Entertaining Nonfiction for Adults

Sometimes you just need a cool book to read. Fiction is fun, but every few months I need to "cleanse my palate," if you will.

Below are five non-fiction books that will entertain you and teach you some randomly-cool history and knowledge at the same time.

1. Secret Life of Colors by Kassia St. Clair

Haven't you always wondered where our colors came from? Sure you do. But really, it's a little wild.

For my fellow painters, you might have heard of the color "mummy brown." And do ya know where it got its name? From how the shade used to be made-- with ground-up mummy.

Yep.

Secret Life of Colors is arranged in a rainbow, going from the whitest of white to the deepest of blacks, and every shade in between. Each shade has the story of how the pigment was made, why people wanted it, and sometimes even the scandalous fame attached to the color (my favorite story is puce. Trust me.)

2. How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson

Good ole' PBS had the most interesting documentary on a few years ago, and then they followed it up with an even deeper dive with a book. And let me tell you, the whole premise was strange.

For example, the reason we have the printing press is because thousands of years ago some people found glass near Egypt. Or the reason the Western United States boomed in population is because someone figured out how to preserve ice.

There are six different chapters about the seemingly inconsequential things that triggered all the modern inventions we use every day. It's a fun read, and it's perfect for a high school book report, in my opinion.

3. The Open-Air Life by Linda McGurk

I am an avid indoorsman. I've recently found out that it's negatively impacting my vitamin D production and circadian rhythm, so I was hoping this book would help me embrace the outside.

I lay on the lawn every day now. I'm taking baby steps, don't judge. But in all seriousness, McGurk wrote a strong case on the mental health benefits of spending time outdoors. But she went a step further and listed out multiple simple ways to get outdoors, depending on your comfort level.

Maybe I'll learn how to build a fire next. Who knows. 

4. George Washington's Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger

I got sucked into the TV series White Collar. If it's free on Prime TV, I'm going to watch it. 

Any way.

The best episode was about the secret spy ring that George Washington used during the American Revolution. Some of the characters were descendants of the original six, and they had continued to keep the secrets of the government. 

Turns out, it wasn't just a plot, George Washington really did have a ring of spies, and one of their identities was never uncovered. Some of the stories can be backed up by documents, but some of them naturally have to be best guesses and speculation. And reading about how these spies turned the tide of the war is eye-opening.

If you're a fan of National Treasures or White Collar, this is the book for you.

5. Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

I love anything Adam Grant writes; easy to read but the research he puts into all his books is unmatched. 

Hidden Potential is all about how we have way more potential than we give ourselves credit for. This book led me to another amazing book, The Golden Thirteen, about the first 13 Black men who made rank in the U.S. Navy. Nearly every White man tried to ruin their chance, but these 13 showed what adversity uncovers.

Uncontainable potential.

Happy Reading!

*All links are simply links, I don't get any money if you click them. I just want to make finding great stories as easy as possible for you!*

Similar Reads:

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6 Books for Adults to Celebrate Back to School

10 Historical Fiction Books that ARE NOT Set in WWII

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