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Do you read much non-fiction?

V

Violanthe

New Member
So often, people talk about the novels, short stories and other types of fiction that they read. But do you read any type of non-fiction? What kinds? Biography? History? How To? Cultural? Academic? When you read non-fiction do you do it for business (i.e. assignments or research for work or school) or for pleasure?
 
I tend to go on nonfiction binges once in awhile. It usually depends on whatever my current interest is. I love historical, travel writing, memoirs, and biography. How-tos are a given..
 
I find what sociology I've read really interesting (Habermas, Mead, C. Wright Mills, Durkheim) as well as some philosophy (Marx, Foucault, Sartre). I look forward to reading some Nietzsche and Kierkegaard soon as well.

Otherwise, I don't really read non-fiction. There is, however, one non-fiction book I would list among my favorites: Arc of Justice. It's so unbelievably good.
 
non-fiction is not something I usually pick.
I'm reading "blink" now. and it's really good
 
I usually stick to fiction, but sometimes I go on non-fiction binges too. If I'm going to read non-fiction I usually pick up a bigography, a memior, or anything by John Douglas.
 
Not particularly, but I do pick up a biography once and a while. I've been meaning to get into some medical texts soon, and I have been reading some speed reading books as well. Very interesting.
 
I usually do read non-fiction if I can find something interesting and in my price range. I like to read to learn about culture, history and people's lives, among other things. I read for both pleasure and for school, though more for the former. :p
 
I don't read as much non-fiction as I would like to - I probably read one every couple of months, although I have quite a few on my TBR list. I tend more towards memoirs and historical non-fiction, and I would love to read more of Bill Bryson.
 
I like to sprinkle my reading diet with non-fiction by reading just one book now and then. My favorites are travel memoirs in the vein of Bill Bryson (Monkeycatcher: Try Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawk if you need something similar to Bryson:D ) but I also like history and reading about different cultures.
 
I enjoy planning a trip and researching books to read while in the country: travel writing, history, politics, biography, even guides (baedeker, blue, rough). A third of my backpack is taken up by books! I find they're great conversation starters too. People are usually impressed if you are reading their national literature--especially if you're American!
 
I have read quite a few memoirs lately which I really enjoyed, but I do stuggle finding ones that I want to read.
Hopefully I will pick a few more because I really enjoy them!

Lani
 
KristoCat said:
(Monkeycatcher: Try Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawk if you need something similar to Bryson:D
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Thanks for the recommendation - it's gone on my TBR list :) Are there any works of Bryson that you would recommend as a must-read ( I have only read A Short History of Nearly Everything so far)? I was thinking of reading Notes from a Small Island next.
 
I read a lot of books about feminism, and a lot of gay studies books, gay history, economics etc. Also a lot of "foodie" books, like Jane Goodall's new one.
 
drmjwdvm said:
MC - I recommend Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. Very funny.
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Thanks for the recommendation - I just had a quick look at the synopsis and it looks very interesting. Another addition to my mile-long TBR list :D
 
I usually read fiction. Every once in a while, however, I will go through periods of time where I'll read quite a few pieces of non-fiction. I prefer reading about history (preferably ancient) and biographies.
 
MonkeyCatcher said:
Thanks for the recommendation - it's gone on my TBR list :) Are there any works of Bryson that you would recommend as a must-read ( I have only read A Short History of Nearly Everything so far)? I was thinking of reading Notes from a Small Island next.
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The only other book I've read by Bryson so far, besides Short History, is In a Sunburned Country. It's about Australia and really, really great. Although, being in NZ and so close to Australia, you might not find it quite as interesting.

My mom also read Notes from a Small Island and liked it a lot.
 
I like to read non-fiction books. Especially biographys. "Once I was a princess" is one of my favorite.
But I like to read about myths and legends, but I don't know if it's called non-fiction :p
 
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