Nonfiction short articles
Articles tagged as Non-Fiction | Smithsonian Magazine
Race in America
How Yellow Fever Intensified Racial Inequality in 19th-Century New Orleans
A new book explores how immunity to the disease created opportunities for white, but not Black, people
Karin Wulf
A Century Ago, American Reporters Foresaw the Rise of Authoritarianism in Europe
A new book tells the stories of four interwar writers who laid the groundwork for modern journalism
Karin Wulf
The Best Books of 2021
The Ten Best History Books of 2021
Our favorite titles of the year resurrect forgotten histories and help explain how the U. S. got to where it is today
Meilan Solly
The Unheralded Women Scribes Who Brought Medieval Manuscripts to Life
A new book by scholar Mary Wellesley spotlights the anonymous artisans behind Europe's richly illuminated volumes
Meilan Solly
Myth and Misdiagnosis Have Plagued Women's Health for Centuries
A new book by scholar Elinor Cleghorn details the medical mistreatment of women throughout Western history
Livia Gershon
A Brief History of Presidential Memoirs
Barack Obama's new autobiography joins a long—but sometimes dull—tradition
Livia Gershon
The Women Writers Who Shaped 20th-Century American Literature
A new show at the National Portrait Gallery spotlights 24 authors, including Lorraine Hansberry, Sandra Cisneros and Maxine Hong Kingston
Meilan Solly
The Little-Known Story of World War II's 'Last Million' Displaced People
A new book by historian David Nasaw tells the story of refugees who could not—or would not—return home after the conflict
Claire Bugos
Why U.K. Publishers Released 600 Books in a Single Day
Dubbed "Super Thursday," the barrage of books includes many titles delayed by Covid-19
Jennifer Nalewicki
Why a Campaign to 'Reclaim' Women Writers' Names Is So Controversial
Critics say Reclaim Her Name fails to reflect the array of reasons authors chose to publish under male pseudonyms
Nora McGreevy
The 1924 Law That Slammed the Door on Immigrants and the Politicians Who Pushed it Back Open
Decades of xenophobic policy were overturned, setting the United States on the path to the diversity seen today
Anna Diamond
Books of the Month
Shakespearean Stabbings, How to Feed a Dictator and Other New Books to Read
The sixth installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis
Meilan Solly
Meet the New Species of Snake Named After Salazar Slytherin of the Harry Potter Franchise
Perhaps the fictional Hogwarts founder would have appreciated the honor
Katherine J. Wu
Books of the Month
A 2,000-Year History of Restaurants and Other New Books to Read
The fifth installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis
Meilan Solly
Books of the Month
The Science of Fear, the Royal Scandal That Made France Modern and Other New Books to Read
The fourth installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis
Meilan Solly
Covid-19
Local Bookstores Offer 'Mystery Bags' of Quarantine Reading
Buyers can ask for a mix of their favorite genre or seek booksellers’ recommendations
Theresa Machemer
Books of the Month
Coffee's Dark History, the Sinking of the World's Most Glamorous Ship and Other New Books to Read
The third installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis
Meilan Solly
Education During Coronavirus
Children's Educational Books See Uptick in Sales Amid COVID-19 School Closures
Titles related to "home-life" subjects—like preserving and canning—have also experienced a boost in sales
Brigit Katz
A Fresh Look at the Boston Massacre, 250 Years After the Event That Jumpstarted the Revolution
The five deaths may have shook the colonies, but a new book examines the personal relationships forever changed by them too
Lily Katzman
A New Book About George Washington Breaks All the Rules on How to Write About George Washington
Alexis Coe's cheeky biography of the first president pulls no punches
Karin Wulf
25 of the Best Free Nonfiction Essays Available Online
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I love reading books of nonfiction essays and memoirs, but sometimes have a hard time committing to a whole book. This is especially true if I don’t know the author. But reading nonfiction essays online is a quick way to learn which authors you like. Also, reading nonfiction essays can help you learn more about different topics and experiences.
Besides essays on Book Riot, I love looking for essays on The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Rumpus, and Electric Literature. But there are great nonfiction essays available for free all over the Internet. From contemporary to classic writers and personal essays to researched ones—here are 25 of my favorite nonfiction essays you can read today.
