Nonfiction November Week 1: My Year in Nonfiction

Nonfiction November has kicked-off and this week’s event is being hosted by Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness. The topic this week is Your Year in Nonfiction!

Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

My favorite nonfiction read of this year:

This is hard to answer and the same time very easy. The reason is that I really don’t read a lot of nonfiction. I have a lot on my list, but I never quite seem to get to it, because truthfully, it takes a lot more commitment to read a nonfiction book where I really have to absorb new knowledge. And while I do enjoy acquiring new knowledge, I usually have a specific goal and skim a book for the details I want. So while I pick up a lot of nonfiction — cookbooks, genealogy books, craftbooks, etc — I don’t really count them as a book I have ‘read’! What that means is that I’ve really only read three nonfiction books cover to cover this past year. And by far, my favorite is Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott. I really enjoy reading about the Civil War and the Lincoln presidency, probably a residual of growing up in Illinois.

The nonfiction book I have recommended most:

There is no timeframe given for this one, so I’m not sure if I am supposed to confine myself to books I’ve read this past year. If so I’m in trouble for the reasons mentioned above, and by default my answer is Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott. However, the book I have most recommended to people, nonfiction or otherwise, is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Since the movie came out and almost everone I know has read it, not so much, but I still think it is one of the most inspiring stories I have ever read, and really makes me appreciate and want to hug a veteran to say ‘thank you!’.

What one topic or type of nonfiction have I not read enough of yet:

Trick question — all kinds! And referencing the above answer, I can never get enough of the Civil War era and history in general. To get more specific one of my reading goals — one I’ve not been too successful with so far — is to read a biography about each U.S. president or a book about his presidency. I’ve got several earmarked on my ‘to-read’ list, but other than books that involve the Lincoln presidency, I don’t think I’ve made any progress on this one.

What do I hope to get out of my participation in Nonfiction November:

I hope to be inspired to read more nonfiction. The interaction and support of a group of like-minded bloggers can only help, right? And if I come out of this with a long list of nonfiction books I want to read, even better!