24 - A book on a subject you know nothing about

[ｄａｎｉｅｌａ]

I'm choosing one of these, since I think the subjects are incredibly fun and I know almost zilch about them.

[Thomas]

Nikita wrote: "Does a ‘parenting’ book count?"

If you feel you know nothing sure.

[Allie]

I agree with all those who hate broad categories like "favorite" and "nothing." Probably because I've been doing the challenge for a while, my mind went to book genres I didn't know existed (which is sort of similar to an advanced prompt back in 2017), and seeing as I'm reading a book dedicated to solarpunk, which I actually know nothing about, I'm going with close enough.

The book is Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation is case anyone is curious!

[Rose]

I read this book this year. I did not know running races with donkeys was a thing. Nor that there were race circuits. Fun read. Running with Sherman

[Denise]

I'm looking here for inspiration.

[Kyra]

I've started keeping a list this week of things that I come across and think, "Huh, I actually know nothing about this". I'm listing it here to potentially provoke some inspiration or ideas for others. 1. Carrier Pigeons 2. Octopus (Octopi?) 3. Camping and Survival 4. Vietnam War (I mean, I know it happened, but that's about it) 5. Watergate (Again, I know it happened and I know it had to do with Nixon, but seriously) 6. Patricia Hearst 7. Chernobyl 8. Alaskan History 9. Wilhelm Gustloff. Happy reading!

[Drakeryn]

In the spirit of Kyra's post, here are some fiction books about subjects that I knew nothing about before reading the book:

The Gilded Wolves - the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris
The Last One - the editorial process for reality TV shows. also, camping/survival
The Strain - autopsies, rat-catching
River of Teeth - hippo wrangling
Jane, Unlimited - umbrella-making
Children of Blood and Bone - Yoruba culture and West African mythology
And I Darken - the historical Vlad the Impaler (including the political situation with the boyars and the Ottoman Empire)

A lot of retellings would also fit this category if you know nothing about the underlying legend/mythology/folklore (for instance, I hadn't heard of the Russian fairytale that Deathless is based on).

[Karin]

Kyra wrote: "I've started keeping a list this week of things that I come across and think, "Huh, I actually know nothing about this". I'm listing it here to potentially provoke some inspiration or ideas for oth..."

This is driving me crazy, because I read an excellent memoir by a retired soldier who fought in more than one war for the US and shows the terrible things the US started doing in how they fought in Vietnam. It might have been Soldier which is the right title and from the right time (it was out for a long time before I heard of it).

This is a good list, but a few of us were alive when Patty Hearst was kidnapped and when Watergate was going on even if we were just kids some of us learned about it at school, etc, but of course my kids know nothing about Patty Hearst and they are 19-24. I have no idea how much they know about Watergate. They were in the newspapers seemingly every day and I started reading those at a young age. BUT an interesting take on the Viet Nam War and also on the changes in American warfare over the first 60+ years of the twentieth century by someone who fought in three of them is

The one thing on that list I don't recognize off the top of my head was that last name, but when I looked it up I do know a bit about that plus I am so sick and tired of WW II--I've read what feels like a zillion books on it.

[Christina]

can anybody recommend books which deal with illnesses or (un)natural disasters that might not be super well known? these are pretty much the only non-fiction books I don't struggle /too much/ getting through.

in 2019 I read three novels I'm sure could have worked for this prompt too:
Five Feet Apart - about cystic fibrosis & B. cepacia
Every Note Played - about ALS
Everything, Everything - about Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

[Ally]

I found the book Freakonomics at the library last weekend on their for sale shelf. I decided it was worth the $1.00 to fit this prompt!

[Megan]

I said earlier in this thread i was terrible at math so I decided on A Beautiful Mind.

[Bróna]

Christina - I can't seem to quote you - sorry
I just finished Morrie- in his own words by morrie Schwartz. it's about his experience of deteriorating with an ALS diagnosis and his view on dying. it's tough (but it's a short book)

[Bróna]

Christina - I can't seem to quote you - sorry
I just finished Morrie- in his own words by morrie Schwartz. it's about his experience of deteriorating with an ALS diagnosis and his view on dying. it's tough (but it's a short book)

[Kyra]

I recently read Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova. If you’ve never heard of Huntington’s Disease, this would be a great book for this prompt!

