Written by Kennedy Chinn

“But Non-Fiction is Boring!”

I hear you. Especially if you’re a student, the last thing you want to do after a long day of studying, working and attending classes (hopefully) is to read yet another book. Let alone a non-fiction book, because isn’t that the same as a textbook?

Non-fiction gets a bad reputation for its ghost-written billionaire biographies, toxic positivity self-help books, or being so full of bland text you’ll want to claw your eyes out. But like any genre, there are gems that can be just as interesting as your phone. Not only that, but reading and retaining information from non-fiction can let you drop cool facts at parties. Because telling people facts about cults is cool, right? Right?

Non-fiction books have a particular perk to them that stories don’t, and that’s their low continuity. Reading a fiction story may be more engaging, but it requires you to remember character names, previous plot events, foreshadowing, etc. With non-fiction, you can often read a paragraph at a bus stop after leaving it to die in your tote bag for over a month and not miss a single thing!

However, moving from fiction to non-fiction (or moving from not reading to reading) can be tricky. Which is why it is important to consider how that book can be read when choosing one. If you know you’ll struggle to pick up a book after you put it down, a highly engaging novel might be best. But if you know you’ll only be able to read it in small increments, a ‘collection’ style book would work better. Books are not made for people with little downtime—which is why the following ranking system was developed.

Ranking System

The ranking system is less about quality, and more about personal preference–a higher score doesn’t mean a book is “better.” It puts a number on what is most relevant to you. For example, if you want a book you can pick up and put down frequently, a higher intermittent rating might be better. But if you want a non-fiction book that focuses more on keeping you hooked in a plot way, a higher narrative rating might be better. This also means that a book might score low in intermittent and higher in narrative. This doesn’t imply one book is better than another, but to show what is more or less desired when you are choosing your next read.

Intermittent Score:

As written above, the intermittent score is how easily this book can be read in increments. A book with a high intermittent score is likely broken down into chapters, doesn’t require a lot of information to be remembered throughout reading (hence why books with a higher narrative score usually will have a lower intermittent score) and can be put down without getting too “hooked.”

Narrative Score:

This measures how much the book reads like a fictional story. A book with a high narrative score may have fast pacing, play out like a novel and have a lot to remember from previous chapters. These books are engaging and hard to put down—a high narrative score is worth a try, especially if you think non-fiction is boring.

Approachability Score:

Sometimes non-fiction books require an understanding of the subject before even picking up the book. Approachability measures if these topics are presented in a way that’s welcoming to beginners. A lower approachability score is better if you already have a baseline on those subjects.

Non-Fiction Recommendations

Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker

Image: Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker

“We are more than just our genes. We are, in some way, a product of people who surround us—the people we’re forced to grow up with, and the people we choose to be with later.” (Source: Robert Kolker Goodreads)

How much is mental illness attributed to genetics? How much is linked to external negative patterns? And how has this relation been studied, when individuals related to each other often grow up in the same environment?

At the centre of this discussion is the Galvin family. Don and Mimi Galvin had the perception of being a perfect model couple of a 1960s middle class family—but this shifted when six out of their twelve children developed schizophrenia. Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker examines the true story of the household that confirmed the link between mental illness and genetics. It delves into both the scientific and human side of their lives through interviews, anecdotes and research through the lens of modern psychological research.

Intermittent Ranking: 8/10
Narrative Ranking: 6/10
Approachability Ranking: 5/10

This is a book that will stay stuck in your mind for a long time. The beginning third packs quite a punch—delving into the impacts of schizophrenia, the way the diagnoses unfolded throughout the family, how it changed their lives; before slowing into medical and personal details. Robert Kolker has a good eye for this blend.

Hidden Valley Road has a high intermittent score for how it is broken into sections. You can put it down after reading a meager 4-5 paragraphs without feeling like you’ve been interrupted. However, it also scores decently well in narrative as there is a lot of information required to be remembered while reading and it has engaging qualities such as a cast of characters and the feel of an unfolding mystery. It helps to refer back to the naming guide at the beginning. The pacing of the story slows after the mid-point, which should be considered if you’re the type of person to leave books unfinished. Its approachability is a bit more complicated—the family is introduced and explained well, but not having a baseline understanding of schizophrenia can hinder the reading experience. As long as you’re prepared to do a bit of googling, you’ll be on the right track!

Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

Image: Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

“Nothing is so privileged as thinking history belongs to the past.” (Source: John Green Goodreads)

We’ve all seen movies or shows set in an older era where a character coughs blood into a handkerchief. And we all know what that means, too—they have ‘consumption;’ a disease of ancient times. But what if I said that even today tuberculosis is the global leading cause of death from a single infectious agent? Or that tuberculosis has killed more people than all wars, malaria, HIV/AIDS and homicide combined. (Source: WHO.int)

John Green, beloved novelist and YouTuber, examines disease throughout human history and how it’s impacted every aspect of our modern lives. From how tuberculosis invented the cowboy hat, to the poverty caused by price-gouging pharmaceutical companies, this book is extremely informative and engaging. Everything is Tuberculosis follows the tragic story of Henry Rieder, a tuberculosis sufferer who went on to advocate for accessible treatment. Because tuberculosis isn’t gone—it’s just that the privileged can access a cure, and the disease is where the cure isn’t.

Intermittent Score: 3/10
Narrative Score: 9/10
Approachability Score: 10/10

There is a little something for everyone in this book. It’s packed full of fun facts about tuberculosis, heartbreaking true stories, advocacy, investigations, history, even autobiographical aspects. If you want another reason to hate pharmaceutical companies, this book will fuel that fire. This is one of the most narrative books on this list—primarily because we follow the patient Henry Rieder—but is still broken into large sections that can be read intermittently. It is only 198 pages long, giving it a lower intermittent score. If you want to branch out from fiction to non-fiction, this is a good choice. Its approachability has been rated the highest, as the way John Green explains things is accessible since he assumes (correctly) that the audience knows little about tuberculosis. He references aspects of his own life frequently throughout the book, but it isn’t obtrusive to your understanding.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.” (Source: Robin Wall Kimmerer Goodreads)

Braiding Sweetgrass is a lyrical discussion on indigenous mythology and reciprocity in the natural world. It explores topics such as communication, community and nature. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is an associate professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and she beautifully weaves the scientific and indigenous understandings of the world. It calls out the Western view on ownership versus stewardship, and how this relationship can be healed in the face of environmental threats. This book is equal parts informative and emotionally driven.

Intermittent Score: 8/10
Narrative Score: 5/10
Approachability Score: 8/10

Don’t let the tree-hugger feel of the description turn you off—Braiding Sweetgrass is the book equivalent of a kiss on the forehead. There is a very gentle quality to it. This was given a high intermittent score for its ability to be broken up into separate reading sprees. It’s a good, calming read before bed or after a long, stressful day. We all need reminders that the world is bigger than us. The lower narrative score is due to how separate each chapter feels, but it still has an overarching story at its heart. Each chapter is a mix of scientific research and the author’s personal experience, all engaging. It is mostly approachable, with the need for some knowledge of residential schools and plant biology, but nothing that will detract from the enjoyment of reading.

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

Image: Cultish by Amanda Montell

“Words are the medium through which belief systems are manufactured, nurtured, and reinforced, their fanaticism fundamentally would not exist without them.” (Source: Amanda Montell Goodreads)

Certain slang belongs to certain groups, even if these words are used outside of their original source. It should be unsurprising that cults do something similar, right? Cultish is a pop-psychology book on the linguistic manipulation behind cults and cult leaders. Amanda Montell dissects QAnon, the Jonestown Massacre—even CrossFit clubs. It considers the questions: How do we define a cult? Why do people get indoctrinated? And how do we respond?

Intermittent Score: 5/10
Narrative Score: 4/10
Approachability Score: 9/10

This book is less a heavy dissection into the linguistics behind cults and more a light, pop-psychology magazine overview on why people join them. This isn’t to say the author isn’t knowledgeable—but it is somewhat introductory. If you already have a decent understanding of cults, you might want to skip over this one. However, this book scores high in approachability for the same reason. If all you know about cults is the “drink the Kool-Aid” saying, Cultish will give you a baseline and fun facts to repeat at parties. It is still ideal, though, if you skim a Wikipedia article on cults such as QAnon and Scientology before you read. The book scores lower on intermittent and narrative, since the chapters are continuous. It doesn’t have much for a “storyline” either. Cultish is broken into parts that you can read separately. Overall, Cultish is a solid light read on a fascinating subject!

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (Forwarded by Abraham Verghese)

“There is a moment, a cusp, when the sum of gathered experience is worn down by the details of living. We are never so wise as when we live in this moment.” (Source: Paul Kalanithi Goodreads)

What would you do if you were told you had a year left to live? And what would you do, if you were the one who discovered your own end date?

When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir about a neuroscientist who discovered his own terminal cancer. This is a heavy read written by Paul Kalanithi himself, and his thought process going from doctor to patient. It reflects on the relationships we have with others, with ourselves and our aspirations. Despite being a depressing read, this book has hopeful undertones. While the phrase you only live once is said frequently enough to be wrung out and soulless, When Breath Becomes Air puts this into true perspective. How would we act if we had the knowledge of when and how we will die? How can we invest in our futures when it isn’t promised? Through his personal memoir, Paul Kalanithi teaches us that somehow, our death has less to do with dying than living.

Intermittent Score: 5/10
Narrative Score: 8/10
Approachability Score: 7/10

This book is not to be taken lightly. It will leave you staring at the ceiling considering your own mortality, all the while crying for Paul Kalanithi and his family. This may not be the best to read while emotionally drained from finals, but When Breath Becomes Air is considered a mandatory read for pre-med students for a reason. For its intermittent score, it does decently. You can take breaks from this book—and it might be a good idea to do so—without needing to remember a significant amount of names. Since the book can be emotionally evocative, it is easy to put off reading. This is also a reason behind the approachability score, but that mostly pertains to the level of knowledge needed to enjoy this book. If you know the basics of cancer and health, the book shouldn’t be hard to understand. There is a strong narrative in this book, as it is put together chronologically.

Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff

Image: Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

“We deny the severity of our loved one’s problems not because we are naive, but because we can’t know.” (Source: David Sheff Goodreads)

If When Breath Becomes Air didn’t make you sad enough, this one will. You’ve probably heard of the movie starring Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell, but this is the true story behind it. In Beautiful Boy, David Scheff recounts his experience caring for his drug addicted son. He tells stories of his son growing up, his regrets as a father and the drawbacks during recovery. David Scheff discussed the learning process of letting go enough to get his own life back, and releasing the feeling of selfishness when doing so. This heart-wrenching read is both a dissection of the life of an addict and the life of a caregiver.

Intermittent Score: 4/10
Narrative Score: 8/10

Approachability Score: 7/10

This is also a tough read. It has a good narrative score as you get quite invested in the lives of the individuals in Beautiful Boy. It’s told mostly chronologically, with the narrator (David Scheff) jumping in to offer reflections on the events. However, it scores low on intermittent recall, as you have to recall many names and events that have happened previously. This is also because there is little breakage in the story. It’s mostly approachable, but don’t expect the author to dissect the science behind the drug’s effects. Beautiful Boy is almost entirely a biography. If you prefer books that lean into the factual side, this might be one to sit out on.

Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver

Image: Upstream by Mary Oliver

“In the beginning I was so young and such a stranger to myself that I hardly existed. I had to go out into the world and see it and hear it and react to it, before I knew at all who I was, what I was, what I wanted to be.” (Source: Mary Oliver Goodreads)

Mary Oliver is a poet. Despite how the term “essay” sparks a bitter distaste of bland and impersonal prose, Upstream: Selected Essays is anything but. On a similar note to Braiding Sweetgrass this collection is about rest, nature and art. It speaks on finding solace and identity within people, things, forests, cats, literature… The prose sparks imagery of relief. Within the collection there are a handful of poetry analyses, which are grounded in real-world relationships. If you have an enjoyment for the mundane, want a better understanding of who you are, or want an alleviation from studying—this book is for you.

