Instagram story viewer> @thenonfictional> Posts
Avid reader of non-fiction(@thenonfictional)'s profile avatar HD Profile

Avid reader of non-fiction

@thenonfictional

2.3K
followers
46
following
Non-fiction space with the rare fiction sighting.
Platforming books from Mzansi and beyond.
POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED
Download All
I’m a firm believer that some of the most interesting people are not celebrities and heads of state, but those closest to us, if only we took the time to listen and ask the right questions. This is exactly what Fashandi chose to do when she decided to write about her brother Mohsen’s memories of growing up in Iran. Many of his stories made me think of my father. It was not only the early losses, but also the inventiveness and a bit of cheek. If ever I was to achieve my dream of having my dad’s life story captured in a book, it would likely turn out to be very similar in tone to this one. I appreciated the fact that the author did not use emotive language, but let the situations speak for themselves. This approach has always been my preference. You’ll read about family, tragedies, young affections, ingenuity, willpower, and military training. I truly felt that the author got to know her sibling on a way deeper level through this process. It was full of details that probably would never have come to the fore otherwise. May more of us find the time and determination to, in some form or another, let our loved ones’ stories live on. Thank you @talesfromiran for the gifted copy. by @thenonfictional
7
13 days ago
Download
Let me start off with the redeeming factors: the book was not badly written, it had clearly taken a lot of effort to gain the trust of the people involved, and the story itself is an interesting one. Now, on to the things I just could not get around. I get that the author didn’t want to use the names of the individuals involved in the Ukrainian operation and subsequent German investigation, but there was a limit to my tolerance of The General, The Colonel, The Station Chief, The Respectable, The Priest, and The Iceman. At some point, it started reminding me of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I also couldn’t take another mention of “the Cossack spirit.” To add to all of this, the (potential) US thread was pretty much dismissed, despite the fact that most of the mentions of support actually gave credence to it. If the author did dig very deep into this line of thinking, then I wanted more than a few lines about what he found or didn’t find, to really put this one to bed. Overall, I felt that the Ukrainians blowing up the pipeline was a worthwhile story to tell, but it almost seemed like this book wanted to be a thriller a tad too badly. by @thenonfictional
12
17 days ago
Download
I still can’t explain why it has taken more than 20 years for me to read this book. The chances of this never having crossed my visual path are slim to none. Had I never picked this up, it would absolutely have been my loss. I don’t think anyone has ever packed as much into less than 150 pages as the author has managed to do here. Some of you may have heard of, or read about, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Many of the accounts fall short in one extremely significant area, namely looking at why it was such a controversial undertaking and why many people today still hold strong views in opposition to it. The author, a clinical psychologist, was a committee member, but beyond her work with the TRC, she also interviewed Eugene de Kock in prison. Now, you may not have come across this name before if you’re based outside of South Africa, but he sure had earned his nickname of Prime Evil. The author’s interactions with him were fascinating to read about. I can’t promise that this book will cause as much of an ache in your chest as it did in mine, but it gives great insight into both the depths of human depravity and an almost superhuman ability to offer forgiveness where it seems entirely undeserved. by @thenonfictional
5
22 days ago
Download
This was my most anticipated read of the year. As many of you will know, I’ve been shouting from the rooftops about 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘴 for years. It is a book that I recommend tirelessly. Seierstad’s latest work starts with a soldier who deserts Wagner and decides to run away to seek asylum in Norway. The writing about Andrey has all the hallmarks of her approach in 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘴 in bringing him to life. I loved that part of the book and how the author brought in his family members and old teachers to paint a fuller picture. The pace of the book changes somewhat when Seierstad speaks to people not connected to Andrey. Although slower and perhaps a little less exciting, these parts add to the views of Russian citizens already represented through Andrey’s connections. You will be hard pressed to find a book that better captures this era and the views held within different corners of Russian society. Seierstad captures so much of what is difficult to put into words, including what remains unsaid and what is hidden between the lines, without inserting herself unnecessarily. If you are interested in understanding the mentality of people in Russia, I can’t think of a better recommendation. Thanks to @littlebrown for sending a copy my way. by @thenonfictional
21
a month ago
Download
It took me a single day to read the book and another two to decide whether I should post a review. Ferguson writes about the sudden loss of her partner, which happens to coincide with her attempts to save a fledgling Swift who initially seems unlikely to survive. While I can sympathise with the meaning Ferguson attaches to the Swift’s presence in her life at such a heartbreaking moment, her contact with the activist Hannah is where it all takes a sharp turn for me. Hannah (author of 𝘍𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨), reaches out to Ferguson online to help guide her while she cares for the Swift. Much of this expert advice is clearly useful, and I did learn about Swifts in the process. That said, I couldn’t help wanting to scream into the void when reading about some of their conversations. Although the author clearly admired Hannah and found their relationship a special one, my impression of her could not have been more different. In fact, Hannah comes across as pushy, forceful, and utterly insensitive. Acknowledging that someone has just lost their soulmate, only to then pressurise them about the bird at every turn, felt extremely insincere. I’ve read Ferguson’s other works and I appreciated her usual directness and honesty. The parts about her partner were engaging, and even if my patience for Hannah was really tested, I could still feel the depth of Ferguson’s grief through it all. by @thenonfictional
0
a month ago
Download
