Non-Fiction November Book Tag (Original) 2024

[@stanbrown32]

The first non-fiction book I can remember from elementary school came in either a Scholastic book order or a Troll book order--somewhere around 4th grade, probably--it was a little book about great disasters in history. It had a page or two or three about the Great Chicago Fire, the San Francisco earthquake and fire, the Titanic, the Hindenburg, maybe Pompeii? That probably began my life-long fascination with the Titanic. And then around the same time, I had a similar children's book about hoaxes in history--I remember it had a page or two on the New York Sun's moon hoax of 1835, the Cardiff Giant, P. T. Barnum's Fiji mermaid, the Piltdown Man, and even at the end a section on Clifford Irving's false claim to have assisted Howard Hughes in the writing of his autobiography. The book was several years too early to include the fake Hitler diaries.

[@ba-gg6jo]

"Midnight in Chernobyl" is an excellent book, bearing in mind there are number of books covering the same subject. Always enjoy your monologues.

[@jonathanbrewer7072]

Oh my. Chariots of the Gods.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

I really enjoyed your responses, Bob. I loved hearing how your thoughts about Troy and the Trojan War have changed. That was fascinating. I absolutely agree with what you are saying about social media and the assault on truth. Terrific discussion, Bob.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thanks as always, Pat. I sometimes think it's the book lovers like us and all our friends on BookTube who form the frontline against the assault on truth, which IS getting more brazen.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

@ I think you’re right!

[@larrycarr4562]

I find my truths in fiction. Each to their own.

[@Bookishtravels1]

Thank you so much for doing my tag! I had a great time listening to your answers. I watched Chernobyl and it was a good series, but book looks interesting too :) Not offended here! Also nice of you tagging smaller booktubers being one myself :)

[@mjzigzag]

Delightful! Thank you, Robert!

[@cheyenneguest4495]

The first book reminded me of an anthropologist professor I took a class with who had a whole lecture dedicated to this book and why the ideas that stemmed from it shouldn't be trusted in regards to the fields involved with studying the past since it wasn't done by someone in academia. Interesting lecture, especially since it helped out with my research down the line of what validity my sources should have.

[@Arbutus-v5m]

Your voice of reason and clarity is valuable, Robert. The world needs sense now more than ever.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thank you.

[@stephaniesbooks]

You, sir, are a breath of fresh air in the booktube realm. Thank you for constantly sharing your wisdom, I look forward to every new upload!

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thank you.

[@sueysbookbanter]

Thanks for tagging me! I filmed my answers today and will hopefully get it uploaded soon. They will be not NEAR as smart sounding as your answers, lol!

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

I'm looking forward to your post.

[@LauraRodriguez-Peace]

Thank you, Robert. ☮️💙📚

[@thenjulzsaid]

I learn so much from your videos, thanks for sharing your reading experience and thoughts!

[@marnasorensen988]

Erik Larson has never written a bad book!!

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Never? I haven't read all of his books, but what I have read suggests you might be right!

[@BobJacobs10]

Always great to hear your thoughts!

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thanks!

[@Ms-Peepers-Reading-Corner]

Great video, and thank you for the tag! I look forward to making this one. :)

[@buckeyestitcher3180]

Thank you for always ending “class” on a positive note! Great discussion today.

[@lockback]

Totally forgot about “Chariot of the Gods?”! I clearly remember the buzz around this book!!!

[@JoeSpivey02]

Another magnificent tag Robert! I also used Higginbotham's book on 'Chernobyl' in a recent video.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thanks!

[@books_and_bocadillos]

Hi Bob, I recently found (and subscribed) to your channel. I really enjoyed this tag video. 👏🏽

[@pennyg156]

Great answers. I aways think of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood when I think of storytelling within a nonfiction. Even though he was one of my favorite writers when I was young, I've never been able to read that particular one because of the subject matter. Enjoyed your post.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

I almost included a mention of "In Cold Blood" in my video. I didn't though as I thought I was rambling too much haha. But it's a great example of non-fiction storytelling.

