what are the kinds of books to be read

List of Book Genres: 30 Fiction And Nonfiction Genres You Should Know

What’s so important about knowing the genres of books ?

Well, if you’re an author with a work in progress, you’ll want to know its genre to ensure your ideal readers find and read it.

List a science fiction novel as a paranormal romance, for example, and you’ll likely end up with a flurry of negative reviews. No one wants that.

Readers of specific book genres have expectations you’ll want to meet if you want them to enjoy your book and recommend it to others.

You also want readers to see your book’s cover and know it’s the genre they want.

So, knowing your book’s genre not only helps with marketing. It can make all the difference in your writing career.

What does your book genre tell you?

30 book genres explained, fiction genres, nonfiction genres, most popular book genres.

Once you know your book’s genre, you can write it knowing the following expectations your book should meet:

For example, if you’re writing YA fantasy, you’ll run afoul of your readers (and their parents) if your story includes a sex scene or graphic violence.

If you’re writing a cozy mystery, you don’t want your book’s cover to look like it belongs on a horror novel.

And if you’re writing fantasy , you’ll want to find a designer who specializes in that genre and knows how to create covers worthy of a Rick Riordan novel.

Unless you’re an experienced cover designer (like Derek Murphy of CreativIndie ), DIY covers using stock photos will put your fantasy novel at a serious disadvantage.

With that in mind, enjoy this list of 30 types of book genres with descriptions and an example (or two) for each. It’s not an exhaustive list; there are upwards of 40 genres — more if you count sub-genres and mixed genres.

But it’s enough to help you identify your book’s genre.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction , you’ll be prepared to meet genre expectations and market your book appropriately to reach your target audience and maximize sales.

Your readers will also appreciate your taking the time to learn what this post will teach you. And so will your book’s editor and cover designer.

List of Book Genres

Fantasy — The fantasy genre involves world-building and characters who are supernatural, mythological, magical, or a combination of these. Examples: Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and Circe by Madeline Miller
Science Fiction — Similar to fantasy, this genre explores futuristic or technological themes and ideas to address scientific “what if” questions. Examples: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle
Dystopian — Sometimes considered a subgenre of fantasy or of science fiction, this genre is usually set in a bleak future (near or distant) to explore cultural or social issues. Examples include Wool by Hugh Howey and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Adventure — Any novel that focuses on an adventure undertaken by the main character (with or without help) falls under the adventure genre. This genre can easily be combined with others. Example: White Fang by Jack London
Romance — Any novel where the main storyline centers on a romantic relationship falls into this category, which has several subgenres. Examples include The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
Detective & Mystery — One of the toughest genres to write, this one centers on a mystery and involves either a professional or amateur sleuth. Examples: Murder on the the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.
Horror — The goal of this genre is to scare your readers and keep them that way until the hero vanquishes the threat. Example: The Shining by Stephen King
Thriller — This genre also has scary elements, but its main objective is to keep your reader in a state of suspense until the story’s resolution. Example: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
LGBTQ+ — Fiction with authentic LGBTQ+ representation falls into this category, which is sometimes considered a subgenre of contemporary fiction but can also be mixed with romance, fantasy, and other genres. Example: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Historical Fiction — This genre covers fiction set in a specific time period and providing historically accurate detail relevant to the period and its characters. Examples: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Young Adult (YA) (13-17 yrs) — This is fiction for readers aged 13 to 17 years. Example: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.
Children’s Fiction — Fiction in this genre is written for kids aged up to 13 and is further divided into smaller subgenres. Example: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty.
Memoir & Autobiography — Each of the books in this genre is a true account of the author’s own life. Memoirs are typically related to a specific time in the author’s life or to a specific theme of the author’s choosing. Example: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Biography — Biographies are books written on someone other than the author — generally someone well known or someone whose life and or death can teach the world something worth learning. Example: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Cooking — In this genre, you’ll find books on every kind of cooking someone in the world took the time to write about, as well as cooking for different diets and nutritional needs. Example: Indian Instant Pot Cookbook by Urvashi Pitre
Art & Photography — This genre includes books on artists of all kinds, as well as on each type of art and its history. Example: How to Create Stunning Digital Photography by Tony Northrup
Self-Help / Personal Development — This genre is all about helping your reader realize their potential, develop their gifts, and live fulfilling lives. Example: Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
Motivational / Inspirational — This genre’s main purpose is to get you to do something, to inspire you, or to challenge your perspective. Example: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Health & Fitness — Here you’ll find books on both mental and physical health concerns as well as diets and weight loss. Example: Lies My Doctor Told Me by Ken D. Berry
History — This genre focuses on a specific time period or covers a broad span of time, often describing specific historical characters. Example: Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Harari
Crafts, Hobbies & Home — Look to this genre for topics related to creating a home and developing specific hobbies or crafts. Examples: The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life by Joshua Becker
Families & Relationships — If it deals with family life, marriage, or any kind of interpersonal relationship, your book belongs in this genre. Example: The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
Humor & Entertainment — Books in this genre are supposed to make you laugh or at least keep you entertained. Many also belong to the memoir genre. Example: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Business & Money — If you’re writing a nonfiction book on business topics, wealth building, or managing your money, it probably belongs to this genre. Example: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Law & Criminology — Books on the legal system, on laws, criminal justice, and related topics belong in this genre. Example: The New Jim Crow: Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
Politics & Social Sciences — Books in this genre discuss politics or issues related to one or more of the social sciences (psychology, sociology, social work, etc.). Example: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Religion & Spirituality — From personal guides to spiritual memoirs to histories, this genre covers religions of all kinds along with spiritual practices. Example: Runes for Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain
Education & Teaching — Any book that proposes to teach the reader how to do something — or how to do it better — belongs to this genre. Example: Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution by Zak George and Dina Roth Port
Travel — This genre includes travel guides and travel-heavy memoirs. Example: The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World by Lonely Planet
True Crime — These often read like well-crafted crime fiction but are true stories that chronicle real crimes, typically with exacting detail. Examples: If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to identify your book’s genre (or genres), how will that influence your decisions regarding cover design, editing, and marketing tactics?

Where will you find more of the kind of readers who will love your book, so you can send them word when it launches?

Maybe you’ve already found some Facebook groups for your genre. Or maybe your reader following on Twitter is steadily growing, thanks to your use of targeted hashtags.

What could you do today to begin marketing your book, so you can whet the appetites of your genre’s biggest fans among your social media connections and email subscribers?

We keep abreast of indie publishing trends and tactics to help writers like you make a good living with their books.

Because it can be done. And if that’s your goal, I’ll do everything I can to help you get there.

21 of the Most Popular Book Genres, Explained

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But when you're a major reader, it's easy to get caught up in what seems to be an endless array of genres that sometimes seem to box you in. Do you prefer sci-fi or fantasy? (But wait, are they the same thing?) What are the key differences between a thriller and a mystery ? Oh, and what does "literary fiction" even mean?

For all you bibliophiles who would like these burning questions answered, we've listed—and defined—the most popular book genres in both fiction and nonfiction so you'll know exactly what to look for during your next visit to the bookstore .

Fiction : " Something invented by the imagination or feigned" - Merriam-Webster

Action and Adventure

Action and adventure books constantly have you on the edge of your seat with excitement, as your fave main character repeatedly finds themselves in high stakes situations. The protagonist has an ultimate goal to achieve and is always put in risky, often dangerous situations. This genre typically crosses over with others like mystery, crime, sci-fi, and fantasy. ( Harry Potter anyone? )

The Three Musketeers

The Call of the Wild

You may think of these books as the throwback readings you were assigned in English class. (Looking at you, Charles Dickens .) The classics have been around for decades, and were often groundbreaking stories at their publish time, but have continued to be impactful for generations, serving as the foundation for many popular works we read today.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Little Women

Vintage Beloved

Comic book or graphic novel.

