I don’t read as much nonfiction as I do fiction. I’d like to balance that out a little more in 2010. Can anyone suggest some excellent nonfiction titles for my TBR list? I’m especially interested in history, British and American, Christian inspiration that is really, really worthwhile, and science titles for dummies.
Heaven: Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada.
Heaven by Randy Alcorn.
The topic for our church’s women’s retreat in February was Heaven, so I read both of these books in preparation. The reading and the study of the topic in the Bible created in me a renewed desire to see my Lord face to face and glory in His presence. Semicolon discussion of both books here.
Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner. Semicolon review here.
John Adams by David McCullough. Semicolon thoughts here and here.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.
A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation by Catherine Allgor. Semicolon review here.
I read three biographies of presidents and the one about Alexander Hamilton this year, and I enjoyed all four books thoroughly. I plan to keep on with the presidential biography project, and my next book to read is American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by John Meacham. Then, I plan to go back and pick up on Monroe and John Quincy Adams.
The Deadliest Monster by Jeff Baldwin. I read this one for the class I was teaching in the spring at our homeschool co-op, and it gave me new insight into Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and into the genre of horror literature as a whole.
Amazing Grace: The Story of America’s Most Beloved Song by Steve Turner.
Hymn #2: Amazing Grace
Abide With Me: The World of Victorian Hymns by Ian C. Bradley.
I read these two in conjunction with my Top 100 Hymns Project, such a good memory of 2009.
Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity by Lauren Winner. Ms. Winner is a gifted writer, and I’d like to read something else of hers this year.
Hitchhiking Vietnam by Karin Muller.
Semicolon review here, along with a list other books about and set in Vietnam.
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Semicolon review here.
Best Nonfiction Book I read this Year: John Adams by David McCullough. I recommend it to everyone, and if you can’t or won’t read it, at least watch the mini-series by the same name based on the book.
One of the best I read was Becoming God’s True Woman compiled by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Another was a reread of a biography of Adoniram Judson called To the Golden Shore.
I really love both Heaven by Randy Alcorn and Blue Like Jazz; didn’t read them this year, but I really enjoyed them when I read them.
As far as GREAT Christian non-fiction (my favorite genre) goes, here are a few recommendations:
Gary Thomas: Sacred Pathways, Sacred Marriage, Seeking the Face of God, Authentic Faith – virtually anything by him
Calvin Miller – Into the Depths of God, Loving God Up Close and anything else he’s written
Anne Graham Lotz – Magnificent Obsession, Just Give Me Jesus, My Heart’s Cry, etc
Francis Chan – Crazy Love, Forgotten Love
Joanna Weaver – Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Having a Mary Spirit
Phillip Yancey – Prayer, What’s So Amazing About Grace, et al
John Ortberg – EVERYTHING
That’s just off the top of my head – enjoy!!
I LOVE your end-of-the-year lists!!
Susan
Carrie’s been reviewing a fair bit of nonfiction on 5 Minutes for Books. A science title that she really liked (and interests me) was The Pluto Files: http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/1546/the-pluto-files/.
She’s reviewed several history or biography books in the last two or three months. Here’s the nonfiction category: http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/?cat=36
My favorite non-fiction books I read last year and would recommend are these:
What’s So Great about Christianity? – Dinesh D’Sousa
The Reason for God – Timothy Keller
The Antioch Effect – Ken Hemphill
Real Education – Charles Murray
Infidel – Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Uncle Sam’s Plantation – Star Parker
Gandhi and Churchill: The Epic Rivalry That Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age – Arthur Herman