My Favorite Nonfiction Books
Discover the best nonfiction books ever written, from heartfelt memoirs like The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and inspiring true stories such as Three Cups of Tea to essential cooking guides like The Bread Baker's Apprentice. Explore this curated list of favorite nonfiction titles that inform, inspire, and entertain.
Book
The Bread Baker's Apprentice
by Peter Reinhart
Co-founder of the Brother Juniper's Bakery in Sonoma, California, author and instructor at the world's largest culinary school, Reinhart has been a leader in America's artisanal bread movement for 15 years. Here he shares his latest bread breakthroughs, and walks readers through the 12 steps of building great bread, his clear instructions accompanied by over 100 step-by-step photos.
Book
The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch
Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really achieving your childhood dreams," shortly after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His advice concerned seizing the moment while living, rather than dying.
Book
Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson
The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.