Non-fiction books provide an excellent opportunity to learn about the world, delve into new ideas, or escape into someone else’s life. There are countless amazing non-fiction books out there, offering a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. This article highlights ten award-winning non-fiction books that everyone should read. From Rebecca Skloot’s gripping narrative about scientific ethics, racial injustice, and family ties in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” to Erik Larson’s thrilling account of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the serial killer who lurked within it in “The Devil in the White City,” these books offer an insight into the world around us and the complexity of the human experience.
10 Award-Winning Non-Fiction Books Everyone Should Read
Non-fiction books are a great way to learn about the world, explore new ideas or just escape into another person’s life. There are many amazing non-fiction books out there that offer a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Here’s a look at ten award-winning non-fiction books that everyone should read.
1. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
Winner of the 2011 Wellcome Trust Book Prize, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” tells the story of a woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge and became the basis for countless medical breakthroughs. Skloot’s gripping narrative of scientific ethics, racial injustice and family ties is a poignant and thought-provoking read.
2. “H is for Hawk” by Helen Macdonald
Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award and the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction, “H is for Hawk” is a memoir of grief, falconry and the natural world. Macdonald’s emotional journey of training a goshawk is a meditation on the complexity of our relationship with nature.
3. “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson
Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, “Just Mercy” is a powerful account of one lawyer’s crusade to fight racial injustice in the American legal system. Stevenson’s personal experiences and legal work confront issues of poverty, mass incarceration, and the death penalty.
4. “The Sixth Extinction” by Elizabeth Kolbert
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, “The Sixth Extinction” is an investigation of the global environmental crisis and its impact on biodiversity. Kolbert’s detailed research and engaging writing illustrate the severity and urgency of the modern extinction crisis.
5. “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, “The Emperor of All Maladies” is a biography of cancer, exploring its history, research and treatment. Mukherjee’s passionate and personal account of the disease captures the science and humanity behind the fight against cancer.
6. “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, “The Warmth of Other Suns” chronicles the African American migration from the South to the North and West between 1915 and 1970. Wilkerson’s detailed research and vivid storytelling illuminate this important but often forgotten chapter of American history.
7. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou
Winner of the National Book Award and a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is the first volume of Maya Angelou’s autobiography. Her powerful and reflective story of growing up black and female in the American South illuminates the beauty and brutality of American society in the mid-20th century.
8. “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, “The New Jim Crow” explores the impact of mass incarceration on African American communities. Alexander’s book is a searing critique of the systemic racism and injustice within the American criminal justice system.
9. “The Soul of an Octopus” by Sy Montgomery
Winner of the National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction, “The Soul of an Octopus” is an exploration of the mysteries and intelligence of one of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Montgomery’s lyrical prose and in-depth research will change how you perceive the world and its complex creatures.
10. “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson
Winner of the 2004 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime and a nominee for the National Book Award, “The Devil in the White City” tells the true story of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the serial killer who lurked within it. Larson’s combination of historical detail and suspenseful storytelling make this a thrilling and informative read.
Non-fiction books have the power to widen our perspectives, educate us on important issues, and connect us with others. These ten award-winning books offer an insight into the world around us and the complexity of the human experience.