Nonfiction Reading List – Possible Selections



Nonfiction Independent Reading Project This quarter, students are required to read one nonfiction book as independent reading. Students may choose a title from the approved list or choose their own selection, but the book MUST be approved by the teacher and have a Lexile level of 1000 or higher if the student is reading a book not on the approved list. Only full-length works are acceptable for this project; short works of nonfiction, such as collections of essays, are not acceptable. The purpose of this assignment is to give students greater awareness and experience with longer pieces of nonfiction prose. The project is due on Monday, February 15th. Project Guidelines: 1) Write a 5-7-sentence summary of the overall main idea of this book. Within this summary, include 3-5 main points the author makes (most important, or ones you find most interesting). This needs to be a tight, concise, accurate paragraph of writing. Avoid critique at this point; just focus on short description that has specific main points.2) List 5 (only 5) different rhetorical strategies used in this book (see rhetorical terms handouts). For each one, discuss the following: A) Name the rhetorical strategy, and define it; B) Write a short, unified paragraph that explains how the author uses the rhetorical strategy—what is he or she trying to convince the reader to think, and how, and why? What is the author’s purpose in using this strategy? Is it effective? Why or why not? C) Support your analysis with specific references to the text (i.e. quotes, correctly formatted and cited with an MLA parenthetical citation). Weave all of this together in to a well-developed paragraph for each example. Select five strong examples that give you plenty to discuss. For each separate paragraph, label the separate parts: A, B, C, etc.3) What do you think was the author’s goal in writing this book? Did s/he achieve it? Did s/he convince you of his/her point of view on the topic discussed? Did reading this book change your thinking on the topic, and if so, how? If not, why not? (250 word minimum)4) Write a short book review (5-7 sentences) for this book. Pretend you are trying to convince someone you know (who is reluctant) to read it. Be creative! Include at least one interesting thing about it; here is where you get to put in your opinion. It is okay to say you disliked it, but be attention-getting (humor, satire, irony, and strong critique are all appropriate). Write in the style of Steven Colbert, John Stewart, Saturday Night Live writers/comedians, The Onion journalists, or other news parody/critical commentary writers. (i.e. don’t be silly just to be silly; make a point.)5) Evaluate nonfiction as a valuable genre. Provide three properly cited quotes from the text to support this evaluation. (250 word minimum)6) Create a Work Cited entry for the nonfiction book in correct MLA citation format.7) Times New Roman, 12pt, black ink, single-spacedAlthough it is not required, students are encouraged to purchase the book they have chosen and annotate as they read. An alternative method, of course, is to take notes in a notebook or on sticky notes. Obtain your book as soon as you can in the beginning of this grading quarter, so you can have it read and the assignment completed before the February 15th deadline, as other papers and/or projects will be assigned throughout the quarter as well. Nonfiction Reading List – Possible SelectionsFermat’s Last TheoremAmir Aczel an account of the race to prove Pierre de Fermat’s unsolved riddle, from its conception in 1637 until its solution in 1995; tells the journey of intrigue, deceit, and insanity experienced by those who tried to solve it and the one who finally didInfidel Ayaan Hirsi Aliautobiography of life in the Muslim underworld, an escape to the Netherlands, and the political life the author made for herself thereA History of GodKaren Armstronga history of how man views God, from Abraham to the presentOf Beetles and AngelsMawi Asgedomautobiographical account of fleeing and Ethiopian war to attending and graduating Harvard, and the pivotal moments in betweenDouble FoldNicholson Bakeraccount of the US govt’s destruction of historic print media, the conspiracy within, and a man’s rush to save it all before it’s too lateThe Size of ThoughtsNicholson BakerLet Me Play: