5 Non-Fiction Writers Opening Readers' Minds
Whether you're interested in learning about business, identity and autonomy in the digital age, or geopolitics, there's no shortage of enriching non-fiction literature available to satisfy your craving. The authors included here write about these and other subjects, providing plenty of great reading material for curious minds. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Authors of Illuminating Nonfiction
Séverine Autesserre on Solving Mass Violence
Non-Fiction Books For Kids
| Title | Author(s) | Illustrator(s) | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? | Sherri L. Smith | Jake Murray | African American military pilots in World War II |
| 2. | Isaac the Alchemist | Mary Losure | N/A | The early years of Isaac Newton's life |
| 3. | Deep Roots | Nikki Tate | N/A | How trees affect the environment |
| 4. | A Poem for Peter | Andrea Davis Pinkney | Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher | The history of ground-breaking picture book The Snowy Day |
| 5. | Glow | W.H. Beck | N/A | Bioluminescent animals |
| 6. | In the Canyon | Liz Garton Scanlon | Ashley Wolff | Hiking the Grand Canyon |
| 7. | DNA Detective | Tanya Lloyd Kyi | Lil Crump | Genetics and forensic science |
| 8. | A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars | Seth Fishman | Isabel Greenberg | Math and science, with a focus on large numbers |
| 9. | What in the Wild? | David M. Schwartz & Yael Schy | Dwight Kuhn (Photographer) | Animals & nature |
Poetry by Chris Campanioni
In Depth
Authors have long been in the business of expanding readers' minds by presenting them with new ideas, distinctive experiences, and guidance on how to keep growing. Finding voices worth listening to can be a challenge, but the writers listed here, in no particular order, are doing an exemplary job. Whether you're interested in mental health, creativity, or global affairs, you're sure to find their works intriguing.
Coming in at #1 is Davide Di Giorgio. After low self-esteem led to a suicide attempt in his youth, he dedicated his life to helping others build confidence and strength. Today he is an expert and motivational speaker who discusses the negative impacts of measuring your worth by comparing yourself to others.
Di Giorgio is the internationally best-selling author of "Being UNapologetic," his seminal work on what he calls Comparanoia, or the manifestation of problematic thoughts and behaviors in response to perceived shortcomings. Tapping into his background in education, performance, and personal development, he delivers poignant insights on identity, achievement, learning, and leadership.
Tapping into his background in education, performance, and personal development, he delivers poignant insights on identity, achievement, learning, and leadership.
At #2 is Dr. Severine Autesserre, an award-winning researcher and author on war and peace. In addition to being a professor of political science specializing in international relations and African studies, she has experience working for various non-governmental organizations in regions as varied as Afghanistan, Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaragua, and India.
Dr. Autesserre is the author of two award-winning books. "Peaceland: Conflict Resolution and the Everyday Politics of International Intervention" goes into how everyday practices, habits, and narratives influence the effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts, while "The Trouble with the Congo: Local Violence and the Failure of International Peacebuilding" takes a look at shortcomings in interventions taken in the eastern part of the Congo.
Coming in at #3 is Emmy Award-winning writer, speaker, and cancer survivor Suleika Jaouad. Her promising future as a war correspondent was cut short when she was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after graduating from Princeton University. She started writing the "Life, Interrupted" column for the New York Times from her hospital room, reflecting on her experiences living with a life-threatening illness.
Her promising future as a war correspondent was cut short when she was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after graduating from Princeton University.
Jaouad travels the world teaching, speaking, and leading retreats on the subjects of resilience, reinvention, health, and creativity. She has also launched a project called The Isolation Journals, which focuses on cultivating intentional community, creativity, and reflection during often stressful periods of limited social interaction through digital publishing and discussion.
At #4 is author, poet, artist, teacher, and model Chris Campanioni. A first-generation American writer and the child of immigrants from Cuba and Poland, his first novel, "Going Down," was selected as Best First Book at the International Latino Book Awards in 2014, while subsequent works have earned him further recognition and accolades.
When not working on his writing and art, Campanioni presents at international conferences, festivals, symposiums, TED Talks, and the Transatlantic Poetry Series. He has served as a visiting author and writer-in-residence at a variety of American universities, and now teaches classes on Latinx literature, creative writing, and journalism at Pace University and Baruch College.
When not working on his writing and art, Campanioni presents at international conferences, festivals, symposiums, TED Talks, and the Transatlantic Poetry Series.
Rounding out the list at #5 is New York Times bestseller Annaka Harris. An editor and consultant for science writers, she specializes in neuroscience and physics. She also teaches mindfulness classes for the Inner Kids organization and has collaborated on a number of children's books and games focused on emotional intelligence.
Most notably, Harris is the author of the book, "Conscious." The text breaks down the understanding of consciousness, exploring evolving definitions, philosophies, and scientific findings and examining the concepts of self, free will, and felt experience. She has further explored these topics with guided meditations for both children and adults.
