Non-Fiction November

In the thick of the semester, it can feel like your brain is going into information overload, leaving you with little time to focus on things outside of your studies. However, it is still important to make time to explore your interests and open your eyes to new perspectives — what better way to do this than reading a non-fiction book? From sports to fashion or celebrities to history, the genre has a title for everyone. So, here are five non-fiction recommendations to feed your curiosity.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

In this memoir, Dolly Alderton details her experiences with love — both platonic and romantic — in her childhood, adolescent and adult years. Told through deeply relatable anecdotes, her humorous writing style will keep you entertained while also validating feelings that can often feel messy and isolating. One of the best aspects of this book is the emphasis that it places on the importance of female friendship, with Dolly stating, ‘Nearly everything I know about love, I’ve learned in my long-term friendships with women.’ From heartbreak to parties, first jobs to last words, Everything I Know About Love captures the highs and lows of growing up and the mistakes that we’ve all inevitably made along the way. And for those who prefer watching to reading, the BBC adapted the memoir into a TV show in 2022 starring Emma Appleton and Bel Powley.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

There are few writers as masterful as Stephen King. From The Shining to Salem’s Lot, he has dominated the horror genre for decades at this point and continues to be an inspiration to aspiring writers everywhere. In this part memoir/part guidebook, he discusses his journey of becoming a published author and gives his valuable advice on cracking the craft of writing. He provides insightful tips that range from reading regularly to finding your voice and are sprinkled between stories detailing real-life challenges that he has faced. On Writing is a must-read for not only writers but for anyone struggling to overcome obstacles, creatively or not.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Known for being the First Lady of the United States of America between 2009 and 2017, Michelle Obama writes about her experiences both in and out of the White House in this book. It is split into three sections: ‘Becoming Me’, which explores her identity, values and education; ‘Becoming Us’, the story of her and Barack; and ‘Becoming More’, which focuses on the advocacy and legislation that she worked on during her time as First Lady. Described as ‘surprisingly candid and richly emotional’, Becoming is a memoir that chronicles a story of hard work and resilience while also providing wider commentary on race, gender and the valuable role of community — a must-read for anyone looking for some empowering reading material.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

This book tells the true story of Christopher McCandless — a young man from America who adopted a nomadic lifestyle after graduating from University in 1990. He embarked on a journey across the country, eventually leading him to the Alaskan wilderness (despite having minimal supplies and survival skills), where he found an abandoned bus to live in. However, in a tragic turn of events, a hunter discovered the dead body of Christopher in 1992, and it was later ruled that he died from starvation. In Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer uses an investigative style to recount the events of Christopher’s life that led up to his passing. He fills in the gaps in the narrative by interviewing people who McCandless met along the way, as well as looking into his family history. Most interestingly, he uses the in-depth diary that Christopher kept during his travels to draw conclusions about his route, emotional state and the final days of his life.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Britney Spears has always been at the centre of pop culture as we know it. Whether she was shaving her head or dancing with a snake at VMAs, her career has been defined by unforgettable moments captured in real time by a global audience. However, the stories we have been fed about Britney over the years have never been from her perspective. Tabloids, clout-chasers and even her own family have been in control of her narrative for her whole life — in The Woman in Me, Britney Spears takes her story back. The book details never-before-discussed topics, including her mental health, her high-profile romantic relationships and life under a conservatorship. She sheds light on situations and flips media speculation on its head, powerfully demonstrating that she is a human being just like anyone else.