The Story of Title IXKaren Blumenthalan account of the passing of the law that allowed women to play sportsA Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy SoldierIshmael Beahexplanation of the author’s escape of life as a child soldier in a war-torn wastelandMidnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil John Berendtfirst person account of a murder in a large mansion in Savannah,GeorgiaAll over But the Shoutin’Rick Braggautobiography of Pulitzer Prize winnerBury My Heart at Wounded KneeDee Brownthe systematic annihilation of American natives across the Western frontierA Walk in the WoodsBill Brysonaccount of a 2,200 mile hikeAnother PlanetElinor Burkettthe author spends a year in high school (as an adult) for observation and analysis purposesRunning with ScissorsAugusten Burroughsmemoir about author’s rough childhood and how his positive outlook helped him survive itQuiet: The Power of Introverts…Susan Cainseeks ways to better understand and use introversionThe Rape of NankingIris Changthe atrocities committed by the Japanese army against Chinese in the 1937-38 Nanking MassacreBeyond the Narrow GateLeslie Changaccount of 4 Chinese girls’ immigration to America from Communist ChinaWishing on the MoonDonald ClarkeBiography of Billie Holliday, the jazz and blues singer, and her rise to stardom from nothingGlass, Paper, BeansLeah Hager CohenThe Road from CoorainJill Kerr Conwayautobiography of the native Australian first female president of Smith CollegeDispatches from the EdgeAnderson Coopera journalist describes his powerful personal reaction to the 2005 tsunami and its aftereffectsSalvation on Sand MountainDennis Covingtoncoverage: a man attempts to murder his wife by snakebite and is put on trialColumbine Dave Cullendiscussion of the science behind the shooters in 1999 at Columbine High SchoolDisarmedGregory CurtisEurope in the early 19th century, caught in the grip of a classical art mania and burgeoning romantic Hellenism. Discussed are the ideas of how and when the statue of Venus came to be.The Death of SatanAndrew Delbancoauthor’s argument that Americans, who once pictured their history as an epic struggle against the devil, have become indifferent to the reality of evilGuns, Germs, and SteelJared Diamondan argument that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world, as well as a study of societies with a head start in food production, religion, germs, weapons, etc.The Year of Magical ThinkingJoan Didionan exploration of a marriage-the good times and the badThe Diving Bell and the ButterflyJean-Dominique BaubyCalendarDavid Ewing Duncan102 MinutesJim DwyerA Heartbreaking Work of Staggering GeniusDave EggersWhat is the WhatDave Eggersa Sudanese refugee’s journey to the United StatesNickel and DimedBarbara Ehrenreichthe author takes a series of minimum wage jobs to see how well the wage can support someoneAmerican SphinxJoseph Ellisa biography of the life and character of Thomas JeffersonThe Sports Gene: Inside the Science…David Epsteindiscussion on whether successful athletes are born with an innate, genetic ability for their sport vs. simply working hardThe Spirit Catches You & You Fall DownAnne Fadimanthe story of a young child with epilepsy whose tragic demise reveals the dangers of a lack of cross-cultural communication in the medical professionWalking the BibleBruce Feilerthe author’s journey through places described in the bibleThe Whole ShebangTimothy Ferrisauthor provides a clear overview of current research and a forecast of where cosmological theory is likely to go in the 21st centurySix Easy PiecesRichard Feynmanauthor introduces the general reader to the topics of atoms, basic physics, energy, gravity, quantum force, and the relationship of physics to other topicsTrue StoryMichael Finkelauthor tells the story of his bizarre friendship with the man who stole his identity and was accused of killing his entire familySwallow the OceanLaura Flynnauthor’s mother is the center of her world during childhood; mother goes insane and author loses her fix on reality as a resultEating AnimalsJonathan Safran Foerexplores the stories we tell ourselves to justify our eating habits and how those tales lull us into brutal forgettingGorillas in the MistDiane Fosseyauthor traveled to Africa to study gorillas and their struggle to survive; author becomes accepted by the gorillas