3 Non-Fiction Books for Inquisitive people
In 2016, I read my first ever non-fiction, self-help book: ‘How to Win Friends & Influence People’, by American writer Dale Carnegie. Written in 1936, this worldwide best-seller is considered to be one of the all time classic books of self-improvement and communication; in which Carnegie outlines a number of tips and techniques on how to handle different people and situations.
Many people associate ‘non-fiction’ books with ‘self-help’, even though they’re not necessarily the same. The non-fiction books that I prefer, include the likes of biographies, real-life events, experience-driven stories, and the occassional self-help agenda as well. These books developed something more than just excitement or surprise.
The following books made me think beyond myself. These books developed a spark of zeal, curiosity and inquisitiveness within myself as far as our world is concerned.
These books don’t promise anything, and neither do I. They just provide some knowledge and insights towards this life of ours. How we choose to use it, is upto us. No one else.
Book #1. ‘12 Rules for Life’: By Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
In case you’re unfamiliar with his work, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is a renowned clinical psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at The University of Toronto. In this book, Peterson draws inspiration from his personal life and clinical practice, religious myths, and a high degree of philosophy and psychology to come up with these 12 profound yet practical rules that can help live a more meaningful life. He cites examples from ancient stories, the Bible and psychological principles to support each rule and how the reader can benefit from implementing it so.
So for example, one of the rules he mentions is:
“Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not who someone else is today.”
We’re living in a highly competitive world where everyone around us is doing something worthwhile with their lives. YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are all full of artists, influencers and celebrities who showcase their day-to-day activities and how to learn from them. Peterson believes that real growth is measured when you look at your success relative to how you were yesterday, last month, or even a few years ago. Drawing a comparison to a past version of yourself is a better indicator for growth, versus measuring against someone else’s journey.
Book #2. ’The World’s Fittest Book’: By Ross Edgley
Ross Edgley is a British athlete, adventurer and sports writer who graduated from Loughborough University School of Sports and Exercise Science. Being a philosopher of training and nutrition, Ross is constantly on the quest to accomplish 2 key things with his adventurous stunts. The first, ‘To push the boundaries of human physical excellence’; and second, ‘To raise money for charities.’ Some of stunts include:
- Completing a marathon (42.2 km) pulling a 1,400 kg Mini Countryman car, to raise money for a Teenage Cancer Trust.
- Completing a triathlon with a 45 kg log strapped to his back
- Completing a 2,884 km swim in open waters around Great Britain in 157 days, or around 5 months.
As you can see, Ross is not like your typical fitness influencer. In the World’s Fittest Book, he shares multiple principles of physiology; showcasing a holistic approach to fitness as a whole. Having traveled across the world and trained in numerous regions and cultures, Ross expertly covers topics surrounding running, weightlifting, swimming and more in this complete guide to the human body.
For anyone who believes that fitness need not be confined to the 4 walls of a gym, this one’s for you.
Book #3. ’Everything is F*cked: By Mark Manson
Critically acclaimed author of the #1 Bestseller ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck’: Mark Manson is known for his blunt and straightforward style of writing. However, not many people are aware of his second, lesser known book that he claims to be ‘A Book about Hope’.
If you were to ask someone what the opposite of ‘happiness’ is, chances are you’d get an answer along the lines of ‘sadness’. Manson believes that the opposite of ‘happiness’ is in fact ‘hopelessness’, because hope is the driving factor behind all our decisions.
‘In the grand scheme of things, nothing we say or do is going to affect anyone except for a certain group of individuals’. This is briefly what Manson calles ‘The Uncomfortable Truth.’ The idea that we’re not special, and thinking that we are simply raises our expectations and prevents us from going out and achieving our goals.
Manson makes it clear at the beginning that the book is not a self-help guide. With each chapter, he goes over the views and wisdom of people such as Greek philosopher Plato, discussing our world in today’s age of politics, religion and relationships.
Personally, I’ve never read a book with the sole purpose of getting something out of it. The best books often don’t promise anything either, so let your inner inquisitiveness loose. The world is far more than what we perceive it to be…
All that’s needed, is a little push to get started
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