Request for Nonfiction must reads (literature.cafe)

submitted 1 year ago by gabe@literature.cafe to c/nonfiction@literature.cafe

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cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/2038072

What non-fiction book could you just not put down? Was it a biography? Some obscure textbook? A collection of papers or speeches? Share your suggestions below!

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[-] aendarus@literature.cafe 6 points 1 year ago

I have a couple good ones

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is her memoir where she struggles with her relationship with her mother and with eating disorders. She's so open and vulnerable and your heart will break 5 times reading this
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Stephen Brusatte is pretty much what it says on the tin. This book really brought out a childlike fascination about dinosaurs that I forgot I had! Also Brusatte has a sequel to this about mammals that I haven't read yet
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe is about the Sackler family and how they contributed to the opioid crisis in the United States. Kinda depressing, but also illuminates the many problems with capitalism and healthcare in that country
Blackshirts and Reds by Michael Parenti is about a lot of stuff: fascism, capitalism, communism, democracy, etc. Even if you don't share my political inclinations, this is still a good read, and pretty short too

Sorry, my descriptions are bad, but I think all of these are worth reading

[-] gabe@literature.cafe 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Empire of Pain enraged me so fucking much. I listened to it on audiobook and it was excellent, but ugh it solidified my stance against for profit healthcare. That book, coupled with my own dealings with healthcare and my mothers dealings as well lowkey made me a socialist... LOL

[-] aendarus@literature.cafe 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, the subject matter was so infuriating... Looking back, I think the parts that still stuck with me were the relationship that these businesses would have with the government and how regulatory capture would end up happening, as well as how large corporations' tactics have changed over time, like with the charitable donations to universities.

Also, I haven't watched Succession, but I imagine the drama between different branches of the Sackler family is kinda like what happens in the show, and that was a pretty entertaining part of the book! Have you watched it?

[-] gabe@literature.cafe 2 points 1 year ago

Not yet! but I am super interested in watching it knowing that now

[-] Eq0@literature.cafe 3 points 1 year ago

Parenti was on my reading list, but I dropped it, I don’t remember why. Is it still actual?

[-] aendarus@literature.cafe 3 points 1 year ago

It was published 26 years ago but I think it's still relevant today. Also, Parenti has a very accessible way of writing that makes complex arguments easily digestable so I don't think it's a challenging book, if you're worried about that

this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2023

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