6 Non-Fiction Books to Add to Your Reading List
Sometimes the best reading routine is a mix of fiction and non-fiction. Fiction lets us escape into stories, while non-fiction helps us understand the world, learn new ideas, and challenge the way we think.
Below are six non-fiction books worth adding to your reading list. The first three are books I’ve already read and highly recommend, while the last three are titles currently on my to-read list.
If you’re looking for inspiring ideas, practical insights, or powerful storytelling, these books are a great place to start.
Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention — Johann Hari
In Stolen Focus, Johann Hari explores a problem many of us feel every day: the growing inability to concentrate.
Hari argues that our attention hasn’t simply weakened — it has been systematically eroded by modern systems and technology. Through research and interviews with scientists and experts, he identifies twelve key factors behind the global attention crisis.
This book offers both a diagnosis and hope. Hari also discusses how we can reclaim our focus and build a healthier relationship with work, technology, and our own minds.
Perfect for readers interested in:
- productivity and focus
- digital wellbeing
- psychology and modern life
No Plot? No Problem! — Chris Baty
If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a novel but felt overwhelmed by the process, this book is for you.
Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), shares a refreshing approach to writing: stop overthinking and start writing.
Instead of obsessing over perfect outlines and flawless chapters, Baty encourages writers to embrace momentum, creativity, and imperfect first drafts. The goal? Write a full novel in just 30 days.
The book is filled with practical tips, motivation, and strategies to overcome writer’s block and keep going even when doubt creeps in.
Perfect for readers who:
- want to write a book
- struggle with perfectionism
- need a creativity boost
How Big Things Get Done — Bent Flyvbjerg & Dan Gardner
Large projects often go wrong — over budget, delayed, or poorly executed.
In How Big Things Get Done, Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner analyze why this happens and how successful projects manage to avoid these pitfalls.
Through fascinating case studies — from infrastructure megaprojects to major creative productions — the authors reveal the principles that separate success from failure.
This book is a fascinating look at planning, leadership, and decision-making on a large scale.
Perfect for readers interested in:
- business and leadership
- project management
- decision-making
The Friday Afternoon Club — Griffin Dunne
In this memoir, actor and producer Griffin Dunne reflects on a remarkable life shaped by Hollywood, creativity, and personal tragedy.
Dunne shares stories about his friendships with cultural icons like Carrie Fisher, while also exploring the devastating loss of his sister Dominique in 1982.
The result is a deeply personal story about family, grief, and resilience, told with honesty and warmth.
Soldiers and Kings — Jason De León
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Winner of a National Book Award, Soldiers and Kings offers a powerful look at people navigating dangerous and complex social realities.
Jason De León spent years building trust with the individuals whose stories he tells. The result is a compassionate and deeply human portrait that goes far beyond headlines.
The book explores themes of survival, power, identity, and hope, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read.
The Place of Tides — James Rebanks
In The Place of Tides, James Rebanks tells the story of spending a summer working with an elderly Norwegian woman who lives on a remote island and continues centuries-old traditions of gathering eiderdown.
Through quiet, reflective storytelling, Rebanks explores themes of nature, tradition, solitude, and connection to place.
It’s a beautiful meditation on slower ways of living and the wisdom found in traditional knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking to:
- improve your focus
- spark creativity
- understand how big projects succeed
- explore powerful personal stories
these non-fiction books offer insight, inspiration, and new perspectives.
Reading non-fiction can open doors to new ideas and ways of thinking — and sometimes a single book can change how we see the world.
✨ Have you read any of these books?
Or do you have a must-read non-fiction recommendation?
Share it in the comments — I’m always looking for new books to add to my reading list.