“Beware of Feminist Lite” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The author of We Should All Be Feminists writes a short essay explaining the danger of believing men and woman are equal only under certain conditions.
“It’s Silly to Be Frightened of Being Dead” by Diana Athill
A 96-year-old woman discusses her shifting attitude towards death from her childhood in the 1920s when death was a taboo subject, to World War 2 until the present day.
“Letter from a Region in my Mind” by James Baldwin
There are many moving and important essays by James Baldwin. This one uses the lens of religion to explore the Black American experience and sexuality. Baldwin describes his move from being a teenage preacher to not believing in god. Then he recounts his meeting with the prominent Nation of Islam member Elijah Muhammad.
“Relations” by Eula Biss
Biss uses the story of a white woman giving birth to a Black baby that was mistakenly implanted during a fertility treatment to explore racial identities and segregation in society as a whole and in her own interracial family.
“Friday Night Lights” by Buzz Bissinger
A comprehensive deep dive into the world of high school football in a small West Texas town.
“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Coates examines the lingering and continuing affects of slavery on American society and makes a compelling case for the descendants of slaves being offered reparations from the government.
“Why I Write” by Joan Didion
This is one of the most iconic nonfiction essays about writing. Didion describes the reasons she became a writer, her process, and her journey to doing what she loves professionally.
“Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Roger Ebert
With knowledge of his own death, the famous film critic ponders questions of mortality while also giving readers a pep talk for how to embrace life fully.
“My Mother’s Tongue” by Zavi Kang Engles
In this personal essay, Engles celebrates the close relationship she had with her mother and laments losing her Korean fluency.
“My Life as an Heiress” by Nora Ephron
As she’s writing an important script, Ephron imagines her life as a newly wealthy woman when she finds out an uncle left her an inheritance.
But she doesn’t know exactly what that inheritance is.
“My FatheR Spent 30 Years in Prison. Now He’s Out.” by Ashley C. Ford
Ford describes the experience of getting to know her father after he’s been in prison for almost all of her life. Bridging the distance in their knowledge of technology becomes a significant—and at times humorous—step in rebuilding their relationship.
“Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay
There’s a reason Gay named her bestselling essay collection after this story. It’s a witty, sharp, and relatable look at what it means to call yourself a feminist.
“The Empathy Exams” by Leslie Jamison
Jamison discusses her job as a medical actor helping to train medical students to improve their empathy and uses this frame to tell the story of one winter in college when she had an abortion and heart surgery.
“What I Learned from a Fitting Room Disaster About Clothes and Life” by Scaachi Koul
One woman describes her history with difficult fitting room experiences culminating in one catastrophe that will change the way she hopes to identify herself through clothes.
“Breasts: the Odd Couple” by Una LaMarche
LaMarche examines her changing feelings about her own differently sized breasts.
“How I Broke, and Botched, the Brandon Teena Story” by Donna Minkowitz
A journalist looks back at her own biased reporting on a news story about the sexual assault and murder of a trans man in 1993. Minkowitz examines how ideas of gender and sexuality have changed since she reported the story, along with how her own lesbian identity influenced her opinions about the crime.
“Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell
In this famous essay, Orwell bemoans how politics have corrupted the English language by making it more vague, confusing, and boring.
“Letting Go” by David Sedaris
The famously funny personal essay author, writes about a distinctly unfunny topic of tobacco addiction and his own journey as a smoker. It is (predictably) hilarious.
“Joy” by Zadie Smith
Smith explores the difference between pleasure and joy by closely examining moments of both, including eating a delicious egg sandwich, taking drugs at a concert, and falling in love.
“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan
Tan tells the story of how her mother’s way of speaking English as an immigrant from China changed the way people viewed her intelligence.
“Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace
The prolific nonfiction essay and fiction writer travels to the Maine Lobster Festival to write a piece for Gourmet Magazine. With his signature footnotes, Wallace turns this experience into a deep exploration on what constitutes consciousness.
“I Am Not Pocahontas” by Elissa Washuta
Washuta looks at her own contemporary Native American identity through the lens of stereotypical depictions from 1990s films.
“Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White
E.B. White didn’t just write books like Charlotte’s Web and The Elements of Style. He also was a brilliant essayist. This nature essay explores the theme of fatherhood against the backdrop of a lake within the forests of Maine.
“Pell-Mell” by Tom Wolfe
The inventor of “new journalism” writes about the creation of an American idea by telling the story of Thomas Jefferson snubbing a European Ambassador.
“The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf
In this nonfiction essay, Wolf describes a moth dying on her window pane. She uses the story as a way to ruminate on the lager theme of the meaning of life and death.
Useful articles for schoolchildren and their parents.
July 28, 2020
5 useful calculators for university admissions
Helpful resources for those who are making important life decisions How to recognize a speech disorder in a child?
Speech disorders. We identify the main signs that parents should not ignore.
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July 6, 2020
5 life hacks to get extra points to the main result of the exam
How to get additional points for the Unified State Exam if you did not participate in the Olympiads
Now the busiest time for eleventh graders is to pass the unified state exam. At first, everyone is afraid of the exam itself. Graduates constantly struggle with stress, panic attacks, feelings of insecurity.
But nothing compares to the moment when you see your result. Emotions in this second replace each other at the speed of light. If your expectations are not met, do not rush to get upset - there is always a way out
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June 22, 2020
5 tips for parents of a future first grader.
Is it really necessary to prepare so hard for school? Or the main thing is to pay attention to specific things. Together with you we will try to understand this issue.
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June 8, 2020
Online Kindergarten project
To prevent the apocalypse of sadness, we, together with our partners from the SPHERE creative center, invite all parents to join the interesting project Kindergarten Online.
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April 17, 2020
Life hacks to help you learn a foreign language
Little tricks to get into the habit to learn a foreign language with minimum effort and maximum fun!
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How to prepare for exams
Minimum loss - maximum result! Detailed instructions.
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exam 2019
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A book is the best present
Why a book is the best gift and how to choose the right book
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Art albums
Introducing gift editions from Abris-Olma. Excellent books, a real treasure for all true connoisseurs of beauty
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Do I need to study during the holidays
Should a child study during the holidays or not - this question very often worries parents. And not unreasonably
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UUD - universal learning activities
Today, society and the state put forward more and more new requirements for the results of schooling.
Schools should produce people who not only mastered a set of certain knowledge and skills, but also know how to get them on their own. It is understood that graduates must have certain ...
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VPR 2018 - All-Russian verification work
All-Russian test works (VPR) are final tests carried out in individual academic subjects to assess the level of preparation of schoolchildren in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard (Federal State Education Standard).
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Exclusive gifts for those who have everything
Every time on the eve of the New Year, we puzzle over what to give to our relatives, friends, colleagues, boss ... What to give to a person who has everything? Of course the book!
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What to present on Teacher's Day celebrated on October 5?
Every year, thousands of parents ask themselves: “What to give? How to give thanks? Think about what a person needs who lives for education, for the new and immense.
"A book is the best gift...". We have selected several gift editions that your teacher will definitely like...
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Is it possible to learn a foreign language on your own?
We all really want to easily communicate with foreigners when we relax, work or travel around Europe or Asia. I would like to know English perfectly, and it would also be nice to learn a couple of other languages at the same time .
..
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Great Patriotic War
The Great Patriotic War is the hardest page in the history of our country, filled with blood, suffering, the loss of millions of lives ... Time takes us further and further from this tragic period of our history, fewer and fewer eyewitnesses, participants in battles and battles who could impartially talk about what really happened and how it was...
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School literature: is this subject important?
"We all learned little by little something and somehow ..." Unfortunately, this statement of the great Pushkin can be addressed to many students of the modern school, high school students. Pupils of the modern school read very little, high school students do not even orient themselves in the works offered as part of the school curriculum.
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Tips for successfully passing the exam in the Russian language
Among the main tests of the Unified State Examination, the Russian exam is perhaps the most basic and most important.
All graduates pass the Russian language, regardless of where they plan to enter and what specialty they have chosen.
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Children's creativity in kindergarten and at home
The smallest children are fertile material for the teacher. They are open to everything new and learn the world through creativity, creating, tasting it for taste and color. If children are interested in classes, their eyes burn, they look forward to unexplored secrets and expect fabulous discoveries.
