Narrative nonfiction that reads like a story
Narrative nonfiction borrows a novel's tools — scene, suspense, character — to tell a true story. Some of it reads like a thriller; some asks for real attention.
Pace and weight are spelled out for every book, so you can tell which one you're picking up.
127 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
- Astrophysics for People in a HurryNeil deGrasse Tysonnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human ExperienceBrené Brownnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Between the World and MeTa-Nehisi Coatesnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD)John Medinanarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of LessGreg McKeownnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Fear: Trump in the White HouseBob Woodwardnarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · ambiguous ending
- Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of EverythingSteven D. Levittnarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On ItChris Vossnarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional NeglectJonice Webbnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Mueller ReportRobert S. Mueller IIInarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
When You Are Engulfed in FlamesDavid Sedarisnarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · resolved and happy ending- A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur BuilderMichael Pollannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After SerialRabia Chaudrynarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · ambiguous ending
- Amazon API Gateway: Developer GuideAmazon Web Servicesnarrative nonfiction · cosy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and DesignersDanny Gregorynarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance--A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black PowerDanielle L. McGuirenarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Business adventuresJohn Brooksnarrative nonfiction · cosy · moderate · ambiguous ending
- By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native LandRebecca Naglenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect PredatorsRonan Farrownarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading InnovationLinda A. Hillnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Content Strategy for the WebKristina Halvorsonnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Cooked: A Natural History of TransformationMichael Pollannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Critique of Practical ReasonImmanuel Kantnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical RightJane Mayernarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the WorldJennifer Palmierinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsDaniel H. Pinknarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really AreSeth Stephens-Davidowitznarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First CenturyDorothy Robertsnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Flash BoysMichael Lewisnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Friday Night LightsH.G. Bissingernarrative nonfiction · heartwarming · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Green River, Running RedAnn Rulenarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · dark ending- Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in CyberspaceJanet H. Murraynarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of AmericaSarah Kendziornarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew AmericaThomas L. Friedmannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · ambiguous ending
- I Was Told There'd Be Cake: EssaysSloane Crosleynarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State KillerMichelle McNamaranarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- In Defense of Food: An Eater's ManifestoMichael Pollannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for MenCaroline Criado Péreznarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a NationKristin Kobes Du Meznarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Just Keep Buying: Proven Ways to Save Money and Build Your WealthNick Maggiullinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to LeadSheryl Sandbergnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male AmericaIjeoma Oluonarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- My Family and Other AnimalsGerald Durrellnarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Neural Networks and Deep LearningMichael Nielsennarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Night of the GrizzliesJack Olsennarrative nonfiction · dark · fast paced · dark ending
- Nuclear War: A ScenarioAnnie Jacobsennarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · dark ending
- On the Genealogy of MoralsFriedrich Nietzschenarrative nonfiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points that Challenge Every Company and CareerAndrew S. Grovenarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and DeliveryGarr Reynoldsnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Regretting MotherhoodOrna Donathnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems (Voices That Matter)Steve Krugnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Simple Sabotage Field ManualU.S. Office of Strategic Servicesnarrative nonfiction · dark · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Skin in the Game: The Hidden Asymmetries in Daily LifeNassim Nicholas Talebnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Spook: Science Tackles the AfterlifeMary Roachnarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex WorldStanley McChrystalnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Authority Gap: Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men, and What We Can Do About ItMary Ann Sieghartnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- The Birth DearthBen J. Wattenbergnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Case of Mary Bell: A Portrait of a Child Who MurderedGitta Serenynarrative nonfiction · dark · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated AmericaRichard Rothsteinnarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong ThingsBarry Glassnernarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamPatrick Lencioninarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from ViolenceGavin de Beckernarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through AsiaPaul Therouxnarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · ambiguous ending
The Infinite GameSimon Sineknarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and FeminismJennifer Gunternarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley StoryMichael Lewisnarrative nonfiction · adventurous · fast paced · bittersweet ending
