Nonfiction Nuances

Let’s begin with a quick survey: Think of how many nonfiction books you’ve read in the past two months. (And no, books required for classes don’t count!) Although I have no way to collect data from everyone reading, I’m willing to bet most of you would answer with a big, fat zero. On the other hand, how many of you have read works of fiction in that same time? I’m sure more of you will be part of the latter group. It’s easy to see why there are disparities between the genres; fiction is exploratory, exciting and fueled by imagination, whereas nonfiction is often seen as nothing more than those huge war biographies your grandfather reads.

Let me just make one thing clear right away: Not all nonfiction is engaging. There are many, many dry, monotonous books out there that make no effort to keep their readers going. However, in the way fiction is divided into fantasy, science fiction or romance, nonfiction can be divided into collections of essays, historical examinations or biographies. Nonfiction is often seen as uninteresting and limited, but it is just as expressive and engaging as a work of fiction would be. However, part of the magic of literature is the huge number of authors that are able to add their own styles to the pool, bringing in unique ideas and experiences to write first-hand accounts of events they actually experienced.

One of my favorite sub-genres of nonfiction is essay collections. For those unfamiliar with this genre, these are usually autobiographical essays compiled under a specific theme, often presented in a first-person point of view. The best have a fictional feeling to them, as the stories are presented so descriptively it’s as if they were entirely fabricated. They provide a direct insight into the thoughts of the author; rather than searching for metaphors and hidden clues as to what the author really believes, nonfiction serves those considerations on a silver platter, ready for the reader to devour them one by one.

Another of my favorite categories is scientific novels. These don’t quite fall under a broader category, but they generally cover the research and stories surrounding a scientific discovery. Excellent examples include "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" (2010) by Rebecca Skloot and "The Dueling Neurosurgeons" (2014) by Sam Kean. As a newly declared biology major, I’m obsessed with micro and neurobiology, but these are perfect examples of how scientific, nonfiction writing can be exciting even to people who have no experience in a scientific field. Both books have incredibly talented authors who utilize astounding stories and research data to give a synopsis of the history of cancer research and neuroscience, respectively.

These books need authors who are able to break down complex ideas and make them understandable and exciting for readers. Nonfiction shouldn’t be a complex textbook with horribly confusing words on every page. Rather, nonfiction gives readers an opportunity to expand their horizons. It’s hard for someone to learn complex new ideas if he or she doesn't have training in the field. With a book written specifically to encapsulate the ideas stemming from the greatest minds in the discipline, it becomes easy and accessible for readers to learn a new period of history.

Nonfiction writing is a remarkable insight directly into the minds of authors. There is a direct author-to-reader connection based entirely on real events, making readers more connected with the material of nonfiction books. They create an eye-opening new world within the one we all experience, while encouraging readers to stop and take a look around. You never know what you’ll find.