The stories in comic books and graphic novels are presented to the reader through engaging, sequential narrative art (illustrations and typography) that's either presented in a specific design or the traditional panel layout you find in comics. With both, you'll often find the dialogue presented in the tell-tale "word balloons" next to the respective characters.

The Walking Dead: Compendium One

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Detective and mystery.

The plot always revolves around a crime of sorts that must be solved—or foiled—by the protagonists.

The Night Fire

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

And Then There Were None

While usually set in a fictional imagined world—in opposition, Ta-Nehisi's Coates's The Water Dancer takes place in the very real world of American slavery— fantasy books include prominent elements of magic, mythology, or the supernatural.

The Water Dancer

Ninth House

Historical fiction.

These books are based in a time period set in the past decades, often against the backdrop of significant (real) historical events.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Vintage Memoirs of a Geisha

Meant to cause discomfort and fear for both the character and readers, horror writers often make use of supernatural and paranormal elements in morbid stories that are sometimes a little too realistic. The master of horror fiction? None other than Stephen King .

The Haunting of Hill House

Literary Fiction

Though it can be seen as a broad genre that encompasses many others, literary fiction refers to the perceived artistic writing style of the author. Their prose is meant to evoke deep thought through stories that offer personal or social commentary on a particular theme.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Olive, Again

The Dutch House: A Novel

Oh romance, how could we ever resist you? The genre that makes your heart all warm and fuzzy focuses on the love story of the main protagonists. This world of fiction is extremely wide-reaching in and of itself, as it has a variety of sub-genres including: contemporary romance, historical, paranormal, and the steamier erotica . If you're in need of any suggestions, we've got a list of the best romances of all time and the top picks of the year.

Brazen and the Beast

Royal Holiday

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

Though they're often thought of in the same vein as fantasy, what distinguishes science fiction stories is that they lean heavily on themes of technology and future science. You'll find apocalyptic and dystopian novels in the sci-fi genre as well.

Nan A. Talese The Testaments

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Short Stories

Though they encompass many of the genres we describe here, short stories are brief prose that are significantly, well, shorter than novels. Writers strictly tell their narratives through a specific theme and a series of brief scenes, though many authors compile these stories in wide-ranging collections, as featured below.

This Is How You Lose Her

How Long 'til Black Future Month?

Suspense and thrillers.

While they often encompass the same elements as mystery books, the suspense and thriller genre sees the hero attempt to stop and defeat the villain to save their own life rather than uncover a specific crime. Thrillers typically include cliffhangers and deception to encourage suspense, while pulling the wool over the eyes of both the main character and reader.

The 19th Christmas

The Guardians

Women's fiction.

Another genre that encompasses many others, women's fiction is written specifically to target female readers, often reflecting on the shared experiences of being a woman in society and the protagonist's personal growth.

My Sister, the Serial Killer

The Queen of Hearts

Red at the Bone

Nonfiction : "Writing or cinema that is about facts and real events" - Merriam-Webster

Biographies and Autobiographies

Serving as an official account of the details and events of a person's life span, autobiographies are written by the subject themselves, while biographies are written by an author who is not the focus of the book.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Traditionally penned by professional chefs or even your favorite celebs , cookbooks offer an appetizing collection of recipes, specific to a theme, cuisine, or experience chosen by the author.

Cravings: Hungry for More

The Jemima Code

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1

Typically written in the first-person, writers use their own personal experiences to reflect on a theme or topic for the reader. Many acclaimed authors—like James Baldwin and Toni Morrison—combine these pieces into collections of social commentary.

Notes of a Native Son

Bad Feminist

The Source of Self-Regard

These books chronicle and layout a specific moment in time, with a goal to educate and inform the reader, looking at all parts of the world at any given moment.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

While a form of autobiography, memoirs are more flexible in that they typically don't feature an extensive chronological account of the writer's life. Instead, they focus on key moments and scenes that communicate a specific message or lesson to the reader about the author.

Born a Crime

The Glass Castle

With poetry—a form of written art— authors choose a particular rhythm and style to evoke and portray various emotions and ideas. Sometimes the message is clear (like a straight-forward love poem ) while with others, the meaning is hidden behind a play on words—it all depends on the writer's style, intent, and chosen theme.

Sylvia Plath: The Collected Poems

The Sun and Her Flowers

There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé

Whether the focus is on emotional well-being , finances, or spirituality, self-help books center on encouraging personal improvement and confidence in a variety of facets of your life.

Harper Everything Is F*cked

Dare to Lead

Like its much-loved television counterparts, true crime books chronicle and examine actual crimes and events in exacting detail, with many focusing on infamous murders, kidnappings, and the exploits of serial killers.

Catch and Kill

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

Helter Skelter

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A Reader’s Guide To The Different Book Genres

Margaret Kingsbury

Margaret Kingsbury grew up in a house so crammed with books she couldn’t open a closet door without a book stack tumbling, and she’s brought that same decorative energy to her adult life. Margaret has an MA in English with a concentration in writing and has worked as a bookseller and adjunct English professor. She’s currently a freelance writer and editor, and in addition to Book Riot, her pieces have appeared in School Library Journal, BuzzFeed News, The Lily, Parents, StarTrek.com, and more. She particularly loves children’s books, fantasy, science fiction, horror, graphic novels, and any books with disabled characters. You can read more about her bookish and parenting shenanigans in Book Riot’s twice-weekly The Kids Are All Right newsletter. You can also follow her kidlit bookstagram account @BabyLibrarians , or on Twitter @AReaderlyMom .

View All posts by Margaret Kingsbury

Genres are ways of categorizing books to make them more easily found by readers. Categorizing book genres is a necessity with any large collection. Whether it be at a library or bookstore, readers need to know where to find a book, and also find similar types of books they might enjoy. But categorizing books also comes with its headaches. Some authors write across multiple genres, or a single book can be considered multiple genres. And some people have pet peeves about categories and/or category names. Be that as it may, book genres are still the most practical and efficient way to tag books for readers.

What does genre mean to me?

I used multiple methods for choosing and defining fiction and nonfiction genres and sub-genres. In addition to my 11 years of experience as a book buyer, I looked at the websites of a couple large bookstores, a few publisher websites, and the library of congress categories. The following book genres are an amalgamation of these sources.

Side notes: These categories apply to all age groups, thus, young adult, middle grade, etc. are not included as separate genres. Young adult books exist for every single one of these book genres, for example. Similarly, I don’t include graphic novels, because there can be graphic novels in any category. Graphics are a way of presenting a genre vs a separate genre.

Fiction Book Genres

Books that describe imaginary events and people, or tell a story about real people and events using imaginary details.

A book or author that’s stood the test of time and has continued to inspire meaningful discussion and thought across generations. As gruesome as it sounds, I argue that the author needs to be dead for a book of theirs to be considered a classic. For example, Toni Morrison continues to write and to be an active member of the literary community. While I have no doubt her books will be classics, for now, they’re literary fiction.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Literary Fiction

Books deemed as having artistic qualities. Often subtle in theme and contain some kind of social/political/personal commentary on what it means to be human. Can contain other genre elements, but the author uses those elements not to be parts of that community, but to highlight an important theme in their work.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

General Fiction

These books offer fun, engaging stories in a contemporary setting. They’re more approachable than Literary Fiction, and contain none of the genre elements in other categories.

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

Historical Fiction

Books that take place at least 30 years before the time the author writes them. Subcategories are often broken up by time frames.

Circe by Madeleine Miller

A book where the primary plot involves falling in love (of the romantic variety) and has a happy or emotionally satisfying ending. Because this is a category with many sub-genres, the examples listed are by sub-genre.

Mystery/Suspense

Action/Adventure

High-stake novels with frequent scene changes, where the protagonist is constantly being put at risk.

