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Recommend me some non fiction if these are some of my favourites?

106 replies

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 20:30

I am particularly looking for something that works as audio

So I liked

Bad Blood by John Carreyou
Say Nothing and London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
The Only Plane In The Sky by Garrett Graff
A Woman Of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Mrs. Jordan’s Profession by Clare Tomalin
Letters Between Six Sisters ed. Charlotte Mosley

among others!

OP posts:
ÚlldemoShúl · 05/05/2026 21:22

Alive by Piers Paul Reid (story of the rugby team whose plane came down in the Andes)
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
anything by Jon Krakauer
All the Beauty in the World by Patrick someone (works as guard in museum)
Empire of Pain by your friend and mine Patrick Radden Keefe

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 21:24

I have read Jon Krakauer and the PRF. I’ll have a serious look at the others!

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ÚlldemoShúl · 05/05/2026 21:24

Oh and Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker and Stasiland by Anna Funder

Sidebeforeself · 05/05/2026 21:26

The Five… about Jack The Rippers victims . Their life stories not about their murders

Shrinkhole · 05/05/2026 21:29

The Indifferent Stars above DJ Brown
I read recently and I thought was amazing. It s a survival story from the Oregon wagon trail which is harrowing but also just blows you away with their bravery.

Stowickthevast · 05/05/2026 21:31

I listened to Mother Mary Comes to Me narrated by the author, Arundhati Roy. I thought it was brilliant but someone in my online book club said they found her voice a bit irritating! Maybe try it if you'd enjoy a memoir.

Shrinkhole · 05/05/2026 21:34

I also love Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey but might be a bit more political than you are looking for.

SheilaFentiman · 05/05/2026 21:38
  1. A Life of my Own - Claire Tomalin

Claire Tomalin’s autobiography - It’s very good.

  1. Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 - Mitchell Zuckoff (NF)
  2. Bringing Columbia Home - Mike Leibenhart

Similar emotional impact to The Only Plane…

  1. The Curious Case of Mike Lynch - Katie Prescott
  2. The Great Post Office Scandal - Nick Wallis
  3. Too Big to Fail - Andrew Ross Sorkin
  4. A Colossal Failure of Common Sense: The Incredible Inside Story of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers - Larry McDonald and Patrick Robinson

Corporate shenanigans of the Bad Blood kind. There was also a good WeWork book but I forget the title off hand

I don’t have any of these as audio but my non fiction audiobook recommendation is always Palin.

TimeforaGandT · 05/05/2026 21:39

Have you read any Ben MacIntyre? Does need you to have an interest in WW2 but if you do then worth a try. I really liked The Spy and the Traitor.

Politics? Politics on the Edge - Rory Stewart or What does Jeremy think? - Suzanne Heywood

When the Dust Settles - Lucy Easthope - dealing with disasters.

TimeforaGandT · 05/05/2026 21:40

Sorry, missed the audio bit - so don't know whether any of my suggestions work for that....

ChickensAndEggs · 05/05/2026 21:44

The Mitford Girls by Mary S Lovell - fascinating account of the Mitford sisters.

Good Pop, Bad Pop by Jarvis Cocker (read by the author on Audible) - Jarvis sorts through his attic and muses on music and his life.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (on Audible superbly narrated by Simon Prebble) - fantastic book, adventure, heroism, wonderful descriptions, great characters.

Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis (on Audible but I read the book so can’t comment on the narration) - very good on the historical context for the Everest attempts in the 1920s.

Figurinea · 05/05/2026 21:47

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 20:30

I am particularly looking for something that works as audio

So I liked

Bad Blood by John Carreyou
Say Nothing and London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
The Only Plane In The Sky by Garrett Graff
A Woman Of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Mrs. Jordan’s Profession by Clare Tomalin
Letters Between Six Sisters ed. Charlotte Mosley

among others!

I know it's not the brief and you are after non-fiction. I really liked Bad Blood and think you could enjoy these 2 fiction books. They are eye opening and don't quite feel like fiction.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

ChickensAndEggs · 05/05/2026 21:55

Also

Precious: The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time by Helen Molesworth (on Audible read by the author) - a delightful book if you are interested in jewels/jewellery.

afaloren · 05/05/2026 21:57

I loved listening to American Kingpin, a book about the Silk Road on the dark web. At one point I remember punching the steering wheel (I was parked) because I was so invested!

Also Michelle Obama’s autobiography which she read herself.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 21:59

Figurinea · 05/05/2026 21:47

I know it's not the brief and you are after non-fiction. I really liked Bad Blood and think you could enjoy these 2 fiction books. They are eye opening and don't quite feel like fiction.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Edited

Read them both! Brilliant! But the Rebecca Skloot isn’t fiction!

OP posts:
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:00

Sidebeforeself · 05/05/2026 21:26

The Five… about Jack The Rippers victims . Their life stories not about their murders

Read it

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EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:01

Shrinkhole · 05/05/2026 21:29

The Indifferent Stars above DJ Brown
I read recently and I thought was amazing. It s a survival story from the Oregon wagon trail which is harrowing but also just blows you away with their bravery.

This is a contender

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SorrelForbes · 05/05/2026 22:02

Sidebeforeself · 05/05/2026 21:26

The Five… about Jack The Rippers victims . Their life stories not about their murders

I second this. It's so interesting and a really different perspective.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:03

afaloren · 05/05/2026 21:57

I loved listening to American Kingpin, a book about the Silk Road on the dark web. At one point I remember punching the steering wheel (I was parked) because I was so invested!

Also Michelle Obama’s autobiography which she read herself.

Read the Michelle Obama count how many times she says Our Little House On Euclid Avenue

american kingpin sounds good

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EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:04

Stowickthevast · 05/05/2026 21:31

I listened to Mother Mary Comes to Me narrated by the author, Arundhati Roy. I thought it was brilliant but someone in my online book club said they found her voice a bit irritating! Maybe try it if you'd enjoy a memoir.

This is a possibility

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EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:05

ÚlldemoShúl · 05/05/2026 21:24

Oh and Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker and Stasiland by Anna Funder

Read both and they were bolds.

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EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:05

@SorrelForbes unfortunately I’ve read it some years ago

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EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:07

SheilaFentiman · 05/05/2026 21:38

  1. A Life of my Own - Claire Tomalin

Claire Tomalin’s autobiography - It’s very good.

  1. Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 - Mitchell Zuckoff (NF)
  2. Bringing Columbia Home - Mike Leibenhart

Similar emotional impact to The Only Plane…

  1. The Curious Case of Mike Lynch - Katie Prescott
  2. The Great Post Office Scandal - Nick Wallis
  3. Too Big to Fail - Andrew Ross Sorkin
  4. A Colossal Failure of Common Sense: The Incredible Inside Story of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers - Larry McDonald and Patrick Robinson

Corporate shenanigans of the Bad Blood kind. There was also a good WeWork book but I forget the title off hand

I don’t have any of these as audio but my non fiction audiobook recommendation is always Palin.

Some excellent suggestions Thanks.

OP posts:
SorrelForbes · 05/05/2026 22:08

Have you read her latest about Dr Crippen? Worth a read/listen.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 05/05/2026 22:09

Shrinkhole · 05/05/2026 21:34

I also love Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey but might be a bit more political than you are looking for.

Read this, it was good!

OP posts: