World Book Day: 5 Must Read Nonfiction Books That Will Change Your Life

World Book Day is a yearly event, celebrated on 23rd April, organised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing and copyright. What was first celebrated in the year 1995 will now be identifying its 22nd anniversary and we thought what’s better than listing out some must read for our readers.

Nonfiction is nothing short than an art which is often left out by literary geniuses while mentioning the greats. Because let’s face it, very few understand and appreciate the greatness of Nonfiction writing and literature. This genre has the power to transform a person through the means of knowledge, facts and information.

Many consider Nonfiction dry and boring, and almost textbook-like, however, the information produced in Nonfiction is greater than anything. One might initially be put off, especially if they have always belonged to the imaginative world of fiction, but Nonfiction has the power to blow a reader’s head off just with the facts that it gathers. Nonfiction requires an art of words and if it’s written well, a reader can go through the glorious journey of reading a good book.

We decided to gather some 5 best Nonfiction books that everyone need to read once as they have the power to change your entire life.

1. The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make Big Difference was Malcolm Gladwell’s debut book and the start of his great career. As the small description says, this book explains how small things have big effects. Gladwell talks about how ideas, products, messages and behaviours “spread just like viruses do”, and in turn went on to create a world changing phenomenon.

2. Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens is considered to be one of the most amazing nonfiction books to be ever written by many, including some great nonfiction writers. Harari in his book talked about many things which included revolution like “cognitive revolution”, the scientific revolution and many others, he even went on to explain the development of language. It is a great read for those who are looking for answers about the humankind.

3. Man’s Search For Meaning – Viktor Frankl

Man’s Search For Meaning is said to be one of the most important books written in the 20th century and also one of the most moving accounts of Holocaust. Frankl was an Austrian psychotherapist who was both a victim and an observer of the brutality of Nazi regime at Auschwitz.

4. The Untethered Soul – Michael A. Singer

The Untethered Soul came out and broke out into the literary scene, it is so good that once, Oprah invited Michael A. Singer on her show and talked about his book. It is basically a practical guide to letting go of painful experiences of life and live a more improved quality of life.

5. The Black Swan and the Logic of Risk Bearing – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The Black Swan makes you understand the impact of the highly improbable and our error of placing too much weight on the odds that events from the past will repeat themselves.

All these 5 books are brilliant in their own ways and should definitely be explored by Nonfiction addicts as well as budding readers.

19th April 2017
Jyotsna Amla