The Real Story: A Guide to Nonfiction Reading Interests

by Sarah Statz Cords, Robert Burgin

Nine of the best-selling books of all time are nonfiction, and countless readers turn to nonfiction when reading for pleasure today. Yet little has been done to classify nonfiction titles according to reading tastes. This is especially true in the library, where subject arrangements geared to information-seeking and scholarly research ignore the important characteristics and appeal features that readers seek out when reading for pleasure. It's no surprise, then, that in recent years, nonfiction readers' advisory has become one of the hottest topics with readers' advisors. This groundbreaking guide offers readers and professionals who work with them a much-needed road map to the vast and previously uncharted (in terms of RA) terrain of recreational nonfiction. After defining the genre (often also referred to as creative nonfiction, verite, or true stories), and discussing its unique characteristics and appeals, the author classifies and describes more than 500 titles popular with nonfiction readers―everything from true adventure, true crime, and travel narratives to investigative nonfiction, environmental writing, and life stories. Focus is on the best titles published within the last decade, with key classics and benchmark titles also cited. Chapters are subdivided into subgenres and popular themes. For each title you'll find a short list of nonfiction read-alikes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

496 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2006

Reviews

[Liz De Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely as described, a guide rather than a handbook, The Real Story: A Guide to Nonfiction Reading Interests provides a breakdown of major nonfiction genres. The book excludes purely informational books, such as repair guides and cookbooks, and focuses on nonfiction stories of various kinds. The author gives a brief description of each genre and subgenre (dividing travel into armchair travel, travel humor, etc.), a list of annotated titles for each grouping and suggestions for further readings. I could see this being a very helpful book in a library, especially a library looking to promote a nonfiction book club, put together nonfiction displays, etc.
Although this is a good reference guide, the author doesn't really engage with the classic components of readers' advisory, such as appeal factors and pace, or apply these factors to the titles in the book. For a librarian looking for a guide to understanding nonfiction reading interests rather than suggestions of readalikes might need to find another title first, perhaps Neal Wyatt's The Readers' Advisory Guide to Nonfiction.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little outdated, but read it for professional development purposes