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I really enjoyed last week’s Nonfiction November kick-off. I’ll get to my answers to this week’s questions in a moment, but first here are some of the fascinating titles from other participants that caught my attention (titles are affiliate links to Amazon):<\/p>\n
For a highlight of last week’s posts, see Katie’s wrap-up at Doing Dewey<\/a>.<\/p>\n This week’s discussion is being hosted by Rachel at Hibernator’s Library<\/a>, and here are the questions:<\/p>\n What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you\u2019re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Most of the nonfiction books I read are practical. I pick them with some aim or goal in mind. For instance, I read a lot of books on how to write, how to manage a classroom, or how to craft a homily. I choose other nonfiction books\u00a0because I need the knowledge as background for something. This would include things like commentaries on Scripture, works of theology, or works of literary criticism.<\/p>\n Occasionally, though, I will read a nonfiction book simply because I have an interest in the topic. The last time I enjoyed a book like that was about a year and a half ago: Dean King’s\u00a0Patrick O’Brian: A Life Revealed<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n I’m always reading books about spirituality and prayer, and I’ve also had a lifelong interest in books about books. I love books that discuss classic literature, books that describe how to read literature, and books that give the history of books and reading. For instance:<\/p>\n I like a conversational, informal approach more than an academic voice. While I don’t consciously think of a writer’s style while I am choosing a nonfiction book, I’m sure it’s important on an intuitive level.<\/p>\nWhat are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book?<\/h4>\n
Do you have a particular topic you\u2019re attracted to?<\/h4>\n
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Do you have a particular writing style that works best?<\/h4>\n
When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking.<\/h4>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.nicksenger.com\/onecatholiclife\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/professor-madman.jpg\")
Oddly, I am heavily influenced by the covers of fiction books, as I’ve written briefly about before<\/a>, but it doesn’t seem to matter as much for nonfiction books. Many covers for the nonfiction books I read are simply big letters on a bright background.<\/p>\n