What Is a Nonfiction Book? A Beginner’s Guide to Real Stories

Have you ever read a book about your favorite animal, learned how to build a robot, or gotten lost in the story of a famous person’s life? If you have, you’ve been reading nonfiction!

But what does that word really mean? It’s simple: Nonfiction is writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people.

Think of it as the difference between a painting of a dragon and a photograph of a tiger. The painting (fiction) comes from the artist’s imagination. The photograph (nonfiction) captures something that actually exists in the real world. Nonfiction books are like that photograph—they aim to show you something true.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about nonfiction books. We’ll explore the different types, why they are so important, and how you can find the perfect one for you.

The Big Idea: Truth vs. Imagination

The easiest way to understand nonfiction is to compare it to its opposite: fiction.

• Fiction is made up. The author creates the story, the characters, and the world. Examples include Harry Potter, The Avengers, and Frozen.
• Nonfiction is factual. The author researches, observes, and reports on things that happened or are true. Examples include a biography of Abraham Lincoln, a cookbook, or a guide to star-gazing.

The goal of nonfiction is to inform, teach, or document reality.

A World of Choices: The Many Types of Nonfiction Books

Nonfiction isn’t just boring textbooks! It’s one of the most exciting and varied sections in any bookstore or library. Here are some of the most popular types:

1. Biographies and Autobiographies: These are life stories.
   • A biography is the story of someone’s life written by another person (e.g., Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson).
   • An autobiography is the story of someone’s life written by themselves (e.g., I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai).
2. History Books: These are stories about our past. They can cover huge topics like World War II or focus on a single, fascinating event.
3. Self-Help and How-To Books: These books are like personal coaches. They give you advice and steps to improve your life. They can teach you how to manage money, build better habits, or even learn a new language.
4. Science and Nature Books: If you’re curious about the world around you, this is the section for you. These books explain everything from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space. A great example is A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
5. Travel Guides: Planning a trip? Travel guides like Lonely Planet give you maps, restaurant recommendations, and tips about different countries and cultures.
6. Cookbooks: These are instruction manuals for the kitchen, filled with recipes and cooking tips to help you make delicious meals.
7. Essays and Journalism: These are often shorter pieces of nonfiction that explore an idea or investigate a current event. They are like deep-dive news articles.

Why Should You Read Nonfiction? The Power of True Stories

Reading nonfiction isn’t just for school. It has amazing benefits for everyone:

• Learn New Things: This is the most obvious benefit! You can become an expert on any topic you find interesting, from dinosaurs to coding.
• Understand the World Better: History books help us understand how the past shaped the present. Science books help us understand how the universe works.
• Improve Your Own Life: A self-help book can give you the tools to be happier, healthier, or more successful.
• See Through Other People’s Eyes: Reading a biography or a memoir lets you live someone else’s life for a few hours. It builds empathy and understanding.
• It’s Exciting! Real life can be just as thrilling as any made-up story. Think of a true crime book about a solved mystery or a survival story about someone lost in the wilderness.

A Quick Stat: According to Pew Research Center, the average American reads about 12 books per year. Mixing a few nonfiction titles into your reading list is a great way to balance entertainment with knowledge.

How to Find a Great Nonfiction Book

With so many options, how do you choose? Here are some easy tips:

1. Follow Your Interests: What are you curious about? Start there. If you love sports, find a biography of your favorite athlete. If you’re interested in cooking, grab a cookbook.
2. Read the Description and Reviews: The back cover or online description will tell you what the book is about. See what other readers have said in their reviews.
3. Check the Author’s Credibility (EEAT in Action!): This is a big one. Since nonfiction is about facts, you want to make sure the author knows what they’re talking about.
   • Expertise: Do they have a degree or professional experience in the field? For a science book, an author with a PhD in that science is a good sign.
   • Experience: Has the author lived through what they’re writing about? A soldier writing about war has firsthand experience.
   • Authoritativeness: Is the author respected by other experts? Are they cited in other books or publications?
   • Trustworthiness: Is the book well-researched with a bibliography (a list of sources)? Does the author present information fairly, without misleading the reader?

Looking for these things helps you find accurate and reliable information.

4. Flip Through the Book: Look at the table of contents. Read a random page. Does the writing style feel comfortable and engaging to you?

Your First Steps into Nonfiction

If you’re new to nonfiction, don’t start with a giant, 800-page textbook. Try something fun and accessible!

Here are a few famous and engaging nonfiction books that read like stories:

• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari: A mind-blowing story of how humans came to rule the planet.
• Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer: The gripping and tragic true story of a young man who left everything behind to live in the Alaskan wilderness.
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: The powerful real-life diary of a Jewish girl hiding during World War II.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are all nonfiction books 100% true?
A: This is a great question. Nonfiction books are based on facts, but they are still written by humans. The author chooses which facts to include and how to present them. This means two books on the same topic might feel different. The best nonfiction authors are transparent about their sources and try to be as accurate and fair as possible.

Q: Is poetry fiction or nonfiction?
A: Most poetry is considered fiction because it comes from the poet’s imagination and feelings. However, a poem about a real historical event could be considered nonfiction. It’s a bit of a gray area!

Q: What about textbooks?
A: Yes, textbooks are a type of nonfiction. Their main goal is to educate students on a specific subject.

Q: I find nonfiction boring. What am I doing wrong?
A: You’re probably just reading the wrong kind of nonfiction! If you find history boring, try a true crime or adventure book. If you don’t like dense science books, try a beautifully illustrated nature guide. There is a nonfiction book for every single interest. Keep looking until you find your niche.

Q: How big is the nonfiction market?
A: Nonfiction is a huge part of the book world. In 2023, nonfiction accounted for over 25% of all print book sales in the United States. That’s millions of books, proving that countless people are eager to learn from real stories.

Conclusion: Your Gateway to the Real World

A nonfiction book is a passport to real knowledge and real stories. It’s a way to satisfy your curiosity, learn a new skill, and walk in someone else’s shoes. Whether you’re holding a biography, a cookbook, or a travel guide, you’re holding a piece of the real world, carefully researched and written down for you to explore.

So the next time you’re looking for something to read, take a walk over to the nonfiction section. You might be surprised by how amazing true stories can be. Happy reading