Every book genre has a different impact on the mind and might change the perspective towards how you see the world, but there’s always been a debate regarding fiction vs. non-fiction.
Non-fictional books are relatable and will help you in some phase/part of your life and inspire you, making it better than fiction. Nevertheless, it is just one point that makes it better let’s deep dive and understand the rest of the advantages of it.
Genres
Before getting into which genre is better, let’s understand what genre is and how each differs.
A book’s genre sets the content type, writing style, and word count expectation.
Selecting the right genre is essential, especially when you’re a beginner otherwise, you can lose interest in books.
The genre which will sync with you, your mindset, which makes you explore in the depth of the genre, will be your go-to genre.
Following are a few genres with a short description:
Non- Fiction Genre
- Biography and Autobiography– This genre tells about someone’s life; if written by themselves, then it’s autobiography, else biography. Some famous books- I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Autobiography), Wings of Fire by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (Autobiography) and Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (Biography)
- Memoirs– In this genre, the author recollects the dots of their past experiences and is typically autobiography which doesn’t need research. Memoirs are generally inspiring and empowering. Some famous books- Educated by Tara Westover
- Self Help– My favorite genre, which gives you direction, helps you overcome certain problems, and improves life by providing guidance. Some famous books- The Millionaire Fastlane by M. J. DeMarco, How to Win Friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.
- Philosophy– This genre explores the fundamental truths about an individual. Fundamentally they’re about the nature of knowledge, reality, and the existence of an academic discipline. Some famous books- Are The Philosophy Book by Will Buckingham and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
- Cookbooks– As the name suggests, this genre discusses cooking techniques and recipes. Some famous books- Knife Drop by Nick DiGiovanni and Complete Book of Indian Cooking by Suneeta Vaswani.
Fictional Books
- Classics– This genre is classic because it could be a book that changed the genre’s writing style or contributed to the literature. Some famous books- Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Sci-Fi– This genre deals with imaginative, futuristic concepts such as advanced science and the parallel universe. Some famous books- Dune by Frank Herbert and Neuromancer by William Gibson.
- Fantasy– This genre includes magical, supernatural elements in an imaginary world and is usually inspired by mythology and folklore. Some famous books are The Name of the World by Patrick Rothfuss and Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling.
- Romance– As the name suggests, the story of the genre’s novel revolves around a love story. Some famous books- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
- Action and Adventure– These books have action sequences, and the plot takes the protagonist on an adventure ride/ personal journey. The plot sticks to journey, adventure, and exploring different geographical locations. Some famous books- The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Note: All these genres have further bifurcation and have multiple branches under a single genre.
Why non-fiction?
There are numerous reasons why non-fiction as a group genre is better than fiction.
- Reading Non-fiction helps develop analytical skills and critical thinking. Elon Musk learned how to build a rocket by reading books. This clearly shows the enormous information and knowledge preserved in non-fiction books.
- Make the individual well-versed with the facts and reality of life without any real effort. And the books are written so that we can relate and use that information in our daily lives.
- Genres like self-help help one broaden their horizon and expand their thought process because the genre is written in a way that will force you to think.
- Non-fiction books would force you to give 100% attention because you can’t let your mind drift without losing important information.
- Based on actual events and stories, it can be more exciting and inspiring.
Some famous non-fiction books of the decade
How to Survive a Plague by DAVID FRANCE
It’s an inspiring story of the initial movement of activists who helped seize the scientific research and developed a drug that turned HIV from a fatal infection to a manageable disease.
The other slavery by ANDRÉS RESÉNDEZ
Indian slavery was illegal in many American continents. Still, it was practiced for centuries as an open secret. There was no movement to protect thousands of Natives kidnapped and enslaved by the conquistadors.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by ISABEL WILKERSON
The book is about the mass migration that took place between 1915 to 1970; around 6 million people migrated. The book revolves around the story of 3 individuals who crossed the country and started living their new lives with a disciple, drive, and hard work.
Dark Money by Jane Mayer
The story revolves around the difference between the billionaires and the middle class. In the featuring of reporting, the author illuminates the history of an elite cadre of plutocrats who had planned to fundamentally mold the American political system.
Spare by Prince Harry
The book tells us about the life and story of Prince Harry, who dared to leave the Royal Family, considering his wife’s security and mental peace. Prince Harry tells his own story with unflinching honesty.