Nonfiction encompasses everything from cookbooks to academic writings on philosophy, history, science, and more. Unlike fiction, nonfiction deals with the real and factual.
As such, nonfiction often focuses on real people, events, facts, and even ideas and beliefs from politics to religion.
With that said, here are some of the most popular nonfiction genres and what makes them unique.
1. Biographies, Autobiographies, & Memoirs
Famous biographies like Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert or Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson recount the story of someone’s life but written by another.
On the other hand, autobiographies such as The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself and Up From Slavery are written accounts of the author’s life.
Lastly, like autobiographies, memoirs are written by the book’s subject but focus on a specific part or theme of the author’s life—such as Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
2. History
History books primarily focus on historical people or events, such as Man’s Search for Meaning (a blend of the history and psychology genres), in which the author, Viktor E. Frankl, shares his life story in a concentration camp.
Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America, on the other hand, takes an in-depth look at the cultures of the early American colonies and traces back influences from parts of Britain from which the colonists came.
3. Philosophy
Though not always the easiest to read, some of the best and most famous works fall into the philosophy genre. Works such as The Republic by Plato and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius are heavy reads but have left their mark on Western culture.
Books on philosophy often deal with questions on morality, the nature of things, and why we exist and heavily rely on reason and logic to answer or ponder these questions.
4. Self-Help
The self-help genre has become one of the most popular types of nonfiction, with bestsellers such as Atomic Habits by James Clear and How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie being known by most.
Self-help books range from works on building better habits to having fulfilling relationships and aim at improving the reader’s life.
5. Health & Wellness
The health and wellness genre encompasses various topics such as exercising, dieting, mental health, and more. These books are often written by experts, from doctors to nutritionists.
Famous examples include Metabolical by Robert Lustig—a Pediatric Neuroendocrinologist—and Biohack Your Brain by Kristen Willeumier—a Neuroscientist.
6. Religion & Spirituality
Books on topics related to religion and faith, from theological works to personal experiences, all fall under the religion and spirituality genre.
S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity is an example of a book that deals more with religious doctrine. In contrast, Gregory of Nyssa’s The Life of Moses takes a look at the life of Moses and draws out spiritual lessons that can be applied to live a virtuous life.
7. Personal Finance
When it comes to personal finance, books on budgeting, getting out of debt, and making wise investment choices are the most common.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is a staple in personal finance circles, along with Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover.
8. True Crime
Often written with a narrative feel, the true crime genre deals with real stories of criminal cases. Murder, organized crime, fraud, etc., are common themes found in these books.
Robert Graysmith’s Zodiac, for example, explores the infamous Zodiac killings, and John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood shares the story of a Silicon Valley startup and how one person lied, cheated, and defrauded investors.
9. Cookbooks
Cookbooks can range in intensity from those designed for the lay cook to the professional chef.
The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keeler is a favorite among professional chefs, while Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown is written for the more frugal-minded.
10. Relationships
Books on relationships provide advice and guides to having better and healthier relationships. Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages is one of the most popular books in this genre and goes over how others express and receive love.
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman is another popular book that aims to help married couples navigate conflict.
Final Thoughts
With a better understanding of the top nonfiction genres and fiction genres, booksellers, developers, and collectors can better categorize, organize, and even promote certain books to a specific audience.
Genres offer a useful way for businesses, schools, and individuals to define and display books in a way that reaches the reader.
By keeping the reader’s interests in mind, professionals can use book genres to create curated offerings specifically for their readers and better predict which type of books readers will be interested in.