[C]

SarahKat wrote: "Anything by Sam Kean I'd recommend for this. He has biology, neurology, elements, atmosphere; all intertwined with history.
Also, Erik Larson for history, but I enjoy..."

Sam Kean is also on the twitter machine and is great about responding to tweets, which I find endearing. My beloved Oliver Sacks covers a multitude of topics, from neurology to plants to music to chemistry and is always a delight. Ologies podcast interviews amazing people and sometimes lists books in the show notes. If you want to learn things you didn't know, Alie Ward is THE BOSS.

[Christina]

Bróna wrote: "Christina - I can't seem to quote you - sorry
I just finished Morrie- in his own words by morrie Schwartz. it's about his experience of deteriorating with an ALS diagnosis and his view on dying. i..."

I'll definitely check it out since it sounds interesting, but it won't work for this prompt for me as I've read about ALS earlier this year already. thank you though :)

Kyra wrote: "I recently read Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova. If you’ve never heard of Huntington’s Disease, this would be a great book for this prompt!"

oh yes! this is probably gonna be it! I meant to check if Lisa Genova had some more books I could read but then forgot. this is perfect, thank you so much!

[Dena]

It is 4 am and I can’t sleep and am thinking about the challenge. I read this several years ago, but if you don’t know anything about The Queen of Angels school fire in Chicago in 1958, To Sleep With Angels is a wonderful and heartbreaking read.

[Elke]

I've been looking at "best books of the year" lists and such, and I think I'll pick "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's set in the late Sixties, in the Biafran War, which I know nothing about apart from the Warren Zevon song about Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.

[Jessica]

"Heads in Beds" is a really great inside look into the hotel business, and is highly entertaining.

[Karin]

Elke wrote: "I've been looking at "best books of the year" lists and such, and I think I'll pick "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's set in the late Sixties, in the Biafran War, which I kno..."

It's a very good novel--4 stars for me when I read it and I don't give many books 5 stars, so that is very good.

[Gunilla]

I suggest the marvellous Gospel of Eels, by Patrik Svensson. Everything we didn't know we needed to know about eels!

[Laura]

Kyra wrote: "I've started keeping a list this week of things that I come across and think, "Huh, I actually know nothing about this". I'm listing it here to potentially provoke some inspiration or ideas for oth..."

I recommend The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness if you decide to take the octopus route!

[Cyra]

For this, I would recommend Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. It's about the worst maritime tragedy in history, the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff during WWII where over 9,000 people died(!!).

[Books, Brews & Booze]

I'm going to read a book from my shelves,

[Sam]

Worth Dying For: The power and politics of flags.. geography is not a specialist subject for me, I know the bare minimum. Also, I always need interesting nonfiction in my life.

[Randi]

new book to be released on Jan 14 Big Lies in a Small Town about art restoration, a subject I certainly know nothing about. I just finished an ARC and it's very good.

[Aimee]

Cyra wrote: "For this, I would recommend Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. It's about the worst maritime tragedy in history, the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff during WWII where over 9,000 people died(!!)."

Good suggestion, it's a great book and I'd never heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff until I read it.

[Aimee]

I recently read The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper and thought it was fantastic. Most people will have heard of Jack the Ripper but very few people can name the women he killed, let alone know anything about their lives, so I think it would fit this prompt.

[Evil Secret]

This was a challenge because I read about such a wide variety of subjects but I read
Psychic development for beginners: An easy guide to developing your intuition & psychic Gifts
by Emily Storia
I didn't like the book at all I don't believe in psychics so I only read it for this challenge luckily the book was on Kindle Unlimited so I didn't have to pay for it.

[Ashley Marie]

I've penciled in The Tale of Murasaki for this one - it's about Murasaki Shikibu, who wrote the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji, in the 11th century. Genji is the most popular story in the history of Japanese literature. I've never heard of it and in the spirit of broadening my horizons I'm very excited to read this. It is historical fiction.

[Ana]

Shelley wrote: "If people are interested in countries, I'm trying to read a book about every country, so here's a list ones that I read for less well known countries that I think represented the country well.

Ang..."

I'm from Trinidad (not living there at the moment) and had no idea that book existed! I hope you enjoy it :)

[Kathi]

I am going to read The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery. It is already on my shelf and I'm trying to read books I have!

[Mahi]

I'm going to read The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography. I don't know anything about this but it seems fascinating!

