I am the type of person much more inclined to pick up a novel. However, as of late, I started to indulge into non-fiction books as well. To my surprise, I have found lots of pleasure in reading non-fiction and have found myself developing my thoughts and mind with each one of these masterpieces. Here is a list of 5 non-fiction books that you cannot miss! I think it is relevant, especially for non-fiction, to know the author and his credentials before listening to what s/he has to say, so I will briefly describe each before the book.
Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari
Dr. Harari is a historian and professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While his graduate studies focused on Renaissance war and its link to personal relations, his more contemporary ideas seem to revolve around the human condition and development.
This is the story of how we, humans, developed into what we are today. There might be many books about this topic on the market, however, I find Harari’s poignant honesty and nonchalance when addressing this subject particularly refreshing. He does not hold back on calling us out and on putting into perspective how lucky and privileged we are to have survived despite our not being even close to the “fittest.” It is a bit of a longer book, but the style of the author makes it a fast and easy read.
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, John Gray
John Gray is a relationship counselor. He wrote multiple books on the topic of relationships, giving advice on the best ways to have meaningful and joyful connections.
His most known book - Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - gives a very straight forward and analytical perspective on relationships between different sexes. His advice is highly based on general assumptions about females/males, so take it all with a grain of salt: we’re all different. Nevertheless, his observations are relevant and can be tailored to everyone’s uniqueness. What I like about this book is that he doesn’t try to force the idea that we're all alike and should therefose understand one another: he bluntly argues that we are different, and we think differently. Misunderstandings are inevitable. He observes two different perspectives which can be used to understand a partner of an opposite sex and their reactions better.
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor in the years 161 and 180. What is perhaps a little less known about him, is that he was a curious and brilliant philosopher. His Meditations is his only work of philosophical writing.
This book offers 12 reflections on different topics all more or less related to self-awareness, the meaning of life, and morality. His reflections are powerful guides to seeking happiness and understanding from within, rather than critiquing things/people we cannot control.
Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl
Viktor Frankl is an Austian psychiatrist. He is mostly known in the world of psychology for his work on logotherapy, which argues that the search for meaning (whatever that is for each unique individual) is the best motivation for life. Dr. Frankl is also a Holocaust survivor.
In this book, he merges his psychiatrical theory with his experience at the Auschwitz concentration camp. While he does describe the life at the camp, his focus is mostly on showing how his ideas about logotherapy helped and guided him throughout the experience. The book illustrates how, for someone that struggles with the motivation to go forward, it is possible to find meaning in each situation. It is definitely a harder read from that perspective, but a very valuable one.
The Art of Idleness, Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse is a notable German writer. The writer focuses on themes such as spirituality and self-actualization. Among a multitude of other prizes, he is the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 1946.
‘The Art of Idleness’ is not a book which is very known by him. It is not even constructed as a flow of a specific idea. The book is a compilation of (sometimes very) short essays about everything. It is a stream of the author’s reflections on politics, society as a whole, art, and nature. While this is not a book which explores in detail a specific topic, it is certainly a pleasure to roam through Hesse’s ideas and thoughts. It feels as though having a deep conversation with an exceptionally interesting person.
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