Novels set in either a completely fictional world, or set in a version of this world that includes magic.

Science Fiction

A novel where supernatural elements create fear and terror, both within the novel and for the reader.

Nonfiction Book Genres

Books that utilize factual information about a topic to the best of the author’s ability.

Books which examine past true events. These can be broad surveys of a specific country, region, and/or time period, or they can focus on a specific event or set of events. They’re often heavily researched and can utilize academic language or be highly narrative.

The Woman’s Hour by Elaine Weiss

cover-of-ida-a-sword-among-lions-paula-giddings

Ida: A Sword Among Lions by Paula J. Giddings

Books where the information is primarily concerned with the aesthetic vs the factual.

you can't touch my hair by phoebe robinson

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Books which examine a specific religion, the history of religions, and/or the practice of worshiping a deity/deities. Includes holy books.

The History of God by Karen Armstrong

Folklore Studies

Collections and studies of fairytales, legends, storytelling, and folklore.

From the Beast to the Blonde by Marina Warner

Study of the nature of knowledge, existence, and being from an academic perspective.

The Psychic Life of Power by Judith Butler

New Age & Alternative Beliefs

Books that examine nontraditional spirituality or non-mainstream belief practices.

Health & Wellness

Books that describe ways of staying healthy: how to prevent or fight a specific medical issues; nutritional ideas; alternative medicine; nursing textbooks; sex, etc.

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup

Books which explain physical or natural science concepts, including mathematics, technology, chemistry, biology, physics, engineering and more.

Black Hole: How an Idea Abandoned by Newtonians, Hated by Einstein, and Gambled On by Hawking Became Loved by Marcia Bartusiak

Social Science

Books that examine mental and emotional functions and well-being.

Books that look at the education system, including teaching how-to guides, curriculum guides, lesson plan collections, homeschool guides, special education, and test prep.

Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks

Books which provide basic, objective information, like dictionaries, encyclopedias, and books of quotations.

Encyclopedia of Feminist Literary Theory by Elizabeth Kowaleski Wallace

Business & Economics

Books about managing and creating businesses, job skills and career advice, personal and business finance, investing, and how money works.

Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business by Joy Deangdeelert Cho andMeg Mateo Ilasco

Communications

Books about the ways communication occurs, communicating in other languages, the best ways to communicate, and the technical aspects of types of communication.

Home & Garden

Books about designing, organizing, taking care of, decorating, and otherwise loving homes and gardens.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Animal & Pet Care

Books about taking care of and loving animals.

The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens: Simple Steps for Healthy, Happy Hens by Kathy Shea Mormino

Recreation & Leisure

Books about activities and hobbies done or consumed primarily for enjoyment.

I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook by Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad

Books that tell the story of a specific crime or criminal, collect stories of various criminals, or tell of a historical crime.

The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

And hey, book genres can be funny too.

The Most Anticipated Books of Summer, According to Goodreads

Types Of Book Genres: Exploring The Most Popular Fiction, Non-Fiction, And Hybrid Books

Reading is a wonderful way to learn new things, escape from reality, and experience a range of emotions. However, with so many different types of books out there, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this article, we’ll explore the most popular fiction, non-fiction, and hybrid book genres to help you find your next great read.

Introduction

Book genres are categories that books can be sorted into based on their content, style, and themes. Genres help readers find books that match their interests and preferences, and they also help publishers and booksellers market books to the right audiences.

Fiction Genres

Fiction is storytelling that is invented or imagined, rather than based on real events or facts. Fiction genres can be divided into several subcategories:

Literary Fiction: This genre is characterized by complex and thought-provoking writing, deep themes, and often a focus on character development rather than plot. Examples include “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Beloved” by Toni Morrison.

Science Fiction: This genre explores the intersection of science and technology with society and humanity, often in a speculative or futuristic setting. Examples include “1984” by George Orwell and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams.

Fantasy: This genre often features magical or mythical elements and is set in fictional worlds or alternate realities. Examples include “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien and “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling.

Romance: This genre centers around romantic relationships and often features a happy ending. Examples include “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen and “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks.

Mystery: This genre revolves around solving a crime or puzzle, often with a detective or amateur sleuth as the protagonist. Examples include “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Arthur Conan Doyle and “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.

Horror: This genre aims to scare or unsettle the reader through supernatural or psychological means. Examples include “The Shining” by Stephen King and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker.

Non-Fiction Genres

Non-fiction is factual writing about real people, events, and topics. Non-fiction genres can be divided into several subcategories:

Memoirs and Biographies: This genre tells the story of a person’s life or a group of people’s lives, often written by themselves or someone close to them. Examples include “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley and “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson.

History: This genre covers the study of past events and their significance. Examples include “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn and “The Guns of August” by Barbara Tuchman.

Self-Help: This genre aims to provide guidance and advice on personal growth, health, and wellness. Examples include “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey and “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle.

Business: This genre covers topics related to entrepreneurship, leadership, and management. Examples include “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries and “Good to Great” by Jim Collins.

Hybrid Genres

Hybrid genres are a blend of fiction and non-fiction elements, and can be divided into several subcategories:

Creative Non-Fiction: This genre uses literary techniques to tell a true story in a compelling and engaging way. Examples include “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot and “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer.

Historical Fiction: This genre takes place in a historical setting and often features real people or events, but is ultimately a work of fiction. Examples include “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak and “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.

Science Fiction/Fantasy: This subgenre combines elements of both science fiction and fantasy, often in a futuristic or alternate world setting. Examples include “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card.

Genre Trends

Book genres can be influenced by social, cultural, and technological changes over time. For example, the rise of social media and the internet has led to the emergence of new genres such as “new adult” and “cli-fi” (climate fiction). Genre trends can also be influenced by current events or political climates.

Choosing the Right Genre

Choosing the right genre can be a matter of personal taste, but there are a few factors to consider when selecting a book. Consider what themes and topics you’re interested in, what writing style you enjoy, and what mood you’re in. You can also read book reviews or ask for recommendations from friends or librarians.

Book genres offer a helpful way to categorize and explore the vast world of literature. Whether you prefer fiction, non-fiction, or hybrid genres, there’s something out there for everyone. By understanding the different types of genres and considering your own preferences, you can find your next great read and embark on a new literary adventure.

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The Master List of Book Genres: 95 Fiction & Nonfiction Genres

POSTED ON Jul 19, 2023

Written by Audrey Hirschberger

Not sure what genre your current book is? We’re here to help! We’ve compiled the ultimate list of book genres to put your confusion to bed once and for all.

When you go through all the work of self-publishing your book, the last thing you want to do is mislabel it. That’s where our master list of book genres comes in. This list of book genres will help you to definitively place your book, so it can be found and shared by your target readers.

Sometimes, your book will encompass more than one genre. In fact, it could be a mix of four or five genres! Our list of book genres will help you determine precisely how to label your book – and ensure it receives the love it deserves. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the only book genres list you’ll ever need.

This List of Book Genres Contains:

The ultimate list of book genres (both fiction and nonfiction).

Here is the definitive list of book genres that are used today. The first 79 items in our list of book genres are types of fiction , followed by all the nonfiction genres. They are listed in alphabetical order for ease of navigation.

1. Action/Adventure fiction

The first genre in our list of book genres is action & adventure fiction. Action & adventure books contain a risk-filled journey and a thrilling series of action sequences. The threat of danger is ever-present, and the plot moves quickly.

Examples : The Ryanverse series by Tom Clancy and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

2. Children’s fiction

Children’s fiction includes made-up stories that are written specifically for children. They cover themes and language that are age-appropriate and can contain many different book genres and subgenres within the pages.

Examples : Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and Winnie-The-Pooh by A.A. Milne.