Intermittent Score: 10/10
Narrative Score: 3/10
Approachability Score: 7/10

If Braiding Sweetgrass is the book version of a kiss on the forehead, this book is the equivalent of taking a long nap in the sun with no obligations on your mind. Even if you don’t enjoy poetry, the artistry behind the book is approachable and enjoyable. The essays touch on universal topics, with readable lyricism. However, it still can be a bit abstract at times (not to the book’s detriment) and being familiar with writers mentioned in the literary analysis essays is a bonus. The score remains high as this is quite approachable considering the topics, prose and author. Narrative score is a bit hard to consider. This is a collection of essays, so there is no overarching “plot.” It is also short enough to be read in one or two sittings (178 pages). Despite this, all essays have similar topics and themes, and end on a note that makes you want to keep reading. Upstream: Selected Essays gets a full score for intermittence, as each essay is separate.

The Glass Castle

“I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.” (Source: Jeannette Walls Goodreads)

A general rule for autobiographies is that they have to be written by someone with an interesting life, or have a writer who can make their life interesting—this is an example of both. Within the first ten pages, Jeanette Walls recounts her earliest memories of accidentally catching fire, her family deciding to move states in the middle of the night, and of her dad throwing their cat out the window on a road trip.

While it is easy to consider this book as a collection of crazy tales, it has an underlying continuity and feel to it. It’s a discussion on how much we are obligated to our families, the choices we are and aren’t responsible for, and the inconsistencies that can exist in a single person. The Glass Castle is a whirlwind of stories, beautifully written by a professional journalist. Not only is the subject matter interesting, it is written to be strongly engaging.

Narrative Score: 10/10
Intermittent Score: 4/10
Approachability Score: 9/10

Reading this book causes side effects not limited to: breathlessness, a racing pulse, and a craving to read more. It has been given the highest narrative score as the only non-fiction aspect of it is the fact it’s a true story. If you want to branch out from fiction, this is a good place to start. The Glass Castle is also quite approachable. The prose is readable but flows well, and there is no needed background knowledge. However, some people used to formal writing may be turned off by a looser style. Because the narrative aspects are so strong, it scores low on intermittence. Since the book leaves you hanging, you’ll want to pick it up again.

Summary

Below is a chart that summarizes each ranking and book, along with page count.

TITLE	PAGE #	INTERMITTENT	NARRATIVE	APPROACHABILITY	GENRE	TOPICS
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker	377	7/10	7/10	6/10	Biography, Research	Psychology, Family, Schizophrenia, Mental Illness,
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green	198	3/10	9/10	10/10	Research,Biography,	History, Disease, Health, Advocacy
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer	408	8/10	5/10	8/10	Research,Autobiography	Nature, Biology, Indigenous Wisdom, Advocacy
Cultish by Amanda Monetell	309	5/10	4/10	9/10	Research	Cults, Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi	208	5/10	8/10	7/10	Autobiography	Health, Science, Disease, Philosophy
Beautiful Boy by David Scheff	352	4/10	8/10	7/10	Autobiography	Autobiography, Addiction, Mental Illness, Family
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls	288	4/10	10/10	9/10	Autobiography	Autobiography, Family, Mental Illness, Creativity
Upstream by Mary Oliver	178	10/10	3/10	7/10	Essay	Nature, Wellbeing, Poetry, Literature

So, in all, if you want to get back into reading; Everything is Tuberculosis and Beautiful Boy are good choices, as they score high on approachability and intermittance. But if you want to branch out from fiction the books The Glass Castle and When Breath Becomes Air will offer a smooth transition as they have the most narrative qualities. If you’re a busy student in need of an intermittent reprieve, books such as Upstream or Braiding Sweetgrass are good so you don’t have to keep up with reading during finals week.

The Meliorist

Non-Fiction Books for Busy People (And Everyone Else)

“But Non-Fiction is Boring!”