1) Think of a topic that you'd like to learn something about; some ideas:
pirates, life in Trinidad, origins of (your hobby), helicopters, Japanese political conspiracies, the mafia, lives of people you respect (or strongly dislike), travels through eastern Europe, myths from other cultures, life in 1700s American (or Russia, or any other country), memoirs or 1st-hand stories about adventure, etc.
2) Look for a title that is interesting, intriguing, or engaging
I recommend you go to the library or book store and browse in the aisles that hold the topic you're interested in. And then aisles in the vicinity - you never know what you might find. (And browsing book stores can just give you ideas for books to find in the library, too.)
3) Read the reviews on the cover. they should say things like "readable," "engaging style" "well researched" "new approach"
4) Read the chapter titles...still interested in the book? in just a few chapters?
5) If you're still uncertain whether it's for you, check the index for subtopics that interest you. Any non-fiction book worth reading will have an index; if it doesn't, it's probably not a good source of information (unless it's a first-hand account).
Remember you don't have to read the whole thing - you can read whatever parts interest you...and in any order. If you don't like it, or finish the one chapter you care about, feel free to put it down.
Some of my favorite non-fiction books:
anything by Terry Deary (the Horrible Histories series)
Born in Blood: Secrets of the Freemasons
Biohazard
1431: The Year the Chinese Discovered America
Long Walk to Freedom (Nelson Mandela autobiography)
Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled - and More Miserable Than Ever Before
Why They Behave Like Russians
The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks
The Great Divorce y C.S. Lewis
Thanks for this! :)
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