Tell me the truth about ...

Today's post features some non-fiction picks from 4B.

Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman by Richard Feynman
Recommended by Kirin Bhatnaga

'It explains quantum physics and the complicated biography of a Nobel-prize-winning scientist in a very simple and often funny way.'

Strange Places, Questionable People by John Simpson
Recommended by Max Clapham

'John Simpson’s long career in journalism makes his autobiography an exciting read. What I like is that you don't have to read it from front to back - you can dip in and out and still enjoy it.'

Louis Riel: A Comic Strip Biography by Chester Brown
Recommended by Ian Coates

'Biography of a Québécois rebel leader who struggled to win rights for his people. It is a quick read since it is a graphic novel - a fun, easy way to learn history!'

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd
Recommended by Adi Coondapoor

'A fascinating journey through the rise of Nazi Germany from the viewpoints of travellers from different walks of life, unaware of the atrocities to come. Helps explain how the Nazis persuaded people and rose to power, and how people reacted.'

Extraordinary Insects: The Ones Who Run Our World by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Recommended by Richard Eichhorst

'Fascinating stories and extraordinary facts about insects. I've been able to enjoy boasting to my family about mind-blowing facts and the look on their faces when I told them that cockroaches can find people in natural disasters!'

Leading by Sir Alex Ferguson
Recommended by Yusaf Hassan

'A very interesting book applying lessons learned in football to the real world.'

Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
Recommended by William Lau

'A simple, yet ground-breaking method for assessing the personalities of people we communicate with based on four personality types.  “An excellent non-fiction book because it is different to most books one might read.'
 
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vince
Recommended by Haruki Matsunaga

'An inspirational biography that shows how Musk founded some of the most successful companies in the world and reveals how technology can alter the future, with SpaceX driving this change.'
 
Jonny: My Autobiography by Jonny Wilkinson
Recommended by Angus Roberts

'This book is a must-read for anyone interested in sports as it shows you what hardships Jonny Wilkinson, arguably the best rugby player of his time, had to endure to become the man he is today and to win the World Cup.'
 
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2020 edited by Lawrence Booth
Recommended by Archie Rowlands

'In its 157th edition, Wisden is still providing fans like me with a deep insight into statistics and expert commentary on the year's biggest events. If you want to find out more about some of the most miraculous events of the cricketing world, then this is your book!'
 
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
Recommended by Arvin Sahota

'I liked this book because it shows us life under the rule of the Taliban and the unfair reality of some people's lives. Malala stood up for what was right, even after she was shot trying to carry it through. Now she is the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize Winner.'
 
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Recommended by Matteo Salford

'This book explains things about science in a way that everyone can understand and still remains interesting.'

A Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Recommended by Kynan Tallec-Botos

'Shows the history of apartheid and, while you get a recap on the history, you also get a thrilling and intense book. I read it in one go.'
 
A Crack in Creation by Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg
Recommended by Jacob West

'An eye-opening account of CRISPR, one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the Twenty-First Century and the enormous potential that it holds for the future of mankind in gene editing.'

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Recommended by Aidan Wong

'This is an excellent book written by Barack Obama before he was President. It discusses very relevant topics, despite being written 14 years ago, such as the polarisation of American politics and the problems of globalisation.'

Many thanks to 4B for their excellent recommendations, and to Mr Dormandy for kindly collating them.