100 Great Narrative Nonfiction Books
A collection of must-read book-length narrative nonfiction, essay collections and classic journalismEssay Collections
The New Kings of Nonfiction by Ira Glass
A bulletproof collection of narrative nonfiction from the 90s and 00s.A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again and Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace
Between them, these collections cover all of DFW's best nonfiction.The White Album by Joan Didion
An arresting account of the fall-out from the cultural revolution.Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
This 1968 classic captured its era like few other books.Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith
Great essays about literature, writing and culture.The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders
One of best contemporary essayists on everything from politics and literature to travel, optimism and enlightenment.Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
An incisive and yet personal exploration of modern culture, politics, gender and race.Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan
A collection of JJS' best magazine journalism and essays.Notes from No Man's Land by Eula Biss
A spellbinding literary examination of racial identity.The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
A fascinating look at some of our deepest human questions through the lens of pain and illness.Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff
"The Indignities of Coach, Torments of Low Thread Count, Endless Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems"What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
A collection of Gladwell's best early New Yorker Essays.Arguably by Christopher Hitchens
Essays on politics, culture and the modern world from the leading critic of his age.I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
Funny and highly intimate reflections on growing old.Violation by Sallie Tisdale
Powerful essays spanning the 30-year career of a formidable voice.Mythologies by Roland Barthes
Meditations on everything from milk and striptease to toys and wrestling.The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson
The best writing from HST's golden age.The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby by Tom Wolfe
A full-throttle tour through 1960s pop culture.In Defense of Sanity by G. K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton's best essays may be 100 years old, but they still feel as fresh today as when they were written.Essays by E. B. White
A collection of his best essays including the classic Here is New York.
Memoir
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
A great collection of classics including countless much loved pieces.The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Growing up in a free-spirited but deeply dysfunctional family.Just Kids by Patti Smith
A memoir of art, love and music from a lost New York.The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch
A beautiful exploration of sexuality, gender and violence.A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
A memoir of lost youth that pushes the boundaries of nonfiction.Hunger by Roxane Gay
"A Memoir of (My) Body"My Misspent Youth by Meghan Daum
On growing up in Generation X.Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
"The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son."50 great short memoirs
Writing
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
A beautiful meditation on the torture and exhilaration of life as a writer.On Writing by Stephen King
A memoir of a life spent writing.Why I Write
26 great writers on 'The Craft of Fiction'.15 essential essays for writers
Language
The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker
On the fascinating science of linguistics and the complex origins and psychology of language.Words on the Move by John McWhorter
"Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still."The Story Of English by Robert McCrum
A comprehensive history of the world's lingua franca, in all its forms.25 great articles about language
Profiles
The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup by Susan Orlean
A collection of Orlean's very best profile pieces.The Fiddler in the Subway by Gene Weingarten
A bound collection of Weingarten's best articles.Hidden America by Jeanne Marie Laskas
The lives of the normal people who keep America running.Travel and Adventure
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
The story of a young man who gave up everything to answer the call of the wild, and ended up paying the ultimate price.The Lost City of Z by David Grann
The deadly search for a mythical city lost somewhere in the darkest Amazon, a magnet for generations of adventurers.The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
Travelling the length of Eurasia on the world's greatest railways.My Kind of Place by Susan Orlean
"Travel Stories from a Woman Who's Been Everywhere"River Town by Peter Hessler
Two years in China during a time of massive social change and cultural upheaval.127 Hours by Aaron Ralston
A fascinatingly shocking survival story.A Fortune-Teller Told Me by Tiziano Terzani
Earthbound travels in the Far East50 great travel stories
Sport
Barbarian Days by William Finnegan
A surf memoir.Moneyball by Michael Lewis
A book-length version of the classic essay The Trading Desk.What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Classic nonfiction from a master novelist.Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
A thrilling story that just grabs you.The Fight by Norman Mailer
The story of the Rumble in the Jungle as told by one of the greatest journalists in history.Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
The story of a small town's obsession with high-school football offers a great window onto a cultural phenomenon.50 great articles about sport
Art and Culture
How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read by Pierre Bayard
An excellent guide to an essential skill.Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klostermann
A Low Culture Manifesto.Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder by Lawrence Weschler
The author expands on his truly great essay about the Museum of Jurassic Technology, reflecting on the role of the museum.35 great essays about art and culture
Music
This Is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin
"The Science of a Human Obsession."Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
"Tales of Music and the Brain."35 great essays about music
Crime
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
A masterpiece of narrative journalism.Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
A great true crime story that reads like a novel.The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The chilling true tale of one of the world's prolific serial killers.25 great true crime reads
Race
Talking Back, Talking Black by John McWhorter
"Truths About America's Lingua Franca."Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A deeply personal exploration of race and history in America.How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America by Kiese Laymon
A powerful voice explores race violence and growing up in a divided country.25 great articles about race
Women and Men
Woman by Natalie Angier
"An Intimate Geography ."The End of Men by Hanna Rosin
"And the Rise of Women."Backlash by Susan Faludi
"The Undeclared War Against American Women."30 great articles about women
Money
Debt by David Graeber
If you don't know what money is, what do you know? Get informed!The Big Short by Michael Lewis
An insider's guide to the bizarre rituals of Wall St.Griftopia by Matt Taibbi
"A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History."25 great articles about money
Misc.