3. Classic fiction

Classics are fictional books that have stood the test of time and are considered exceptional works of literature. Classic fiction is often used in academic discussions.

Examples : Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

4. Contemporary fiction

Contemporary fiction stories are set in modern times and don’t contain any elements of fantasy (see below). These stories give the reader a window into a specific human experience. Some may be written for entertainment, and others may be written as political or social statements.

Examples : A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

5. Fantasy

Fantasy is undoubtedly one of the most popular genres in our list of book genres. Books in the fantasy genre include supernatural or magical elements. These can be set on Earth, or in completely made-up worlds. A fantasy book series is not bound by the laws of science, physics, or even reality.

There are many subgenres of fantasy, including:

6. Dark fantasy

Dark fantasy books are written in a tone that evokes a feeling of dread. They feature morally gray characters and often include elements of horror. Sometimes the story is told from a villain or monster’s point of view. In dark fantasy, the events that might shock in an actual horror book are portrayed as normal.

Examples : The Dark Tower series by Stephen King and American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

7. Fairy tales

No list of book genres would be complete without fairy tales. The stories of Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers are what we most associate with “classic” fairy tales. They rely on themes of good vs. evil, contain a moral lesson (often for children), and usually end with a “happily ever after.”

Examples : Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine and The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer.

8. Folktales

A folktale is a story or legend that originated in a particular region or group of people and was passed down through generations. Most folktales are hundreds of years old, but modern fantasy writers often take inspiration from these tales.

Examples : Momotaro and Arabian Nights .

9. Heroic fantasy

Heroic fantasy centers around a “hero” on a quest, and relies heavily on themes of good vs. evil.

Examples : The Kingkiller Chronicle series by Patrick Rothfuss and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

10. High fantasy

There is often confusion between high fantasy vs. low fantasy. The easiest way to distinguish the two is that high fantasy is set in an alternate or secondary world. There is often a quest involved, as well as high stakes like preventing the end of the world or conquering an evil overlord.

High fantasy books tend to have lots of characters and a high page count – and are therefore sometimes called “epic fantasy” books.

Examples : A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin and the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien.

11. Historical fantasy

Historical fantasy stories are set in during an easily recognizable historical period – but with magic added in.

Examples : Babel by R.F. Kuang and Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

12. Low fantasy

Low fantasy is a fantasy story that is set on Earth, where magic interacts with humans. It often has a more intimate and personal story arc than high fantasy stories.

Examples : The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

13. Magical realism

Some consider magical realism to be its own genre, and others a subgenre of fantasy. This genre doesn’t contain magical creatures, but instead focuses on magical things that happen in our world. There is a general underpinning of magic that is often portrayed as commonplace.

Examples : One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez and Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel.

14. Mythic fantasy

Mythic fantasy centers around mythology, most often Greek or Roman mythology. The story may focus on the gods themselves, on their descendants, or on humans who interact with the gods.

Examples : Circe by Madeline Miller and Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan.

15. Urban fantasy

Urban fantasy is a fantasy book set in a city. These stories are usually set in the real world (low fantasy) and are about the relations between humans and supernatural beings.

Examples : The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.

16. Graphic novel

Graphic novels are works that are highly illustrated, with a series of comic panels and speech bubbles to tell the story. Graphic novels aren’t limited in terms of scope and can be used to cover many different book genres in our list of genres.

You will find lots of fantasy and sci-fi graphic novels, but also nonfiction, historical fiction, and classics!

Examples : Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Watchmen by Alan Moore.

17. Historical fiction

Next on our list of book genres is historical fiction. These are fiction books that are inspired by real events in history but are not factual retellings. They allow readers to be transported into the past through the eyes of one or more characters.

Examples : The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

Every list of book genres needs a little horror in the mix! Horror is an increasingly popular book genre, with many subgenres nested under it. Horror stories are fictional works meant to disturb or frighten. Some horror subgenres include:

19. Body horror

Body horror features graphic mutilations, disfigurations, or violations of the human body.

Examples : Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin

20. Comedy horror

Comedy horror books are one of the more interesting (and contradictory) on the list of book genres. They are just as likely to make you laugh as they are to make you scream. They are often referred to as “black comedies,” and rely heavily on the unexpected.

Examples : Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix and Man, F*ck This House by Brian Asman.

21. Gothic horror

Gothic horror features a battle between humanity and unnatural evil forces. The overall feel of gothic books is quite bleak and gloomy, and they are often set in castles or old manor houses. There is often a descent into madness involved.

Examples : The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Dracula by Bram Stoker.

22. Lovecraftian/Cosmic horror

Lovecraftian horror, also known as “cosmic horror” was popularized by the author H.P. Lovecraft (Imagine inventing your own category in the long list of book genres!). Lovecraftian novels assume that there are otherworldly forces that once ruled the Earth and are here again to destroy us. It relies on the dread that things are outside of your control.

Examples : The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft and The Croning by Laird Barron.

23. Paranormal horror

Paranormal horror includes supernatural themes such as hauntings, curses, and possessions.

Examples : The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.

24. Post-apocalyptic horror

Post-apocalyptic horror is set after our civilization has collapsed. It examines how we survive amidst zombies, plagues, climate change, or whatever disaster wiped humanity out.

Examples : The Stand by Stephen King and I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

25. Psychological horror

Psychological horror plays with your mind and twists your thoughts. There doesn’t need to be any monster for the fear to work its magic. Psychological books play with paranoia and self-doubt.

Examples : Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.

26. Quiet horror

Quiet horror or “soft horror” leaves out the graphic scenes of some of the other horror types on our list of book genres. Instead of graphic violence, it relies on the atmosphere and mood to completely creep you out.

Examples : December Park by Ronald Malfi and The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.

27. Slasher

Slasher books contain sociopathic villains who are trying to kill the protagonists. They feature a lot of violence and suspense. Examples : Psycho by Robert Bloch and The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum.

28. LGBTQ+

Any fiction book that places LGBTQ+ characters at the forefront is considered LGBTQ+ fiction. It can otherwise fall into a number of genres on this master list of book genres.

Examples : Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

29. Literary fiction

Literary fiction is fiction writing that is considered highly valuable and artistic. These books often cover serious topics that make the reader stop and think. They can blend with many genres in this list of book genres.

Examples : The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

30. Mystery

One of the most fun genres in our master list of book genres is mystery. Mystery books contain an event (often a murder or a crime) that remains a mystery until the end of the book. These page-turners keep you guessing and often feature big plot twists.

Some subgenres of mystery include:

The first mystery subgenre on our list of book genres is capers. Capers are usually told from the point of view of the thief. They are light-hearted and humorous mysteries that focus on how (and if) they can get away with the crime.

Examples : The Heist by Daniel Silva and The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons by Lawrence Block.

32. Cozy mystery

Cozy mysteries are not grim or gruesome. They are light-hearted, and usually set in small towns where a crime is solved by an amateur detective – often a woman.

Examples : A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano.

33. Gumshoe/Detective mystery

Detective mysteries don’t have direct police tie-ins, and the mystery is solved directly by a professional or amateur detective.

Examples : The Terry Orr series by Jim Fusilli and the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs.

34. Historical mystery

Many items in this list of book genres are crossovers between two different book genres. Historical mysteries are fictional mysteries set in a historic time period.

Examples : Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara and Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia.

35. Howdunnits

Unlike the other mystery types on our list of book genres, Howdunit mysteries are not about finding the perpetrator. In fact, they usually tell you who committed the crime straight away – and then focus on answering HOW the crime was committed.

Examples : A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin and The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester.

36. Locked room mystery

Next on the ultimate book genres list are locked room mystery books. These books cover “impossible” crimes – such as a murder committed in a windowless room that was locked from the inside. OR – they feature a small group of characters stuck together in a confined space.

Examples : Malice by Keigo Higashino and One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.

