Thanks to Chris' Dad

I don’t usually read non fiction. I’ve been sticking with the classics since my high school days with a few exceptions (Harry Potter, Twilight, etc.). But normally when I deviate from the classics, I stick with fiction. I’ve been reading quite a bit of non fiction lately (thanks to my in-laws who have quite a different array of books than me. My father in-law especially has inspired me to read many of the non-fiction books that he enjoys) and I wanted to write a bit about them here because I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
Founding Brothers – Joseph Ellis
I found this book to be really interesting. Just as it sounds, this was about the men who had a hand in shaping the country during the revolutionary period. Just like everyone else, I read 1776 and I also read a book called Founding Mothers which were both set in the same time period, and the amount of insight you can gain into the lives of these great people by reading these books is enormous. I did have to laugh a little bit because Joseph Ellis was blatantly bias against Thomas Jefferson. He couldn’t write a sentence about the late president without inserting some sort of slur against Jefferson’s character. I couldn’t tell if Ellis did this because he disliked Jefferson for himself or because he was so obviously enamored with John Adams, America’s new favorite dead president. Either way, I did have a bit of a giggle every time Ellis couldn’t put aside his prejudices long enough to write his book in an unbiased way.
The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson
This book was fascinating. It was about the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 to commemorate Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. It talked about all the problems that were had during the construction, the arrival of new inventions including the zipper and the Farris Wheel, and the impact the fair had on the people and economy at the time. It also talked about one of the most horrific murderers America has ever seen. The man was murdering women left and right completely unsuspected for years before finally being caught.
The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls
This was a memoir. It described events in the life of the author that would have brought a lesser person down. She endured near crippling poverty, a drunken father, an irresponsible mother and numerous other hardships. One of the more interesting aspects of this book, for me, was the fact that the author never shows any self pity. She seems almost detached at times, looking back at what sort of life she led objectively, able to accept things the way they were without complaining about the circumstances that she was placed. Not only did she have a very interesting and difficult childhood, but she was able to rise above where she began to become a health happy adult.
All in all, I think that I may read more non-fiction in the future if my father in-law feels inspired to suggest any more to me.