Revisiting history: A list of fine non-fiction
Editor’s Note: Everyone loves a good story. Many of us prefer to lose ourselves in the imaginary worlds of fiction. In comparison, non-fiction can feel like a drag–especially at the end of a long day. So we asked publishing consultant and former editor Shreya Punj to put together a list that is both serious and engaging–lively and thoughtful. Mission accomplished! Discover histories of debt, pockets, the periodic table, automobiles—and even the origin of patriarchy.
Written by: Shreya Punj is a book publishing consultant. She’s worked at Penguin Random House India and HarperCollins Publishers where she published many a bestseller. Shreya also runs The Editor Recommends on Instagram—a wonderful resource for aspiring authors and a place for commentary on all things books.
Over to Shreya…
Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close by Hannah Carlson: In this book, Carlson shines the full might of her research prowess on an empty sartorial space—the humble pocket. Put your keys in one and it's functional, put your hands in one and it becomes fashionable. What a wonderful invention, right? The topic is mundane but through its history, the book explores sexism in fashion, the things we store in them, and the transition of storage not just upon our person but also in bags. Carlson’s prose is witty, sharp, and delightful.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean: I’ve seen people bemoan the fact that school education focuses on things we’ll never use in real life. One such topic is the periodic table. But all of us use aluminium and nickel and iron and magnesium, right? Then wouldn’t it be cool if you read Kean’s fantastic book on the history of the things that make up the very universe you live in? A year from now, you may not remember the many historical fun facts the book contains (I don’t!) but in the moment, you’ll enjoy every bit of the geekiness.
Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber: He is one of the best anthropological theorists to have walked the Earth. His writing makes a concept like money (the concept, not the using-saving-investing aspect) accessible to someone like me who cares not for economics. The story of money begins in Mesopotamia—travels through the Middle Ages—and stops only when you begin to grasp the complexity of this thing we’re all chasing.
The Automobile: An Indian Love Affair by Gautam Sen: First, what a gorgeous cover—as you can see below. Second, I picked up this book only to impress my husband but by the time I’d finished reading it—I began appreciating cars more. Sen thinks of the automobile as art. From the evolution of the car in the context of World War II to adapting it to suit the needs of royalty, this book has everything. Read it to enjoy the journey of how an audacious invention became a convenience and now perhaps a nuisance to the environment.
Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From by Tony Joseph: Where did we come from? Thus begins the blurb to Joseph’s bestselling book. This question has become even more important when you consider our current political climate. Joseph combines multidisciplinary research—DNA, archaeology, and linguistics—to answer our questions about the Indian subcontinent’s anthropological history. I love the author’s command over the subject matter and the fact that the book never bores.
A Childhood in Tibet by Thérèse Obrecht Hodler: How can a book so small hold so much pain? This is Hodler’s memoir. Hodler was born when the Dalai Lama fled from Lhasa and the Chinese People's Army turned brutal against his supporters. The book chronicles the 22 years Hodler spent under Chinese rule and her eventual escape. Hodler’s prose is beautiful in its restraint and the resilience the Tibetans showed shines through the pages.
The Story of The Sikhs by Sarbpreet Singh: Disclaimer: I worked on this book during my time at Penguin Random House India. While this makes me partial toward the author, my recommendation remains unbiased. Historical non-fiction on the topic of religion never excited me but Singh’s focus on ‘story’ makes this book magical. It follows the life of the 10 Sikh Gurus and through their stories—the tenets of the religion. It’s a big book. Pick it up over the weekend to enjoy it best.
The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule by Angela Saini: Angela Saini is one of my favourite authors. Her previous books, ‘Inferior’ and ‘Superior’ looked at how race and misogyny became a part of our realities using science. In ‘The Patriarchs’—she uses archaeology, history, science, and philosophy to explore how men came to rule. It’s a complex question and Saini does not insult the reader by providing a simplistic answer.
