8 Non-Fiction Books To Read In Your 20’s

By Blake Egozi on September 17, 2016

If you love to read, need an escape from everyday life, or are just looking to learn something new, a non-fiction book is the place to look. Many readers tend to skip over the genre because they attribute non-fiction with textbooks and autobiographies.

While these types of books do hold great knowledge, there is a different style of non-fiction that uses storytelling to teach you new things while keeping you captivated. The secret is that non-fiction books hold the world’s most amazing and riveting stories because of the basic fact that they are true.

Here is a list of great non-fiction books ranging from serious historical events to witty childhood memoirs.

1.    33 Men by Jonathan Franklin

33 Men is a journalist’s behind the scenes look into the Chilean mining collapse of 2010 and how the 33 men trapped underground survived. This story delves deep into the minds of the trapped miners while following the rescue attempts above ground. Stuck underground for 69 days, these men adapted to new life underground in extreme heat and without any basic necessities. This miraculous story will leave you amazed and forever grateful for the most basic resources.

2.    Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air is an intense journey into the heart of Mount Everest. This story follows a journalist and his companions while they attempt to climb Earth’s highest mountain. What begins as a journalistic pursuit quickly turns into a fight for survival as Everest’s most deadly storm in history hits. The author not only discusses his own experience but also tells the stories of the other climbers on the mountain at the time. After reading this book, you will have learned everything there is to know about Mount Everest from the stages of ascending to the frozen dead bodies that line the climbing path.

Pixabay.com     

3. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman

If you love the television series, then you will love the book. Many fans do not know that OITNB is actually based on a true story. While several of the plots and characters were altered and enhanced for the television show, the book holds a strong resemblance to the series. Kerman shows a funny and complex look into a women’s prison as she serves time for her crime and interacts with other inmates.

4. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

A Long Way Gone is a harrowing story of a boy who was forced to become a child soldier in Africa during wartime. This story gives the audience an uncensored view into the tragedies of war and the actions child soldiers are forced to take in order to survive. This is the type of information that you cannot find in textbooks. Beah’s story is truly unbelievable as he talks about his journey from victim to killer and finally his escape from the war.

5. Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Running with Scissors is a quirky and uncomfortable memoir of a child growing up in chaos. Some of the stories in this book are so unbelievably strange that they couldn’t possibly be made up. If you’re looking for a funny and unexpected story to make your everyday problems seem mundane, look no further.

6. Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech

Fly a Little Higher tells a mother’s inspiring story of how her son made the most of his battle with cancer. Zach Sobiech managed to touch millions of lives while he was battling terminal cancer. His story will not only leave you with a new and deeper appreciation for life, but will also make you want to be a better person. This is one of the saddest but most rewarding stories you will ever get the opportunity to bear witness to.

7. Communion: A True Story by Whitley Strieber

Communion is a man’s memoir of his visits with other worldly creatures. While no one can actually prove the truth behind this story, it might just leave you believing in aliens. Strieber discusses in length his direct experiences with these creatures while diving deep into his subconscious through hypnotism in an attempt to understand these strange and confusing visits. The strangest part of this story is that the book has been in circulation for over 25 years and has yet to be debunked.

Pixabay.com

8. Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside the Playboy Mansion by Jennifer Saginor

Have you ever wondered what really goes on inside the Playboy Mansion? Well, now you can find out. Playground is one women’s childhood tale of growing up in the Playboy Mansion. From hanging out with the Playmates as a little girl to having an affair with Hef’s girlfriend, this story is hilariously entertaining and the perfect light read.

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