[poshpenny]

I watch enough Booktube videos that YouTube suggests random ones to me now, and this morning I saw this non-fiction list with lots of books that would work for this prompt

https://youtu.be/QlDvSqbv260

Here are a few:
A Simple Story: The Last Malambo
Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool
The Cloudspotter's Guide
Dry Storeroom No. 1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum
Shark Drunk: The Art of Catching a Large Shark from a Tiny Rubber Dinghy in a Big Ocean
Lenin's Embalmers

[Nadine in NY]

Poshpenny - this is a fabulously eclectic list!!

[poshpenny]

Isn't it though? I'm going to watch more of her videos I'm sure.

[Johanne]

oh great find Poshpenny!

[Jas]

Jenn wrote: "Johanne wrote: "@Stina, I am so with you on this one! My brain immediately went 'if I know nothing about it how can I look for it?' I have told my brain it says 'little' instead of 'nothing'"

That..." I am stuck on this - I keep thinking nothing ... and the problem is I know a little about so many things because I am curious. I thought I could go to a bookstore and just start looking around till I see something I know nothing about. I could do the same in a library too.

[Kate]

I chose The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Although an historical fiction, it was based on the very real Dozier School for Boys in Florida. I was completely ignorant on the history of this "school" up until reading this book. While very disturbing, I strongly recommend this book. This book was also my first book toward the challenge.

[poshpenny]

More books from abookolive

Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color
American Dinosaur Abroad: A Cultural History of Carnegie’s Plaster Diplodocus
The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London
Deep Blue Home: An Intimate Ecology of Our Wild Ocean
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing

[Nadine in NY]

These are fascinating. Thanks for doing the work of watching booktubers (something I have no patience for!!!) so that we can all enjoy the lists of titles!!

[John]

Kristy wrote: "Based on the number of tweets I read about service dogs being refused admittance to restaurants, hotels, or other public spaces, or shop owners who think that "I do Crossfit" is an acceptable subst..."
Thank you for the lists. I've been an amputee for going on 18yrs and i'm still not fully aware of all my rights, as a disabled citizen.

[poshpenny]

Nadine wrote: "These are fascinating. Thanks for doing the work of watching booktubers (something I have no patience for!!!) so that we can all enjoy the lists of titles!!"

Work? hahaha I spend far more time watching people talk about books that I do actually reading them. At least lately.


This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor
The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland's Most Unusual Museums
The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays
The Incredible Journey of Plants
The Best We Could Do
Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen
Terra Nullius: A Journey Through No One's Land
The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective: Secrets and Lies in the Golden Age of Crime

[poshpenny]

Poking around non-fiction at Audible

Unfamiliar Fishes
Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
Atomic Adventures: Secret Islands, Forgotten N-Rays, and Isotopic Murder
Legion versus Phalanx
Supernavigators: The Astounding New Science of How Animals Find Their Way
Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition
Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Survived Slavery and Became Millionaires
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania


The Missing Lynx: The Past and Future of Britain's Lost Mammals
The Stopping Places: A Journey Through Gypsy Britain

[Judy]

In the Sleep Room: The Story of the CIA Brainwashing Experiments in Canada Anne Collins

The extended title tells what it is about. It is nonfiction, and occurred in the 1950's. I had never heard of this horrible event. My brother-in-law loaned me the book. Frightening and fascinating. I gave it 4 stars.

[Heather]

My book club's next pick is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the story of a poor tobacco farmer who's cells were taken, without her knowledge, and are still being used today in science. I had never heard of Henrietta and wanted to share in case others haven't, it sounds fascinating!

[Heather]

Rachael wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Rachael wrote: "I'm going for A Little History of Economics"


I've been thinking about possibly reading an economics book. I know very little about the field. But th..."

I read Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything in high school which is also good, it makes economics much more approachable!

[Leona]

I finished Exploring an Alien Culture by J B Hove. I did learn a lot.

[Jeniece]

Just started, but I already can't recommend The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick by Mallory O'Meara enough for this category. I am willing to bet, that unless you are a big monster horror movie fan, that there are a lot of people that don't know the name Milicent Patrick and why she is so important. The writing style of the book is very engaging. I'm loving it, learning from it, and can't stop talking about it.

[Dedra ~ A Book Wanderer]

I came across this article, "The 5 Best Books for Bookworms Who Love Learning Something New," and the title made me think of this prompt. Thought I'd share.

https://offtheshelf.com/2019/09/the-5...