As a fiction reader and lover, non-fiction is something that I don’t normally reach for. If I were between two books, a fantasy book and a history book, I would easily pick up the fantasy book. For some reason, nothing ever caught my interest in non-fiction and always left me leaving it in my to be read pile. Everyone always says you’ll be able to get into it if you find your own way, and I never truly believed it. But after trying it out for myself, I agree, and I hope that others like me take the chance for themselves.
Non-fiction is an acquired genre; if you already don’t see yourself reading it, you will not read it. If you want to read non-fiction, you need to find something that interests you and can connect to you in a way that feels like fiction. There are a lot of genres in the non-fiction category that may feel like a big jump from fiction to non-fiction, but there are some genres that aren’t. Here is a list of six genres that can help get into non-fiction as a seasoned fiction reader.
Travel Writing
To start your journey into non-fiction, travel writing is the one that should be at the top of your list. Travel writing is one of those genres that makes you feel as if you are not reading at all. With mostly pictures with captions and descriptions of places to visit, this genre is not text-heavy. It provides you with everything that you need in a way that is inviting to read and that feels enjoyable rather than a chore. Most of the content is light, instructive, story-like, and personal.
Travel writing can connect with your fiction books by providing you with ways to visit where some of your books take place and make it a fulfilling read. One recommendation for travel writing is Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door by Rick Steves. It offers pointers/tips for traveling to Europe and has the storytelling joy of fiction to make non-fiction an easier read. Travel writing is one that feels like a stepping stone from fiction to non-fiction, marking the start of a transition.
True Crime
The second-best genre to start with non-fiction is True Crime. True Crime is a favorite of mine as it can sometimes cross over into fiction. Some well-known novels in horror or mystery can be based on true stories and then fictionalized. In this case, true crime is purely factual information and historical accuracy, making it similar to regular mystery or horror, but with a twist. True crime, while it might not be for everyone, can be one of the most seamless transition genres that you can read, going from fiction to non-fiction.
In this genre, it can make you forget you are reading a non-fiction book and feel as if you are reading a fiction book. With vivid descriptions, play-by-play, and the suspenseful nature of the stories, you will find yourself so entrapped in the story that you will not remember you are not reading a fictional story. One recommendation that brings to life the genre and is a perfect first read is Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green. Green is a master of bringing a true story to life and making it feel as enchanting as a fictional story. True Crime is a great genre to read for fans of horror or mystery, and can be a seamless transition to non-fiction.
Cookbooks
Now, to take the next step in your non-fiction journey, you should venture into the world of cookbooks. Cookbooks are the type of books that most readers do not consider reading. However, cookbooks can still be a win in fiction readers’ minds when branching out into non-fiction. Cookbooks can help them bring to life their fiction stories with recipes from their book or even a book series’ fandom. There are many cookbooks that can provide readers with a space to bring their fiction stories to life. One recommendation for cookbooks is Gilmore Girls: The Official Cookbook by Elena Craig and Kristen Mulrooney. This book can help readers of the Gilmore Girls feel less pressured to read a nonfiction book and feel more at ease. Cookbooks can be an easy and attractive way to draw in fiction readers to non-fiction in a fun and engaging way.
Narrative Non-Fiction
Looking for something closer to fiction while also being non-fiction, Narrative Non-fiction is the genre to get into. Narrative Non-fiction is a storytelling approach that tells accurate factual stories with elements of fiction, making it read more like a novel than a traditional factual report. Similar to true crime, this genre brings true stories to readers while also bringing a story-like quality. This genre can satisfy any fiction reader’s desire to read a fiction book while also reading a true story.
Narrative non-fiction has the quality of a good non-fiction story, as well as adding a little emotion and engaging writing to keep all readers entertained. One recommendation to start with is Heartsick: Three Stories of Falling in Love … And What Happens After it Ends by Jessie Stephens. This book checks off the category of being relatable, factual, and engaging, making it a great first read into the genre. Narrative Non-fiction is one of those genres that will make you forget you are reading a true story and will have you becoming a non-fiction reader in no time.
Biography
Upon first glance, biographies might not seem like one of the genres for fiction readers to read to get into non-fiction; however, that is not the case. Biographies are one of those genres that can be versatile in the way that you can read about just about anyone. You can read about authors that you love, or a person who was talked about in your book, or even important figures in our world. Biographies can be groundbreaking stories that can help you look at a person in a different light.
Biographies always seem to get the image of being boring or long reads or reductive, but that is not always the case. The type of biography all depends on the type of author and the story the person is writing about. Biographies have the power to bring to life the person it is about in a story-like structure that can make it an enjoyable read. One recommendation is Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin. This book is much like others about Jane Austen, documenting her in a way that engages with her readers and invites them into her story. To make it easier for yourself, find someone that you like or you are interested in reading about, and you’ll be on your way to reading non-fiction.
History
For many, history can turn you away in any type of media, even if it is inside of fiction. However, I feel that history has a place in every reader’s heart. In every book, there is the foundation of history and past events that make up the storyline. History is what makes some books come to life and have the effect that they do. In this case, history stands alone and can be one that can win you over.
The History genre is one that is vast and can cover just about any historical event. Anything that you are interested in or read somewhere else, or learned in school, is inside a history book. You can find what you are interested in and deep dive into it so that you can truly understand it. While it may come off as a history book from school, it can also be like a story that can entertain a reader and present a story unlike any other. One recommendation for the History genre is Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. This book brings to life the power of history books that read like fiction and entrap readers in their pages. History can become one of your most cherished genres if you take the chance and explore an area of interest you may have never truly discovered.
So put down the fiction books on your TBR and pick up a non-fiction book in a genre that interests you. Connect it to what you love and prepare to fall into all that the non-fiction world has to offer. Prepare yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing something new. You might just fall in love with non-fiction books and be a part of the two defining genres of books. Hopefully, these genres will set you on the right path to success in breaking into the vast and vibrant world of non-fiction.
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Find these books and more on our Fascinating Nonfiction Reads You Can’t Miss on Bookshop.org.
