10 NONFICTIONAL books that will f**k up your reality (and make you smarter).

Earlier I listed my “top 10 fictional books” and I promised I’d post the list with my “top 10 nonfictional books”. So, here I am, keeping my promise (I’m a bit late). The books here are a mix of “face reality” , “thought provoking”, and “do better in life” books, which I’m all for.

Quick word- The fictional books were the books that opened up my eyes and let me see these nonfictional books, which are loaded with much more amazing info due to it being true. But, both lists are dire to the shaping of who I am today and I’m thankful I read them all. Without further ado, I will shut up, and just list them already:

NONFICTION

• Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins

This is a book about John Perkins career as you guessed it, an “Economic Hitman”. He himself says the title sounds like a joke… a hitman for an economy? But the horror lies in it being too true. He reveals, word by word, the hidden mechanics of imperial control behind some of the most dramatic events in recent history. The sequel is equally riveting/shocking.

• Web of Debt: The Shocking Truth about Our Money System and How We Can Break Free by Ellen Brown

Want to see just how the economy got so bad? Want to see why the new currency is not money, but debt. What to see just how corrupted the money system is? Then read this book.

• The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

Although this has to be one of the most thought provoking titles I’ve ever known (anything religion based usually is), this is an intellectually stimulating book. Dawkins argues the existence of God, both for and against. The arguments are sound, the topic is contentious, and the book is terrific.

• Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel – Why Everything You Know Is Wrong by John Stossel

John continues his “myth” section on 20/20 into a book. He debunks things we all thought were true, such as radioactive food being deadly, the cancer epidemic, the teacher-child molestation rumors, schools, divorces, etc, etc.

• Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both by Laura Stepp

A thought provoking and fantastic book! Stepp examines our (current) culture where “hooking up is defined by the ability to unhook from a partner at any time“. In doing so she explains things such as the origins of the “date”, the close friendship, and much more.

• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Through everyday people, Gladwell shows how spontaneous decisions are often as good as, or even better than, carefully planned and considered ones.

• Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

“I write books when I find myself returning again and again, in my mind, to the same themes. In the case of Outliers, the book grew out a frustration I found myself having with the way we explain the careers of really successful people. You know how you hear someone say of Bill Gates or some rock star or some other outlier—”they’re really smart,” or “they’re really ambitious?’ Well, I know lots of people who are really smart and really ambitious, and they aren’t worth 60 billion dollars. It struck me that our understanding of success was really crude—and there was an opportunity to dig down and come up with a better set of explanations.” ~ Malcolm Gladwell

• The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

This is, to me, the ultimate self-help book. Tim Ferriss teaches you how to basically achieve everything and anything, whether you thought you could or not. He shows, through example, the things that everyone can do to live a life they want. Most of all he taught me how to question what we deem true/necessary.

• Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud

If you ever heard of philosophy, psychology, sexology, sociology (anything -ology basically), then you’ve probably heard of Freud. Freud is usually seen as a pessimistic kinda guy, but I just see him as a really, really rational being. We wouldn’t have the terms “superego” and “id” if it wasn’t for this guy. When he explained the “birth” of the conscience, I was left speechless; Freud explains how “civilization acting as a superego and protecting itself from destruction, represses humankind’s death instinct towards each other through the implementation of authoritative agencies, religion, and by enacting laws. Thus, aggression is turned inward towards the individual’s ego and forms a person’s “conscience,” giving the individual their sense of guilt and frustration with life in civilized society. Therefore, civilization, acting as the superego, subdues the individuals death instinct; “…setting up an agency within him to watch over it, like a garrison in a conquered city.” F**KING BRILLIANT!

• Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault

This is by far one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. Remember how earlier on the “top 10 fiction” post I explained how the scariest reality to me, would resemble that of Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and/or that of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Well, Foucault explains exactly why we are in fact there. This is a book about power and control (don’t let the title mislead you), and how it’s implemented on us through three systems: hierarchical observation, normalizing judgment, and examination. Through credit cards, library cards, bills we are tracked. Through courts, schools, banks, we are taught the normalization of judgment (DON’T BE DIFFERENT!). And, through examinations such as school tests and IQ tests (as bias as they are) we are subtly, and most definitely, controlled. The fact that Michel used prisons as examples makes this book even more haunting. This is my scary story.

I know, I know, I’m probably missing some great books out there. But as I said last time I’d like for YOU to comment by listing your TOP 10. I wasn’t lying (or joking) when I said I’d like to see your favorite books, I get far more pleasure (and knowledge) by learning from others. So… What are your favorite non-fiction books that changed your view of reality?