only read fiction. I wanted to diversify/go out my comfort zone and read at least one non fiction book a month. None of the book reviewers or vloggers I follow make content about non-fics so I’m turning to reddit for recommendations.
Topics I’m interested in: mathematics, physics, astronomy, anything science really. I think I also want to try out anthropology and history (no american history or the world wars. Preferably ancient history or the old empires).
I also don’t want books that read like a textbook. I am forced to read enough of those already.
TIA
by kisukisuekta
20 Comments
[Behave](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31170723) by Robert Sapolsky
[The Body Keeps the Score](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693771) by Bessel van der Kolk
[Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17465709) by Robin Wall Kimmerer
For the history of science, try The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes
For the history of mathematics, try An Imaginary Tale: The Story of √-1 by Paul Nahin
I’d highly suggest:
– the demon-haunted world by Carl Sagan
*How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don’t understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions.*
*Casting a wide net through history and culture, Sagan examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies of the past as witchcraft, faith healing, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today’s so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning with stories of alien abduction, channeling past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect. As Sagan demonstrates with lucid eloquence, the siren song of unreason is not just a cultural wrong turn but a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens our most basic freedoms.*
– the blind watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
*The Blind Watchmaker offers an inspiring and accessible introduction to one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time. A brilliant and controversial book which demonstrates that evolution by natural selection – the unconscious, automatic, blind yet essentially non-random process discovered by Darwin – is the only answer to the biggest question of all: why do we exist?*
Schizophrenicreads is the “king” of non fiction on tiktok he has alot of good recommendations.
Schizophrenicreads is the “king” of non fiction on tiktok he has alot of good recommendations.
Max Tegmark’s **Life 3.0** is speculative non-fiction. It presents the spectrum of futures mankind faces due to the ascent of artificial intelligence. It’s not a textbook, but it is wordy and information-dense. It also was written by a physics professor and it shows.
A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson
The end of everything, Katie Mack
What If? By Randall Munroe
Hyperspace, Michiu Kaku
A history of the world in 6 glasses, Tom Standage
How to be Perfect, Michael Shur
The Story of Pain – discusses the history of pain (how it’s perceived, discussed, treated, ignored)
Unwell Women – similar to above but on the topic of women’s Healthcare
The Patient Playbook – by a Dr for patients on how to make sure you are getting the Healthcare you need.
Try Bill Bryson. He wrote some personal travel logs that are hilarious
1. Great War for Civilisation by Robert Fisk
2. Propaganda Model by Chomsky
3. Austerity: history of a dangerous idea by Mark Blyth
I think the first part of Ending Aging by Aubrey de Grey is easy to read. The Open Library page is [here](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL12284524W/Ending_Aging?edition=key%3A/books/OL17932740M).
If true crime interests you at all, John Douglas’ books are really good.
I also recommend finding memoirs of people you like.
Yes by Amy Poehler
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Spare by Prince Harry
And since you said you like math, physics, ect Neil DeGrasse Tyson has several books!
The Ancestors Tale by Richard Dawkins. He’s a transphobe but . . .
Seconding Braiding Sweetgrass, and recommending the audiobook of it! Read by the author and she’s got a wonderful voice.
The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson.
Black Klansmen: Race, Hate, and the undercover investigation of a Lifetime by Ron Stallworth
Any Carlo Rovelli book would suit you.
Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz should scratch that anthropology/ancient history itch, I loved it
The radioactive boy scout – David Hahn
Beyond the beautiful forevers -Katharine Boo
Isaac’s Storm or anything by Erik Larson
an Immense World – Ed Yong
All very readable (I forgot the first was non fic for a bit) . About 1/3 of my reading is non fiction and there’s a lot of great stuff out there.
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson
A Planet Of Viruses
Biology Everywhere