What I Read in 2018: NonFiction

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me or follows me on Facebook or Twitter that I love to read.  

I read every day for at least an hour.  It is how I start and end my day.  When I wake up, I grab a coffee and read, usually a nonfiction or heavier read.  At the end of the day, I climb into bed an read a more lighthearted book, like a Young Adult or Chick Lit novel.  Anytime I have 5 minutes here or there is sure to be spent reading.  Reading for me is like breathing.  

I get asked for recommendations all the time so thought I would compile this list of the top 10 nonfiction books that I read this year. 

NonFiction Books

1. A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived by Adam Rutherford

I LOVED this book and recommend it all the time.  I love evolution, have since I was a little girl (my aunt and mom love to tell the story of how I spent 3 hours in the evolution exhibit at the ROM while they patiently waited for me when I was 10).  I also love genetics.  This book combines those two things, it was just a fascinating read.

2. Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard

A warm hearted book about an ultrarunner running the Gobi ultamarathon and picks up a friend, a dog.  This is the story of their friendship and the lengths to which Dion went to in order to have Dion come home with him.

3. Seven Skeletons by Lydia Pine

A review of the 7 most important skeleton finds in the world of Evolution.  It was an interesting read on the actual finds but also the political and mainstream impact these skeletons, like Lucy, had on evolutionary science and research but also on the world.

4. Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss

I enjoy Tim Ferriss' books and his podcast.  This is one massive book, Tim asks over 100 people (athletes, investors, actors, authors, etc) a bunch of questions asking for tools, tricks, and habits that we can work on emulating in our own lives.  It took some time to get through it but it was filled with so much great advice. 

5. Meet Me in the Bathroom by Lizzie Gordon

Another top read of 2018.  This is a massive collection of conversations surrounding the music scene in New York City from 2001-2011 straight from the musicians like The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kings of Leon.  It was intriguing, eye opening and super compelling.


6. Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris

I loved this book so much, I devoted a whole article to it.

7. North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail by Scott and Jenny Jurek

Another combination of two loves.  I love reading books about thru-hiking and I love Scott Jurek (he was in one of my favourite Nonfiction books, Born to Run but I also love his last book Eat and Run).  Scott and Jenny write about Scott's record breaking Appalachian trail run.  I followed their run on Social Media so was very excited to get to read their story.  Both my husband and I loved this book.

8. Girl in the Woods by Aspen Matis

Aspen was raped in her dorm room on her first day away from home.  As we can expect, she wasn't believed or taken seriously when she told counselors and her family.  So she decided to hike the PCT as a way to come to terms with the rape and her upbringing (which was unusual).  It was a can't put down story.  Another book that both my husband and I loved (he read it first and recommended it to me).

9. Educated by Tara Westover

This was a phenomenal read, Tara' memoir about growing up as part of a Mormon family who isolated themselves to prepare for the end of the world as we know it.  They did not believe in the public education system, healthcare industry or anything related to the modern world.  It wasn't until she went to University that she finally stepped into a classroom, she did her Masters at Harvard and her PhD at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar - an incredible feat.  

10. The Four Pillar Plan by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Another book you could tell I loved by the fact that I wrote a 4 part series on Dr. Chatterjee's 4 Pillar (Relax, Move, Eat, Sleep).


I'm building my reading list for 2020 (putting books on hold at the library) - what book did you read this year that you recommend?