[@chrisbeveridge3066]

"A frightful queerness has come into life",wrote H G Wells in A Mind At The End Of Its Tether We have grown used to crisis and horror. most men want peace but do not know or want the things that make for peace. We cannot count on history to repeat itself. the saving power of historical knowledge will not save us from the ancient enemy. The world has been brought together too suddenly and too forcibly to be a good neighborhood; the unaccustomed intimacy has intensified the differences between people, multiplied the possibilities of friction.

[@carolnash5617]

I actually cannot remember what was my first nonfiction book! I know i read Truman by David McCullough (i went to Harry S Truman elementary school, after all)! But the first i really remember was during spring and summer 2020... The Great Bridge by McCullough. It was fantastic, and i could not put it down! I had always wondered what was holding bridges up, but not enough to look it up in my childhood encyclopedia in the 60s. I finished it in about a week (thanks to the pandemic), and then read The Johnstown Flood and one other also by McCullough. Since then, i now read non-fiction and biographies more than fiction.

[@kevintowle9665]

Wow Robert. I enjoyed immensely getting an in-depth take about both the books and what was taking place during the time from your perspective. You read alot of books i have never heard of, which i enjoy learning about. To me, this is like watching a documentary. I also like to read what i feel for, although i have goals and series I want to continue. Enjoying my small entry into NF so far (read 3 books so far in the genre). Pat mentioned to me that you were an educator, which you hinted at here. My middle child will graduate in May with an Elementary Ed degree. Kudos sir on another great video!

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thanks, Kevin. Congratulations to your middle child earning a degree in education. .And Pat is correct, I am an educator, though at the college level. A degree in education isn't required (though maybe it should be). At the college and university level, one is hired for one's expertise in a specific discipline. Mine was, and is, history. Anyway, thanks again. I enjoy your posts as well. Your enthusiasm for reading is contagious.

[@jonathanbrewer7072]

Thanks, Robert. I'm reading Jane Austen.

[@shannonodonnell9400]

Oh fun stuff! The first non- fiction book I remember reading on my own was The Passover Plot by Hugh Schonfield. And now I've done the Google search, I may have to see if the library still has a copy.

[@CionMohler]

Excelllent presentation Robert. I’m much older than you but I do not remember that book. I remember Edgar Cayce having a huge influence on some folk. And I certainly remember the flying saucer craze. It astounded me (although it probably shouldn’t) when the government only a couple of years ago began investigating “sightings”. Quote from George Orwell “in a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act”.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

I remember Cayce, too, but "Chariots" really ran away with the prize for silliest "non-fiction" book ever written, haha.

[@jean-pierremonsieur333]

Erich von Däniken has let people think! Greetings from Belgium! J-P

[@ingridfitz5677]

I remember Chariots of the Gods and that cover! I did not read it but there was a very popular “documentary “ based on that. I believe I watched that in the mid 70s. I also would watch Leonard Nemoys, In Serch Of. That show was a lot of fun and I was young enough to almost believe that stuff.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Oh yes, I remember "In Search Of", the serious tone, the spooky music, and Mr Spock. Seemed convincing at the time haha

[@ingridfitz5677]

Oh and my first non fiction book? Again, the mid 70s and I was around 13. Helter Skelter, back then kids could read anything! 😆

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

I read that one, too, and at a young age.

[@TheGentlemanScholar]

Great video, Robert! 27:20

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

Thank you!

[@TheGentlemanScholar]

@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p When you were mentioning Von Daniken, I remember a quote from John Carpenter's THE THING. "Von Daniken, man. Aliens. They practically own South America.

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

@@TheGentlemanScholar Hahaha

[@CionMohler]

Sorry to bother you again Robert but I’m reading Leonard and Hungry Paul and it’s a used copy and has pencil check marks in it and didn’t you say you make check marks and then go back and write the designated words into a notebook or was that someone else? Have you read Leonard and Hungry Paul?

[@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p]

I do make little marks in the margins of the books I read, but if you're wondering that by some chance the book you have was once owned by me then, no, because I've not read "Leonard and Hungry Paul" nor am I familiar with it.

[@CionMohler]

@ Well, it is delightful.

[@CionMohler]

This is probably a dumb question, all you book tubers people probably know each other but if you don’t know about book ramble I definitely think you would appreciate him.