I hate to admit it, but I read most when I’m traveling. The otherwise idle time spent in transit is distraction-free (with the exception of movies on the plane), and I find myself more likely to make it through a book while on the road.
This past year, I yearned to learn again– to be engrossed in a topic enough to push through writing that has been solidly researched by an expert. I desired a contrast from what I read and wrote daily: blog posts, personal reflections, lifestyle tips, recipes, travel guides and photographic memoirs. While these genres are inspiring and good for personal development, I rarely find myself learning something new through them.
I realized that, if I wanted to continue learning, I needed to pop a Dramamine and actually open a book during my travels.
So you might be surprised by some of these titles; they’re not exactly stereotypical “beach reads,” and some of them focus on heavy topics. But the truth is, this is still how most of us are going to learn anything of substance or significance once we’re done with traditional education. And if we are to care about the world outside of our immediate community or whatever’s required to do our jobs, then we must seek out these sources.
Learning is difficult but necessary work. It is certainly less relaxing than picking up a book filled with pithy sayings we already agree with.
My Favorite Nonfiction Travel Reads
Now that I’ve defended my somewhat odd reading list, onto the books themselves! Each of these authors is an expert who has changed my perspective on something. I like being challenged with information that is less than easy to swallow. It helps me be more in touch with the reality outside of my daily route.
Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation
This relatively lighthearted piece by Michael Pollan is an excellent choice for food lovers. Pollan is the expert on food policy and one of the major leaders in the real food movement. Pollan’s work has functioned as a wakeup call, revealing ways in which our food industry is detrimental to our health, our environment, and our society. Throughout the book, Pollan explores how food traditions have evolved– and remained the same– over thousands of years. He interviews restauranteurs and chefs, describes meals with candor you can taste, and makes his readers reconsider what it means to prepare and eat good food. Buy it here.
The Locust Effect: Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence
Gary Haugen is one of my favorite people in the world whom I don’t know personally. He is the founder of International Justice Mission, an organization that partners with law enforcement agencies around the world to end human trafficking and other human rights violations. The Locust Effect tells stories from the field– from South America to Africa to Asia– and exposes ways in which the poorest of the poor truly live outside the protection of the law. This book is harrowing and yet difficult to put down, and a must-read for anyone interested in international poverty alleviation. Buy it here.
The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter & How to Make the Most of Them
This is a must-read for anyone in their twenties (or experiencing a quarter-life crisis), caught in the mixed messages of what this decade is for. Meg Jay is a psychologist who has been seeing people in this age group for many years, and she shares her wisdom from research and experience with hundreds of clients. Need some motivation or sound advice? Buy it here.
More Or Less: Choosing a Life of Excessive Generosity
I’ve been championing this book for the past half year because it is really that good. Jeff Shinabarger writes about creative ways to be generous, profiles successful projects started by normal and yet radically generous people, and tells how his own journey towards generosity began with a single knock on the door. This book is for anyone who is tired of living only for themselves, and is ready to live a life that meets greater needs. Buy it here.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
If you care about social justice in the United States, you should care about mass incarceration. Thankfully, Michelle Alexander has written a book on this complex topic, explaining how exactly we have become a nation with millions of people in prison. Alexander demonstrates the frightening ways in which Jim Crow is still alive in the realities faced by those recognized as felons. Like The Locust Effect, this is not a book for the faint-of-heart, but necessary for anyone who would like to better understand how our systems actually work to the detriment of certain American citizens. Buy it here.
[Tweet “5 nonfiction reads that will actually change your perspective. via @daisylinshih”]
Thanks for sharing these books. I love non-fiction! I will definitely be adding these books to my reading list. A few non-fiction reads I really enjoyed this year are:
The Confidence Game by Maria Konnikova about con artists
Garbology by Edward Humes about trash and where is goes when we throw it away
Jane Goodall’s book Through a Window about her time working with wild chimps
Hmm Okay! I’m speaking with someone tomorrow who has been involved with Compassion and I’ll ask her about that! Thank you so much for your encouragement, Jill. It means so much to me. Keep rallying and supporting these organizations and encouraging your kids to do the same!
