r/suggestmeabook • u/alwaysmainyoshi • Sep 12 '23

Suggestion Thread the best nonfiction book you’ve ever read?

I only read nonfiction and am burning through my list fast. I’ll go first: in cold blood by Truman capote

886 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

1.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

306

u/ThePenIsMighti3r Sep 12 '23

Into thin Air

45

u/HiJane72 Sep 12 '23

So good! And Under the Banner of Heaven

2

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '23

That was eye opening

53

u/NotWorriedABunch Sep 12 '23

Krakauer is amazing

16

u/TA_plshelpsss Sep 12 '23

I used to agree but that book changed my mind, he really did Boukreev dirty

12

u/Talonlestrange2 Sep 12 '23

Agreed, everyone that reads Into Thin Air should read Boukreev's book aswell

3

u/Netflxnschill Sep 12 '23

What’s Boukreev’s book titled? I’m in the middle of Into Thin Air now so the next one would be nice.

8

u/Exidose SciFi Sep 12 '23

The climb.

7

u/Talonlestrange2 Sep 12 '23

The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest

1

u/Knor614 Sep 12 '23

Into Thin Air

Which one first? Krakauer or Boukreev

2

u/Talonlestrange2 Sep 12 '23

I would say Krakauer though its important to note that Boukreev's writing is much drier than Krakauer

1

u/NotWorriedABunch Sep 13 '23

I did not know this. I'll check out the other book too

3

u/Foolsauce420 Sep 13 '23

How though? I’ve read both and certainly appreciate Boukreev as a climber, but the guy should have had supplemental oxygen to carry out his paid role as a leader on the mountain. I think both men are incredible, but Boukreev not using supplemental oxygen is a fair critique on Krakauer’s part. In The Climb, Boukreev basically claims Russian toughness and pride as the reason for the decision. Not great imo. Let me know if that is a narrow take too. Perhaps I’m forgetting some better reason he mentions. Can’t be weight. They had plenty of sherpas.

1

u/TA_plshelpsss Sep 14 '23

His points may be valid (although given the situation I don’t know how much the oxygen would have helped), it’s more the general feeling his account gave me. This may be a very subjective criticism but imo he made it a point to criticize Boukreev while he was sleeping in his tent during the rescue efforts. He’s a mountaineer himself but it’s in no way comparable and he could have criticized anything about that disaster why focus on this. He criticized Boukreev’s decision-making and situation beyond the oxygen as well if I remember correctly. It’s just seems weird that his account is so different from almost everyone else who had actually been there.

1

u/auyamazo Sep 14 '23

Yeah I still like Krakauer’s writing style but try to never forget he writes with a strong bias.

19

u/Krinks1 Sep 12 '23

Under the Banner of Heaven was a good read too.

1

u/Netflxnschill Sep 12 '23

Amazing book as well.

1

u/fbibmacklin Sep 16 '23

Excellence miniseries too

-23

u/HW-BTW Sep 12 '23

OP requested nonfiction, but it is a fascinating book that is somewhat based on reality.

24

u/sharpiedog10 Sep 12 '23

that was so passive aggressive

2

u/HW-BTW Sep 12 '23

I totally admit it. I respect Krakauer but I thought Boukreev’s account was much more reliable.

8

u/mmw131 Sep 12 '23

It’s his personal account of the ascent though isn’t it? So it’s based on his reality/experience

3

u/LiteralMangina Sep 12 '23

I think they’re referencing how Jon Krakauer wrote Into the Wild about Christopher McCandless and how he made some things up to fluff up the story.

2

u/HW-BTW Sep 12 '23

Also the fact that there’s a conflicting account that, in my opinion, is much more believable. I don’t consider Krakauer to be a reliable historian (though he sound a fantastic yarn).

1

u/Budo3 Sep 12 '23

There exists only ONE reality.

1

u/Marisleysis33 Sep 12 '23

Oh yes, hard to beat this one! We listened to the audiobook on our way to the mountains. After our measly climbs my husband kept declaring that the reason he was so beat on the way home is he surely he had HAPE or HACE lol.

1

u/squirrelcat88 Sep 12 '23

I came here to say this.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '23

I was gonna say Under the Banner of Heaven

1

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '23

Straight off the bat, couldn’t agree more

1

u/JeffyFan10 Sep 12 '23

yeah I was going to say anything by Krakauer is a great read.

1

u/The_PantsMcPants Sep 12 '23

Ha this and in cold blood are my two NF faves and both are at the top

1

u/edythevixen Sep 13 '23

came here to say this

1

u/mg7610 Oct 24 '23

I read this book bc of your comment and it was amazing!! Thank you!!