I've really been trying to make non-fiction a bigger part of my reading repetoir.

[BlueIris]

I read 163 books last year, almost none of them were non-fic. So I'm trying for more balance on my reading list for this year. The last piece of non-fiction I read was "Can We Talk About Race: And Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation," by Beverly Daniel Tatum, which was part of my effort to enlighten myself re: education policies in the U.S.

How can I make myself read more non-fiction. Any solutions anyone has will be welcome.

[struggle4progress]

1. You could work through the Code of Federal Regulations

Many volumes. Lots of text. Very little in the way of poetry or plot

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. What is it about non-fiction that turns you off?

There are lots of non-fiction books that read like fiction, and there are lots of fiction books which are loaded with facts and true information.
Perhaps start with some good columnists?
Take it in small bites.
Decide if you like facts or opinion, start there, perhaps.
Once you find an author or topic you like, the books will follow.

[BlueIris]

3. It's mostly knowing that I'm "neglecting" my fiction/poetry/drama

reading while doing non-fic. And I feel that a lot of popular non-fiction is very badly written.

[NJCher]

10. How odd ("neglecting" answer)

I am a nonfiction reader who has been trying to get myself to read more fiction, poetry, and drama. If I had to explain why I don't read more fiction, it would be an answer close to yours: I'm afraid of what I might be missing in nonfiction.

I've read three fiction books this week, though, and I am enjoying it immensely. I spent a huge amount of time browsing for writers I thought I'd like. That and a little serendipity did the trick!


Cher

[lazarus]

4. I did a great project in 09/10 to boost my non-fiction reading, and my history knowledge

My sister and I both read a biography of every US president, in order, from Washington through Carter.

I stopped at Carter because it became very difficult to find a scholarly, non-partisan work starting with Kennedy. Schlesinger started the whole "Camelot" myth, and hagiography, and the concomitant hack attack pieces, became the norm. I was able to get a good one on LBJ.

I actually read a Nixon bio from Regnery Press, as I wanted to see if they'd be able to spin it. They tried, but had to admit he was a horrible, horrible person. Had some good points (started the EPA, for example), but was a fascist thug at heart.

Ford was nigh impossible. I found one quickie bio written up to his ascension to the VP slot that was churned out in a matter of weeks, from the looks of it. And found one written on just his presidency and post-presidency that was decent. (Did you know Ford was the first president to take money for speaking engagements after he left office? Nixon was appalled.)

Virtually everything I found on Carter was a hack job. Don't even think about finding something decent on Reagan. For fun, I bought "Tear Down This Myth", which did a nice of just that.

My favourite presidents now are the Roosevelts, Lincoln, Washington, van Buren (actually tried to reduce the President's power during the War of 1812), and Polk. Best name for a President has to be Rutherford B Hayes. It just makes me giggle.

[ellisonz]

6. I did that too...

...between the ages of like 6 and 8. The library had these slim red volumes on each President. I credit it with my passion for history; well that and geographical place mats and puzzles.

Wikipedia is a good resource for trying to do this general sort of overview.

[ellisonz]

5. Here's one I love along the lines of your last selection.

http://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Good-History-Schools-Schooling/dp/0820457795/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323248181&sr=8-1

Buy used.

[tammywammy]

7. I think you just need to find a topic that interests you

I read a lot of non-fiction, but they're all books about things I find interesting. I watch a show about King Henry VIII, well I feel like I want to know more, then I search for a good book about him.

I watched the movie "Into Thin Air" so I ended up picking up the book too. I've also recently read Malcom Gladwell's "Outliers".

I use Amazon to search for books (even if I don't buy from there) and I find that they always suggest good books for me. Non-fiction doesn't have to be boring. I picked up the book "Sin in the Second City" which was about a famous brothel in Chicago.

[EFerrari]

8. I find that if I read a good piece of non-fiction, it leads me to five more that I need to read.

It shouldn't hurt.

[SheilaT]

9. And I keep on thinking I need to start reading

a little more fiction.

I find that looking at book reviews or sometimes just reading an article in a magazine or on line gives me the names of more new (non-fiction) books to read than I can possibly finish. It's so frustrating. So many books, so little time.

[bemildred]

11. I recommend wallowing in history to start with.

Just avoid polemics and textbooks. There is lots of good historical writing out there, and it will lead you to other things ...

[BlueIris]

12. Heh. Good tip.

That's exactly what I've been trying to do. My book projects lately include one on Augustine, one on the 1930s and "Swerve: How the World Became Modern."

[bemildred]

13. Herodotus, Thucydides, Tacitus, and Gibbon, for example, are all good reads.

I found Tacitus surprisingly modern in his outlook. But it's very much something to be done to suit oneself.
Good luck.

[bemildred]

14. PS: Jacques Barzun and Samuel Eliot Morison are good too.

[Neoma]

15. *ahem*

Maybe this will help.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=17019

[BlueIris]

16. Hah! Love it. Looks like my bedroom. Only...with shelves. nt