Over half of the books I own are non-fiction. When one walks into bookstores (if anyone does that anymore), fiction usually accounts for half to a bit less than half of the store. Sure, some of the books are self-help crap and how-to books, but there is a significant volume of histories, biographies, books on philosophy and political theory, books on current events and topics and books on world cultures and religions.
As noted by a recent guest, I have much more non-fiction than I had realized. I think they sneak into my book purchases, because I can't resist being intrigued, and whenever I read them, I travel off on tangents. Almost like wiki-jumping.
I think it is worthwhile to post a survey to start people talking more about non-fiction on this website as well. To me, reading fantasy and science fiction all the time is a bit like eating junk food or playing computer games - it's fun and entertaining, but when you're done and look back on the time spent you sometimes sit there and say, "What have I done?!"
I agree. I used to read a ton of dragonlance silliness, but I grew out of it. I still want the occasional cheeto, but I usually avoid.
1. Do you read non-fiction on a regular basis? If so, what do you typically read?
Yes. Whatever. History is addictive, but I tend to read more about philosophies.
- history
check
- biography
check, depending
- religion
definitely check. I love religious history
- world cultures
I would read more, I just don't own much yet.
- science and mathematics
science yes.
- political theory
yes.
- philosophy
check, check.
- art and architecture (including film and TV)
I studied some of this in college, and still have my books (art and arch)
- psychology
- literary criticism
3. What is your favorite work of non-fiction (please exclude religious/devotional works from this question)?
This is an amazingly difficult question to answer. I like the reading I've done on American Indians, as a group, and biblical history. I don't know if I can pick a certain book for either.
4. Would you be interested in reviews of non-fiction books on this site?
Yes.
5. Have you read any non-fiction book recently that was terrible? If so, what?
There is one that was not terrible (Young, on Vietnam), but I'm just really tired of finding so many books that are biased. It's put me off a little. I'd like to be able to read something objective so I could turn my cynic-o-meter off.
6. Was there a non-fiction book that you read that changed the way you thought or felt about world issues (again, please exclude religious and devotional works from this question) ?
You don't like him, I think, but when I read Fisk, I was surprised to find out how much we are not taught unless we take specific history in college. I've been on a bit of a personal quest to learn more since then.
7. Do you consider books about the occult to be non-fiction or fiction? Why?
Depends who wrote them.
From very limited experience with them, I'd say that some people try to stick only to what they truly think they can support. Others go a bit crazy.8. In your personal library at home, what percentage of your books are non-fiction?
25%. Maybe.
Non-Fiction survey
- 14/09/2009 05:38:04 PM
1153 Views
Heh.
- 14/09/2009 05:58:59 PM
838 Views
You associate non-fiction with work? Are you a non-fiction book reviewer by day?
- 14/09/2009 06:35:59 PM
659 Views
I like non-fiction as long as it's not preachy.
- 14/09/2009 06:25:42 PM
848 Views
Fun.
- 14/09/2009 06:31:28 PM
933 Views
Machiavelli is a good case study for translation vs. original language
- 14/09/2009 06:48:46 PM
691 Views
Fact not fiction.
- 14/09/2009 06:43:32 PM
876 Views
I loved Radzinsky's Rasputin bio
- 14/09/2009 06:58:46 PM
754 Views
Re: I loved Radzinsky's Rasputin bio
- 14/09/2009 07:10:01 PM
778 Views
You're going to force me to start a Dan Brown discussion in a different thread.
- 14/09/2009 09:00:32 PM
690 Views
Well, I can do it here, no worries, just think of it as non-non-fiction.
- 14/09/2009 09:06:34 PM
748 Views
Re: Fact not fiction.
- 17/09/2009 12:40:31 AM
794 Views
Re: Non-Fiction survey
- 14/09/2009 07:25:20 PM
682 Views
I do read sometimes.
- 14/09/2009 08:01:03 PM
883 Views
I read it quite a lot, obviously.
- 14/09/2009 09:20:40 PM
773 Views
Re: Non-Fiction survey
- 14/09/2009 09:24:35 PM
887 Views
I'd be interested to know the title of that Lincoln book. *NM*
- 15/09/2009 05:11:14 AM
338 Views
Re: Non-Fiction survey
- 14/09/2009 10:05:56 PM
682 Views
I'm sorry. I just can't take "pro wrestling" seriously enough to comment on it beyond this. *NM*
- 15/09/2009 05:15:13 AM
328 Views
Sweet
- 14/09/2009 10:09:21 PM
845 Views
My problem with Fisk is his naivete
- 15/09/2009 05:10:00 AM
733 Views
If you're referring to the passages I think you're referring to...
- 15/09/2009 11:06:04 AM
836 Views
Good survey!
- 14/09/2009 11:40:58 PM
828 Views
Ah...but where do you draw the line on the occult?
- 15/09/2009 05:07:14 AM
672 Views
Re: Non-Fiction survey
- 15/09/2009 12:25:57 AM
723 Views
I read a lot of it for my classes, so I read very little of it for leisure.
- 15/09/2009 12:46:23 AM
770 Views
As someone who read Ab Urbe Condita in Latin...the book you reference "delenda est".
- 15/09/2009 05:04:05 AM
701 Views
Interesting questions!
- 15/09/2009 07:20:05 AM
843 Views
Re: Non-Fiction survey
- 15/09/2009 11:35:48 AM
936 Views
Try reading something new you think you'd like and post a review! 
*NM*
- 17/09/2009 03:11:47 PM
294 Views
*NM*
- 17/09/2009 03:11:47 PM
294 Views
i like non-fiction!
- 15/09/2009 09:40:40 PM
772 Views
Lots of people have recommended The Omnivore's Dilemma to me *NM*
- 17/09/2009 03:14:09 PM
343 Views