Fiction and Nonfiction
List of Great Fiction and Nonfiction
First on the list of fiction and nonfiction books
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Wilkerson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. This nonfictional book explains the foundations of American class/social systems.
2. Reality is Not What It Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity by Carlo Rovelli
Rovelli is an Italian theoretical physicist. This book was first published in Italian in 2014 but was translated and released in English by 2016. It discusses space, time, and quantum physics.
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3. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
This book performs a case study on the presence of mental illness in a United States family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It tells the story of a family where 6 out of 12 children were diagnosed with schizophrenia.
4. Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener
For those interested in business memoirs, this is a great story to read.
5. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
This self-help book is designed as a tool for emotional and psychological betterment. It combines research and stories to drive curiosity in the reader.
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6. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F%ck: A Counter-intuitive Approach to Having a Good Life by Mark Manson
This crass and informal self-help book is full of profanity and offbeat advice. It has gained massive cult popularity among life coaches and self-help gurus.
7. The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip Zimbardo
Philip Zimbardo is well known for his work with the Stanford Prison Experiment. This was a psychological experiment performed in 1971. This book gives a long-awaited look into Zimbardo’s research on human nature.
8. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
This novel by British author Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept and nature of human trust. It uses true stories and presents ideas on social interaction.
Fiction and Nonfiction New Releases
9. The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
Nonfictional books can be important tools for teams. This one is a New York Times Best Seller. It explores the success of multiple teams and groups including IDEO, the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six, and the San Antonio Spurs.
1o. A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Barack Obama was president of the United States of America from 2009 to 2017. In this memoir, he reflects on his time as the forty-fourth president of the United States of America.
11. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
This book debuted on March 10, 2020. Doyle had previous success with her first two memoirs Love Warrior and Carry On. It debuted at number one on the New York Times Nonfiction best sellers list and stayed there for seven weeks.
12. Minor Feelings:
An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
Asian American issues are an important topic. This autobiography is comprised of multiple essays. It reveals insight into author Cathy Park Hong’s life as a Korean American woman.
13. Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
For those looking for a more light-hearted option, this was a great choice in 2020. It is a series of charming and comedic essays designed to entertain readers. It covers topics like marriage, growing up, getting old, having stepchildren, and more.
14. Me and White Supremacy:
Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
This book is a guide designed to be used for twenty-eight days. It is a tool to combat and correct white privilege and supremacy.
15. Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
This book connects issues of modern society back to feminism. These issues include food deserts, living wages, maternal health, and housing.
16. Dirt:
Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking by Bill Buford
This is a great read for chefs or anyone interested in cooking as a hobby or job. It is a lighthearted and charming account that is also highly self-deprecating. This keeps things entertaining and funny.
17. The Answer Is…
Reflections on My Life by Alek Trebek
Alek Trebek is extremely well known for his work as the host of Jeopardy. In this memoir, he recounts his career and personal life. Fans of Jeopardy will love this book.
Fiction
1. Real Life by Brandon Taylor
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Ten is for young adults and teens who still want to read horror. It is now a Lifetime Movie as well.
2. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
The Immortalists is known for its ending. Readers will want to stick around and find out just what happens to Simon.
3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
For those who like award-winning novels, this is a great option. It has already received the Good Reads Choice Award, GMA Book Club Awards, and More.
4. Luster by Raven Leilani
A 23-year-old black woman named Edie is the main character of this intriguing novel. It navigates topics like lust, love, deception, and uncertainty.
5. The Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel
This novel completes the series started by Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. It was released by the English author Hilary Mantel in March 2020.
6. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Mandel is a Canadian author. She has written five different novels and received the Arthur C Clarke Award in 2015.
7. Cleanness by Garth Greenwell
This novel serves as the follow-up to Greenwell’s well-reviewed release What Belongs to You. It explores the topics of love and desire.
8. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
This dystopian novel tells the story of a complex future. This future is rooted in chaos and threatens the well-being of families and individuals.
9. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
This novel tells the story of a family who immigrates to the United States of America from the country of Ghana. It tells the story of their love, their success, and their struggles along this very important journey.
10. A Burning by Meghna Majumdar
For those who prefer internationally written or politically based novels, A Burning will be a great option. It was released in India in June of 2020. It is 304 pages long and made at least 13 different Best of 2020 book lists.
11. Writers and Lovers by Lily King
This book tells the story of a 31-year-old writer named Casey Peabody. In this novel, Casey Peabody navigates her issue. She also handles all of the pressures and situations that are involved with her aspiring writing career.
12. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
This novel asks deep esoteric questions. It tells the thrilling and suspenseful story of the abduction of Jason Dessen and the events that come to follow.
13. The Leavers by Lisa Ko
This book has gained traction since its 2017 publishing. It gained the receipt of multiple recognition and award titles including finalist for the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction, Best Book of 2017 by NPR, Best Book of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly, Best Book of 2017 by the Los Angeles Times, Best Book of 2017 BuzzFeed, Best Book of 2017 by Bustle, and Best Book of 2017 by Electric Literature.
14. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This 336-page novel was released by Macmillan Publishers/ Celadon Books in print and audiobook formats in early 2019. The book gained popularity throughout 2020 as well. This dark psychological thriller novel tells the suspenseful story of family violence that occurs between a wife and a husband.
15. The Secrets You Keep: A Novel by Kate White
For those who are interested in darker storylines and plots, The Secrets You Keep will be a great option to read. This enthralling psychological thriller and murder mystery surrounds a young woman named Bryn. Bryn is attempting to navigate nightmares, memory loss, and uncertainty after a tragic accident. As a former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, Kate White has a knack for storytelling and for drawing readers into her writing.
16. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
The Four Winds is a novel surrounding Elsa Martinelli, her mother-in-law, her father-in-law, her alcoholic husband, and her children. In this stunning novel, The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl set the scene, and the emotional situation implores readers to move on to the next page with awe and excitement.
17. The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
This USA Today Best Seller is about a college student named Joe Talbert who has the minor goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. It is also gaining popularity as a book club favorite.
[…] adults, too, find themselves engrossed in young adult literature. The boundaries between these categories blur when we consider the diverse tastes and preferences […]