What’s the best non fiction book you’ve read ?

[Dayrider]

In the last year and/or ever?
Looking for inspiration

All that remains; a life in Death by Dame Sue Black
Fascinating autobiography by a leading professor of anatomy and forensic anthropologist. The work she has been involved with is incredible. And she writes like a dream.

I have just finished Spike by Jeremy Faraar, head of the Welcome Trust Really good insight into the workings of sage and the government for the first 18 months of the Pandemic. Exposes Boris as worse than incompetent.

How the Girl Guides Won the War.

Very interesting and touching collection of stories about girls around the world during WW2.

I'm placemarking really because I don't read enough non fiction.

Educated by Tara Westover is what sprang to mind when I saw the thread title.

Both of these by Jon Krakauer - Into Thin Air (about Mt Everest) and Under the Banner of Heaven (about Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).

Wildly different topics - equally compelling.

I've yet to meet anyone disappointed in them.

@Ratonastick

Another one, Spy Amongst Friends by Ben Macintyre. It’s a different look at Kim Philby and his relationships with his friends and how the friendships were completely asymmetric. From their side, they were sincere and deep friendships of long-standing, from his they were just mechanisms to enable his spying for Russia. It’s an easy read and an interesting character study.

By the same author. Agent Sonya was a fantastic read.

As I walked out one Midsummer morning
By Laurie Lee
First read when I was eleven as my sister was studying for O'level.

An Evil Cradling

Invisible Women, as said by several. It should be required reading.

Wilding by Isabella Tree
Factfulness by Hans Rosling
Talking To My Daughter About The Economy - Yanis Varoufakis
I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron.
(Actually, anything by Nora Ephron)
How To Argue With Racists - Adam Rutherford

James Rebanks books are good

The immortal life of Henrietta lacks.
Being mortal, by Atul Gawande.
Do no harm, by Henry marsh.
When breath becomes air, by Paul kalanithi.

@Hugoslavia

Stasiland - stories from behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder. I've just finished it and it was brilliant. Beautifully written.

That sounds right up my street. Thanks for the tip!

I further recommend
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Also, Invisible Women.

Being Mortal should be on everyone's reading list, as old age is coming to us all.

Recently I have read 2 books about the Thai cave rescue, both interesting.

Another vote for Educated a really gripping book.
Being mortal
Pretty much anything by Ben MacIntyre about spies and British wartime exploits.

@astrowars

Unnatural causes by Richard shepherd. He was an eminent home office pathologist. Not gory but a very thought provoking read. He was involved a a lot of big disasters and his analysis of them is very interesting.

Second this. Also Nothing to Envy, about life in North Korea.

“Some kids I taught and what they taught me” by Kate Clanchy.

Cliche but I laughed and cried buckets. It’s an amazing book.

Made me appreciate teachers even more after reading this.

Oh also Rachel Clarke’s book Dear Life is a hard read but really good.

She has also written one about COVID but I am not quite ready for that yet!

I love non fiction so will def check some of these out.

Loved Factfulness.

The Politics of Breastfeeding is fascinating as well.

Far from the Tree (v good book about children born with different disabilities).
Homicide - A year on the killing streets (about real life homicide detectives).

Another vote for Factfulness by Hans Rosling
Do No Harm by Henry Marsh
A Very English Scandal by John Preston
Theft by Finding by David Sedaris
Trans by Helen Joyce
As PP said anything by Nora Ephron
Difficult Women by Helen Lewis

Some I haven't spotted being mentioned yet:

How to Listen to Great Music Robert Greenberg
Scott's Last Journey: the Diary of Captain Scott
The Worst Journey in the World Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Touching the Void Joe Simpson
The Assassins Cloak (excerpts from many different diaries)
The diaries of Nella Last (3 volumes but I can't remember the titles)

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold about the 5 women murdered by Jack the Ripper.

How to Build a Healthy Brain - Kimberly Wilson, which I'm reading to try and protect my head in the future.

Happy Food - Nikolas Ekstedt, half cookery book half discussion on the importance of probiotics and good gut function.

Really want to read Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera.

All That Remains by Sue Black….she’s a world renowned pathologist who has travelled round the world to help with disasters and also help the police with high profile cases. Fascinating.

Sapiens
The Diet Myth

Oh and The Missionary Position (the truth about Mother Teresa).