Books That Should Be On Your List If You Are A Non-Fiction Reader // Top Ten Tuesday

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Today's topic is: Top Ten Books For Every X To Read 

Jamie's Picks

1. For every creative -- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert: I really think anyone who writes or blogs or is creative in any way should read this for some inspiration!

2. For people who have trouble keeping their space free from clutter -- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo: Okay so some of this book is a little too out there for my mind but I really enjoyed it for the most part. It's a good book for someone like me who has struggled to keep my space clean/organized/free from clutter for my whole life. Sometimes she's a little extreme and I wasn't as strict about getting rid of everything that didn't spark me joy but it really did help me in  little ways or reframe some of the stuff I held on to and why I did.
Jana seconds this!

3. For the person who loves inspirational memoir type books -- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch: I read this at a time where I was pretty down and it was really inspiring and thought-provoking as this man faces certain death from an illness imparts some life lessons.

4. For people who like learning about random stuff (and like quirky nonfiction) -- Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach: Seriously one of my favorite non-fiction books ever. SO SO fascinating! I just really love learning random stuff and Mary Roach is so engaging!

Bridget's Pick

 5. For the introvert or the person who is just interested in psychology -- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain: Many of our readers will relate to the struggles of living as an introvert in a world that seems to only value extroversion. This book, though frustrating in many ways, also opened my eyes to just how much extroversion is praised at the expense of introversion, and explained why so many "normal" situations always made me uncomfortable. And don't just read this if you're an introvert; it can also help extroverts understand a little bit more of why their introverted peers act, think, and interact the way they do.


Lauren's Picks

For someone who is unfamiliar with the global abuses of women and their fight for survival --

6. Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by Halima Bashir and Damien Lewis: This was the first memoir written by a woman caught up in the war in Darfur. Halima is the kind of individual that can change the world, and that she did. This is not a novel full of sadness, but a call to action with a person who spoke out about the abuses in her homeland without thought of self preservation. 

7. Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindia: You remember year ago seeing an article or two, or maybe just remembering the words, "female genital mutilation" mentioned in the news? An entire movement to stop the ritual that encompasses those words may have actually been started because of Fauziya and her determination to stand up for women everywhere. This is a powerful novel, and it will not disappoint.



Jana's Picks

8. For someone who enjoys reading survival stories -- 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin: Remember hearing about this guy in the news? Just over two years ago, he was rescued after living adrift for 438 days. This man’s story is unfathomable, and inspiring. There are really no words that can accurately describe what he went through. I don't want to say too much, but I will mention the whale shark that hung out with him for a few days. Amazing.

9. For the travel-lover -- 501 Must-Visit Destinations
This book is 544 pages of dream vacations, and I would love to visit every single one of them. I am really annoyed that the book did not come with plane tickets and travel accommodations for each of these destinations.

Tahleen's Picks

10. For anyone who likes funny books, memoirs, and a little bit of history -- The Life and Times of the Thunderbold Kid by Bill Bryson: Some of you might know about my slight obsession with Bryson's work. This is one of my favorites, his memoir about growing up in the 1950s. It's so funny, and I love how he kind of gives us a history of that time as well. Bonus points if you listen to Bryson narrate it himself. If you like this one, I highly recommend listening to his other books too, especially I'm a Stranger Here Myself and really any of his travelogues.

Tell us your favorite non-fiction books!