4/16/2013

Nonfiction, a Vegetable?

One of the amusements of idleness is reading without the fatigue of attention,
and the world, therefore, swarms with writers whose wish
is not to be studied but to be read. 
Samuel Johnson

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Reading fiction is one of my special joys. Nonfiction? Not so much. It isn't that I don't find nonfiction enriching, inspiring and growth-producing, but when I have the time to read, I generally turn to fiction. For me, fiction is like cakes, ice cream, cookies and pie all rolled into one. Nonfiction is more like vegetables. I know veggies are good for me, but I far prefer sweets.

Would you choose a plate of salad over a bowl of ice cream?

Last year I decided I needed to add more nonfiction to my ever-growing stack of books and after reviewing last year's reading list, I realized the books that affected me most profoundly were nonfiction. For that reason alone, I intend to hang in there and try to read 1 nonfiction for every 5 fiction books, or maybe 1 for every 10, or 15.

What are your favorite nonfiction reads? Your favorite might inspire me!


10 comments:

  1. I think you'd enjoy Finding Moosewood, Finding God. You'll forget that it's nonfiction as you are reading. He does have a few pages near the end on Jungian philosophy where I think he gets off theologically--but the book is beautifully written.

    The other nonfiction I enjoyed is Little Princes.

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  2. Like you I think I like fiction WAY more than non-fiction but I love memoir (non-fic) adventure (the same) travel (etc...) so I guess my mind is a liar! Just finished Half Broke Horses which is a sort of fictionalized biography of the writer's grandmother. Really good.

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  3. 'Necessary Endings' by Henry Cloud ... super! 'Cause sooner or later there are seasons that come to a close in business, in organizations and churches, and in personal relationships. This is a great guide on doing it well.

    Linda

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  4. I have a whole shelf dedicated to non-fiction - from books about writing and gardening to philosophy, politics, computer coding, economics...

    I like books, but my favorite non-fiction reads are physics,

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  5. As a student fiction is literally my escape from the day to day of non-fictional required reading! Loved your analogies of the two :D As for my favourite non-fiction book....hmmm I think at the moment I would have to say The Gift of Therapy (Irving Yalom)

    Enjoying your A-Z challenge very much

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  6. I'm afraid I can't offer any inspiration - I really don't eat my vegetables. Buying and reading non-fiction will be my challenge - after this one of course!

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  7. Gardening, cookery and travel books are my ice cream

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  8. I've found lately that I actually enjoy a healthy dose of nonfiction. My favorites would have to be biographies/autobiographies, not sure exactly why.

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  9. Thank you all so much for your suggestions. When A-Z is over I am going to do my best to try and read some of these (no promises, because I have to fight that sweets habit).

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  10. Someone mentioned Dr. Henry Cloud above. MY favorite non-fiction is another book of his - Boundaries. I've written about it a bit, and have a photo of the book on my blog home page. That book changed my life. Now I want to read Necessary Endings. I also recently enjoyed Bloom by Kelle Hampton. About her journey with having a daughter born with Down's. Beautifully written.
    from The Dugout

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