Did you know that the reading community worldwide tends to gravitate towards non-fiction books during November?

Yes, that’s right! Non-Fiction November allows us to dive into the world of facts and figures, self-help and sustainability, personal finances and politics, and so much more. Whether you like to read about travel, food, history, or how we can revamp our lifestyle to help the environment, non-fiction books cover a huge range of topics.

While for some readers, non-fiction books might be a year-round thing, others find it difficult to wade through the ocean of information that is stuffed in a non-fiction book. And that is why, the #NonFictIonNovember challenge helps these readers to pick up at least a few non-fiction titles during this month.

Now, here are the best non-fiction books of 2023 that we came across. Take a pick and happy reading!

{We have a List of Indian Memoirs that could be of interest to you.}

1. And How Do You Feel About That?: Breakdowns and Breakthroughs in the Therapy Room by Aruna Gopakumar and Yashodhara Lal
   
   One would have to admit that there has been a significant increase in conversations about mental health, therapy, and therapists. But along with that, a lot of misinformation and myths about the same also do the rounds. In this book, two psychotherapists have collected 50 fictionalised stories to simplify how therapies and therapists work. This book aims to show readers that therapy is not always for the ones with mental illnesses but also for everyone who wants to do a little inner work. Written in a warm and authentic narrative style, this non-fiction title should be able to answer your doubts about therapy.

2. Banned & Censored: What the British Raj Didn’t Want Us To Read by Devika Sethi
   
   Devika Sethi, a professor of modern history at IIT Mandi, collected a few texts (close to a hundred) which were deemed dangerous and seditious under the British Raj in India and put them in a unique anthology. This book is divided into five parts and covers the period from 1900 to 1947. This is quite a different perspective to look at Indian history by exploring the literature and other texts that were banned by the British Rule in India. It shows how our culture has been eroding through time and how colonialism plays a big role in all of this.

3. Courting India: Seventeenth-Century England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire by Nandini Das
   
   As the title suggests, this book is a very interesting and mesmerizing account of the history of the British entry into India in the early seventeenth century. While exploring the art and literature of Elizabethan London and Imperial India, the author blends the old Indian and British records to present a nuanced and rich understanding of how Britain and its early empire spread their web all over India. Shortlisted for various awards, Courting India is the winner of The British Academy Book Prize and was the Book of the Year at History Today in 2023.

4. Energize Your Mind: Learn the Art of Mastering Your Thoughts, Feelings and Emotions by Gaur Gopal Das
   
   Modern monk and life coach, Gaur Gopal Das, is all over the internet sprinkling his wise words in that calming voice that relaxes a mind almost instantly. The best thing about his books is that it is written in a very simple and easy-to-grasp language without losing the integrity of his core messages. In this particular book, he attempts to blend his anecdotal narrative style with research to show us how we can train our minds to achieve a higher sense of well-being. The book also includes interactive exercises, worksheets, and mindfulness techniques that will only help a reader to further achieve their future goals.

{If you like autobiographies, check out our list of Indian Autobiographies.}

5. Fire on the Ganges: Life Among the Dead in Banaras by Radhika Iyengar
   
   If the first thought that crosses your head when you hear about Banaras is the Burning Ghats, then you must also wonder about the people who run those fires on the edge of river Ganga – the Doms who are still treated as untouchables in this country. Through the heartbreaking tales of their struggles of daily life in this book, the author has brought forth an exhilarating picture of Banaras, the city that witnesses this ancient Hindu rite of cremation. The book shows us all the facets of life that exist in this community in the middle of all the deaths.

6. India is Broken: A People Betrayed, 1947 to Today by Ashoka Mody
   
   With a compelling narrative, the author challenges the never-ending economic crisis that India has been crawling through since independence. Not only years and years of studies and experiences in the economic forums of the world, the author is thorough with his research data and statistics to put forward his arguments in a way that is understandable for readers who might not even have extensive knowledge of the jargon. The author expertly uses references to popular literature, art and cinema to showcase his points that all circle around underemployment in India. This book does a successful job of showing exactly why India is so hard to fix and how every leader post-independence has been working on short-term fixes rather than looking for a long-standing system that might solve the economic crisis of not having enough jobs for the people of this country.

