I read every day — these are the non-fiction books I would recommend | Books | Entertainment
These are the non-fiction books I would recommend to everyone (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
Reading is something I try to do every day, even if that’s only a couple of pages on particularly busy days. And when it comes to genres, I’m one of those people who flits between different ones, sometimes enjoying a fun romantasy series, while other times opting for a non-fiction tome.
There are so many books to choose from when looking at any genre, and as a history lover, if I pick up a non-fiction, it’ll typically be one about some historical figure, or event – although not exclusively. Over recent years, I have delved into and out of numerous non-fiction titles, with some truly blowing me away. These are some of the non-fiction books I have read in the last few years that I would recommend to almost anyone.
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Edge of Reality offers a glimpse at the dark side of reality TV (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
Edge of Reality: Journeys Through the Rabbit Hole of Reality Television by Jacques Peretti
An essential read for any fans of reality TV, this book offers a glimpse into the reality of becoming famous on these shows and the dark side of filming and life after TV appearances. Jacques interviews those who have worked both in front of and behind the cameras on some of the most famous reality shows, including MAFS, Big Brother, and Love Island.
It may leave you thinking twice before switching on the latest series of your favourite reality show, but it’s nevertheless an interesting and insightful read.
Edge of Reality: Journeys Through the Rabbit Hole of Reality Television by Jacques Peretti is £10 on Amazon and Waterstones
Great and Horrible News: Murder and Mayhem in Early Modern Britain by Blessin Adams
A must-read for any true crime junkies, Great and Horrible News details a number of brutal murders that occurred during the Early Modern era. These personal stories of murder, infanticide, miscarriage and suicide are told in a sensitive manner by former police officer turned historian Blessin Adams, whose experience brings a unique viewpoint to these horrific events.
Great and Horrible News: Murder and Mayhem in Early Modern Britain by Blessin Adams is £10.05 on Amazon and £10.99 from Waterstones
She-Wolves is a must read for history fans (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor
Perfect for history fans, She-Wolves details the lives of four Queens of England who ruled prior to Elizabeth I. The Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I; Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France; and Margaret of Anjou, all experienced rather tumultuous times during their rule, or that of their husbands or sons.
Castor’s book details how these women were truly at the centre of some of British history’s biggest events, including the Crusades and the Wars of the Roses.
She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor is £11.05 from Amazon and £12.99 from Waterstones
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
Published in 2019, The Five quickly became a popular book among history and true crime fans, with Rubenhold being awarded the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction that same year.
The Five gives a unique lens to the story of Jack the Ripper (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
The Five offers a unique angle to the Jack the Ripper murders, looking at five ‘canonical victims’ of this serial killer – Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly, and centring their lives in this brutal history, rather than their deaths and the mysterious identity of the man who killed them.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold is £10.25 from Amazon and £10.99 from Waterstones
Inside the Tudor Court: Henry VIII and His Six Wives Through the Writings of the Spanish Ambassador Eustace Chapuys by Lauren Mackay
Another one for history fans, Inside the Tudor Court details a well-known story through a rather unique lens. Through the letters of the Spanish Ambassador at the court of Henry VIII, we see the lives of his courtiers, advisors, and, of course, his wives, and the international opinions on many of these figures.
A key player in the court, Ambassador Chapuys, was a staunch Catholic and defender of Catherine of Aragon, and through his letters, Mackay showcases a unique lens to the events of Henry VIII’s reign, including the break from Rome and the executions of two of the King’s wives – and many of his close advisors.
Inside the Tudor Court: Henry VIII and His Six Wives Through the Writings of the Spanish Ambassador Eustace Chapuys by Lauren Mackay is £11.59 from Amazon and £13.99 from Waterstones
Prices are correct at the time of writing.