she studies which allows her to study their “society” up closeNext of KinThatcher FreundBeirut to JerusalemThomas Friedmanthe author’s days as a reporter during the Lebanese Civil WarHot, Flat, and CrowdedThomas L. Friedmanon the side of clean energy and green technology industriesComplicationsAtul Gawandea burned out doctor who refuses to quit and a terminal patient opts for a risky surgeryMany MasksBrendan Gillstory of Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect-his family, his work, his process, his legacyShot in the HeartMikal Gilmoreauthor examines dark family secrets and his brothers’ murdersBlinkMalcom Gladwella discussion of how we think without thinking; how we make decisions “in the blink of an eye”OutliersMalcolm Gladwella study of what makes the best, the brightest, the most successful different from the rest of the populationThe Culture of FearBarry Glasserdiscussion of our perception of fear vs. actual fear; people and organizations who profit from that fearNo Ordinary TimeDoris Kearns GoodwinWait Till Next YearDoris Kearns Goodwina coming of age story in which her family teaches the author to read and keep score at baseball gamesThe Great Arizona Orphan AbductionLinda Gordonstory of 40 Irish orphans brought to a remote Arizona mining camp in 1904 to be placed with Mexican Catholic families and the effectsWe Wish to Inform You…Philip Gourevitchthe author’s travels in Rwanda after the genocide; interviews with survivors and a reflection on the meaning of genocideAutobiography of a Face Lucy Grealyautobiography of time spent working as a hand for Diamond D StablesA Civil ActionJonathan Harrwater contamination case in Woburn, Massachusetts, in the 1980sThe End of FaithSam Harrisdeeply affected by 9/11, author lays out a wide-ranging criticism of all styles of religious beliefThe Total PackageThomas Hinehow manufacturers manipulate the public in order to get them to purchase their productsGod is not GreatChristopher Hitchensauthor contends that organized religion is “violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children” and “out to have a great deal on its conscience”Lost in TranslationEva Hoffmana story of immigration from Krakow to Canada during the HolocaustA People’s History of the Supreme CourtPeter IronsEmergenceSteven JohnsonEmpires of LightJill JonnesWoman WarriorMaxine Hong KingstonBalkan GhostsRobert KaplanThe Liar’s ClubMary Karra tough childhood is detailedOrange is the New BlackPiper Kermanaccount of the author’s time as an inmate in a minimum security prison in ConnecticutMountains Beyond MountainsTracy Kidderthe struggle to provide medical help to the destituteThe Girls of Atomic City: The Untold…Denise Kiernanthe untold story of the women who helped the war effort in WWIICloneGina Kolatathe birth of “Dolly”, the world’s first cloneFluGina Kolatascientific look at the influenza epidemic of 1918 and a reminder that without the proper medicines, an apocalypse could be just around the cornerSavage InequalitiesJonathan Kozolthe author examines the extremes of wealth and poverty and the question of racial equality in schools throughout the nationThere Are No Children Here Alex Kotlowitzthe story of two boys struggling to survive in Chicago in a public housing complex that has been disfigured by crime and neglectInto the WildJon Krakauera young college student abandons his studies, gives away his money, and attempts to live in the wilds of AlaskaInto Thin AirJon Krakauerexpedition to the top of Mt. EverestUnder the Banner of HeavenJon KrakauerCodMark KurlanskySalt: A World HistoryMark KurlanskyThe ArabsDavid LambThe AfricansDavid LambAmerican GroundWilliam LangewiescheManhattan post 9-11Devil in the White CityErik LarsonHenry H. Holmes’s torture palace west of a fairgrounds and his torture of young womenThe Big TestNicholas LemannFreakonomicsSteven Leavittstudy of how people get what they want/needDetroit: An American AutopsyCharlie LeDuffstudy of how Detroit went from wealthiest city in the nation to the bankrupt, illiterate, poor city that it is nowThe Middle EastBernard Lewischarts the history of the Middle East over the past 2,000 yearsThe Accidental AsianEric Liuauthor’s search for his cultural and personal identityYoung Men and FireNorman Macleanthe story of the 1949 Mann Gulch fireFour Arguments for Elimination of TVJerry Manderthe problems with