This post is long overdue. I haven’t read much nonfiction in the last decade other than the occasional memoir or biography. But in the last few months, it seems as if my mood is shifting towards some nonfiction books I’ve had on my shelves.So, I decided to put together a post that includes 10 non-fiction books for the month of November 2024.
I have read a couple of the books from this list, but not all. I’m still hoping to get to them at some point in the near future. Although I enjoy memoirs, I decided not to include them on this list. To me, non-fiction is meant for learning something new. Memoirs and autobiographies are interesting and I enjoy the occasional one, but they don’t teach us anything.
I will dedicate a post to autobiographies and memoirs in 2025. Let me know if it is something you’d like to see on this blog.
For the time being, let’s see which books made my non-fiction November 2024 list.
The Weekend Effect by Katrina Onstad
As the title implies, The Weekend Effect encourages us to take at least 48 hours on the weekends for ourselves. That doesn’t mean to book every hour available to us with leisure activities. Rather, it’s suggested that we take some time to disconnect from our daily grind and recharge our batteries. It is becoming harder to do so, especially for those of us who work from home. I should listen to this advice, as I tend to be someone who’s almost constantly working.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
One of the oldest books on this list, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is the author’s most popular work. A well-respected educator and author, Covey passed a few years after writing this book, but it is still a sought-after title today. Once again, the cover is pretty self-explanatory. The book is about teaching you habits that help with using time more efficiently. An interesting read, no doubt. I’ll share my thoughts once I finish it.
Surrounded by Energy Vampires by Thomas Erkison
I had this book on my Netgalley shelf for over a year, and I’m happy to report that I finally started it. I’m about halfway through, and it’s pretty good. Not the best non fiction book out there, but it definitely holds some value. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t know how to deal with some challenging personalities, this book might give you some ideas. At the very least, you’ll be entertained!
The Fund by Rob Copeland
To be honest, I cannot recall asking the publishers for this book, but I thank them nonetheless for sending this book my way. It seems like a jaw-dropping, unbelievable real-life story that unravels secrets of a wall street legend. After nearly 50 years of starting and running the billion dollar hedge fund named Bridgewater Associates, Ray Dalio stepped down a little more than two years ago. Copeland narrates this story with uncanny accuracy. An interesting read that made it my way, so I shall indulge!
Money – A Story of Humanity by David McWilliams
If you’re interested in taking a trip down the history of money and how humans relate to it, this book will appeal to you. We know that the world revolves around money, but do we really stop and think about every aspect of it? When I was younger, I would wonder what would happen if money throughout the world ever runs out. But I haven’t given it much thought in the last few years. I’m curious to see what points the author makes, and if there’s anything of value to carry on.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
A few years ago I was browsing through Instagram and this book kept popping up on my feed, so of course it got me intrigued. And I’m glad I did, because it is a very powerful read. The author makes a lot of great points that make you aware of why you feel the way you do. With specific examples, the book is informative and inspiring. It guides us on ways to deal with traumatic events that still have negative effects on our daily lives.
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Renowned historian Harari brings us this brief history of humankind. It is an exploration on how biology and history defines human beings. The author looks at the history of humanity through the lens of our role in the evolution of the world throughout thousands of years. It is a unique viewpoint, and one that no previous historian attempted. No wonder it is still one of the most popular non fiction books of all time.
Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari
This book follows Sapiens, Harari’s first look at human kind. Equally compelling and original as Sapiens, Homo Deus focuses on the future of humans. The way we, as humans, changed the laws of nature through science and technology, and how it plays an important role into how we continue to evolve. But have we thought about where we are headed as a species? A very provocative book, it provides us with a unique insight into our possible future, if we are not willing to bring some major changes to our behavior.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
I finished this book on audio a few days ago, and I must say it is eye opening. This is the newest book I own by the author. Similar to his previous two works I mentioned, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century makes us aware that some preconceived ideas we grew up with are not actually true. While his first two books focused on the past and the future of humankind respectively, this one urges readers to consider dealing with our current issues.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
I think this is one of the most popular non-fiction books that were published in the last few years. If you’re like me and haven’t read it yet, although you had it on your tbr for months or even longer, let’s change that soon. This book encourages us to take little steps into improving our lives every single day. We don’t need to make major changes abruptly, rather take small steps into creating the life that brings us happiness. Breaking bad habits shouldn’t be hard, and the author reveals how he learned to achieve it. His strategies are simple, straight-forward, and user-friendly.
Concluding Words
This sums up my non-fiction November post for 2024. I hope you found some titles that inspire you to want to pick up. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two.
Let me know which titles seem more up your alley.
Until next time, keep reading fellow booksworms!
