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Top Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently That Weren't My Typical Genre

Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at the Broke and the Bookish!

I'm planning to post more about this, but recently, i.e. in the last one to two years, I'm beginning to be interested in nonfiction. This is a genre that I previously eschewed completely with the occasional exception of biography, history, or science. And when I say occasionally, I mean maybe I read one of the above per year. However, last year I read 15 nonfiction books, which was a lifetime record for me (not counting books for school), even if most of them were memoirs. So, here are the top 10 books I've recently enjoyed that weren't my typical genre, in other words, nonfiction:

1. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey


Until recently, I never would have read a popular "self-help" book.


2. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

This is a book I might have previously deemed too intense-sounding. Also, I haven't previously read much psychology with the exception of some Freud for school.







3. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I have gotten into travel memoirs more in the last 3-5 years, but the spiritual/self-help reputation of the book made it one I wouldn't have picked up before this past year.






4. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

Although I do read online advice columns, again, this is more of a "self-help"/inspiration type book that I previously avoided (in book form anyway).







5. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I wouldn't normally read either year-long project type books or books on happiness.








6. All Roads Lead to Austen by Amy Elizabeth Smith

Although I read plenty of Austen and related fiction, I'd never read Austen non-fiction before (with the exception of biography).







7. Beirut Noir edited by Iman Humaydun


This is fiction, but I don't usually read noir.







8. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

I don't normally read detective fiction.






9. Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin



Again, reading about happiness (or homes) is not my usual fare.







10. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg


Until this past year, I'd never read many books on writing, but I'm making up for that now!

Comments

Giovanna said…
I watched and LOVED Eat Pray Love, and I've always wanted to read the book, but I've heard a lot of bad things about it, so I don't know if I can do it! :| I don't want to ruin the fact that I loved the movie! :(
Great Top Ten! :)
My TTT.
I've never seen the movie, but after all of the hype, I was still impressed with the writing and authenticity of the book.
MeezCarrie said…
All Roads lead to Austen sounds interesting! My TTT

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