How is it November already? That being said, I’m going to keep this short and sweet since we’re all super busy writing for #NaNoWriMo, right? Well, we’re trying. 

We love non-fiction and have written blogs about our favourite memoirs and such. But I wanted to give you a list of a few books that will tick that non-fiction box on your list for 2021, while not strictly falling into the memoir category.

Top 3 Picks for Non-fiction November

1. Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks

I first came across this book when Björk released her 2011 album, Biophilia. This book was a large inspiration for her album and the accompanying interactive app. I bought the book right away because I know how music affects me and putting it into a scientific context sounded fascinating.

Musicophilia is about how music can affect the brain. It discusses sudden onset musical abilities after a traumatic brain injury. Chapters on synesthesia and memory are included as well. Sacks presents real life case studies on how music can treat certain neurological disorders. It’s a great book to pick up every so often in order to be absolutely wowed by the capacity of the human brain.

2. Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement

Widow Basquiat is a biography. Memoirs are a soft spot of mine, but this book may just have me adding more biographies to the TBR list soon. I also love Jean-Michel Basquiat so when I worked at the Art Gallery of Ontario and a patron gave me this book, I devoured it immediately. 

Put yourself into New York City in the 1980s when the underground creative scene was just about to bust open. Some of the most important art of the 20th century came out of this decade and Basquiat was at the forefront. Clement takes you into the love affair between the artist and Suzanne Mallouk, a runaway from Canada, and shows you how it affected his art.

3. The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz

I can still remember sitting in the theatre on opening night, watching The Royal Tenenbaums from the front row. I have loved Wes Anderson’s films since seeing Bottle Rocket and Rushmore. This book includes behind-the-scenes photographs, artwork, and stories from Anderson’s films, all the way up to Moonrise Kingdom. If you love film or the pure spirit of Anderson’s aesthetic, you will love this book. 

There are companion books that include Anderson’s new films like Isle of Dogs and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Yes, these are on my Christmas list. As my brain is focused on film this year and I’m rediscovering my love for the medium, these Anderson books are helping to reignite my creativity all-around.

Non-fiction November for Creatives

I love reading non-fiction because it gets you out of your own head and into someone else’s reality. It’s a way to broaden your horizons and to appreciate how other people live, work, and create. Memoirs are so inspiring to me, but I love these three books because of their different views on creativity. And in my books, anything that makes me want to be more creative is worth consuming. 

Are you reading any non-fiction this month? Let us know below!