39. Read a non-fiction book about a new subject

[Martha]

Genre - Non fiction

Some lists
Best Non Fiction (non biography)
Favourite travel books
Must read non fiction
Microhistory: Social Histories of Just One Thing
Best History Books
Food-related Non Fiction
Social Justice Books on Racism, Sexism and Class - some of these are fiction
Best Non Fiction About Music

Discussion Prompts
- What did you read and what did you think of it?
- Is this a topic you've wanted to read about for a while, or just something chosen at random?
- Do you like reading non fiction? Why?
- Are you someone who reads mainly for pleasure or mainly to learn things? Or perhaps a bit of both?

[Martha]

For this task I read On Liberty. See review here

This is a quite an interesting mix of law, politics and human rights as it's written by a woman who was the director of Liberty, a human rights organisation in the UK. I've read a bit about social justice, but haven't read anything about law or human rights in the UK.

It wasn't the easiest read, as some of the subject matter is quite dense, but I'm glad I read it and some parts blew my mind! We often hear about the human rights abuses in other countries, but there are so many subtle restrictions on our freedom happening in the UK right now! It's terrifying!

I do really like non fiction. Fiction can be great for escapism and getting absorbed in a really good story, then non-fiction is a great way of learning new things and bettering yourself. I think both are equally important, pleasure and knowledge, fiction and non-fiction.