Love and Ruin by Evan Ratliff and Susan Orlean
The best of the Atavist.A Sliver of Light by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal and Sarah Shourd
Three Americans on their imprisonment in Iran.Shrill by Lindy West
On bodies, women, life, comedy and trolls.But What If We're Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman
Looking back on ourselves from an imagined future.Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
Life under one of the world's most repressive dictatorships, beautifully seen through the eyes of ordinary North Koreans.Underground by Haruki Murakami
A great novelist explores the Japanese psyche through the lens of the sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subway.See Also
150 Great Articles and Essays
A massive collection of the best nonfiction from around the net -- all available to read free online!
The Environment
Eaarth by Bill McKibben
"Making a Life on a Tough New Planet".The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
How we are driving a mass extinction.The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
"Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World"Krakatoa by Simon Winchester
The historical, social and ecological effects of one of history's greatest natural catastrophes.35 great articles about the environment
Science and Technology
The Accidental Universe by Alan Lightman
Exploring the deepest questions of science, nature and knowledge.The Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Richard P. Feynman
Fascinating insights about the role of knowledge in society.The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The amazing story of how one woman's cells became one of the most important tools in modern science.Cosmos by Carl Sagan
A classic that inspired a generation of writers with its accessible yet detailed descriptions of the working of the universe.Chaos by James Gleick
An engaging introduction to the world of chaos theory.Emergence by Steven Johnson
A revealing account of how emergent properties explain cities, biological systems, networks, and society.How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson
"Six Innovations That Made the Modern World."Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
A spirited attack on the abuses of science perpetrated by big pharma, unscrupulous journalists, corporations and governments.The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum
"Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine."Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
"The Curious Science of Life in the Void"The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder
The story of group of engineers working at the birth of the PC.100 great science & tech reads
Psychology
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
How our 'two-speed brain' affects or choices and reactions, and helps explains our intuitions and lack of rationality.Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz
"Adventures in the Margin of Error."The Confidence Game by Maria Konnikova
"Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time."Hit Makers by Derek Thompson
"The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction."The Black Swan by Nicholas Taleb
The psychology of improbable events, and the effect it has on our lives.Quiet by Susan Cain
"The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking."The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis
"How Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky made a science of human error.Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnson
How TV and computer games make you smart.The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
How our habits reveal us, and what can do to steer them.Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Steven J. Dubner
A great look at how stats can be used to explain many of life's quirks.NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Rethinking the way we raise kids.Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point
Exploring the mechanics of social transformation.You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney
A journey through the fascinating psychology of self-delusion.The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
How self-image is tied up with cultural standards of beauty100 great psychology reads
Love
Why We Love by Helen Fisher
"The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love."Essays in Love by Alain De Botton
Charting a relationship, from the first blush to the final heartbreak.A General Theory of Love by Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini and Richard Lannon
The science of love.25 great articles about love
Sex
Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel
Unlocking erotic intelligence in everyday life.Talk Dirty To Me by Sallie Tisdale
"An Intimate Philosophy of Sex."What Do Women Want? by Daniel Bergner
"Adventures in the Science of Female Desire."The Other Side of Desire by Daniel Bergner
"Four Journeys into the Far Realms of Lust and Longing."Future Sex by Emily Witt
"A New Kind of Free Love."25 great articles about sex
Happiness
Stumbling On Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
On imagination, the future and happinessFlow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
"The Psychology of Optimal Experience."Happy City by Charles Montgomery
"Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design."15 great articles about happiness
Success
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
"The Story of Success."Adapt by Tim Harford
"Why Success Always Starts with Failure."How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
"Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character."The Rise by Sarah Lewis
"Creativity and the Search for Mastery."10 great articles about success
Mental Health
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
"My Month of Madness."The Geography of Madness by Frank Bures
"Penis Thieves, Voodoo Death, and the Search for the Meaning of the World's Strangest Syndromes."Darkness Visible by William Styron
A memoir of depression.Irritable Hearts by Mac McClelland
"A PTSD Love Story."20 great articles about mental health
Death
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Marriage, love, life and death masterfully explored through death.Stiff by Mary Roach
"The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers."Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
"Medicine and What Matters in the End."The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead by David Shields
A philosophical meditation on mortality.Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
A journey "across the stark frontier that marks off the land of malady".The Death Class by Erika Hayasaki
"A True Story About Life."20 great articles about death
Politics
Political Fictions by Joan Didion
Great essays about how politics has left real people behind.The Great Derangement by Matt Taibbi
A highly critical look at the Bush administration in the post 9/11 era.No Logo by Naomi Klein
A critical look at the excesses of consumerism.Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
The reality of low-paid work in the USA.30 great articles about politics
History
1491 by Charles C. Mann
Surprising revelations about life in the Americas Before Columbus.Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
How geography, ecology and demographics have shaped the world.Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
"A Brief History of Humankind".The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
"Why Violence Has Declined."The Gun by C. J. Chivers
The origins of the world's most popular weapon, the AK47, and the story of how it revolutionised warfare.A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
How the things that surround us shape us.In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
The story of an American family in Hitler's Berlin, told by a master of narrative nonfiction.Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
"An Indian History of the American West"25 great essays about history
War
Hiroshima by John Hersey
The world's first nuclear attack, through the eyes of its survivors.Dispatches by Michael Herr
Classic reportage from the Vietnam war.Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden
The gripping story of a military operation gone badly wrong in the snipers nest of Mogadishu.Generation Kill by Evan Wright
Riding shotgun with the marines and the new face of war in Iraq.The Good War by Studs Terkel
An oral history of the most catastrophic war humanity has ever seen.The Saboteur by Paul Kix
"The aristocrat who became france's most daring anti-nazi commando"35 great articles about war
About The Electric Typewriter
We search the net to bring you the best nonfiction, articles, essays and journalism