If you’re anything like me, then the non-fiction genre is something that you’ve long since eradicated from your reading habits. When you’ve only ever read for pleasure, then there’s something almost intimidating about being overburdened with hard facts and fancy academic language. I had gone my entire life without picking up a book beyond the realm of fiction, except for mandatory chapters for school.
Last year, though, this changed. I challenged myself to read one non-fiction book…which then turned into another, and another, and by the end of 2021, 10% of the books I had read had been non-fiction. I found that non-fiction didn’t have to be ridiculously oversized history books filled to the brim with knowledge that I’d never be able to digest (no matter how much A People’s Tragedy by Orlando Figes threatens me from my bookshelf).
With this newfound enjoyment, I decided that 2022 would be the year that I fully embraced the art of nonfiction. And now I’m bringing you along for the ride, too. Behold: a handful of tips that will help you fall in love with the literary world of reality.
Begin with more narrative-driven texts.
Memoirs, autobiographies, recounts, etcetera. My passion for non-fiction was sparked by Peter Hook’s Unknown Pleasures, which read so much like the typical fiction I was used to that the transition was almost unnoticeable. We recently published a blog post on "non-fiction that reads like fiction", which is the perfect place to start!
Focus on the subjects that you’re interested in.
This feels like a given, but I think it’s always important to keep this in mind when on the search for any kind of text. It rings especially true for non-fiction: read what you want to read, not what you think you need to read. Your friend may have rave reviews about some war history book but if your heart lies with music biographies, then stick to what you love. You will get very little out of a book full of facts on a subject that you couldn’t care less about.
Have a fiction book on the go at the same time.
Some people have strong feelings on reading multiple books at once, but trust me when I say that this is the exception. Non-fiction can often become quite dense and difficult to wade through, and after a while reading may feel more like a chore than a source of enjoyment. Delving into your favourite fiction genre alongside this maintains crucial balance. And you never know, it might help you reach your reading goal even quicker.
This is where non-fiction starts to feel like homework, but don’t dismiss this just yet. Non-fiction, particularly those that are fact-filled rather than memoir-based, cannot be fully digested if you do not offer it your full attention. Even tabbing the pages that you want to revisit or underlining the facts that you find interesting will make it easier to absorb everything and return to key parts at a later date.
Go easy on yourself.
Making the leap from the escape of fiction to the cold reality of nonfiction is difficult, and not enough people give credit to this. You may find that you struggle to stay as focused on the text for long periods of time, or that it’s taking you twice as long to wade through it. Be reasonable with yourself when it comes to progressing - if you’ve only read 50 pages of it this week, then that’s 50 pages of information you didn’t know before swimming around in your brain. It’s an achievement - all of it is. You don’t need a fast addition to your yearly reading goal to prove this.
With this new approach to non-fiction in mind, I hope that you find the genre a lot less intimidating. It is all ultimately about finding the right way that works for you. So challenge yourself this year to incorporate one non-fiction book into your reading list. You may be surprised.
Caitlin @smallprintthoughts
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