13 brilliant non-fiction books I read in 2022 and you should read too
Continuing on my yearly goal of reading at least one non-fiction book every month, I read thirteen books this year in 2022. Much less than last year’s 33 non-fiction reads I know, but this year has been extremely busy for me on the personal front and I’m glad I could manage as many as I did.
I make it a point to read these books because I think reading is not only about escaping into stories but it should also be about learning something new and discovering lives of people around the world and using their hardships and extraordinary stories as motivation in our lives.
If you’re a beginner who's looking for non-fiction books that are simple to read or a seasoned reader looking for the best recommendations in nonfiction, I have the best 13 non-fiction recommendations for 2022 for you.
Tip : Many of the below featured books are available on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Subscription for free or at very reduced prices.
These titles are also available on Audible. You get 2 books free if you join.
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Self-help non-fiction books read in 2022
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
Atul Gawande is a celebrated surgeon and writer who finds the simplest solution for the most complex problems: the checklist.
Written through awe-inspiring stories and life-threatening episodes in people’s lives, The Checklist, takes us through Gawande’s technique in fiction style. He believes that the application of the checklist is not only limited to medicine or surgery but is equally efficient for disaster response, skyscraper construction, banking, aviation, hotel management, and every imaginable business.
It’s truly an amazing book that is in no way preachy but fun to read and will most definitely inspire to start using the simple technique from today.
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod - The 6 Habits that will transform your life before 8 AM
As human beings we are born with the innate desire to improve and grow ourselves, says the author. So in whatever life stage we are right now, whether we are wealthy and successful or struggling and desperate to make ends meet we want to get better.
So this is most-definitely one personal development book all of us need to read. And why not if it’s going to take only minutes off our morning routine each day, every day?
The book is only 180 pages but is packed with very doable, practical techniques to improve our lives drastically. But if you don’t have time for the 180 pages either here’s my brief summary of the book using quotes by the author and some of my own understanding of this revolutionary guide.
Deep Work by by Cal Newport - Rules for focused success in a distracted world.
Do you use your intellectualistic capacity to its absolute bursting? Cal Newport says that to do this Deep Work is absolutely imperative. A distraction-free focus on what you're going to do and doing it at its absolute perfection is the need of the hour he mentions.
First, he persuades us why deep work is essential, precious, rare but meaningful. Also he gives us the rules that when followed lead to intensive focus like how to work deeply, its varied style and strategies, and why we should embrace weariness and not fleetly jump to checking our phones and social media. Also, he talks about quitting social media and tapping out shallow work from our routines.
Cal Newport convinces you of the power of acute focus and attention and its needfulness in the present's social media- hung-up world. And for you to apply it in your life he offers an actionable frame. A must-read if you're looking to better yourself to produce impeccable and redeeming work.
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World By Haemin Sunim, Chi-Young Kim (Translator), Youngcheol Lee (Illustrator)
Haemin Sunim is a Korean Buddhist monk who shares his first-hand experiences about life in this practical guide to mindfulness.
The teachings are applicable to people worldwide and belonging to all religions. They are simple reminders to simple things in life that we are aware of but have forgotten in the daily hustle of life. The book also has beautiful illustrations that reflect the message of the book.
Sunim shares some much-needed wisdom about – maintaining relationships, finding true love, trying to be happy, taking control of your emotions, getting out of low feelings and shares some insights about loving yourself.
Each chapter opens with a short essay followed by a series of short messages/quotes that are actually words of wisdom /advice addressed directly to the reader.
“When your mind rests, the world also rests.”
The Little Book of Hygge : The Danish way to live well by Meik Wiking
Several International researches and surveys have shown that the happiest country in the world, year on year is Denmark. How, even when they have summer only few months of the year and are given gloomy, rainy and cold weather most of the year, can the Danish still be the happiest in the world. What is their secret?
The Danish accord this happiness to just one thing: Hygge. So what is this Hygge? And how do we manifest it in our life? Read this book written by a Danish himself, working no less at the happiness research Institute, Copenhagen, to change your life.
Heart-Touching Memoirs read in 2022
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Born a Crime is comedian Trevor Noah’s story of growing up during rampant racism during the apartheid. It was illegal for white men to have relations with black women and vice versa. And Trevor was born during this time to a German father and a black mother, hence the title.
Trevor’s mother was an independent, opinioned woman with morals and standards of her own despite the prevalent racism. Her fiery nature and independent attitude reflect in Trevor’s behavior. Trevor was a naughty kid, always up to some mischief, but the color of his skin (neither white nor black) saved him a lot of time and he saw the unjustness of it dished out to his black cousins.
In his childhood, he saw utter poverty, to the limit that he slept in a car and ate worms for food and also saw his mother almost die. His experiences and the maturity of understanding a good situation from bad shaped what he is today. And he shares everything in a way that will put a smile on your face instead of bringing tears.
Born a Crime is an intimate yet powerful portrayal of Noah’s life that is full of spankings, chasings and running from the law. And yet it is a complete book, a fascinating memoir and an inspirational reading experience.