Noir books, like film noir, involve classic morally-compromised detectives in trench coats solving crimes. Noir stories are usually set in gritty cities and have a dark or bleak atmosphere.

Examples : The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett and Queenpin by Megan Abbott.

38. Procedural/Hard-boiled mystery

Hard-boiled mysteries are more hardcore than other mystery types on our list of book genres. They include more violent, sex, and graphic details, and often include forensic science and autopsy reports – closely following an actual police procedure.

Examples : The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler and I, the Jury by Mickey Spillane.

39. Supernatural mystery

Supernatural mysteries combine elements of two other items on our book genres list: horror and fantasy. They involve mysteries that appear to include supernatural elements (which may or may not be explained with non-supernatural solutions).

Examples : The Enigma of Room 622 by Joël Dicker and The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie.

40. New adult

New adult books are a newly developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18–29 age range. New adult fiction includes more adult themes and graphic sex scenes than young adult books but still focuses on story arcs about coming-of-age of finding identity.

Examples : Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and The Deal by Elle Kennedy.

41. Romance

Nothing on our list of book genres is read as voraciously as romance novels. Romance books turn some real profit for authors and center around would-be lovers and the obstacles they face in getting together.

Some subgenres of romance include:

42. Contemporary romance

Contemporary romance books take place in modern day and feature more relatable and realistic situations.

Examples : Beach Read by Emily Henry and The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.

43. Dark romance

Dark romance is one of the most intense items on our list of book genres. It contains morally-gray characters and very mature content. These stories often come with trigger warnings, and center around plots of trauma and violence such as stalking, kidnapping, sex trafficking, or the mafia.

Examples : Asking for It by Lilah Pace and Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton.

44. Erotic romance

Erotic romance books focus on the buildup of sexual interactions and explicit sex scenes between characters.

Examples : Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James and Bared to You by Sylvia Day.

45. Fantasy romance (Romantasy)

Like others on this list of book genres, fantasy romance books mix (you guessed it) two genres. In this example, it’s fantasy and romance. They follow a typical romance book formula but are set in fantasy worlds.

Examples : Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

46. Gothic romance

Gothic romance novels are dark and gloomy and focus on the hurdles women face to be with the person they love. There are often secrets and mysteries involved, and they are usually set in old manor houses.

Examples : Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen and Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.

47. Historical romance

Historical romance stories are romance books set in a specific historic era.

Examples : Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas and the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

48. Paranormal romance

Paranormal romance books usually feature romantic partners that are supernatural – such as vampires or werewolves.

Examples : The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer and the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

49. Regency

Regency romance novels are typically set during the Regency Era in England (1795–1837) and focus on the societal norms of that time. Think balls, walks on the promenade, and marriages with much ado.

Examples : The Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn and Arabella by Georgette Heyer.

50. Romantic comedy

Romantic comedy books are precisely how they sound – romance books with ridiculous events and obstacles that will make you laugh out loud.

Examples : Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean and Shortcake by Lucy Watson.

51. Romantic suspense

Romantic suspense novels are closely tied with gothic romance – which is where they first originated. You can think of romantic suspense novels as being about 50% romance and 50% suspense/mystery.

Examples : Verity by Colleen Hoover and The Witness by Nora Roberts.

52. Sci-fi romance

Sci-fi romance is a romance story with a science fiction setting or plot line. This could revolve around space travel, time travel, or any other sci-fi theme (see below).

Examples : The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer.

Satire books use humor and irony to poke fun at (or discredit) politics, systems of government, or societal norms.

Examples : Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and Animal Farm by George Orwell.

54. Science fiction

On our list of book genres, science fiction is most closely related to fantasy, with made-up worlds and species. But where science fiction and fantasy differ is that science and technology are at the root of science fiction stories. They still follow the laws of physics and possibility – not magic.

Here are some of the subgenres of science fiction (also known as “sci-fi”):

55. Apocalyptic sci-fi

Apocalyptic science fiction takes place after an apocalyptic event and focuses on how the remaining humans survive. It is similar to post-apocalyptic horror but focuses more on the reality of life and less on scare tactics and monsters.

Examples : Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and Earth Abides by George R. Stewart.

56. Colonization sci-fi

Colonization science fiction books focus on colonizing a new planet or settlement after the Earth has been destroyed.

Examples : Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson and The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

57. Hard sci-fi

Hard science fiction books place a heavy emphasis on math, physics, chemistry, engineering, or other sciences. They have realistic science based on currently proven facts.

Examples : The Martian by Andy Weir and The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin.

58. Military sci-fi

Military science fiction books focus on a battle between two groups. This may be on Earth, in space, or between multiple planets.

Examples : Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

59. Mind uploading sci-fi

Mind uploading sci-fi focused on the concept that your consciousness can be uploaded or downloaded into another body or computer. This could be through alien intervention, complete brain transplants, or technology.

Examples : Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan and Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty.

60. Parallel world sci-fi

Parallel world science fiction deals with alternate realities. Characters pass through multiple worlds very similar to their own with interesting consequences.

Examples : Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and the Firebird series by Claudia Gray.

61. Soft sci-fi

While hard sci-fi focuses on the sciences and the “how” behind sci-fi plots, soft sci-fi focuses more on the human element. Soft sci-fi books examine politics, social constructs, and relationships amid a sci-fi backdrop.

Examples : 1984 by George Orwell and The Giver by Lois Lowry.

62. Space opera

Space operas are action books that are set in outer space. They often are long-running epic series.

Examples : The Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert and The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.

63. Space western

Take a western book and put it in outer space, and you have a space western. Thinks lawless frontiers, morally-gray characters, and lots of shoot-outs.

Examples : The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers and Persephone Station by Stina Leicht.

64. Steampunk

Steampunk books are a mix of the past and future. They feature steam-powered technology and 19th- and 20th-century aesthetics combined with futuristic elements.

Examples : Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and Soulless by Gail Carriger.

65. Short story

Next on our list of book genres is short stories. Short stories are stories that are anywhere from 1,000 – 15,000 words in length, and they can be a mix of any topics on our list of genres.

Examples : The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and How to Become a Writer by Lorrie Moore.

66. Thriller

Another popular genre on our list of book genres is thrilled. A thriller often shares many attributes of mystery novels, but not all mysteries are thrillers, and not all thrillers are mysteries. So what differentiates these two items on our list of book genres? Thrillers are meant to evoke anxiety and tension and are first and foremost about the protagonist trying to save or protect themselves. Some subgenres of thriller fiction include:

67. Action thriller

Action thrillers include fast plot lines, violence, high-speed chases, and a life-changing journey for the protagonist.

Examples : The Summer House by James Patterson and The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci.

68. Conspiracy thriller

In conspiracy thrillers, the protagonist is up against a powerful organization after discovering a conspiracy that puts their life at risk.

Examples : Deception Point by Dan Brown and Private Moscow by James Patterson.

69. Disaster thriller

Disaster thrillers are written about natural or man-made disasters, such as volcanoes, tsunamis, or nuclear attacks.

Examples : One Second After by William R. Forstchen and Ashfall by Mike Mullin.

70. Espionage thriller

Espionage thrillers feature spies or secret agents as the protagonists. They usually need to infiltrate a foreign government or crime ring.

Examples : Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre and the Jason Bourne series by Robert Ludlum.

71. Forensic thriller

Forensic thrillers rely on finding evidence such as DNA or fingerprints to catch the perpetrator.

Examples : The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver and the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.

72. Historical thriller

Historical thrillers are thrillers set in a specific time period. They often include real historical events and conspiracies.

Examples : The Devils of Cardona by Matthew Carr and The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

73. Legal thriller

Legal thrillers center around court and legal dilemmas. The protagonist can be a lawyer or someone wrongfully accused.

Examples : The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly and A Time to Kill by John Grisham.

