Tag: read

To Read List (Non-fiction)

The challenge of non-fiction is to marry art and truth.

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Introduction

The biblical definition of non-fiction is prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people. Non fiction encompasses the factual and literal aspect of the literary canyon, which includes everything from biography, history, self-help, health and fitness, politics, religion, spirituality, business and money, parenting, relationships etc.

According to recent findings by several sources including Forbes, non-fiction literature is rising in ranks compared to its other fictional counterparts. “Revenues for adult non-fiction have rapidly risen every year since: $4.97 billion in 2014, $5.59 billion in 2015, $5.87 billion in 2016, and finally $6.18 billion last year.“

Non- fiction helps its readers get in tandem with the real world and connect to the everyday happenings as fiction sweeps them through different realms. Reading non-fiction can help one acquire knowledge about subjects crucial to the capitalist world today.

Curated below is a list of 4 non-fiction books that you must check out!

1. The Secret

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Rhonda Byrne’s, ‘The Secret’, is among one of the most celebrated and widely endorsed self help books ever. This book sets out to piece together a secret by sifting through age old oral traditions, religions, literature philosophy blending it with the acumen of modern day experts, ultimately giving rise to a secret like no other. This secret based on several simple factors, has perhaps what it might take to transform lives.

This book in a methodical manner unravels the secret and teaches its application in our everyday lives. This secret has the means to explore all that energy within you that you think is redundant and possibly channel it in a positive manner.

2.Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

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Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘Blink’, is best described by its title itself. Based on psychological aspects of decisions made in the blink of an eye, this book might after all, give answers to some of questions that everyone has had at some point about intuitions, good decisions and bad decisions.

Blink gives us insight into the makings of quality decisions and the minds of quality decision-makers. It explores a vast world of thinking or perhaps not thinking sometimes and explains how those decisions come to play.

3. Tuesdays with Morrie

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Mitch Albom’s, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’, is an inspirational story of Mitch Albom’s reconciliation with Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago who gave Mitch advice and understanding when he was lost and needed it the most. After Mitch meandered through life, after losing touch with his mentor, with several haunting questions of his.

As he meets his mentor, suffering from a fatal disease, almost two decades later, they get into a routine from the college days with Mitch visiting Morrie every Tuesday. Tuesdays with Morrie morph into insightful last lessons on life and living.

4. How to Win Friends and Influence People

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Dale Carnegie’s masterpiece, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’, has influenced millions of people since getting published in 1936. This book contains solid and practical principles that can help one attain a steady footing on the ladder of success. This book focuses upon maximum discovery and use of one’s potential in the best ways possible.

One of the must reads in self help, this book preaches the principles to make people like you, to win people over by your way of thinking, to change people without arousing resentment.

A Wondrous Tale by R.J Palacio

“My name is August.

I won’t describe what I look like.

Whatever you’re thinking,

it’s probably worse.”

 

This is what is written on the back of the book named ‘Wonder’ by R.J Palacio. It’s a powerful book about a simple boy, with a family going to school watching movies, playing games just like all the other kids. The only difference is how he looks.

“His eyes are about an inch below where they should be on his face, almost to halfway down his cheeks. He doesn’t have eyebrows, and the top of his eyelids are always closed. He doesn’t have cheekbones. Sometimes, people assume he’s been burnt in a fire.” – Via, Part two.

August Pullman is a ten year old buy who has certain facial anomalies since birth. He is an ordinary boy who loves playing XBox and is a die hard fan of Star Wars. He even sports a Padawan braid, inspired by the movies. But despite the 27 operations done on his face, he will never look normal. This story is a breathtaking and emotional journey of how August survives high school and faces the ups and downs during the year, owing to his face, and many people overlooking his intelligence and funny personality just because of his external features.

If you read the book, you will be hooked from the very start. It explores the different habits and pet peeves of August and how his family always cheers his up and makes him burst into fits of laughter. Initially, August was scared to go to school, afraid of how people would react. He had been homeschooled since birth and this would be a new change for him.

This book is a story about a boy who is judged at, stared at, mocked at by society. At first, I thought it would be a sad book, describing the mental and physical challenges this boy faced in every day things. But, it’s much much more than that. The book is infused with humor and kindness and it leaves you feeling inspired.

August us bullied in school by a bunch of guys, but his true friends stick to him till the end. It shows that true bonds can make all the bad go away. This story also has different point of views. One important aspect of this story was Via, August’s older sister. She has always been protective of August, and get’s angry whenever people start pointing and staring at him. But at the same time, she also feels like a child not receiving any attention from her parents because they are so busy looking after August. It shows the bittersweet relationship between sibling and despite all the fights and arguments, this bond stays stronger than ever.

This book clearly states that there are no good guys or bad guys. There are just people, and the way they are shaped. Everyone’s conscious always says the right thing, the difference is what voice they listen to. The bully in this story makes fun of August and mocks him due to his face and his braid, but this stems from his own feelings of resentment and anger. August was just a medium to get it all out. In the end, he is just a kid trying to figure out life.

I would recommend this book to all people. This book traverses all boundaries of age, gender, religion and makes us believe in humanity again. An intriguing book about loyalty and friendship, this book is will always be my favorite. Hope it creates an impact of anyone who reads it.

“You can’t blend in

when you were born to stand out” -R.J Palacio