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Recommend me a book where I'll learn something...

30 replies

fiestabelle1 · 24/08/2016 12:45

Have downloaded a few samples in the past few days and nothings grabbing me. Like fiction but like to learn something at the same time. Set in another country, time period, or with a background subject that i dont know anything about. Happy to try any genre, help me find something to get my mojo back! Best books are the ones that make me want to go away and read more about a place/time/event.

OP posts:
troglodite · 24/08/2016 13:29

KNife man- about John HUmter an early medical pioneer. Very interesting www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0041RRH72/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks- about a young black woman with unique cells that are used all over the world inreserach now. raises questions about who owns our genetic material and should private companies make money from waht is given/taken freely.
www.amazon.co.uk/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks-ebook/dp/B003P2WJ6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1472041637&sr=1-1&keywords=immortal+life+of+henrietta+lacks

fiestabelle1 · 24/08/2016 14:58

Thanks, both look interesting, will have a better look when i finish work.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/08/2016 16:21

Another vote for 'Knife Man' - interesting and accessible.

'A Woman in Berlin' - about the aftermath of WW2.

'Complications' by Atul Gawande - he's a surgeon and this is an interesting and informative read.

And these two were both flawed imvho, but I did learn some stuff from both of them!
'Anatomy of a Soldier' by Harry Parker
'The Things they Carried' by Tim o' Brien

Sadik · 24/08/2016 18:35

The Dispossessed by Ursula le Guin - good sci fi tale, but also tells you lots about how a society run on anarchist principles might work / not work in practice (it explores good and bad sides).

Anything of Mary Renault's Greek books, but especially the Alexander Trilogy - the easy way to learn classical history! (A friend of mine who was a classicist recommended them to me years ago)

InTheDessert · 24/08/2016 18:45

Princess
Possibly biased, since I'm living there, but a fascinating insight into Saudi Royal life.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 24/08/2016 18:51

Skalligrig by William Horwood. Out of print but you can get it on amazon. Brilliant, brilliant book about disability and the enduring power of love.

The Dispossed, mentioned upthread is great too.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 24/08/2016 18:55

My spelling has gone to pot today.
Skallagrigg

DoItTooJulia · 24/08/2016 18:56

Nothing To Envy

And The Signature of All Things is interesting, but maybe not quite what your after?

Arthur and George Julian Barnes. Very accurate by all accounts and fascinating too as someone fairly local to where s lot of the action takes place. Apparently the train timings are faithful! Weird fact!

EnglebertSlaptyback · 24/08/2016 18:59

Sophie's world was a real eye opener!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/08/2016 20:25

'Arthur and George' is brilliant. 'Flaubert's Parrot' good too, although I don't like Barnes' other stuff.

fiestabelle1 · 24/08/2016 21:04

Some great recommendations, thank you.

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tripfiction · 24/08/2016 21:29

Oh, I have just read Eva Sleeps by Francesca Melandri and it was amazing fiction that tells of the mid 20th Century struggles (so quite recent) between Austria and Italy over the Alto Adige/South Tyrol region. I definitely learnt about a period of history through great fiction: www.tripfiction.com/epic-novel-set-mainly-in-the-south-tyrol/

storynanny · 24/08/2016 21:31

I'm reading "The silk merchants daughter" and learning more about Vietnam in the 1950's

annandale · 24/08/2016 21:35

Stasiland - about East Germany
On Being Mortal
The Noonday Demon - about depression
The Emperor of all Maladies - about cancer
Between Silk and Cyanide - about the SOE

Cheerful, eh. Stasiland is the easiest read, between silk the funniest. The others I've only managed parts of but they are all good.

Flanderspigeonmurderer · 24/08/2016 21:39

One summer 1927 by Bill Bryson, very integrating read.

Flanderspigeonmurderer · 24/08/2016 21:40

*interesting

Kalispera · 24/08/2016 21:42

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande; it's about how we could change the system by which elderly people receive care.

Or Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks; you'll learn a lot about the First World War. And it's just amazing to boot.

lifeisaconundrumattimes · 24/08/2016 21:44

Guernica! Can't remember who it's by but it's a fantastic novel. Set in Spain and essentially a love story but very well written and deep.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/08/2016 21:47

Speaking of Bryson, 'A History of the World' and his Shakespeare one, although personally I far prefer his earlier travel writing.

'Inside Hitler's Bunker' by Joachim Fest.

standingonlego · 24/08/2016 21:52

The disappearing spoon by Sam Kean. All about the chemical elements, a great and entertaining read

www.amazon.co.uk/Disappearing-Spoon-other-tales-Periodic/dp/0552777501

LearningHowToFly · 24/08/2016 21:53

I'll agree with the people who suggested Bill Bryson, not fiction but he writes in such a brilliant way you'll be laughing out loud and learning something. I really like his book A Short History of Nearly Everything.

Jaimx86 · 24/08/2016 21:54

I really really enjoyed
Heavenly Hirani's School of Laughing Yoga, set in Mombai. One of the best books I read this year.

SkydivingFerret · 24/08/2016 21:54

The bees by (i think ) laline paull is an interesting book

JemimaMuddledUp · 25/08/2016 06:31

Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel.

KoalaDownUnder · 25/08/2016 06:41

The Brain That Changes Itself
The Brain's Way of Healing

Both by Norman Doidge.

Non-fiction about neuroplasticity, full of fascinating case studies.