Both IJM and WV are amazing ministries. I hope you are able to get a job with one or the other. Just a note…Compassion’s headquarters are in CO, but many work from home. In fact most of the people I know who work for Compassion, do so from a different location so it might be worth looking at what jobs are available without moving from your current location.
I’ve been reading Thinking Fast and Slow by Nobel prize (econ) winner Daniel Kahneman, which essentially outlines the two systems (fast and slow; impulsive and deliberate) people use to process information, make decisions, and essentially understand the world; and also brings to light the myriad cognitive biases that affect our thinking and decision making. If nothing else, it casts a lot of doubt on what the reader thinks they know.
That’s great, Susannah! I think some of these books really line up with your heart for the gospel.
Yes!! I think you’d really enjoy the book– it’s also great for those of us trying to encourage our own generation.
You’ll love More or Less!! It’s such a good read… brought me to tears.
That’s fantastic, Jill. We know a few people involved with Compassion as well and they are such a wonderful organization. I only wish they had offices in Southern California! I’m actually looking at working for either IJM or WV at the moment– everything is still in process, but I really want to be closer to these causes than I have been. I’m so glad you’ve been such a strong supporter of the mission… it’s so important to model that generosity for your kids, too!
I’ve been involved with Compassion (sponsoring kids and advocating on their behalf) for more than 20 years – I’ve traveled to 3 different countries to see Compassion’s work first hand. So if you ever have questions, feel free to ask! I don’t know the work of World Vision as well…just know they are also doing amazing things and that their focus is slightly different than Compassions.
Sounds great! Pretty interesting reads. I’ve been wanting to check More or Less for a while now. Happy you mentioned it! Now, definitely going to give this book a try 🙂
I’ve heard a lot about The Defining Decade and have wanted to check it out for a while. After seeing you mention it, it’s definitely getting bumped up on my to-read list! Thanks for sharing, friend!
xoxo
Kat
These sound like great books! We’re heading to Mexico in just over a month and maybe I’ll bring one of these books! <3
Thank you Robyn! And you’re exactly right! What are your favorite fiction reads?
Oh cool! I’ll look into his work right now! That sounds fascinating.
Thanks Hannah, that means a lot!
Yes for sure! I loved it– the stories were quite relatable!
Under African Sun sounds fascinating– I just looked it up! Thanks for sharing that. 🙂
This looks like a good list of interesting non-fiction books! I read a ton of fiction, and it’s usually Young Adult, so I’m always looking for books outside the genre to switch things up. It’s incredible when you read a book that opens up your viewpoint and teaches you something new!
Anything by Robert Fulghum, most famous for All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. His books are collections of short essays that make you see life differently. For instance what happens if, instead of a watch, you strap a compass to your wrist?
Oh, I love both those organizations! I heard Jimmy Mellado of Compassion speak and it was so moving. I need to look at those two books!
Yay, thank you Gina! I think you’d really enjoy each of those books– they were all page turners for me! And I look forward to hearing what you like reading!
I love that one of the reasons you posted this is because you’re interested in learning beyond college. I think everyone should have that goal in mind–we should always seek to improve our minds no matter what 🙂
Thanks for the book recommendations!
Dance A Real
I’ve read The Defining Decade more times than I’d like to admit lol. Such a great book, I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a good read.
I am not quite sure which books count as non-fiction – is it those that aren’t telling made up stories? If so, I recently read Under African Sun by Marianne Alverson. She went with her husband, an anthropologist, to Botswana and lived like the locals and it’s very interesting.
I loved More or Less…. Have you read Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns? (CEO of World Vision). It’s one of my favorites. My absolute favorite, life-changing, non-fiction read is Too Small to Ignore by Wess Stafford (former CEO of Compassion).
I’ve been waiting for a post about books you love! Over the past couple years, I’ve been really into nonfiction too. I remember you talking about the book More or Less, and I really want to read that this year! Also, Cooked, The Defining Decade, and The Locus Effect all look really good! I can’t wait to add them to my reading list this year. I’m going to try to make reading more a part of my regular routine, so I’m excited to add some good ones to that list. Also, you’re right–traveling is when I read the most too!