74. Paranormal thriller

Paranormal thrillers add paranormal or supernatural elements to a typical thriller plot.

Examples : The Outsider by Stephen King and Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak.

75. Psychological thriller

Psychological thrillers are one of the most popular types of thriller on our list of book genres. These thrillers put the protagonist’s sanity at risk along with their physical safety. Because the protagonists are unstable, they are often unreliable narrators.

Examples : The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn.

76. Religious thriller

Religious thrillers are written about religious secrets or stolen religious artifacts. There may be dangerous cults involved.

Examples : The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

77. Western

A classic American genre on our list of book genres is Western fiction. These books take place in the American Old West and feature plots with cattle ranches, bounty hunters, and shootouts.

Examples : Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry and Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.

78. Women’s fiction

Women’s fiction can cover a variety of topics on our list of book genres and refers to any book written about the female experience or the role of women in society.

Examples : The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

79. Young adult

Like women’s fiction, young adult fiction can cover most topics on our list of book genres, but they are written for and about young adults, typically between ages 13-17. These books often cover coming-of-age story arcs and the trials of adolescence.

Examples : A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

80. Art & photography

While all the topics leading up to this point were fiction, the rest of the items on our list of book genres are nonfiction topics. These are factual books about real life.

The first nonfiction topic on our list of book genres is art and photography. Art and photography books can be written about art, or be more visual books that showcase art and photography. These make great coffee table books.

Examples : Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton and Art: The Definitive Visual Guide by Andrew Graham Dixon.

81. Autobiography/Memoir

Memoirs and autobiographies are written by the author about their own life. They focus on the author’s life trials and accomplishments.

Examples : Becoming by Michelle Obama and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

82. Biography

Biographies are books written about an important or interesting person, usually after they have died, and often cover the entire span of the person’s life.

Examples : A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar and Prince: A Private View by Afshin Shahidi.

An essay is a short piece of writing where the author gives their thoughts (and often an argument) on a specific topic. They may be reflections and observations of the author, or a political statement.

Examples : Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin and Once More to the Lake by E. B. White.

84. Food & drink

Next on our list of book genres are cookbooks! Cookbooks can be simple collections of recipes, or contain information about the chef’s life or home country. They can cover food, beverages, or both.

Examples : Half-Baked Harvest by Tieghan Gerard and The Ultimate Bar Book by Mittie Hellmich.

85. History

Historical nonfiction is a well-researched, factual accounting of a historical event or time period.

Examples : The Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant and The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber & David Wengrow.

86. How-To/Guides

How-to books teach the reader how to get better at a craft, skill, or hobby, or give them an overview of all the information they need to know on a specific topic.

Examples : The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing by Zachary Petit and How to Read Tarot by Jessica Wiggan.

87. Humanities & social sciences

The next item on our list of book genres covers a number of topics. Books in the humanities study human society and relationships – and can include anthropology, sociology, politics, and many other subjects.

Examples : Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.

Humor books are written with one goal in mind – to make the reader laugh! They are often satirical essays or memoirs.

Examples : Bossypants by Tina Fey and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling.

89. Parenting

Parenting books teach parents how to raise their children – including how to prepare for their arrival!

Examples : Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields and The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel.

90. Philosophy

Philosophy nonfiction explores ethics, moral dilemmas, and the purpose of life on earth.

Examples : Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

91. Religion & spirituality

Books on religion and spirituality cover a range of topics, from actual religious texts like the Bible and the Quran to books on spiritual philosophies, mindfulness, and energy healing.

Examples : The Untethered Soul by Michael Alan Singer and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

92. Science & technology

Science and technology books are written about the sciences – either to help readers have a greater understanding of them or to teach about the evolution of technology.

Examples : The Joy of Science by Jim Al-Khalili and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.

93. Self-help

One of the most popular nonfiction genres on our list of book genres is self-help. Self-help books cover topics from finances to organization to mental health and help readers improve themselves in some way.

Examples : Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Undoubtedly one of the most fun nonfiction topics on our list of genres is travel. Travel books can be travel guides to various countries or memoirs of the author’s own travels.

Examples : Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Down Under by Bill Bryson.

95. True crime

The last item on our master list of book genres is true crime. True crime books describe actual crimes from start to finish.

Examples : In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara.

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What are the different types of book genres and Categories?

Reading is one of those simple joys in life that never gets old, right? There’s just something special about losing yourself between the pages of a great book. Whether you’re a full-blown bookworm or an occasional reader, the literary world has an endless menu of genres and categories to satisfy any craving.

In this article, we’re going to explore that delightfully diverse landscape. From romance novels that make your heart flutter to nail-biting thriller mysteries, you can’t put down. From mind-bending sci-fi that stretches your imagination to the timeless wisdom of literary classics. The options are vast and varied.

We’ll break it all down for you – the major genres like fantasies filled with magic and mythical creatures, historical fiction that transports you through time, and coming-of-age tales that capture the spirit of youth. But we won’t stop there. We’ll also venture into lesser-known territories, like self-help guides for personal growth, and quirky niche categories for every unique interest.

What Is the Genre of a Book?

Ah, genres – those handy little labels that help us navigate the vast sea of books out there. But have you ever stopped to really think about what they mean and why they matter? Let’s dive in!

At its core, a book’s genre is like its DNA – it defines the story’s fundamental building blocks. Whether it’s a heart-pounding thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat or a whimsical fantasy that whisks you off to magical realms, the genre lays out the core ingredients and flavors you can expect.

But genres are way more than just simple categorizations. They’re almost like unwritten codes between the author and the reader. When you pick up a romance novel, you know you’re in for an emotional rollercoaster ride centered around love and relationships. A historical fiction promises to immerse you in the rich tapestry of bygone eras.

Of course, many great books blur and blend genres seamlessly. An eccentric tale might start as contemporary fiction but veer into magical realism halfway through. An epic sci-fi could have strong dystopian and philosophical underpinnings.

That’s part of what makes the whole genre question so fascinating. It’s a living, evolving construct that adapts to our changing tastes and times. Genres divide into countless sub-genres, splinter into new hybrid forms, and constantly redefine our understanding of storytelling.

So while genres act as useful signposts to guide our reading journeys, they’re also wide open spaces ripe for creative exploration. The next genre-defying masterpiece could be just around the corner!

How many types of book genres exist?

Book genres serve as an effective way to categorize and organize the diverse array of literary works available. While the exact number can vary depending on the criteria used for classification, several main genres are widely recognized in the publishing industry.

Some of the major book genres include:

Non-fiction
Children’s Literature
Mythology and Folklore
Graphic
Epistolary Literature
Speeches and Oratory

Within these broad categories, numerous sub-genres exist to further delineate the specific styles, themes, and target audiences.

What are Fiction books?

Fiction books are works of literature that are imaginative narratives created by the author’s mind, rather than being based on factual events or real-life accounts. These books transport readers into fictional realms, where they can immerse themselves in made-up stories, characters, settings, and situations crafted by the writer’s creativity and storytelling abilities.

At their core, fiction books are works of art that blend elements of reality with the author’s imagination, allowing readers to explore different perspectives, emotions, and experiences that may or may not reflect the world around them. These books can take many forms, from short stories to epic novels, and can span a wide range of genres, from romance and mystery to science fiction and fantasy.

Fiction books often serve as a form of escapism, providing readers with the opportunity to temporarily leave behind the constraints of their everyday lives and embark on captivating journeys through the author’s imagined worlds. They can also serve as powerful vehicles for exploring complex themes, emotions, and human experiences in a way that may resonate more deeply than non-fiction works.

Moreover, fiction books can challenge readers to think critically about societal issues, cultural norms, and personal beliefs, as authors frequently use their narratives to comment on or critique various aspects of the human condition. Whether they aim to entertain, educate, or provoke thought, fiction books have the ability to capture the hearts and minds of readers, leaving lasting impressions and fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.

