INDIANA – For many readers, the allure of fiction—the escape, the world-building, the characters—is hard to resist. But what if we told you that the real world, captured in the hands of a skilled nonfiction author, can offer the same gripping narratives, deep emotional resonance, and fascinating insights you find in your favorite novels?
The Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library curated a list of must-read nonfiction authors, grouped by the beloved fiction writers whose work they often echo in theme, style, or subject matter. If you’re ready to dive into reality without sacrificing the thrill of a great story, look no further.
For the Lovers of Medical Thrillers & True Crime
If you’re drawn to the intricate mysteries, sharp science, and dark secrets found in the works of Patricia Cornwell, Tess Gerritsen, or Robin Cook, you’re likely craving books that combine meticulous research with high-stakes scenarios. These nonfiction authors dive into forensic science, death, and medicine with a narrative flair that feels straight out of a novel.
- Mary Roach: Known for her irreverent and deeply researched books on peculiar scientific subjects, such as cadavers (Stiff) and the science of the afterlife (Spook).
- Caitlin Doughty: A mortician and advocate for death positivity, her memoirs (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes) and explorations of global death rituals are darkly witty and profoundly humane.
- Judy Melinek: A forensic pathologist whose memoir, Working Stiff, offers a visceral, day-to-day look at the world of medical examiners, rivaling any fictional crime procedural for detail.
- Rebecca Skloot: Her landmark work, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, masterfully combines biography, medical history, and ethics into an unforgettable human drama.
- Jennifer Wright: Her historical true crime focuses on fascinating, often overlooked episodes in history, from epidemics to bizarre deaths, presented with engaging storytelling.
For the Readers of Vivid Cultural Memoirs & Diaspora Stories
If your bookshelf holds the evocative family sagas, cross-cultural examinations, and intensely personal stories penned by Amy Tan, Lisa See, Ocean Vuong, or Jean Kwok, you’ll find powerful echoes in these nonfiction voices. They offer memoirs and cultural analyses that explore identity, immigration, and intergenerational experience.
- Michelle Zauner: Her memoir, Crying in H Mart, is a heartbreaking yet joyful meditation on Korean identity, food, and the loss of a parent.
- Qian Julie Wang: Beautiful Country is a stunning memoir about growing up undocumented in New York City, capturing the precariousness and resilience of a child’s experience.
- Helen Zia: A Chinese American journalist and activist whose works, like Asian American Dreams, are vital for understanding the history and contemporary political reality of Asian America.
- Alice Wong: Through essays and interviews, her work offers essential insights into the disabled experience, often with humor and a sharp political eye.
For the Explorers of Indigenous History & Natural World Narratives
Those who connect with the powerful storytelling, historical depth, and deep relationship with the land found in the novels of Tommy Orange, Louise Erdrich, Amanda Peters, or James Welch will appreciate these essential nonfiction titles. These authors offer crucial histories, ecological wisdom, and personal memoirs from an Indigenous perspective.
- Mary Brave Bird (and Richard Erdoes): Her autobiography, Lakota Woman, is a raw and necessary account of her life on the Rosebud Indian Reservation and her involvement in the American Indian Movement.
- Black Elk (as told to John G. Neihardt): Black Elk Speaks is a foundational text of Indigenous spirituality and a powerful historical testament.
- Robin Wall Kimmerer: A botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, her book Braiding Sweetgrass blends scientific knowledge with Indigenous wisdom on the relationship between humans and the living world.
- Vine Deloria Jr.: A pivotal Native American author and activist, whose Custer Died for Your Sins is a foundational and witty critique of anthropology and U.S. policy toward Native peoples.
- David Treuer: His book The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee offers a sweeping, revisionist history of Native American life since the infamous massacre.
For the Fans of Bookish Fables & Historical Secrets
If your literary heart beats for the historical fiction, cozy mysteries, or enchanting tales of books and libraries—like those by Kim Michele Richardson, Brianna Labuskes, Eva Jurczyk, or Janet Skeslien Charles—you’ll be captivated by these narratives steeped in literary lore and history.
- Annie Spence: A librarian whose Dear Fahrenheit 451 offers a charming and opinionated look at the books she loves and loves to dismiss.
- Azar Nafisi: Her memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, uses great literature as a lens to examine life under the Iranian regime, demonstrating the power of books to inspire and resist.
- Megan Rosenbloom: A book collector and expert on forensic bibliography, her Dark Archives is a fascinating, sometimes morbid, dive into the history and ethical questions surrounding books bound in human skin.
- Nicholas A. Basbanes: A prolific author writing about books, collectors, libraries, and the enduring importance of reading in works like A Gentle Madness.
- Joshua Hammer: His The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu is a real-life thriller about a daring plot to smuggle ancient manuscripts out of a war zone.
If you are a fiction lover looking to branch out, these authors offer the same compelling narratives, unforgettable characters, and immersive worlds—the only difference is that they are all wonderfully, powerfully true.