Creative activities with a preschooler lay the foundation for a child's worldview, reveal his creative potential, and allow him to develop harmoniously in the future.
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TOP books in English adapted by knowledge level
Why read in the original
- The more that you read, the more that you’ll know.
The more that you know, the more places you'll go. - Dr. Seuss
Any English-speaking child will confirm that Dr.
Seuss does not give bad advice. If you love to read, but are afraid to start with a voluminous and full-bodied English novel, don't worry. Especially for educational purposes, publishing houses produce adapted books in English: for beginners, for the intermediate level, and so on. Yes, you will get a complete picture of the work of art a little later, but you can congratulate yourself on the first English book you read already starting from the Elementary level!
You can apply for training here
1. Reading in English increases vocabulary
Reading in a foreign language enriches vocabulary, even if we ourselves do not realize it. Of course, in order to learn new vocabulary more effectively, it is better to read a book, writing out unfamiliar words and memorizing their translation. When choosing books to read, be guided by your learning goals: if you need colloquial speech, pay attention to modern “light” prose, but if you want to master special vocabulary, the most obvious advice is to read literature from the area of your professional interests.
2. Reading improves spelling
English spelling is full of mysteries and surprises. The spelling of many words defies logic: you just have to memorize. And the best way to do this is to read more English-language literature so that the images of words are stored in memory.
3. Reading broadens one's horizons
E-books and blogs, news sites and social networking feeds: reading has reached a new level in the twenty-first century. A single information space makes it possible to learn about what is happening in the most remote corners of the world, to join the world's cultural and scientific heritage.
4. Reading in the original language improves self-esteem
Listen to how you feel when you finish the last page of your first novel in English: the most pleasant feeling. “She reads Orwell in the original” sounds proud! Any psychologist will tell you that motivation is important when performing any task.
So do not miss the opportunity to once again praise yourself, this one is not at all superfluous! :)
Reading English books in the original is not only useful, but also pleasant
Demo lesson for free and without registration!
Take a lesson, find out about the school and get a promotional code for English classes
How to choose a book to read
- Choose adapted books in English for your level (see the list of recommended books for levels A2-C1 later in the article).
- Choose works according to your ability: start with short stories, gradually moving to larger literary forms.
- The more exciting the learning, the more effective it is: try to find books that are interesting for you. Detectives, thrillers, mysticism - or any other topic that awakens your imagination and makes you read the book to the end will do.
Children's books in English
If you know only a few hundred words in English, pay attention to children's literature: many children's books are also interesting for adults. In addition, children's literature, as a rule, is generously provided with illustrations, which helps to understand the plot.
Fun fact: the acclaimed children's author Dr. Seuss, discussed earlier in this article, wrote his best book, The Cat in the Hat , using just 220 words. This list of the first children's words was compiled by the publisher, obliging the author to use them in his work: everything to earn the love of the target audience!
Free English-language children's books can be found on the Internet. For example, on the KidsWorldFun resource.
English comics
Like children's literature, comics are a great way to start reading in a new language. There are a great many genres of comics: there are comics for children, for adults, entertaining and educational.
- Free Online Comics Library
- Marvel Comics
- English grammar comics
Film scripts in English
One of the proven and effective methods of learning a new language, recommended by many polyglots, is to read books in the target language that are already familiar in translation.
The same applies to film adaptations: it is useful to read the scripts of the films you have watched. Advantages: the context is known, the plot is clear, you can guess the meaning of new words in the course of the story.
- Movie Scripts and Screenplays
- 101 Greatest Screenplays
- Awesome Film
Books in English about personal development and professional literature
By reading them, you kill two birds with one stone: you study the vocabulary that is relevant to you in English and learn new things about an important topic for you. If you are keenly interested in something, why not read about it in English? Another advantage of such literature is that it is easier to read than fiction novels. The style is simpler, the vocabulary is limited to the topic under consideration.
Reading in English improves vocabulary
3 "life hacks" for beginning readers of English literature
It is not necessary to understand every word
Сontext is king (context is king)! If you have grasped the main idea of the story, that is enough. Moreover, if you understand everything you read, most likely you have taken a book of too low a level for yourself. Try to find such books where about 70% of the vocabulary will be familiar (the rest will have to be written out and learned).
