Nonfiction November is hosted by She Seeks Nonfiction, Volatile Rune, Based on a True Story, Readerbuzz and Adventures in Reading, Running and Working from Home
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Week 2 is hosted by Frances @ Volatile Rune: check out here post here!
Choosing Nonfiction
What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking. (Frances)
People who know me even a little bit known I’m a big ancient history girlie but I do also enjoy other types of history which I will post about below in addition to ancient history.
Prehistory
The First Fossil Hunters by Adrienne Mayor
Early Humans by Suzanne Pilaar Birch
They Were Here Before Us by Ran Barkai & Eyal Halfon
Ancient History
The Celts by Alice Roberts
In the Shadow of Vesuvius by Daisy Dunn
The War That Made the Roman Empire by Barry Strauss
Medieval
The Edge of the World by Michael Pye Powerful
Women of the Medieval World by Dorsey Armstrong
The Templars by Dan Jones
Renaissance
10 Women Who Ruled the Renaissance by Joyce Salisbury
Leonardo Da Vinci by Hourly History
Galileo Galilei by Hourly History
World War 1 – 2
Mata Hari by Hourly History
How Languages Saved Me by Tadeusz Haska & Stefanie Naumann
From The Children’s Home to the Gas Chamber by Reinier Heinsman
Mythology
Antigone Rising by Helen Morales
Women in Power by Stephanie McCarter
Women of Myth by Jenny Williamson & Gen McMenemy
Other
Tames by Alice Roberts
The Real History of Dracula by Sara Cleto & Brittany Warman
Unquiet Women by Max Adams
Which of these books would you want to read?
And this is the joy of the breadth of nonfiction – I rarely, if ever, read history texts (I even veer away from historical fiction) – luckily there’s something out there for every reader (I generally choose memoir or books about swimming!).
Oh how interesting! Do you swim yourself, if you read books about it?
Such a great selection. I wish I had time to start reading non fiction, but I probably wouldn’t choose history😉 Maybe memoirs or science!
I rare read memoirs, although last year I read 3 I think! And I do love reading about science as well. Maybe you can start with one every few months or something? 🙂
I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and that does carry over to my nonfiction reading, too!
It often does, doesn’t? 😀
I’m intrigued by The First Fossil Hunters because, when I think about it, why do we believe that it took until the 19th century to “discover” fossils? I’m putting The Templars on my list because I liked Dan Jones as the presenter of Secrets of Great British Castles, but didn’t realize that he wrote books, too.
Yes, for example the ancient Greeks came across fossils too but related mythological creatures to them. Dan Jones has written a lot of books. He also recently started getting into writing fiction too, if I remember correctly!
“Unquiet Women” looks awesome!
It was a really great read!
I’m currently reading the Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty. I’m trying to read a little more non-fiction but I’m just a baby when it comes to it! It’s very new for me.
We all have to start somewhere. I hope you’re enjoying the book!
I would be intrigued to read In the Shadow of Vesuvius because I read a fiction trilogy based in Pompeii and featuring Pliny as a character. I’d love to know more about the history behind that.
Are you talking about the Wolf Den books by Elodie Harper? 😀
Yes!
I still have to read the last book but it’s one of my favorite series!
I think that, as far as the historical nonfiction goes, we love the same kind of books. Many of the books you talk about, I also like.
Yay! 😀
I have read The Templars. I would maybe like to read Unquiet Women
I also love history books but I am drawn to individual stores in more modern history – especially code breakers and female spies. But now I know where to go if I want early history recommendations!
I have endless recommendations, that’s for sure. Which ones would you recommend the most on code breakers and female spies?