What are the most popular fiction book genres?

The world of fiction is vast and diverse, encompassing a wide range of genres that cater to different reader preferences and interests. While individual tastes can vary, certain fiction genres have gained widespread popularity over time. Here are some of the most popular fiction book genres:

What are Non-Fiction books?

Non-fiction books are works that are based on real events, facts, and information, as opposed to fictional stories or narratives created from the author’s imagination. These books cover a wide range of subjects and aim to inform, educate, or provide factual accounts of various topics. Some key characteristics of non-fiction books include:

Factual Content: Non-fiction books present information, data, and accounts that are grounded in reality, thoroughly researched, and verifiable.
Subject Matter: Non-fiction books can cover virtually any topic imaginable, including history, biography, science, self-help, travel, true crime, and more.
Research and Documentation: Authors of non-fiction works typically conduct extensive research, cite sources, and provide references to support the information presented.
Objective Reporting: While some non-fiction books may incorporate the author’s opinions or perspectives, the primary goal is to present factual information objectively and accurately.
Genres : Common non-fiction genres include biographies, memoirs, historical accounts, investigative journalism, instructional guides, and academic or scholarly works.

Non-fiction books serve various purposes, such as educating readers, providing insights into real-life events or personalities, offering practical advice or guidance, and presenting in-depth analyses of various subjects. They are an invaluable resource for those seeking knowledge, understanding, and factual information within their areas of interest or study.

What are the most popular non-fiction book genres?

What are the differences between various book genres.

The various book genres differ in several key aspects, including their conventions, themes, storytelling styles, and overall reading experiences. Here are some of the main differences between various book genres:

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction:

The fundamental difference lies in the source material. Fiction books are works of imagination, while non-fiction books are based on real events, facts, and information.

Tone and Style:

Genres can differ in their tone, from the lighthearted and humorous to the dark and suspenseful. Writing styles also vary, with literary fiction often employing more complex prose and experimental techniques.

Character Development:

Certain genres, like literary fiction and drama, tend to emphasize in-depth character development and exploration of the human psyche, while others, like thrillers or sci-fi, may focus more on plot-driven narratives.

Themes and Subject Matter:

Genres tackle different themes and subject matters, from the philosophical and existential explorations in literary fiction to the action-packed adventures of fantasy or the scientific speculations of sci-fi.

Audience and Purpose:

Some genres, like young adult fiction or self-help, cater to specific audiences, while others, like historical fiction or true crime, may appeal to readers interested in those particular topics or perspectives.

Why Do Book Categories and Book Genres Matter?

Book categories and genres matter for several important reasons:

Reader Expectations: Genres and categories help set reader expectations about the type of story, writing style, themes, and overall reading experience they can anticipate. This allows readers to select books that align with their interests and preferences.
Marketing and Discoverability: Genres and categories assist in the marketing and promotion of books, making it easier for readers to discover new titles within their preferred genres. Bookstores and online retailers use these classifications to organize and recommend books.
Literary Conventions: Each genre has its own established conventions, tropes, and narrative structures that authors can either adhere to or subvert. Understanding these conventions helps authors craft stories that meet (or challenge) reader expectations.
Critical Analysis: Genres and categories provide a framework for literary analysis, criticism, and academic study. They allow scholars and critics to examine the unique characteristics, evolution, and cultural significance of different literary forms.
Audience Targeting: Certain genres, like young adult fiction or children’s literature, are specifically tailored to target particular age groups or audiences, ensuring the content and themes are appropriate and relatable.
Creative Inspiration: Established genres can inspire authors to explore new perspectives, blend elements from different categories, or even create entirely new hybrid genres, fostering literary innovation and diversity.
Bookstore and Library Organization: Physical and online bookstores and libraries rely on genre and category classifications to organize their collections, making it easier for readers to browse and locate books of interest.
Reading Communities: Genres and categories foster the formation of niche reading communities, where readers with shared interests can connect, discuss, and appreciate their favorite books and authors.

By providing structure, guidance, and shared understanding, book categories and genres play a crucial role in shaping the reading experience, facilitating discovery, promoting literary analysis, and fostering vibrant communities of readers and writers.

Which Book Genre Is The Most Popular & best-selling?

Determining the most popular and best-selling book genre is not a straightforward task, as reader preferences can vary widely based on factors such as location, demographics, and cultural influences. However, certain genres have consistently demonstrated widespread appeal and commercial success over time. Here are some of the top contenders for the most popular and best-selling book genres:

Which book genres are considered classics?

Certain genres have produced works that are widely regarded as classics, standing the test of time and leaving an indelible mark on literary history. Here are some of the genres that are considered to be sources of classic literature:

Literary Fiction
Tragedy and Drama
Epic Poetry
Gothic Literature.
Philosophical Fiction
Historical Fiction

How can I find out the genre of a specific book?

Finding out the genre of a specific book can help determine if it aligns with your reading interests and expectations. There are several ways to identify a book’s genre:

Book Cover and Packaging: Publishers often indicate the genre on the book’s cover or packaging. Look for labels or descriptors like “Fiction,” “Mystery,” “Romance,” “Science Fiction,” or “Historical Novel.”
Online Book Descriptions: Websites like Amazon, Goodreads, or publisher sites typically provide genre information in their book descriptions. These descriptions can give you a good sense of the genre and subgenres the book falls under.
Review Websites and Blogs: Book review sites and literary blogs often categorize their reviews by genre, making it easier to identify the genre of a specific title. Reviewers may also explicitly mention the genre in their analysis.
Library Catalogs: Library catalogs and online databases often classify books by genre or subject headings. Searching for the book in a library catalog can reveal its genre classification.
Book Jacket or Introduction: The book jacket, introduction, or author’s note may provide insights into the genre or themes the author aimed to explore, giving you clues about the genre.
Book Retailers: Physical and online bookstores often organize their shelves or sections by genre, making it easier to identify where a specific book is placed and, consequently, its genre.
Author’s Previous Works: If you’re familiar with an author’s previous books, you can make an educated guess about the genre of their new release based on their established writing style and themes.
Genre-Specific Lists and Awards: Consulting lists of award-winning or popular books in specific genres can help you determine if a particular title falls within that genre.

By utilizing these various resources, you can gather enough information to accurately identify the genre of a book before diving into it, ensuring that your reading experience aligns with your expectations and preferences.

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Book Reviews

Book Reviews by Shalini

22 Different Types of Books (Genres and Non-Fiction Options)

Posted on January 31, 2019

If you consider the thousands of different books available in the world, the adage, “So many books, so little time” takes on a completely new meaning. In fact, just the genres and sub-genres are so many that they are impossible to list down.

All book lovers have their own favorite genre — in fact, multiple favorite genres. In all honesty, there are so many genres to choose from, that there are many who have a preferred genre for every mood.

Book Genre Chart

What is a Genre?

A genre is a category or style of literature, music, art and other forms of entertainment. The genre system first began as a classification process for ancient Geek literature, including poetry, prose, and performance. Each genre has a specific, distinct style relating to theme, content, tone, details, and intensity. Patterns of speech for a tragedy would not be appropriate for a comedy, for example. To make matters even more confusing, most works of fiction fall under more than one genre. Case in point: “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift falls under classic, fantasy, satire, and adventure.

Types of Books

All books can be broadly classified under two main categories: fiction and non-fiction

A work of fiction is one that is derived from the imagination. The great thing about fiction is that it could be inspired or partially borrows from real-life situations, but that is as far as it could go. Fictional books are often synonymously categorized under the umbrella term of “novel.” The category of fiction is immense and has a huge plethora of sub-divisions or genres, which is both a boon and a curse for bookworms.