One thing du Preez won’t do is bore you. This was an easy and entertaining read, filled with many interesting historical tidbits, both pre- and post-apartheid. Most of the names were familiar, making it all easy to follow. Although I disagree with many of the author’s positions, I do think that some of the insight he shares about the Afrikaner psyche is worth discussing. For one, being a racist and being a decent person are mutually exclusive in my book. No matter the language skills of his father or the apparent redeeming qualities of a Freedom Front Plus member, this is one area where I simply do not see grey. If anything, this illustrates an important aspect of South African society with its very complex dynamics. We also part ways when it comes to the question of how the end of apartheid came about, whether there truly were people who could hide behind ignorance, and whether peaceful resistance would ever even have been a viable means to achieve the same outcome. All of that aside, one simply has to appreciate someone saying it as he sees it, in the face of all the slack he has faced throughout the years. He did not hold back and was not afraid to take a critical look at himself and those who came before him. by @thenonfictional
1
a month ago
Download
Parts One and Two of this book are precious gems I’ll cherish for a long time to come. The empathy, intelligence, dedication, and respect just oozed out of every sentence. I had to keep reminding myself that Koff was only twenty-three years old when she arrived in Rwanda to carry out her work as a forensic anthropologist. There were parts where I was moved to tears, although Koff’s writing is anything but peppered with tearjerkers. Through it all, I felt like this was so clearly the path meant for the author. That level of conviction and sense of purpose is truly something to behold. Although the book also deals with Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo, I found that these parts became more focused on workplace and team dynamics, whereas the parts on Rwanda seemed to draw from a different well of emotion. I had never heard of her prior to picking up this book. It was published in 2004, and it took 22 years for it to find its way to me. I’m genuinely SO glad it did. I also discovered that Koff has published works of fiction. by @thenonfictional
27
2 months ago
Download
This was a tricky one. On the one hand, I find the intersection of fertility and capitalism extremely interesting. IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donors, the clinics, the laws. I find it all fascinating and am always looking for deep dives into these topics. I can’t say that I did not learn a lot from this book. Now, this is where it got problematic for me… Firstly, how does one write on these issues and limit talk of the different aspects of the industry on the African continent to a few passing references? I’d argue that this is a serious shortcoming. Sure, I understand that not every book can traverse every single nook and corner, but there were genuinely so many avenues to explore. The choice of language when referring to a particular historical event put me off early on. It got worse from there. All you need to know is on page 174 of this edition. The biggest drawback was that, on the side of the surrogates, the majority of the voices we get to truly hear are those of altruistic ones or those who seem pretty happy to undertake the journey for the financial reward. The author herself spells out that the path into surrogacy is not that rosy or free-willed for everyone, yet only a fraction of the book actually deals with the underbelly of this extremely lucrative and exploitative industry from the viewpoint of surrogates. It does provide a decent sense of how certain actors benefit, but the US/European focus leaves so much untold. by @thenonfictional
14
2 months ago
Download
Caldwell writes about her treasured friendship with the author Caroline Knapp. The story of how they met and became inseparable is interwoven with snippets about alcoholism and dogs. Caldwell is a wordsmith, and her gift really comes to the fore when writing about losing her best friend to cancer. I have no doubt that this book will deeply move many readers. Although parts were beautifully written, I somehow found myself truly emotionally connected at only a single point (when she rows away from Morelli). I feel like this is one of those books that delivers quality and depth, but somehow passed me by. by @thenonfictional
2
2 months ago
Download
This was tender, raw, light, and heavy all at once. McCracken talks about stillbirth and her subsequent pregnancy in a way I have never quite heard anyone put into words. The entire journey. What comforted her and what didn't. How it changed her view of France. How different things were the second time around. The anguish and the appreciation. The support and the grief. All of it, packed into writing that pulled me in effortlessly. by @thenonfictional
15
2 months ago
Download
Press freedom in Rwanda is such an interesting topic. I was really looking forward to reading this. Sadly, it ended up being another one of those books where an outsider imposes their worldview and paints themselves as a local expert. Although it is an easy read, some of the language used leaves much to be desired. Not only does the author refer to some locals as illiterates or undeserving students, he also centres himself as the foreign saviour languishing in anguish over repression and lost journalistic talent. I get that he ran a journalist training programme, but at times he seemed to relish playing the enlightened outsider. I didn’t appreciate that. If you can look past this, there are some valuable snippets on Rwandan politics that ring true based on my conversations with people who have left the country and are now living in South Africa. I’ll continue my search for books on Paul Kagame’s grip on power and how dissent and critical journalism are truly viewed in Rwanda. If you’re interested in similar issues, consider reading Michela Wrong’s 𝘋𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘣 instead. by @thenonfictional
5
2 months ago
Download
The scariest part of this book is that it only examined a single year (Oct 2023 to Oct 2024). If someone can write a book like this using media coverage from just twelve months, imagine how many volumes we’d have by now. Johnson deliberately steered clear of publications like Fox News or the Wall Street Journal, choosing to focus on CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and similar outlets. He delivers the proof on a polished silver platter, clear as day. Biden rightfully doesn’t escape criticism either. The language has NEVER been accidental. Time and time again, we see the same nauseating diversion, whitewashing, and outright lies, combined with lame excuses and justifications. The conclusion is strong. Johnson uses the opportunity to make a solid case for why he believes no true reckoning or regret will follow, and why accountability is likely to remain nothing more than a pipe dream. Thanks to @plutopress for the gifted copy. by @thenonfictional
15
2 months ago
Download
×

Download all media on this page

Photos Videos
back to up