7. Marginlands: Indian Landscapes on the Brink by Arati Kumar-Rao
   
   India is highly regarded as one of the countries in the world with the most variety of landscapes. From the mighty mountains in the north to majestic deserts in the west, mangrove forests in the east, and the beautiful beaches in the south… India is one such country that can proudly say, “I have it all.” But if we really take a look at all these precious landscapes, are we doing enough to keep them precious? This book is an honest account of an environmentalist who has accepted the natural as well as man-made consequences of our actions and set off on a journey to these lands on the margins of India that are mostly on the brink of disappearance. The author travels to these lands and listens to the people and of course, to nature… how their pleas are being ignored and how climate crisis is going to come crashing down sooner than expected.

8. Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century by Joya Chatterji
   
   The world looks at South Asia’s history mostly through a political lens. But in this beautiful book, based on decades of research and scholarship, the author has presented a story of the South Asian countries via various topics such as food, leisure and many more. While the social and political history of the region is well-known and is given as much importance in this book, the author attempted to push against the narratives that always focus on the differences. Instead, the book covers the overarching sensation of themes that unite these regions despite the diverse and vibrant cultures of countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

9. Smoke and Ashes: A Writer’s Journey through Opium’s Hidden Histories
   
   A travelogue, a memoir, and a historical account, all in one. Through his research for the Ibis trilogy, the author was surprised to find how the opium trade affected the people and the countries. This book reveals how the role of such a small plant can have a huge impact on the world’s economic and cultural aspects. As often happens through research, one finds mindblowing information that holds the potential to sway the researcher like a storm. The book particularly explores the impact the opium trade had on the Indian cities of Kolkata and Mumbai.

{Check out our list of Books on Mental Health in India.}

10. The Day I Became a Runner: A Woman’s History of India through the Lens of Sport by Sohini Chattopadhyay
    
    This book, as the title clearly suggests, is an account of Indian history through the history of women athletes in India. In a country where women are never encouraged to take up sports seriously, the author explores the thought of these extraordinary women athletes who did so and as a result, challenged the patriarchy steeped in this nation. Through the insightful stories of Ila Mitra, Mary D’Souza, P. T. Usha, Kamaljit Sandhu, and more, the author deftly chronicles the women’s history of India through sports.

11. Women in the Wild: Stories of India’s Most Brilliant Women Wildlife Biologists, edited by Anita Mani
    
    Several biologists are working tirelessly to understand and preserve the wildlife of India but hardly anyone knows anything about them. This book is a collection of stories about a few brilliant women biologists of India who are deeply devoted to their work towards the dwindling population of tigers or harmful trade practices that affect the existence of the diverse wildlife in India. The author actively explores the notion of a woman’s profession and how their ambition is treated in a male-dominated field of science and scientific research. However, the book concentrates on wildlife, depleting biodiversity, and these women who have dedicated their lives to its research, protection and preservation.

12. Working to Restore: Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business by Esha Chhabra
    
    The author, Esha Chhabra, is a journalist who braved through her decades of reporting experience and explored the businesses taking steps towards sustainability. The book closely inspects the ground-breaking approaches in agriculture, waste management, inclusivity, women in the workforce, travel, health, energy, and finance. Several companies profiled in this book have been “working to restore” the balance in this world by solving global environmental and social problems and being responsible enough for production and consumption. The book is a must-read for people in businesses and stands as a window into the way businesses can achieve their goals while also putting the planet and global citizens at a revered centre.

{Here’s a list of must read books for children to ignite their love for reading.}

When it comes to non-fiction books, people often think that the genre is full of self-help books. This list shows you that there’s more to non-fiction and reading such books provides us with insights that would’ve been impossible to get otherwise.

What are some of the best non-fiction books you’ve read recently? Tell us in the comments below.