Nonfiction November: Week 1

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Guess what, it's Nonfiction November!  This one snuck up on me.  Nonfiction November is a month-long event that talks about everything non-fiction.  There's a different prompt and host every week.  This week's host is Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness, and she asks:
Week 1: (Oct. 29 to Nov. 2) – Your Year in Nonfiction (Kim @ Sophisticated Dorkiness): Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

 Favorite non-fiction read of the year: Boy, that's a tough one.  Looking back on what I've read, I see that I have read more non-fiction than I thought I did, and a lot of it was great.  I can't pick just one, so here is a top five:

5.  The Coddling of the American Mind, by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
4.  Craeft, by Alexander Langlands
3. Jim Henson, the biography by Brian Jay Jones
2. Danubia, by Simon Winder
1. Meetings With Remarkable Manuscripts, by Christopher de Hamel

And for worst non-fiction read of the year, I'd like to nominate Justinian's Flea.

Plus, I've still got one to write about that was pretty fantastic!  Watch this space!


Any particular topics of focus:  I didn't read as much history as I would like to.  I really jumped around all over the place and can't find a focus; there's a good deal of history, some practical information, and some just plain fun (check out Never Use Futura!).  Mostly I wished I had time for more: more medieval history, more recent history, more weird nooks and crannies of the world.

Nonfiction book I've recommended the most:  Funny, I think it must be Danubia.  I enjoyed Winder's writing so much, and I really do think the book contains lessons for us in our current political climate (such as: the fabric of civil society is not as strong as we think, and tribalism can be fun but also very dangerous indeed).

What I'm hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November:  Some good recommendations for more books to read!  And I always like to meet more fellow non-fiction readers. 





Comments

  1. MapheadNovember 1, 2018 at 12:32 PM

    I sooo need to read Danubia!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JeanNovember 1, 2018 at 5:53 PM

    You would like it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. reeseNovember 1, 2018 at 7:36 PM

    I'd never heard of Meetings With Remarkable Manuscripts. That sounds totally awesome to me... :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. LoryNovember 2, 2018 at 6:23 AM

    I want to read Danubia too. But I've been so bad at reading the nonfiction I intended to from last year's NFN, I don't want to jinx myself. So maybe I shouldn't even say that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jenny @ Reading the EndNovember 2, 2018 at 5:44 PM

    I am hoping to get SO many recs this month. I need to see if I can get my act together real quick and schedule at least two posts for the month, because I love this event and I am just hella disorganized about blogging this year. :p

    ReplyDelete
  6. LouiseNovember 3, 2018 at 11:00 PM

    I've never heard of any of your books!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)November 4, 2018 at 7:13 AM

    I always wish that I could read more too -- it feels like there's never enough time int he day to get all the things I want done. Thanks for joining us this month!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzNovember 5, 2018 at 3:20 AM

    I think I'd like to look for Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts. Thanks for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete

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