- The Perennial PhilosophyAldous Huxleynarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Quants: How a New Breed of Math Whizzes Conquered Wall Street and Nearly Destroyed ItScott Pattersonnarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · dark ending
- The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His EmpireJack Weatherfordnarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook: Recipes and Wisdom from an Obsessive Home CookDeb Perelmannarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Lovebell hooksnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't KnowAdam M. Grantnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Thinking In Systems: A PrimerDonella H. Meadowsnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
Thinking, Fast and SlowDaniel Kahnemannarrative nonfiction · cosy · moderate · resolved and happy ending- This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms RaceNicole Perlrothnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold CasesPaul Holesnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Web Form Design: Filling in the BlanksLuke Wroblewskinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- What the Road SaidCleo Wadenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Why Does Patriarchy Persist?Carol Gilligannarrative nonfiction · cosy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of LifeLulu Millernarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen TrialsMarion Gibsonnarrative nonfiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Women & Power: A ManifestoMary Beardnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Women Who Run With the WolvesClarissa Pinkola Estésnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · ambiguous ending
All That Is WickedKate Winkler Dawsonnarrative nonfiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Almost Human: Making Robots ThinkLee Gutkindnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- An Atheist Primer: Did You Know All the Gods Came from the Same Place?Madalyn Murray O'Hairnarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Burn It Down!: Feminist Manifestos for the RevolutionBreanne Fahsnarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Chase Darkness with Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving MurdersBilly Jensennarrative nonfiction · tense · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in AmericaLaila Lalaminarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of EvolutionRebecca Stottnarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- GODDESS OF THE MARKETBurnsnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Imaginary JesusMatt Mikalatosnarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your BikeGrant Petersennarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Math-ish: Finding Creativity, Diversity, and Meaning in MathematicsJo Boalernarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Monsters Among Us: An Exploration of Otherworldly Bigfoots, Wolfmen, Portals, Phantoms, and Odd PhenomenaLinda S. Godfreynarrative nonfiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Pegasus: How a Spy in Your Pocket Threatens the End of Privacy, Dignity, and DemocracyLaurent Richardnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your BusinessAmber Macnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Psychology: The Comic Book IntroductionGrady Kleinnarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Science Fiction and Philosophy: From Time Travel to SuperintelligenceSusan Schneidernarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday LifeHelen Czerskinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- SupercrunchersIan Ayresnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Culture Code: An Ingenious Way to Understand Why People Around the World Live and Buy as They DoClotaire Rapaillenarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · ambiguous ending
- The Descent of ManGrayson Perrynarrative nonfiction · funny · moderate · ambiguous ending
- The Ghost ClubKate Winkler Dawsonnarrative nonfiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic ScienceDouglas Starrnarrative nonfiction · eerie · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball DreamsDarcy Freynarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed As You AreAlicia Menendeznarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1Harold Clarke Goddardnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Nocturnal Brain: Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of SleepGuy Leschzinernarrative nonfiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
- The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight BiasDolly Chughnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester PrynneKate Winkler Dawsonnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex LifeNick Lanenarrative nonfiction · adventurous · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring LegendMark Collins Jenkinsnarrative nonfiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Voice Male: The Untold Story of the Pro-Feminist Men's MovementRob A. Okunnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for BoysErin Kimmerlenarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider WorldOlga Khazannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- When at Times the Mob Is Swayed: A Citizen’s Guide to Defending Our RepublicBurt Neubornenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of InnovationSteven Johnsonnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Where the Devil BelongsJim Clementenarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political WivesAnne Michaudnarrative nonfiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Buried Women SpeakMia Fallernarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Geeks, Genes, and the Evolution of Asperger SyndromeDean Falknarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing WomenZoe Venditozzinarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle MutilationsPaul Avery Tindolnarrative nonfiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Magnetized: Conversations with a Serial KillerCarlos Busquednarrative nonfiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent PastSteve Benennarrative nonfiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Time Biases: A Theory of Rational Planning and Personal PersistenceMeghan Sullivannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
More collections
- Fantasy books, by how they actually read (343)
- Science fiction books, by mood, pace and tone (158)
- Thrillers, sorted by pace, darkness and ending (213)
- Mystery novels, by mood, pace and tone (125)
- Horror books, by how dark and how fast (114)
- Literary fiction, by mood, pace and weight (78)
- Historical fiction, by mood, pace and ending (69)
- Young adult books, by mood, pace and tone (69)
- Contemporary fiction, by mood, pace and tone (36)
- Memoirs, by mood and weight (31)
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