Can’t Hurt me by David Goggins
David Goggins is a man obsessed. Obsessed with excellence, perfection, and getting the most out of his life and his body and mind. And he has achieved success beyond our imagination. With no “special privileges” in his kitty, he has carved out a niche for himself through hard work, dedication to his passion, and a no-shit attitude. At times he has punished himself but every time he has discovered that he performed only what he was already capable of.
Goggins believes that we are always capable of more than we think we can achieve. We need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and face discomfort and pain only to come out stronger and more resilient on the other side.
This powerful autobiography reminds us that if we take the easy way out, the grander, better things don’t come to us. But if we move beyond our comfort zones and endure pain and commit to getting things done no matter how impossible they feel, we achieve our true potential and true greatness.
Why I Am an Atheist and other works by Bhagat Singh
This book is a collection of 18 writings by Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh who was executed at the tender age of 23 during India’s struggle for freedom. He wrote these letters/memorandums/thoughts while in jail.
Despite being behind bars and knowing his soon-to-be ending destiny Bhagat Singh’s firm resolve to continue fighting, his passion for justice and freedom for his fellow Indians, and his brave and bold thinking shine through brilliantly like a beacon during India’s darkest times.
The primary (titular) text of the book, why I am an atheist, was written after a discussion with his friend. Despite being very young in age, his thinking remained crystal clear, and he puts some critical arguments and questions supporting his beliefs.
Anyone who reads these texts can feel the fiery resolve and captivating power of his words. Having lost a well-read and meticulous youth you cannot feel anything other than a deep-seated sadness that India lost a great visionary too early.
Coming Out as a Dalit by Yashica Dutt
75 years of Indian Independence and yet Dalits lack basic fundamental rights and privileges. This book is an eye-opener. For so many years we have believed that Dalits are people who clean toilets, and sewage and perform other menial tasks. Because that is what has been portrayed for decades.
So reading a book by a Dalit in a profession like journalism and who is based in New York in fluent English and with so many facts and figures packed into this blazing, bold and impressive memoir came as a surprise for me.
This personal story of why a Dalit woman had to pretend she was an upper-caste woman all her life is more like a powerful social commentary against rampant casteism in our country today which is often side-lined and overlooked.
Although it does not go back deep into Dalit history, nor does it detail the current situation of the Dalits, this book will force you to look at what the injustice that has been before your eyes with a new lens of compassion and fair rights and will make you want to take action.
Our Moon Has Blood Clots : The Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits by Rahul Pandita
Our moon has Blood Clots is an eye-opening book. Kashmiri Pandits living in the valley were unjustly, brutally driven out of their houses for no valid reasons and these numbers go by lakhs. And sadly no one, not even the Government were able to help them, save them or stop the injustice from happening. It is only now several years of the dark events that the victims are slowly able to open up about what happened to them and yet they can never go back to what was rightfully their own house.
The book itself is divided into 5 parts – the first part details the history of Kashmir and the history of how the Kashmiri Pandits began to be targeted. The second section deals with how Rahul’s family managed to escape the barbarism and find quarters that were extremely insufficient for them, but as they say, beggars can’t be choosers. The third section describes how the massacre escalated and how hundreds of Pandit families were being wiped off for no good reason. The fourth part is the narrative of Ravi’s father, detailing how he came to be a part of Kashmir and the events leading to his son’s death. The last part deals with the present where Rahul is now a journalist and wants to interview some Kashmiri Pandits whose narrative is critical to the events.
A poignant and powerful memoir that will forever be etched in the minds of the readers.
True Short Stories Read in 2022
Sudha Murty shares her experiences in life through yet another book. The language is simple and easy. Even Older kids can read these stories.
The stories vary from light and funny ones (about dressing sense) to those on more serious topics like dowry. Some of them narrate the integrity of tribal people and some of them show the hypocrisy of city life.
Few of them are based on Murty's past life and childhood while most of them dwell on her experiences while working as a social worker and businesswoman.
Overall a read-worthy collection for anyone wanting to indulge in quick stories about life's lessons and morals.
Hope on
Hope On is a compilation of six real life stories from real people who were strangers. But each story has a unique theme that stands out like optimism, compassion, kindness etc. These stories were adapted into comics by different artists and that is how Hope On came to be.
I loved the book for this concept of bringing together stories from unknown people. Either directly or indirectly these stories relate to or make women the hero of it. The highlight their efforts to step up in difficult occasions or their efforts to better themselves.
The stories are very simple every day events but they all have a moral – an important learning. Each of the illustrations too are unique in each of the stories and so simple yet so engaging and colourful. My favourite was the first story which illustrates the goodness of a woman and how we assume/judge incorrectly.
True Crime Read in 2022
Shehla Masood : The Murder that shook the Nationby Hemender Sharma
Shehla Masood, an RTI activist and an environmentalist, was shot at point blank range on 11th August 2011. Shehla was on a mission to expose corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
A beautiful Muslim girl, from a humble background, who chose to raise her voice. The Bhopal police automatically labeled that she might be of a loose character and that would have made her commit suicide. There was no headway in the case.
Then the matter was handed to the best team in the CBI. How they put the pieces of the puzzle together is a story worth recounting and reading about.
From Shehla’s past life, right up to the sentence meted out to the perpetrators, Hemender Sharma takes us through the maze that is life and unfolds the many layers of the murder.
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