Read aloud in English
It may seem strange, but reading has proven itself to improve pronunciation and listening - if it is reading aloud. By reading aloud, you tune in to the sound range of the language being studied. However, it is important to work on pronunciation and in addition to reading, otherwise the incorrectly “guessed” pronunciation of a particular word may annoy you for years afterwards.
When reading in English, listen to audio books
When learning English, in which the same combination of letters can be pronounced in a dozen different ways, it is very important to pay attention to the correct pronunciation of new words. We have already written about the book + audiobook format: when reading an English-language book, you listen to its audio version, voiced by native English speakers.
Very handy for learning pronunciation!
English books: read and listen
Books adapted for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of English (A2-C1)
A2 level - elementary level
The Fisherman and His SoulOscar Wilde Level: elementary A piercing romantic tale of crazy love | |
Dracula - DraculaBram Stoker Level: elementary A chilling story of eternal love and eternal damnation: this is where all the vampire sagas of our time came from. | |
Million Pound Bank Note - The Million Pound Bank NoteMark Twain Level: elementary A witty and instructive story about the adventures of a poor man with a million pound note in his pocket. | |
Mr.Richard Curtis Level: elementary Mr. Bean will always find adventure for his wild little head! The eccentric eccentric continues to amaze and amuse the reader. |
Books in English help to develop vocabulary
Level B1 - threshold or intermediate (threshold or intermediate)
The Picture of Dorian GrayOscar Wilde Level: intermediate What is more important, the beauty of the face or the beauty of the soul? An incredible story about a beautiful mask and the terrible essence of a person. Mr. Grey, weren't you the prototype of the hero of "Fifty Shades of Grey"? .. | |
Appointment With DeathAgatha Christie Level: Intermediate Christie, Poirot, detective. | |
Forrest Gump - Forrest GumpJohn Escott Level: Intermediate The book is about a man whose fate makes you believe in the impossible.
Book: Forest Gump | |
Three Men In a Boat Jerome K. Level: Intermediate Three cheerful friends decided to go on a trip. What came of it - read in the original. Book: Three in a boat |
A must read! 
Jerome Read English books in the original
Intermediate English (intermediate, B1-B2)
The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonF. Scott Fitzgerald Level: Intermediate A fantastic story about a man who "lived in reverse". But you probably already watched the movie? .. |
| 1984 George Orwell Level: intermediate A landmark work of English literature, which must be included in the reader's arsenal of every modern person. To not have to blush in a decent society. |
Gladiator - GladiatorDewey Gram Level: intermediate This book will tell about the difficult fate of the Roman gladiator. Here's someone who had a really hard job! |
Four Weddings and a FuneralRichard Curtis Level: intermediate The best way to know the culture of a people is to study their customs. A funny, touching, slightly frivolous book by Richard Curtis tells about the love between a British man and an American against the backdrop of four weddings and, alas, one funeral.
Book: Four Weddings and a Funeral |
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Is there any hope for a happy ending? Read about it yourself. Learning English by reading books in the original is interesting and exciting
B2 - intermediate-advanced level (vantage or upper intermediate)
| Airport Arthur Hailey Level: upper-intermediate Disaster novel based on real events is fascinating even after half a century. Book: Airport |
The Talented Mr. Ripley Ripley Patricia Highsmith Level: upper-intermediate Tom Ripley is a 25-year-old young man who grew up without parents in an atmosphere of hatred and fear. Is it any wonder that his attitude to the world and people is not distinguished by special tenderness? .. |
Tomes are a girl's best friend!
C1 - advanced level of English (advanced)
Jane Eyre - Jane EyreCharlotte Bronte Level: advanced A classic English novel about the life of a poor orphan with remarkable strength of character, and about love that can overcome any adversity. A book dearly loved not only in England, but all over the world. |
Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen Level: advanced Elizabeth is one of five daughters of the noble but impoverished Bennett family. She is smart, beautiful, but will she be happy? When two single gentlemen move in next door, something new enters the lives of the Bennett girls: sighs, excitement, furtive glances, secret rendezvous. 
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