televisionAngela’s AshesFrank McCourta poor upbringing in Ireland, including a mother’s death and a father’s alcoholismBorn to Run Christopher McDougallstudy of distance runnersFatal VisionJoe McGinnissstudy of the Princeton-educated physician convicted of savagely slaying his pregnant wife and two young childrenComing into the CountryJohn McPheedescription of the total wilderness Alaskans faceBattle Cry of FreedomJames McPhersoncomplex economic, social, and political forces behind the American Civil WarGreasy RiderGreg Melvillethe journey across the country by 2 college guys in a car fueled by French fry oilCity of the CenturyDonald MillerChicago from the 1830s to the 1890sBlue HighwaysWilliam Least Heat Moonthe author’s trip into America by way of back roads and ghost townsTheodore RexEdmund Morrisbiography of Teddy RooseveltThree Cups of TeaGreg Mortensonhow life in Pakistan changed the authorThe Power of MythBill Moyersevolution of myths in human history and their place in modern societyReading Lolita in TehranAzar Nafisiafter having lived through the revolution, the author returns and teaches in the Islamic environmentThe Average AmericanKevin O’Keefeexploration of the identity of the average AmericanThe Orchid ThiefSusan OrleanFor God, Country and Coca-ColaMark Pendergrastpolitics surrounding Coca-ColaEngineers of DreamsHenry Petroskibridges: science, engineering, and disastersIn the Heart of the SeaNathaniel Philbrooka whale ship that is attacked by a whale in the Pacific Ocean; the whaling industryThe Botany of DesireMichael Pollanargument that 4 plants have shaped human evolution; “co-evolution”The Omnivore’s DilemmaMichael PollanAmusing Ourselves to DeathNeil Postmandiscussion of television’s negative effect on public discourse in AmericaTechnology: The Surrender of CultureNeil PostmanMaking the CorpsThomas Rickspresent culture of the Marine Corps; their experiences and thoughtsGenomeMatt Ridleythe part genes play in our adult livesBonkMary Roachstudy of sexual physiologyStiffMary Roachexploration of learning practiced by surgeons on cadaversOverachievers: Secret Life of Driven KidsAlexandra Robbinsstress associated with ambition in teensThe Geeks Shall Inherit the EarthAlexandra Robbinspopularity, Quirk Theory, and why outsiders thrive after high schoolLook Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's John Elder Robisonthe author’s struggle with Asperger’sLittle Girls in Pretty BoxesJoan RyanLean In: Women, Work and the Will To LeadSheryl SandbergSkyscraperKarl SabbaghThe Devil’s CandyJulie SalamonIron and SilkMark SalzmanJesus LandJulia Scheerestwo students’ struggle in a Christian boot campFast Food NationEric Schlosserexploration about the development of and chemicals in fast foodMies van der RoheFranz SchulzeLearned OptimismMartin E. P. SeligmanThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca SklootGalileo’s DaughterDava SobelThe Black Swan Nassim Nicholas Taleb humans’ tendency to rationalize unpredictable events with simplistic reasoningThe Mole PeopleJennifer Tothexploration of the small societies of people who live beneath NYC in sewers and subway tunnelsHow Children SucceedPaul Toughargument that character is more important than academic abilityThe Guns of AugustBarbara Tuchmanexploration of the controversial start of WWIWhy We ShopPaco Underhillexploration of the reasons consumers spendCall of the MallPaco Underhillexploring the success malls experience in America, but not elsewhereTriangleDavid Von Drehlea 1911 New York fire prompted labor regulations and government involvement in the management of businessesGang Leader for a Day Sudhir VenkateshAssassination VacationSarah VowellThe Glass CastleJeanette WallsMississippiJohn WaltonThe Beak of the FinchJonathan WeinerThe World Without Us Alan WeismanForever Open, Clear, and FreeLois Willeattempts by Chicago citizens to protect lakefront parksThe Professor and the MadmanSimon Winchestera tale of murder, insanity, and the making of the Oxford English DictionaryShaping a NationCarter Wisemanexamines the major architectural movements of the last centuryThe Right StuffTom Wolfeabout the pilots involved in US postwar experiments with experimental rocket-powered, high-speed aircraftThe Dancing Wu Li MastersGary Zukava mystical interpretation of quantum physics ................
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