Research, however, suggests that reading fiction may provide far more important benefits than nonfiction. For example, reading fiction predicts increased social acuity and a sharper ability to comprehend other people’s motivations.

And as an editor, I often think about the different types of readers out there. No single book is going to speak to all readers. We need both excellent fiction and excellent nonfiction. And sometimes the way into a nonfiction topic may come in the form of a book that incorporates elements of fiction.

Types of Books

• Non-fiction.
• Edited (non-fiction)
• Reference (non-fiction)
• Fiction.

What Is Narrative Nonfiction? Narrative nonfiction, also known as creative nonfiction or literary nonfiction, is a true story written in the style of a fiction novel. The narrative nonfiction genre contains factual prose that is written in a compelling way—facts told as a story.

“Fiction” refers to literature created from the imagination. “Nonfiction” refers to literature based in fact. It is the broadest category of literature.

In general, fiction refers to plot, settings, and characters created from the imagination, while nonfiction refers to factual stories focused on actual events and people.

Elements of a Nonfiction Book

• Text features. Table of contents. Glossary. Index. Pictures. Diagrams.
• Factual.
• Read in any order.
• Read to learn new information.

1) One understands the reality after reading non-fiction. While fiction, sometimes takes you to the imaginative world, non-fiction unfolds the reality you get to know real people and their lives. It also gives knowledge in a specific subject which helps in learning new things. 3) It provides you with facts.

Here are three ways to add more non-fiction to your reading life:

1. Start with something that interests you. What topics do you typically go for when you read fiction?
2. Find answers to a question or solutions to a problem.
3. Read about something you are passionate about.

Reading nonfiction has introduced me to all walks of life, difficult times in the world’s history, happy little accidents, strange and not so strange people and their lives, and inspirational stories. Some people might argue that you can learn all these things from fiction, and you can, I’m not arguing with that.

1. Pick the subjects you’re interested in.
2. If you still can’t find one, start with biographies and autobiographies. Think of a person you’re intrigued about and start with that.
3. Read in short breaks. Don’t try to read the whole thing at once.
4. Combine it with equal amount of fiction reading.
5. Pick an easy to read book.

Men are more likely to read nonfiction books than fiction, while the opposite holds true for women: 55% of women read fiction in 2012, and 48% read nonfiction, according to an update of a previous NEA report released in 2013.

Book Lengths in the Sweet Spot For my client base, which includes experienced consultants, coaches, and speakers who self-publish, I find a nice book length is somewhere in the 40,000- to 70,000-word range, which is 160-280 pages. Long enough to feel substantial, short enough not to intimidate potential readers.

Hardcover Nonfiction

• 6 weeks on the list. KILLING THE MOB.
• 7 weeks on the list. WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
• 2 weeks on the list. HOW THE WORD IS PASSED.
• 7 weeks on the list. THE BOMBER MAFIA.
• 34 weeks on the list. GREENLIGHTS.
• 66 weeks on the list. UNTAMED.
• 4 weeks on the list. THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED.
• 6 weeks on the list.