The Best Non-Fiction Books to Read Next

Non-fiction books bring together stories, ideas and perspectives that inform and inspire.

Reflecting the breadth and diversity of non-fiction writing, these selected titles include insightful and personal books about mental health, practical and engaging health and lifestyle books, business books to guide you through the corporate world and thought-provoking memoirs from some of the world’s most intriguing people.  

The Body Keeps the Score Bessel Van Der Kolk 

In The Body Keeps the Score, one of the world’s foremost experts on traumatic stress, Bessel Van Der Kolk, explains how trauma impacts our everyday lives. Shedding light on the routes away from trauma, he also explores helpful practices like sport, drama, yoga, mindfulness and meditation. Discover 5 key ways to reclaim your life after trauma. 

Always Remember Charlie Mackesy 

The beloved boy, mole, fox and horse are back and the world they return to feels as tender and necessary as ever. Charlie Mackesy's much-anticipated follow-up to one of the bestselling books of all time reunites four unlikely companions as they wander, wonder and weather the darker moments of life together. Warm, gentle and quietly profound, it is the kind of book that meets you exactly where you are and reminds you, with characteristic grace, that you are doing better than you think. 

Atomic Habits James Clear 

James Clear's revolutionary approach to self-improvement is built on a deceptively simple idea: that real, lasting change doesn't come from grand gestures but from the compound effect of tiny decisions made every day. Packed with practical tools, cutting-edge psychology and genuinely inspiring stories, Atomic Habits remains one of the most life-changing books you will ever pick up. Check out some of the most impactful quotes from Atomic Habits, and read the author’s top tips for making reading a habit. 

Ikigai Héctor García & Francesc Miralles 

Who doesn’t want to live a longer and happier life? This is the promise of Ikigai. Not only does this book look beautiful, but it also helps you discover your reason for being. Full of relatable anecdotes and easy-to-follow illustrations, this book will change the way you think about your life’s purpose. Read a sample of Ikigai, and learn more about the ten rules of Ikigai.   

Surrounded by Idiots Thomas Erikson 

If you have ever walked away from a conversation wondering how two people could possibly see the same situation so differently, Surrounded by Idiots might just change the way you see the world. Communication expert Thomas Erikson breaks down human behaviour into four distinct types — Red, Yellow, Green and Blue — and shows how understanding them can transform every relationship and interaction in your life. Funny, practical and genuinely eye-opening, this is one of those books you will want to press into everyone's hands. 

Diary of a CEO Steven Bartlett 

Less a book about business tactics and more a guide to the enduring principles that underpin lasting success, this is the kind of read that cuts through the noise and gets to something deeper. Drawing on thousands of interviews, extensive research and the collective wisdom gathered across a chart-topping podcast, it distils the fundamental laws of excellence into something anyone can apply regardless of industry, background or ambition.  

Never Split the Difference Chris Voss & Tahl Raz 

Few people know more about the art of negotiation than Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator who spent years face-to-face with bank robbers, gang leaders and terrorists. Never Split the Difference presents nine field-tested principles and shows how to apply them in everyday life. Whether you are closing a deal or navigating a difficult conversation, this is the definitive playbook for getting what you need, without ever compromising what matters. This article also teaches you how to politely confront someone with just the right amount of calm. 

The Myth of Normal Gabor Mate & Daniel Maté 

The Myth of Normal challenges one of our most deeply held assumptions, that the way we live is simply the way things are. Drawing on four decades of clinical experience, Dr Gabor Maté makes a compelling case that much of our physical and mental suffering is not random misfortune but a natural consequence of modern life pulling us away from ourselves. This is a deeply humane book that is as much about healing as it is about understanding how we got here. 

Nobody’s Girl Virginia Roberts Giuffre 

A memoir of extraordinary courage and devastating honesty, Nobody's Girl is Virginia Roberts Giuffre's account of survival, resilience and the long fight for justice, told fully and in her own words for the first time. As the most outspoken victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Giuffre's decision to speak out helped bring two serial abusers to account and gave a voice to countless others. Published following her death in April 2025, this is a powerful and important testament to one woman's refusal to be silenced and the lasting legacy she leaves behind. 

A Different Kind of Power Jacinda Ardern 

Candid, inspiring and unlike any political memoir you have read before, A Different Kind of Power is Jacinda Ardern's deeply personal account of redefining what leadership can look like. From a self-doubting young woman raised in a small New Zealand town to one of the most admired heads of government in the world, her journey is as remarkable as the conviction she brought to it. A book about kindness, courage and the radical idea that empathy and effectiveness are not mutually exclusive. 

The Year I Met My Brain Matilda Boseley 

The Year I Met My Brain is the guide that journalist Matilda Boseley wished she had received alongside her adult ADHD diagnosis. Instead of answers, she got a prescription and a lot of confusion, so she went looking for the truth herself. The result is an uplifting and empowering exploration of the ADHD brain: what it actually means for your identity, relationships and self-worth, and how to build a life that works with your brain rather than against it. Read an extract from The Year I Met My Brain.

Discover more across our range of the best non-fiction books ever. You might be drawn to practical kitchen inspiration with food and drink books, want to learn more about our world through history books or consider expanding your horizons with our range of travel books.