7 Amazing Non-Fiction Books to Read Before 2021 Ends
Make the most of the last 70 days of this year by reading these incredible stories.
There are 70 days left before 2021 ends.
Why not fill it with some amazing books that will stay with you long after the year is done?
Especially since the holiday season is up ahead, this could be an incredible opportunity for book lovers to catch up on some reading.
In this post, I’ve listed seven amazing books that you can read before the year is up.
In 2021, I’ve read 80% of fiction books, and now, I want to change that. In this post, I’m sharing my reading list/TBR for the rest of 2021. These span several genres like psychology, science, and semi-autographical. I’m sure each one will inspire you and fill your mind with some cool insights.
Read on, and if you find your favorites among the list, let me know in the comments.
(Note: This article contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase the books through these links, it will help me earn a small amount of money — at no extra cost to you. Thanks!)
1. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
I’m a very whimsical reader. I don’t read through hundreds of book reviews before picking up a new book.
All it takes is a single line of passionate praise about a book from a fellow reader, and I’ll start reading it.
I’m super excited to read this book because one of my closest friends told me if she had just one textbook in school as enthralling as this, she would have done great things for the planet.
Short blurb
In Bryson’s biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand — and, if possible, answer — the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves.
2. The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian Christian
The question at the core of this book is: Can a human be more human than a computer?
It begins with the annual Turing Test that pits artificial intelligence against people to determine if computers can “think.”
In 2008, an AI program came short of passing the Turing Test by just one vote. In 2009, the author Brian Christian was chosen to participate, and he set out on a quest to make sure the human race can be deemed more human than a computer.
The author’s observations open a window onto our own nature, interweaving insights from fields as diverse as chess, psychiatry, and the law, to examine the philosophical, biological, and moral issues raised by the Turing Test.
Short blurb
One central definition of human has been “a being that could reason.” If computers can reason, what does that mean for the special place we reserve for humanity?
3. 1971: A People’s History from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India by Anam Zakaria
In 1947, India was split into two: India and Pakistan. In 1971 the eastern part of Pakistan split once again after the third Indo-Pak war, and Bangladesh was born.
Three neighboring nations.
Three different narratives.
Three overwhelming emotions citizens of neither nation will forget easily.
Sure, this happened several years before I was born, but the 1971 war marks an era in the history of my country that changed its legacy forever. I’m very curious to hear the story of what actually happened, and what we can do today to reconcile our reality with our rich but bloody heritage.
Short blurb:
Navigating the widely varied terrain that is 1971 across Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, Anam Zakaria sifts through three distinct state narratives and studies the institutionalization of the memory of the year and its events.
4. Why I am a Hindu by Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence and masterful storytelling have made him one of my favorite authors.
And this book has been mired in controversy since its release, which makes it all the more appealing.
In a country like India where I’m increasingly ashamed of calling myself a Hindu because of the atrocities committed on minorities in the name of my ancestors, I hope this book will be a reminder of what the religion actually is and how it has been distorted through the generations.
For most of my life, I have been questioning my religious orientation. Hopefully, this book will give me a sense of clarity and help me understand my roots better.
Short blurb
Starting with a close examination of his own belief in Hinduism, Shashi Tharoor ranges far and wide in his study of the faith.
5. Lifespan: Why We Age — and Why We Don’t Have To by David Sinclair
Ever since I watched a talk by David Sinclair on how we can stop, even reverse aging, I’ve been fascinated by his work.
Lifespan is supposed to be his greatest work to date, a book filled with earth-shattering evidence and actionable tips that will help the reader live a happier life with a longer healthspan.
I’m interested to know what tips the author recommends to elongate our lifespan. But more than that, I’m curious to know the science behind aging, and what we're collectively doing wrong as a species.
One of my friends was so inspired by this book, he started his own blockchain-based healthcare company that focuses on accelerating drug discovery. If a book can inspire so much passion in the friend, I’m excited to see what it will do to me.
Short blurb
It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. But what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? What if we could choose our lifespan?
6. No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings, Erin Meyer
There’s never before been a company like Netflix.
It has led to a revolution in the entertainment industry, generating billions of dollars in revenue while capturing the imaginations of hundreds of millions of people in over 190 countries.
This book is a deep dive into the controversial ideologies at the heart of the Netflix psyche that took the business world by storm. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with current and past Netflix employees from around the globe and never-before-told stories of trial and error from Hastings’s own career, No Rules Rules is the fascinating and untold account of the philosophy behind one of the world’s most innovative, imaginative, and successful companies.
Short blurb
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings reveals for the first time the unorthodox culture behind one of the world’s most innovative, imaginative, and successful companies.
7. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
This book argues that how women are treated isn’t really due to the evil patriarchy, but how our society ignores women while making life-altering decisions and designs.
Most of the people with power and those who get to make decisions that make a difference in the world are men. Of course, men don’t consciously go out of their way to make life difficult for women. Rather, they do this because they are men, and as such, they design the world so it works for them.
These men don’t even notice if the world doesn’t work for women, because they simply don’t inhabit the same world that women do.
The premise of this book is so powerful, that I can’t wait to get started on this book as soon as possible.
Short blurb
Data often fails to take into account gender, because it treats men as the default and women as atypical. Thus, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. And women pay tremendous costs for this bias, in time, money, and often with their lives.
How many books are you planning to read in the last days of 2021? Commit to a number in the comments and feel free to share your TBR.
If you want to come across more such quirky, amazing, and interesting books, check out the best books according to Reddit here —
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