Don’t you have time for reading? If you are interested in non-fiction books, here are some good choices for you.

A Room of One’s Own

This essay by English writer Virginia Woolf is based on several lectures given to two women’s colleges at Cambridge University in 1928. In the essay, Woolf describes that it’s circumstance not talent alone, that allows men to be more successful at writing. Women, in other words, spend so much time cooking, cleaning, and tending to their children that they have no time left for art. To write well, therefore, a woman must have a “room of her own”. While on its surface, this essay appears to be only about writing, it is actually about wealth and class, freedom and confinement, and the power struggle between sexes.

The Art of War

Written by ancient Chinese warrior Sun Tzu, The Art of War is widely considered to be one of the best books about military strategies in human history. Consisting of 13 chapters, each dealing with a separate aspect about how to fight a war, the book has been translated into every major language and has thousands of editions. For centuries, it has been used to train world leaders for its detailed study of military strategies and effective leadership.

Letter to My Daughter

This book of essays by Maya Angelou, a respectable African-American poet, is written for “the daughter she never had” — the millions of women, both young and old, that she considers to be her “family”. From the viewpoint of a caring, older relative, this book contains lessons selected from her own life experiences, including the birth of her only child, a son, as well as the development and loss of friendship.

A Brief History of Time

If you’re short of time, then why not read about, well, the creation of time? This book, first published in 1998 from brilliant scientist and mathematician Stephen Hawking, explores mind-bending questions about the creation of the universe, including if and when it will end, and if so, how. Despite its heavy subject matter, Hawking addresses these questions in a way that’s easy to understand, even for those who know little about physics.

Best Books for Teens

The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold

Some may know this story from the 2009 feature film adaptation starring Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon, but The Lovely Bones was first published as a novel seven years earlier. Despite its dark content and hard-hitting (直言不讳的) introduction, it’s a deeply moving story about love, death and acceptance. When 14-year-old Susie Salmon is cruelly attacked and killed by her neighbour, she becomes a ghost and watches over her family, friends and even strangers trying to make peace with her untimely death.

Noughts & Crosses Malorie Blackman

It’s hard to believe that Malorie Blackman’s famous book is nearly twenty years old. Noughts &Crosses has had a theatre run and aired on the BBC last year. Set in a society in which Crosses (black people) rule over Noughts (white people), things take a Romeo and Juliet turn when Nought, Callum and Cross, Sephy fall in love.

Girls in Love Jacqueline Wilson

This story follows Ellie, and her best friends Magda and Nadine, three teenage girls trying to find their way through the world, from friendships and family to school and romantic relationships. An honest look at the ups and downs of being a teenager, Girls in Love openly discusses loss, love and everything in between. The beauty of this story lies in the strong sisterhood of these three unique characters. Their adventures continue in Girls under Pressure, Girls out Late and Girls in Tears.

The Colour Purple Alice Walker

Set in the Southern United States of the 1930s, the story follows Celie, a 14-year-old black girl living in poverty (贫困), separated from her sister and suffering abuse at the hands of her father. But when the jazz singer Shug Avery comes to stay, Celie discovers friendship, love, faith and more importantly, strength.

Books for Children