I must admit that I’m not a fan of non-fiction. I prefer fiction as it takes me to different worlds and allows me to live different lives, albeit vicariously. I also enjoy getting to know all these different people and characters, as in real life I’m not a very social person and my contact with people, outside family and work, is limited. I could say I’m more attached to fictional characters than real people. I also find that I’m a fast reader while reading fiction. Non-fiction needs a longer processing time and sometimes, I tend to want to cross-reference what I’ve just read with information available online and that takes me on a different path altogether. 

But that doesn’t mean I don’t read non-fiction. I’m a lot pickier than I am while choosing fiction titles. I have to be really drawn to the subject or need to have heard another fellow reader whose book choices I resonate with talk about it to pick up a non-fiction work. Usually, my husband recommends some titles he thinks I would enjoy as he mostly reads non-fiction. I also have a few colleagues who prefer non-fiction over fiction (I will never understand why) and they have suggested some really good books. So, over time, I’ve read quite a few non-fiction works. They might make for less than 10 percent of all the reading I have done in life till now but I’ve come across some really good works that I find myself picking up when I need some motivation. 

In February this year (which, I must mention, has been a good year of reading so far), I found myself leafing through some non-fiction titles, trying to pick up some helpful tips to restructure my life, get a mental grip on myself, become more attuned to my body and its needs, and generally live a more mindful and thus meaningful life. These were all books I had read in the past that had taught me quite a few life lessons. So, this week, as the month comes to an end, I thought I’d share a list of these books with you, hoping they might help bring comfort and perspective in your life when you need it the most. 

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I read this book over a decade ago. It wasn’t even available at bookstores in Nepal and I ended up ordering a pricey copy from the US. I was intrigued by the title. The book is about the authors’ experiments in trying to lead a happier life. She breaks down the massive goal into achievable tasks by giving one month each to a certain area in her life. So in a particular month, if she’s trying to be more organized, in another she’s focusing on boosting energy. It’s not preachy like most self-help books and that’s what I liked the best about it. 

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Crying in H Mart is a memoir that was published in 2021. Michelle Zauner is a singer and guitarist of the band called Japanese Breakfast. The book is an expansion of an essay by Zauner that was published in The New Yorker in 2018. I had read the essay and there was a lot of hype surrounding the book. But I couldn’t bring myself to read it for a long time as it talks about the death of Zauner’s mother and grief is the main theme. But once I read it, I could help recommend it to people. It’s an honest portrayal of what losing a loved one looks like and teaches you to consider the idea of death in ways you haven’t before.  

Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg 

This is a book that my husband recommended. He’s a huge fan of Charles Duhigg’s works and Supercommunicators is the author’s latest book. He thought it would be helpful if both of us read this book as it might make us communicate better in general and with each other as a couple. The book is an eye-opener on how we choose to communicate and why we often get it wrong. Duhigg teaches you how to recognize and respond to the emotion rather than being focused on what is being said and how. The book reveals the art and science of being an effective communicator. 

Atomic Habits by James Clear

I believe everyone has heard about or read this book. This was an instant bestseller when it came out in 2018, with the title being sold-out at most bookstores in Nepal. Even friends who didn’t read much otherwise were carrying this book around. This book presents a proven system for building good habits and breaking bad ones. It also presents the one percent rule, which is if you can get one percent better every day for a year, you will end up 37 times better by the end of the year. It focuses on the power of small habits in creating a lasting change in your life. 

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 

I don’t cry easily and this book made me sob like no other. An autobiographical work written by an American neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi about his life while battling stage four metastatic lung cancer. He was just 36 years old. It was published posthumously and there’s an epilogue by his wife, Lucy, that’s just heartbreaking. But as sad as the story is, the book actually gives a hopeful message. It’s about finding beauty and hope even when the odds are stacked against you. There’s also lots about his medical training days that gives you insight into the world of medicine and how hard doctors work to provide their patients the best possible care.

A New Earth by Ekharte Tolle 

This book was chosen twice by Oprah Winfrey for her book club so that speaks volumes about how good the book actually is. In fact, it’s a book that people of all ages can read in order to live a better life. The book has a lot of basic concepts that you might already be familiar with but it presents them in a way that makes you think about them and incorporate them in your daily life. For example, being present in the moment is something we all know we should do but how often do we do it? Tolle shows you why it’s important but doesn’t offer instructions. A New Earth is basically a guide to becoming your best self while allowing you to do it in your own way. 

Wisdom of the Gods for You and Me by Devdutt Pattanaik 

Devdutt Pattanaik is one of my favorite authors. He writes on mythology and breaks down complex religious concepts to make it interesting and palatable. The first book that got me hooked to his works was My Hanuman Chalisa. I read Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don’t Tell You next which was an exploration of queerness in Hinduism and there was really no looking back. I think I have read most of his works but Wisdom of the Gods for You and Me is the one I reach for every now and then when I need some mental clarity. It soothes and calms me down. It makes me feel less emotionally overwhelmed. I think everyone could benefit from some spiritual guidance and this book is just perfect for it. 

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

This is an easy book to dip in and out of. It has 366 short chapters, each of which is just a page long. It’s a beautifully compiled daily meditations on stoic wisdom that’s designed to make you happier, resilient, and virtuous. Philosophy books are usually heavy and preachy but The Daily Stoic is an easy guide to understand stoicism and benefit from it. It teaches you how you can approach your problems, work, and relationships by first quoting what famous philosophers have said and then interpreting them in simple ways. It will help you understand how to deal with things that aren’t in your control. 

Exile by Taslima Nasrin

Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi writer, physician, feminist, and activist. She’s known for writing about women’s oppression and the different issues with religion as well as for her memoir Lajja which means shame in English. Exile was published in 2016 and is the author’s experiences during her exile from Bangladesh in 2007 and 2008. Exile is a difficult but important book to read that makes you think about all the things you take for granted in life, like freedom, routine, and even something as basic as having a place to call home. The book also has poems and journal entries that Nasrin wrote during her exile that shed light on her mental state during the difficult time. 

Triumph of the Heart by Megan Feldman Bettencourt 

Human beings tend to hold a lot of grudges. It’s perhaps our most common failing. But, if you think about it, it does us a lot of harm. Our grudges hold us back and make us sad and bitter. Oftentimes, our relationships suffer and so does our self-esteem. In Triumph of the Heart, Megan Feldman Bettencourt shows how and why forgiving is the easier thing to do. Giving the example of a father who forgave the man who murdered his son, Bettencourt explores the benefits of forgiveness both from a scientific perspective and a human one. It’s the most eye-opening, uplifting book I’ve read and I think it really changed the way I deal with things in life.