Interesting and Knowledgable Non Fiction Books

Gazella · 03-18-2013, 09:13 AM

What's the most interesting, knowledgable and informative non fiction book you've read? A book you enjoyed and learned a lot from.

Bilbo1967 · 03-18-2013, 09:51 AM

An early recommendation for Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Probably not the most learned of tomes, but for enjoyment value it is very high and, personally, that meant that I learnt more from it than from other, harder going, books.

I also found Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage a brilliant read. It's the story of Lewis and Clark and their expedition across the newly purchased territories of the United States in the early 19th Century.

Pablo · 03-18-2013, 10:37 AM

I second Bill Bryson's A Short History... .

When I was a kid, I read Cosmos by Carl Sagan, a marvelous book that made an everlasting impression on my mind. This book, now probably a bit outdated, deserves a new commented edition (I know there's a recent edition, I don't know if it has been updated or is just a reprint). My all-time favourite.

John Gribbin's In Search of Schrodinger's cat is another book I regularly go back to. Also by John Gribbin Science: a history (1543-2001) is a very interesting book.

Two books by Simon Singh: The Code Book and Big Bang.

Anything by Ben MacIntyre, I've read Operation Mincemeat, Double Cross and Agent ZigZag (WWII espionage and cover operations) and The Napoleon of Crime (the life of Adam Worth, a notorious thief)

Pablo · 03-18-2013, 10:42 AM

I just remembered there's a thread on this topic, have a look at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=191117

Gazella · 03-18-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

I just remembered there's a thread on this topic, have a look at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=191117

Oops! I should've searched before making this thread. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Bilbo1967 · 03-18-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

I just remembered there's a thread on this topic, have a look at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=191117

That's a pretty old thread?

Pablo · 03-18-2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

That's a pretty old thread?

Not so old, and the list the OP compiled in the first post is worth a look.

Nancy Fulda · 03-18-2013, 02:40 PM

Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time. Also Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and 13 Things That Don't Make Sense by Michael Brooks.

[Edited to Add: Oops. Maybe I should have posted this in the other thread.]

Bilbo1967 · 03-18-2013, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

Not so old, and the list the OP compiled in the first post is worth a look.

Yes, you're right. It is.

morriss003 · 03-18-2013, 02:59 PM

Try William J. Bernstein's A Splendid Exchange, How Trade Shaped the World.
http://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Excha.../dp/0802144160

jersysman · 03-18-2013, 03:32 PM

Perhaps a little breakdown of non-fiction is in order as that encompasses a vast area to choose from.

Billi · 03-18-2013, 04:01 PM

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=134110

Elfwreck · 03-18-2013, 04:19 PM

The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property by Lewis Hyde, which was retitled to the much more boring The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World when Random House released the 25th anniversary edition.

LovesMacs · 03-18-2013, 06:13 PM

If history counts for the purposes of this discussion, John Julius Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium. It is a condensed version of the same author's trilogy about the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately none of these books appear to be available as ebooks.

dwig · 03-18-2013, 06:38 PM

For me, one of many such books was Richard Rhodes' Pulitzer Prize-winning The Making of the Atomic Bomb.

03-18-2013, 09:13 AM	#1
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,694 Karma: 4601218 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Oasis	Interesting and Knowledgable Non Fiction Books What's the most interesting, knowledgable and informative non fiction book you've read? A book you enjoyed and learned a lot from.

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03-18-2013, 09:51 AM	#2
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	An early recommendation for Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Probably not the most learned of tomes, but for enjoyment value it is very high and, personally, that meant that I learnt more from it than from other, harder going, books. I also found Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage a brilliant read. It's the story of Lewis and Clark and their expedition across the newly purchased territories of the United States in the early 19th Century.

03-18-2013, 10:37 AM	#3
Pablo Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-505, PRS-T2	I second Bill Bryson's A Short History... . When I was a kid, I read Cosmos by Carl Sagan, a marvelous book that made an everlasting impression on my mind. This book, now probably a bit outdated, deserves a new commented edition (I know there's a recent edition, I don't know if it has been updated or is just a reprint). My all-time favourite. John Gribbin's In Search of Schrodinger's cat is another book I regularly go back to. Also by John Gribbin Science: a history (1543-2001) is a very interesting book. Two books by Simon Singh: The Code Book and Big Bang. Anything by Ben MacIntyre, I've read Operation Mincemeat, Double Cross and Agent ZigZag (WWII espionage and cover operations) and The Napoleon of Crime (the life of Adam Worth, a notorious thief)

03-18-2013, 10:42 AM	#4
Pablo Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-505, PRS-T2	I just remembered there's a thread on this topic, have a look at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=191117

03-18-2013, 02:40 PM	#8
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time. Also Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and 13 Things That Don't Make Sense by Michael Brooks. [Edited to Add: Oops. Maybe I should have posted this in the other thread.]

03-18-2013, 02:59 PM	#10
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	Try William J. Bernstein's A Splendid Exchange, How Trade Shaped the World. http://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Excha.../dp/0802144160

03-18-2013, 03:32 PM	#11
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	Perhaps a little breakdown of non-fiction is in order as that encompasses a vast area to choose from.

03-18-2013, 04:01 PM	#12
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=134110

03-18-2013, 04:19 PM	#13
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property by Lewis Hyde, which was retitled to the much more boring The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World when Random House released the 25th anniversary edition.

03-18-2013, 06:13 PM	#14
LovesMacs Fanatic Posts: 513 Karma: 2644386 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch	If history counts for the purposes of this discussion, John Julius Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium. It is a condensed version of the same author's trilogy about the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately none of these books appear to be available as ebooks.

03-18-2013, 06:38 PM	#15
dwig Wizard Posts: 1,613 Karma: 6718479 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Paradise (Key West, FL) Device: Current:Surface Go & Kindle 3 - Retired: DellV8p, Clie UX50, ...	For me, one of many such books was Richard Rhodes' Pulitzer Prize-winning The Making of the Atomic Bomb.

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