BEST  BOOKS – NON FICTION

In an effort to become a bit more reflective and “ worldly” this year my  list of best  books – NON FICTION has skewed away from fiction to non-fiction.  Although I am recommending these books for the start of 2013 some of them are from the 2012 publication lists; those I didn’t get around to.

My suggestions may make good bedtime reading for yourself or a perfect present for someone you know.  According to last weeks’ edition of the Sunday Times, ‘E Readers’ seem to be on the wane! Whilst very convenient for transferring books around and for changing font size, unlike books, they are subject to misbehaving and being low on battery power just when you want to finish the book. Hands up! How many of you would readily lend someone your e reader?  If you wanted to share a book as a recommended read with your friends a ‘real’ book is so much easier and who doesn’t like being able to handle a book, smell it (! ?) fold down a corner or scribble a comment here and there (sorry!) Books you handle like this tend to stay in your mind for longer.  One other aspect I enjoy is being able to see the book cover lying around, urging me to pick it up !

So here are the ‘real’ editions of my recommendations for the Spring of 2013.  So Get Reading !

The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves

Isn’t a psycholanalyst a posh term that means a friend you can talk over your problems with? No apparently not, but this book takes the stories of numerous patients of psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz and condenses the 50, 000 hours of sessions in a London clinic into what sound like a series of mini episodes of  Tales of the Unexpected. Non fiction that reads like thrilling fiction and will surely leave us questioning why we behave the way we do.

The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?

It’s a fact we’re living longer so who is going to look after all of us old people ? Jared Diamond explores what we can learn from traditional societies that might help with the older people problem but also help with other modern malaises. I love the idea of a tribe who’s only entertainment is talking, try telling that to your teenagers. Perhaps old really is gold. A great book for us here in the Middle East where traditional behaviour and modern thinking sit side by side.

French Children Don’t Throw Food

Is it true? And if so why don’t they throw food? Are there no maids in France! Apparently according to Druckerman, an American who brought up her 3 kids in Paris children are taught to wait until they are really, really hungry and then they eat everything up. Read it and see what you think !

Dear Lupin…: Letters to a Wayward Son

“I am very fond of you but you do drive me round the bend” Which parent will not be able to relate to the above line taken from one of many letters written by Charlie to his well pretty disappointing son nicknamed Lupin. The letters started when he was 15 and continued for 24 years. Everyone I know who has read it loved it. I am waiting for the book of affectionate emails from Daughter to Mother entitled “Soz”

THANKYOU to anyone who buys from Amazon via my links, thereby contributing in a small way towards the costs of running the doindubai website.

And for all those diehard Kindle People if you must get one (or upgrade) then it has to be this one The Kindle Paperwhite, 6″ High Resolution Display with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi better than the iPad on the eye and miles more battery life, weeks as opposed to 10 hours in fact and easy to read in the sun, perhaps they had Dubai residents in mind. Also it fits in a man’s jacket pocket ! Be bold, click on the link and take the quick Kindle white tour (3 min) it’s really informative but hilarious to see the lady reading her Kindle in the pool, more ideas for Dubai residents from Amazon?

If you like my recommendations, do like and share on Facebook, Happy Reading.

Let me know what your MUST READS for this year will be.