It’s time for Nonfiction November.
To be perfectly honest, I’m a fairly bad nonfiction reader – a little noncommittal… distracted… That said, I do have a few nonfiction soft spots – genetics, pop-science, the Art Deco era, and memoirs. I really love memoirs (they count, right?).
So despite not much material to work with, I’m aiming to take part in all five weeks of Nonfiction November.
It kicks off with my ‘Year in Nonfiction’, hosted by Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness. Kim has set some questions –
What was your favourite nonfiction read of the year?
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl – I had read the first part of this book many years ago (the memoir part) but it was the second part of the book, on ‘logotherapy’ that captured my attention this time. Logotherapy is Frankl’s existential theory about the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful – he states that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Man’s Search for Meaning was closely followed by Lost and Found by neurologist, Jules Montague. The book examines memory, identity and personality and considers whether conditions such as dementia and amnesia change ‘who’ we really are. It’s fascinating and the case studies are particularly interesting.
Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year?
I read a lot of memoirs (but do so every year!). Other than that, my choices have been random.
What nonfiction book have you recommended the most?
Lost and Found by Jules Montague for the insights on dementia.
Of the 13 memoirs I’ve read so far this year, I have recommended the audio recording of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run to many people. And for various reasons, I’ve pushed Bri Lee’s Eggshell Skull and Jenny Valentish’s Women of Substances into fellow readers’ hands.
What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet?
Nothing stands out, although I never seem to tire of misery memoirs…
What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
Last year, I thought the ‘book pairings’ posts were the best thing since sliced bread. Expect it will be the same this year.
I should really do this at some point, my non-fiction TBR grows and grows! I always seem to pick up a novel instead. I’ll look forward to hearing how you get on!
I usually have a nonfiction book on the go but it has to be something that I can easily pick up and put down. For whatever reason, I usually read NF while eating breakfast… so my reading rate reflects how rushed I am in the morning!
Yes, I’m going to try and do this again this year, and #HappyDance I’m going to the Non Fiction Festival at Geelong again this year so I will have something to contribute from there as well!
I didn’t even know there was a nonfiction festival in Geelong! I’ll look forward to reading about what catches your eye.
I’m very poor at reading non-fiction but my soft spot is for real, good old fashioned travel writing, not the gimmicky sort. Man’s Search for Meaning sounds fascinating, though.
Man’s Search is an extraordinary book. Did you ever see that film Life is Beautiful? Similar sentiments.
I didn’t although funnily enough a friend was recommending it to me recently.
Ooh, I have Lost and Found on my Kindle. I’m glad you found it so worthwhile. I spotted a handful of F/NF pairings I’ve made in my reading responses this year, so maybe I’ll pull them together for a post this month 🙂 I read about 40% nonfiction anyway so I’ve never been tempted to participate in this challenge, but I enjoy seeing what others pick.
I think a lot of the nonfiction that I add to my TBR list comes via you 😬
Oh gosh, I didn’t realize that! I feel flattered. But I guess I should also apologize 😉
Lost and Found is new to me title – I will look into that a little more, as I’m often drawn to fiction regarding dementia. Thanks for sharing & I hope you enjoy your reads for the month.
I have read a lot of books about dementia (something that affects my family) but I think Lost and Found is one of the more interesting ones.
I loved Born to Run!
And – I’m with you on the book pairings, which is why I host that week every year!
Have been thinking about my book pairings for weeks – can’t wait!
I read this classic by Frankl a few decades ago and really enjoyed it. ere is my post: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/10/29/nonfiction-november-my-year-2018-in-nonfiction/
It’s an extraordinary book, isn’t it?
I love the book pairings too!
Have been thinking about my book pairings for weeks – thought I may have used up all my ideas last year bu have come up with a few 🙂
Oh, misery memoirs. There’s something wonderful about them since they’re so sad and full of feelings. Your TBR looks great — I hope you get to read all of them this month!
I sob my way through them and my other half always says “How is this fun? Why keep reading?!” 😀
I listen to a lot of memoirs on audio; they’re easy to listen to in the car since I don’t have to keep track of a plot! Lost and Found sounds fascinating, especially since I’ve had family members deal with dementia.
Lost and Found considers questions about memory (and dementia) that other books don’t – worthwhile read.
I like memoirs on audio if they’re read by the author (although I nearly always end up buying a hard copy as well!). Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive comes to mind as one I loved last year (read by Matt).
I can’t wait for the Book Pairings post either! And memoirs totally count 🙂
Luckily memoirs count or I’d have no business being here!
I have heard so many great things about Eggshell Skull – I’m hoping a US publisher picks it up so even more people can read it. And huzzah book pairings! It’s always the hardest post for me to come up with so I’m always impressed by what everyone pulls together. Here’s to a great Nonfiction November! 🙂
Eggshell Skull speaks of the Australian judicial system in relation to sexual assault – I imagine that much like the US system, it is the victim that is made to feel ‘on trial’ and relatively few convictions are made…. It’s a truly terrible system.
I’ve been meaning to read Man’s Search for Meaning for years. I’m keen for Eggshell Skull too.
Noncommital and distracted is a good way to explain it! That’s me too, for sure.
I get wooed by pretty fiction covers…
All your recommendations seem so interesting, and perfect to add to my nonfiction listening list for the month. Women of Substances sounds similar to Leslie Jamison’s The Recovering, which I really enjoyed, in that both focus on the gendered dimensions of addiction and treatment. Thanks for sharing!
The Recovering is on my TBR list – have you read any of her other books? The Empathy Exams was one of my books of the year, when I read it.
I’m reading The Empathy Exams right now, and I’m loving it so far! The essays are a lot sharper and more focused than The Recovering, if not as wide ranging.
I used to read almost all nonfiction but now the tables have turned and I read mostly fiction. With my 2 hours of commuting time, I get tons of audio books in. Interestingly, I requested 3 nonfiction title today before finding your post!
I tend to mostly read non-fiction as hard backs, mostly so that I can mark paragraphs for later reference. The few that I have listened to a few on audio, I’ve almost always ended up buying a hard copy for future reference!
I’m on hold for the Born to Run audio at my library. I can’t wait.
I think you’ll love it to bits.
The NF book I recommended is about dementia, as well, Kate. It really is becoming an epidemic!
It’s an important issue in my family and I’ve done lots of reading about it – I think this is one of the more interesting books as it focuses on the personality aspects rather than the physiological.
I think I’ve only read a couple of memoirs this year, but they’ve both been very good – Educated and Waking Up White. Would like to read Born to Run at some point.
I had mixed feeling about Educated – I think I went into it expecting a story about her religious upbringing and her school education. I didn’t expect a story about domestic violence!
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Memoirs definitely count! And I have a weakness for pop science and genetics too 🙂 I’m obviously very behind getting to everyone’s posts, but I hope you enjoyed Nonfiction November and the book pairing again this year.