What particularly good non-fiction book have you read?

[Rain]

I'm looking for any subject and not too technical.  I don't need an easy read, but I also don't want a book that will be a tough read.  Just an all around good non-fiction book.

[Okrahomer]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

Just an all around good non-fiction book.

I read a book hundreds of years ago at BYU that made a great impression on me:  Small Is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher.  It isn’t a difficult read, but it touches on important principles about the human side of economics.  It’s interesting that the foundation of the economic engine of Europe (the “Mittelstand” in Germany) in some ways comes close to these principles.

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

I'm looking for any subject and not too technical.  I don't need an easy read, but I also don't want a book that will be a tough read.  Just an all around good non-fiction book.

I like the library app called Libby. Have you heard of it, I'll bet you have. I listen to the books rather than read. I like autobiographies. I could suggest some, but not sure if you'd like the ones I've listened to. 

[MustardSeed]

I’m audio booking “the let them theory” by Mel Robbins.  I really like it. But I think it will be over quoted within a year time and I’ll be sick of hearing about it. But for now, I really enjoy it. She does a great job of reading her own text. It sounds as if she’s just speaking rather than reading. I really appreciate that.
 

This is a topic that I really need to embrace myself. 

[Rain]

13 minutes ago, Okrahomer said:

I read a book hundreds of years ago at BYU that made a great impression on me:  Small Is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher.  It isn’t a difficult read, but it touches on important principles about the human side of economics.  It’s interesting that the foundation of the economic engine of Europe (the “Mittelstand” in Germany) in some ways comes close to these principles.

Interesting - especially since my son is currently in school studying economics and often talks about it with us.  Thanks!

[Rain]

11 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

I like the library app called Libby. Have you heard of it, I'll bet you have. I listen to the books rather than read. I like autobiographies. I could suggest some, but not sure if you'd like the ones I've listened to. 

I love Libby.  I also have Hoopla and Cloud, but if the book is on multiple platforms I always choose Libby.

Yes, please suggest your favorite one.

[Rain]

3 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I’m audio booking “the let them theory” by Mel Robbins.  I really like it. But I think it will be over quoted within a year time and I’ll be sick of hearing about it. But for now, I really enjoy it. She does a great job of reading her own text. It sounds as if she’s just speaking rather than reading. I really appreciate that.
 

This is a topic that I really need to embrace myself. 

Thanks! I'll look into it.

[manol]

I really enjoyed "Application of Impossible Things" by Natalie Sudman.  It's about her near-death experience, and it's not very long. 

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

I love Libby.  I also have Hoopla and Cloud, but if the book is on multiple platforms I always choose Libby.

Yes, please suggest your favorite one.

One that I liked was one called: "Barbara Walters Audition". It talks about her life and the interviews and insights of those she interviewed. 

I remember when one of the interviews would come on TV, my dad would say "Barbara Wa Wa", he may not have liked her very much, not sure.

Hope that helps, I guess I probably listen to too many celebrity ones possibly or political ones too. Recently listened to this one that was good as well: "One Way Back" a memoir by Christine Blasey Ford. 

 

[Calm]

4 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

dad would say "Barbara Wa Wa", he may not have liked her very much, not sure.

Maybe he was a fan of Saturday Night Live.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcns3A-IHMQ

 

Edited January 26 by Calm

[Tacenda]

Just now, Calm said:

Maybe he was a fan of Saturday Night Live.

 

Oh my word, that's where he got that expression. Forgot all about that, haha! Not sure if he watched it all that much, it was more our generation.  Thanks!

[Rain]

52 minutes ago, manol said:

I really enjoyed "Application of Impossible Things" by Natalie Sudman.  It's about her near-death experience, and it's not very long. 

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Rain]

49 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

One that I liked was one called: "Barbara Walters Audition". It talks about her life and the interviews and insights of those she interviewed. 

I remember when one of the interviews would come on TV, my dad would say "Barbara Wa Wa", he may not have liked her very much, not sure.

Hope that helps, I guess I probably listen to too many celebrity ones possibly or political ones too. Recently listened to this one that was good as well: "One Way Back" a memoir by Christine Blasey Ford. 

 

Thank you!

[Rain]

I should probably give one as well. Joanne CChe's "The Taste of Sweet: Our Complicated Love Affair with Our Favorite Treats". It went into science about the taste as well as different culture's like it. 

One of the things I liked about it was when it talked about strawberries. In France they like a smaller, more floral strawberry than the big red ones enjoyed in the US.  So years later when we found ourselves surrounded by strawberries in a market in France my husband and I got a few of several different types. Our favorite ended up being a small, more floral type one and we had to get more as it was so good.

[rpn]

Krakatoa  by Simon Winchester

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig 

Edited January 26 by rpn

[Raingirl]

Amish Grace. It’s about the 2006 mass shooting at an Amish school in Nickel Mines, PA.  I know it sounds like a horrible subject for a book, but the focus is on the Amish approach to forgiveness.  It left a lasting impression.  

[Rain]

2 hours ago, rpn said:

Krakatoa  by Simon Winchester

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig 

Interesting mix you have there.  

[Rain]

18 minutes ago, Raingirl said:

Amish Grace. It’s about the 2006 mass shooting at an Amish school in Nickel Mines, PA.  I know it sounds like a horrible subject for a book, but the focus is on the Amish approach to forgiveness.  It left a lasting impression.  

I bet there is a lot to be learned from it.

[rpn]

16 hours ago, Rain said:

Interesting mix you have there. 

They are just three of the thousands in my life that made a difference for me at various times.    I really appreciate the D&c instruction to learn about everything as part of our discipleship journey.

And I should have included "Bonds that Make Us Free" by C. Terry Warner.

Edited January 26 by rpn

[Calm]

1 hour ago, rpn said:

And I should have included "Bonds that Make Us Free" by C. Terry Warner.

Love this one.

[Rain]

On 1/25/2025 at 4:03 PM, Okrahomer said:

I read a book hundreds of years ago at BYU that made a great impression on me:  Small Is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher.  It isn’t a difficult read, but it touches on important principles about the human side of economics.  It’s interesting that the foundation of the economic engine of Europe (the “Mittelstand” in Germany) in some ways comes close to these principles.

I'm laughing a little. I bought it and laid it on my desk to read next.  My son saw it and picked it up and kind of scoffed at it and we ended up in a discussion about what corporations are etc.  

Then he kept coming through and picking it up. At one point he said he might read it.  This surprised me because we are a reading family, but while he can read he has never been into it like the rest of us have been and I've never been able to get him to read any other book.  I was a little concerned because I didn't want him to give me a negative view of it before I read it, but he said that he saw this was a real economist and might actually know something. 

So thanks again, but this time for a good conversation starter.

[Okrahomer]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

So thanks again, but this time for a good conversation starter.

You’re welcome!  I hope he enjoys reading it — and you too!