Readers are lifelong learners who are always gaining new knowledge. These nonfiction Books Teach You Something New, which delve deeply into topics ranging from how we interpret human history to the relationships between people and animals, are likely to expand your horizons. Take a look at them right now.
All books, regardless of their genre, quality, or topic, will teach you something. Reading books will broaden your horizons and clear your thinking. They will enable you to find new interests and find solutions to challenging challenges. You’ll succeed in life and business with their assistance. Above all, reading will help you get on a more purposeful and happier path.
These Books Will Teach You Something New
1. Needlemouse by Jane O’Connor
The Japanese term for hedgehog translates to “Needlemouse,” which has to be the cutest thing ever, in case you’re wondering how it earned its name. The plot revolves around 52-year-old Sylvia, an angry grump who has an obsession with her employer, Prof., in this unusual, humorous, and endearing debut.
Sylvia crosses the line when a pupil begins to show signs of affection for her, which has terrible results. Many of Sylvia’s solitary days are spent caring for hedgehogs at a nearby refuge. The proprietor of the sanctuary, Jonas, wrote a book within the book titled “The Hedgehog Year.” It is crammed with information on these adorable little creatures, such as:
- Every night, they may travel up to two kilometers in search of food.
- A cute bunch of hedgehogs is referred to as a “prickle.”
- It’s distressing that a lot of hedgehogs were slain in the 16th century since it was thought that they were witches in disguise.
The hedgehog motif did a wonderful job of reflecting Sylvia’s spiky nature. It was also a wonderful method to spread awareness because hedgehogs are at risk of extinction in the UK due to a variety of factors including pesticides, predators, and intensive farming.
We may facilitate their migration between gardens in search of food by creating gaps in our fences and placing wet dog or cat food outside in our gardens. Let’s all do our part to ensure the survival of these helpless tiny animals.
Available on: Amazon, Penguin Publishers.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $8.49.
- Paperback: $11.98.
2. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
This one of the Books Teach You Something New includes, as the title implies, a brief history of almost everything. Despite being written over fifteen years ago (and still referring to Pluto as a planet, oops!), this little gem is still jam-packed with interesting and useful information that you won’t be able to resist discussing over the water cooler.
You will admit that your insights into biology, geology, evolutionary psychology, and universology can irritate your friends and family for weeks. This book will not only teach you something new but also that you will enjoy reading it.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $9.99.
- Paperback: $13.79.
- Hardcover: $22.62.
3. The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan
Have you ever believed that the Vanderbilt family represented the pinnacle of opulence and wealth? That is, until you read this one of the Best Books Teach You Something New, a historical nonfiction book detailing the building of Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore. Kiernan offers a fresh perspective on the Vanderbilts by telling an engrossing tale of love, family, and adversity. They are more than simply a bank account.
Unbeknownst to many at that era, Edith participated in politics, the Biltmore Vanderbilts initiated a significant forestry program in North Carolina, and the family had financial difficulties. Since the Vanderbilts treated them like family, their domestic workers remained with them for life, and they provided refuge to needy community members after the big flood. Asheville gained notoriety thanks in part to the Vanderbilts.
Readers have a deeper respect and comprehension of Biltmore and the kind and compassionate family that was much ahead of its time via The Last Castle. You can’t help to see Biltmore shimmering in the light. I’ll be sure to read more historical fiction and nonfiction accounts before visiting a place after reading Kiernan.
Available on: Amazon, Bookswagon.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $13.99.
- Paperback: $10.67.
- Hardcover: $54.26.
4. The Power of Meaning: Crafting A Life That Matters by Emily Esfahani Smith
Meaning is among the most significant things that people may discover in their lives. Instead, it’s so simple to look for pleasure in life, which, since it’s so random, often results in a lack of fulfilment.
Smith gathers thoughts on the quest for meaning, delving into topics such as Buddhist philosophy, positive psychology, and the experiences of individuals who dedicated a significant portion of their lives to the pursuit of meaning, such as Aristotle, George Eliot, and Viktor Frankl. The topic of this book is how to infuse our communities, families, and lives with purpose.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Hardcover: $6.21.
- Paperback: $23.13.
5. The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris
One of the Books Teach You Something New about unexpected friendships, fresh starts, and painful endings. At an early age, Grace’s hopes of becoming a renowned musician were dashed. Rather, she runs a little store where she fixes instruments and daydreams about her future with David, her eight-year companion who is holding out for the ideal moment to call it quits on his troubled marriage.
Grace’s world collapses as she gets ready to enter a famous violin-making competition, forcing her to reassess her whole purpose in life.
String instruments, especially “cellos,” served as this book’s central theme, connecting the various parts. Reading about the process of building these instruments from the ground up, as well as how they function and react to the player, was very fascinating.
