Note: I'm looking for feedback. Please consider commenting about your thoughts on nonfiction as well as your thoughts on my post in general. Thanks.
When you think nonfiction, what sorts of books come to mind? Textbooks? How-To Manuals? Essays? Scientific Papers? Biographies?
There are many different kinds of nonfiction books out there, on any subject. They are not all the same in writing style either. They are not all dry, boring or technical. It amazes me that more people don't like reading nonfiction. I like reading for pleasure too but I love to learn and anything that helps me learn is a way I like to spend my time.
Most people assume fiction is made up and nonfiction is real. While that's basically correct, technically a nonfiction book could include incorrect information. However the author would have to believe it to be the truth.
From Wikipedia:Some people wonder how memoirs can be considered nonfiction. Remember as long as the author believes it to be true it's nonfiction. Besides, memoirs fall under an umbrella term called Creative Nonfiction:
Nonfiction is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. This presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition.
From Wikipedia:You can find nonfiction on all topics. What do you want to learn more about? E.g. Fishing, Camping, Cooking, Basketball, Parenting, Science, Astrology, Dating, Marriage, Psychology, Computers, Scrapbooking, Health, Fitness, Video Games, Movies, Environment, Sex, Religion, Language, History, Architecture.
“Ultimately, the primary goal of the creative nonfiction writer is to communicate information, just like a reporter, but to shape it in a way that reads like fiction.” Forms within this genre include personal essays, memoir, travel writing, food writing, biography, literary journalism, and other hybridized essays."
You can get a book on just about every topic, no matter how precise. E.g. Metal Engraving, Museum Science, Graphology, Doctrines, Land Economics, German Grammar, Roof Covering etc....
So give nonfiction a chance. If there is anything you want to know more about, look it up. Search for "subject nonfiction book" where you replace subject with the actual subject. Or peruse a book review blog for your next nonfiction read.
Related Links:
Nonfiction Book Awards (at Wikipedia)
New Nonfiction Books (on Twitter) - tweet for each new nonfiction book on date of release
Mrs. Dowling's Nonfiction Nook
Nonfiction Article (at Wikipedia)
Book Review Blogs (who review a large amount of nonfiction):
Me!
A Striped Armchair
Citizen Reader
Brevity's Nonfiction Blog
(If you know of a book blog that reviews mostly nonfiction, adult or child, please submit the url. I'll include it here and visit of course. You can use my contact form or just comment here. Thanks.)
Also Puss Reboots doesn't review mainly nonfiction but here is a list of all the nonfiction she's reviewed to date.
*Photo courtesy of Shavar Ross on Flickr.
