This week is another exciting week with a new prompt from our newest host, Rebekah at She Seeks Nonfiction. I’m not sure I have a good answer for this one, but I’m looking forward to having a fresh nonfiction topic to discuss with all of you.
Worldview Changers : One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is learning all kinds of things about our world which you never would have known without it. There’s the intriguing, the beautiful, the appalling, and the profound. What nonfiction book (or books) has impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way? Do you think there is one book that everyone needs to read for a better understanding of the world we live in?
I struggle to come up with a specific book when asked for books that have changed my perspective or changed my life. Instead, I feel like most of the nonfiction I read slowly shapes how I view the world. There are a few specific categories of nonfiction where this is especially true.
History
I’ve intentionally been reading a lot of books that try to correct the historical record, especially around the history of race in the US. There isn’t one specific book that has changed my mind, but collectively, these books have influenced the way I see the world and the role I want to play in working towards racial equity in the US. Some of the books that have impacted me the most recently include: A More Beautiful and Terrible History, Wayward Lives Beautiful Experiments, and The Color of Law.
Science
A lot of popular science books cover basic genetics I know and/or regurgitate the same stories over and over. Occasionally though, I find a book that tells some new stories or has some really cutting edge science. Some great examples include: Some Assembly Required, The Code Breaker, and Life’s Edge.
Now I’m excited to check out all of your posts! Don’t forget to link them up at Rebekah’s post.
Harry Katz
I really enjoyed The Code Breaker too. Glad to see you highlighting it here. Some Assembly Required looks like a great follow up. Thanks!
Harry Katz recently posted…Nonfiction November 2022 Week 3: Stranger Than Fiction
DoingDewey
I’ve really enjoyed both of Neil Shubin’s books! Definitely recommend them 🙂
NancyElin
I read Saidya Hartman’s book…she’s a cultural historian.
It is filled with intimate stories of 20th C riotous black girls
who refused to labor like slaves or to accept degrading conditions of work.
Theme was good,,.but I was not excited about her writing. Some sentences were
110 words long! Small criticism ….but the book is important.
The Colour of Law…this I must read…a great selection for #BlackHistoryMonth in February, thanks
NancyElin recently posted…#NonFicNov week 4 “Jaw-Dropping” non-fiction
DoingDewey
I found Hartman’s writing really beautiful and thought the author did a good job being clear about what was definitely known fact and what wasn’t, so the more artistic, fictionalized style worked for me. That said, I can definitely see where the writing style wouldn’t work for everyone! I read another book that was borderline fiction/nonfiction around this same time and couldn’t stand hit, so that particularly strikes me as a hit or miss thing for me.
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
Interesting selections, thanks for sharing!
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out recently posted…Review: The Unexpected Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke
DoingDewey
Thanks!
Helen Murdoch
I had trouble with this prompt as well so didn’t do it. But, The Color of Law is on my list of must reads.
Helen Murdoch recently posted…Thankfully Reading Weekend 2022
Liz Dexter
Good and interesting selections here, thank you for sharing! I’m reading a lot of history filling in gaps in UK history, there seems so much to learn in that area still!
Liz Dexter recently posted…Book review – Howard Sturgis – “On the Pottlecombe Cornice”
Lory @ Entering the Enchanted Castle
I want to read more science and history next year, so this is a good selection for me.
Lory @ Entering the Enchanted Castle recently posted…#NonFicNov: Worldview Changers
Stephanie @ Bookfever
I love your picks for this topic and want to read them all, especially The Code Breaker. I want to read more science nonfiction!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Nonfiction November 2022: Worldview Changers
Rennie
I had a struggle with this one this week too, sounds like for similar reasons! I like how you framed and grouped these, though. I agree Life’s Edge was a fascinating one and felt like nothing else I’d read before.
Rennie recently posted…Nonfiction November Week 4: Worldview Changers
CurlyGeek
The books about civil rights and history sound great, I always want to deepen my understanding of racism. You might also be interested in the book I just posted about called Lady Justice, which is mainly about civil rights activism during the Trump Administration.
CurlyGeek recently posted…Review: Lady Justice by Dahlia Lithwick
Lisa notes
So many good suggestions here! I picked A More Beautiful and Terrible History to get the Kindle sample of.
DoingDewey
Oh, so glad to hear it! I think that’s a great one to sample, because the writing style is really unique. For me, the author was clear enough about what was fact and what was speculation that I was able to enjoy the style and feel like I was learning something, but I could see it not being for everyone 🙂