Well written and interesting non- fiction books

[BeverleyCleverley]

I've got a decent pile of fiction books to work through but I like to have some non fiction books on the go too and I'd love some recommendations! Particularly stuff about current affairs/politics etc but I also love geography/history/science books and open to wider suggestions

Anything by Christopher Hitchens: knowledgeable and funny.

Anything Luke o Neill has written (Siri’s h science expert), or Dara O Briain (comedian with an interest in science)

Yes all his books are fascinating.

I also enjoyed Jonn Elledge's A History of the World in 47 borders and Lewis Baston wrote a similar one called Borderlines. I've read both of those twice.

Lady in waiting - Anne Glenconner

• written by Lady Glenconner about her life including her friendship with the Royal family, particularly Princess Margaret.

Great Britain by Torsten Bell. Good analysis of legacy of underinvestment and regional and generational inequalities in the UK. Interesting to see some of the thinking around solutions creeping into the government’s policies. Sadly, I suspect they won’t get the three terms needed for change to really take root and bear fruit. Hope I’m wrong.

Also In Praise of Walking by Professor Shane O’Mara. The transition from crawling to walking via thousands of falls, missteps and all the minor adjustments required to find the ability to walk points to what learning effectively might be like in almost any sphere. It’s extremely readable but if you want the even quicker version, there’s a good interview on BBC Sounds Don’t tell me the Score.

Unruly by David Mitchell. A history of the early King's of England. Interesting and often very witty.

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall. Absolutely fascinating and changes how you look at the world.

Just treated myself to a copy of Prisoners of Geography @Arraminta , I kept meaning to read it, it sounds right up my street

Oh this sounds really interesting !

mine are books about hedge funds as i was influenced by the show billions with bobby axelrod

https://amzn.eu/d/e5b3ke6

Gates of Hell: Why Bill Gates Is the Most Dangerous Man in the World by Daniel Jupp.

And

https://amzn.eu/d/hshLBLM

F*ck the Planet: How to Resist the Great Reset in the Trump Era by Daniel Jupp

Sex in History by Reay Tannahill. She’s a fabulous historian and this book is so compelling. She also wrote Flesh and Blood, about cannibalism, which is also really good. She has another about the history of food, but I haven’t read that yet.

Joan Didion’s Blue Nights and The Year of Magical Thinking
Dennis Covington’s Salvation on Sand Mountain

Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke won the Women's Prize for Non Fiction this year and is beautifully written. It interlaces the story of a child's heart transplant with the history of transplantation science. It's my book of the year so far.

Also from the longlist Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men is a great read.

Tide by Hugh Aldersey-Williams. Beautifully written and really interesting.

Currently reading TheHuman Tide by Paul Moreland , about the impact of demography on history and the interactions between modernisation, economic growth, military and colonial ambition, the shape of a democracy- all the big stuff! Very readable and informative- haven’t yet got to the policy implications for current governments yet, still in the historical overview sections. Another one inspired by a radio interview- Amol Rajan’s programme Radical featured the author a couple of weeks ago. BBC Sounds.

The History of the World in 100 Animals - Simon Barnes.

Tracks our relationship with nature through 100 species, each one having it's own short chapter. I loved it, and want to read the sister book 100 Objects.

Great ideas on here!

Placemarking, to find again and make a list!

I have read several book mentioned here but have also seen many more that I would like to read, I keep it on my watch list
Many thanks for the OP and all the recommendations
Brilliant thread

City of Djinns (Dalrymple)
Stranger in the Forest (Hansen)
Travelers’ Tales: Food, A Taste of the Road
Longitude (Sobel)

Kate Summerscale’s book The Peepshow : The murders at Rillington Place is great.

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady is excellent

the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, by Steve Brusatte, was legit the best popular science book ive ever read

Prisoners of Geography- Tim Marshall is excellent.

Mudlarking - Lara Maiklem is really excellent.