Book Reviews (Commonwealth Union)
Apart from readers caught up in fiction giving way to fantastical worlds, dystopians, or even simple daydreams, some readers are driven by the prospect of being educated on vital subjects and literature that gives access to fresh perspectives on real-world problems. Ranging between various subjects and issues, here is a list of 8 non-fiction books for those looking for a productive read.
1.Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Rooted in the idea of humans, or Homo sapiens, being the foremost superior species, Sapiens offers an intriguing perspective on the history of our kind, stretching from the current era to as far back as the Stone Age. Portraying his insights in rich language, Harari speaks on capitalism, agriculture, and significant processes that shaped the evolution of humanity.
- The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert
A keen exploration of environmental conditions, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book argues that the Earth is already undergoing a sixth extinction caused by human activity. Kolbert pulls up previous extinctions in history and draws them in parallel with current-day, human-driven extinctions. Speaking on various issues, including the Sumatran rhino and the Great Barrier Reef rescue efforts, Kolbert’s book is a fascinating and enlightening experience.
- Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler
An intriguing blend of a description of the Museum of Jurassic Technology and a meditation on irony and museums, Weschler’s novel makes an amusing read. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, it delves into curiosities and 16th-century “wonder cabinets”, exploring the imaginative roots of science and art.
- Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
A personal recollection of Jon Krakauer’s experience in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, which saw eight climbers killed and several more stranded in the midst of a storm, the novel is an emotionally gripping read. Having been adapted into a film following its publication, the story solemnly portrays the tragic event Krakauer was led toward by his childhood desire to climb a mountain.
- That Dark Spring by Susannah Stapleton
This novel explores the initially assumed suicide of Olive Branson, a British artist who was tragically found shot in the head with a gun in a water tank outside her farmhouse in France. Stapleton provides a captivating insight into a murder investigation prompted by Branson’s family, spilling unseen evidence and a glimpse into the artist’s unusual life.
- The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire by Henry Gee
Delving into the Neolithic past and mankind’s rise to become the most dominant species of the Earth’s existence, Henry Gee’s novel is a look into the way forward and the rapidly narrowing window caused by climate change, a deteriorating global economy, and plunging birthrates. With the growth of the human population predicted to decline during the latter half of the century, we are presented with the daunting possibility of human extinction.
- The Old Ways by Robert MacFarlane
This book is an enthralling portrayal of Robert Macfarlane’s journey as he traces ancient routes that intertwine between the British Isles and foreign territories, revealing the old traces and the stories they hold. Moving across England to the Himalayas, this novel is an exquisite tale that pieces together history, geology, and literature.
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
The novel, set in Annawadi, a straggly slum near the Mumbai Airport, depicts poverty, globalization, corruption, and the social dynamics of modern India. A silent, gripping novel that investigates the difficulties of people living in unforgiving environments, this novel has been adapted into a play and premiered at London’s National Theater.