Because they are, in technicality, an abbreviation for violoncello, which appeals to language geeks like me, I adore that they were always called “cellos.” The tale gained depth and became more sympathetic in some way thanks to the strings.
Available on: Amazon, Goodreads.
Price:
- Paperback: $11.58.
- Hardcover: $53.02.
6. Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day
Everyone has a little bit of quirkiness, but for some of us, it’s easier than for others to exhibit it. Felicia Day thinks that our uniqueness is a necessary ingredient for creativity and discovering our true calling in life. She helps you embrace your uniqueness and utilize it to spark your creativity by sharing her experiences and thoughts.
Whether you’re still looking for your passion in life or have love already—like writing or baking—this book offers methods and projects to help you produce original, meaningful work.
Available on: Amazon, BookShop.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $12.99.
- Paperback: $8.89.
- Spiral-bound: $21.34.
7. Circe by Madeline Miller
One of those fantasy/retelling novels, Circe, maybe both fascinating and frightening to a reader like myself who is unfamiliar with Greek mythology.
Zeus, fearful of Circe’s talents, banishes her to a secluded island after learning of her witchcraft prowess. She uses her skills to make a life for herself, yet she is not at all free. Fighting against peril and trickery from both mortals and gods, Circe must make a tough choice about her true place in the world.
Again, this is a lot like me—Miller crafts a straightforward and understandable story for those who are unfamiliar with mythology. It will undoubtedly pique your interest in learning more about this genre. It’s captivating, particularly when the writer is allowed some artistic latitude to bring the characters to life.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $11.99.
- Paperback: $10.22.
- Hardcover: $16.14.
8. The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey
A beautiful novel and one of the Best Books Teach You Something New is about the experiences of three closest friends who enlisted in the Red Cross Clubmobile Girls during World War II. Let us begin by admitting that, until recently, many of us had no idea that Clubmobile Girls existed.
For those of you who don’t know either, Harvey Gibson founded the American Red Cross Clubmobile during World War II to provide troops with some amusement, coffee, and doughnuts to help them feel “at home.” The Doughnut Dollies were the name given to volunteer women who had to fulfil certain standards, including age, education, friendliness, and physical appeal.
In this novel, three friends from Boston decide to join the Red Cross Clubmobile because they want to support all the guys in their lives who have enlisted in the military and feel more useful. Viv, Dottie, and Fiona become wonderful acquaintances with some incredible characters they encounter along the road. But it’s not all sunshine and roses—heartbreak is a part of the WWII novel, after all.
Available on: Amazon, BookShop.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: Free with Kindle Unlimited.
- Paperback: $8.29.
- Hardcover: $25.63.
9. On Writing by Stephen King
Most high school or first-year writing and communications courses could easily be replaced with On Writing (or, at the very least, it should be required reading for all of them). The reason it may not be is because academics have wrongly denigrated Stephen King for a long time as a writer of “genre” literature.
His novels aren’t “real” literature because they include ghosts and goblins, thus his memoir-turned-self-help book-turned-how-to manual on writing well couldn’t possibly teach us anything worthwhile. That is nonsensical.
Irrespective of your disinterest in “becoming a writer,” this book nonetheless has a lot to offer. King provides insights into the characteristics of willpower, drive, perseverance, and resilience. And whether you’re composing an email or a book review blog, I’m sure you’ll keep his style recommendations in mind (cough).
This succinct manual on writing and conquering challenges is devoid of the flashy drivel that all too often clogs the “self help” area.
Available on: Amazon, Bookswagon.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $12.99.
- Paperback: $10.39.
- Hardcover: $17.49.
How Books Enrich Our Insight and Perspective
Reading Books Teach You Something New can be a very illuminating experience since it gives us new insights into our own lives as well as insight into the lives of others. We are transported to both distant and nearby locations via tales, giving us access to people’s innermost emotions, ideas, challenges, and victories.
We may learn more about the world around us and cultivate empathy for those who might not have our experiences or cultural backgrounds by exposing ourselves to a variety of characters, situations, and experiences via literature. Beyond amusing, books can expand our thoughts in ways that would not be conceivable without them.
Reading makes us smarter because it promotes contemplation of the human situation, which is essential for personal development. Reading for enjoyment provides us permission to step apart from the actual world and investigate novel concepts without hindrance or condemnation; it grants us unrestricted mental freedom.
In this sense, books help us become the people we are today by providing us with insightful knowledge about the world around us.
FAQs
Q: Can I read these books for free?
A: Some audiobooks are offered free with an Audible premium membership. If you can’t buy these books, try some libraries.
Q: What can we learn from these books?
A: All books are mines of knowledge; depending on the genre and topic, you can gain in-depth knowledge on that subject.
Q: What is light reading?
A: Light reading is something that doesn’t require a demanding or intellectual thinking process. If you are reading some mystery-thriller, horror, or comedy books, those are light reading.