The polar opposite of fictional books, nonfiction books are based on facts, true accounts of history and real events. Also, unlike fiction books, nonfiction books have relatively few genres. The most common types of books that make up nonfictional works are biographies, autobiographies, almanacs and encyclopedias.

Genres of Fiction Books

As mentioned before, the subcategories of fiction are too many to count. We have, however, tried our best and listed some of the most common types of genres below. Remember, many of these books can be fitted under several different genres.

Humorist writer Mark Twain once said, “Classic – a book which people praise and don’t read.” Perhaps that was true during his time but today, classics are some of the most commonly read books and are widely taught in most schools. These books pertain to a particular time period and place, and are deemed to have literary merits

Some examples of famous literary classics are “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll and “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens.

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Tragedy is a branch of drama written in a serious style that focuses on human suffering or tragic events, brought into motion most often by a heroic individual. Much of the works of tragedy serves to question the role of man in the universe and plays a historic role in the self-definition of the Western civilization.

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo,” William Shakespeare wrote in his tragedy drama, “Rome and Juliet” and indeed, he and his Elizabethan contemporaries were the ones who produced the most successful and famous tragedy dramas that survived the test of ages.

Some famous tragedies by different writers are “Hamlet” by Shakespeare, “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte and “Requiem of a Dream” by Hubert Selby, Jr.

Science Fiction

One of the most complex genres of literature, science-fiction is an umbrella term for a genre of fiction dealing with the advanced concepts of science, technology, time travel, space exploration, extra terrestrial life, alternate timelines, cyberpunk and end of the world. As such, science fiction books often veer off into the world of fantasy, adventure, mystery, supernatural and dystopian fiction.

Fortunately, this genre also encompasses some of the most thrilling literary works. Some examples of science fiction books are “Frankenstein” or “The Modern Prometheus” (which is also a tragedy) by Mary Shelley, “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams.

The most enjoyed genre by teens, young adults and even older individuals, fantasy books are works of speculative fiction, which generally revolves around magic, the supernatural and witchcraft. A lot of fantasy writers use mythology, theology and folklore as inspiration.

Like science fiction, the depth of this genre is vast and contains sub-genres like fairytales, epic fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, gods and demon fantasy, gothic fiction and fables.

Some of the most famous fantasy books include the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling, “Lord of the Rings” by J.R. Tolkien, “The Dark Tower” series by Stephen King, “The Folk of the Faraway Tree” by Enid Blyton, and “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis.

Fairytale is a subgenre of fantasy but because it’s such a vast category, it deserves its own section. Most fairytales take the form of short stories, though today, this is not always the case. Such books usually involve fairies, dwarfs, princesses, goblins, unicorns, elves, talking animals, trolls, dragons and other magical creatures.

Some of the most famous fairytale books include “Grimms’ Fairy Tales” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson and Snow White.

The adventure genre usually follows a reluctant hero leaving his familiar world behind to embark on a dangerous quest, where he encounters challenges, temptations and revelations. Helped along by mentors, guardians and friends, the hero navigates the unfamiliar world of adventure, defeats evil and returns home, successful and transformed.

This is one of the most popular types of creative fiction genre and is crossed by fantasy, supernatural, mystery, thriller and other sub-genres. Some of the best example of adventure fiction is “Treasure Island” by R. L. Stevenson, “The Hobbit” by J.R. Tolkien, “the Prisoner of Zenda” by Anthony Hope, “The Odyssey” by Homer and “Around the World in 80 Days” by Jules Verne.

Crime & Mystery

Murder on the Orient Express[MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS][Paperback]

The crime and mystery genre of fiction usually revolves around a mysterious death or a baffling crime that needs to be solved. Usually, the book’s main protagonist is a detective who solves the mystery by logical deductions. The other characters are suspects and each of them are assigned credible motives and opportunities to commit the crime.

The best mystery novel genre usually focuses on the starkly different views of morality and the societal aspects that the hero and the antagonist represent. Crimes and mystery novels are the most popular genre in the United States.

Some of the most masterful mystery novels are “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie, “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn, “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown and the “Sherlock Holmes” novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is based less on accurate historical facts and more on imagination. This literary genre takes place in a setting located in the past and pays attention to the mannerism, society and other details of the period depicted. To make the books seem true to life, authors sometimes insert notable historical figures in the setting, so that readers can better understand how these people would have responded to their environment.

Some historical novels include “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak, “Schindler’s Ark,” popularly known as “Schindler’s List” by Thomas Keneally and “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys.

The Book Thief : Film tie-in(Paperback) - 2016 Edition

A humorous fiction is a novel-length work of comedy, wherein the writer seeks to amuse or entertain the reader in a carefully woven narrative. The humor genre is also so huge that it needs to be divided into several sub-genres, including shock comedy, horror comedy, irony, satirical and parody.

Some of the best humorous novels include “My Family and Other Animals,” (which is also a semi-fictional autobiography) by Gerald Durrell, “The Confessions of a Shopaholic” series by Sophie Kinsella and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl.

Fictional Diaries

Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden (1998-06-04)

Fictional diaries are works of literature where the story is told in the form of a character’s diary. This is different from biographies, which only narrate true events, rather than fictionalized versions of fictionalized characters.

Some notable examples of fictional diaries include “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney, “Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden and “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker.

Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)

One of the most complex and profound genres of fiction, satire features the abuses, vices, maltreatment, corruption and shortcomings that seek to shame societies, individuals and governments into improvement.

Most satirical fictions feature dark humor and irony, although its greater purpose is actually constructive criticism of the society.

Some famous examples are “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde and “The Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess.

Although romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative involving awe-inspiring incidents (like the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by the 14 th century Chinese writer Luo Guanzhong), these days the genre mostly focuses on a loving relationship between two people. Often, these books end in “happy endings,” although that is not a given. Romance fictions also come in a variety of subgenres, like historical romance, fantasy, drama and paranormal.

Some famous romance novels are “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Márquez , “Eleanor &Park” by Rainbow Rowell and “Love Story” by Erich Segal.

By Rainbow Rowell Eleanor & Park [Paperback]

A genre of fiction which seeks to provoke feelings of fear, disgust, shock, terror and loathing in the reader, horror books have roots in ancient mythology and folklore.

The ancient Romans and Greeks focused on evil, death, afterlife, the demonic and these principles embodied within a person. These elements were manifested into creative works featuring witches, ghosts, vampires, werewolves and other monsters.

The horror genre creates an atmosphere of fright and creepiness. It may often be supernatural but that is not always the case.

One of the best horror writers of our time is Stephen King, whose novels “Carrie,” “The Shining” and “It” have terrified generations of readers. Some other prominent horror novels include “Dracula” by Bram Stoker and “Rosemary’s Baby” by Ira Levin.

Rosemary's Baby: Introduction by Chuck Palanhiuk by Ira Levin (2011-06-23)

Dystopia, literally translated from Greek as “bad place,” is a society that is frightening or disagreeable. Dystopian fiction often portrays characteristics of such societies and such books are often crossovers from the science fiction genre. Some of these books may feature apocalyptic literature, though not always.

Some of the most distinct dystopian works are “1984” by George Orwell, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood.

Genres of Nonfiction Books

Nonfiction genres are fewer than fiction books. As with fiction, they often have cross-genre status.

Biography/Autobiography

A biography is a detailed, intimate and highly personal narration of an individual’s life story. A biography written by the subject themselves is called an autobiography or autography. The work doesn’t just involve the person’s birth, education, work, relationship and death; it revolves around the circumstances leading to each. Most biographies are nonfiction, though some may add an element of exaggeration to it, which may result in the literature becoming semi-fiction.

Some famous example are “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban” by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai and “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank.

Memoirs are a collection of an individual’s experiences and events. They are sometimes considered a subgenre of biographies, although memoirs focus on a single touchstone in an individual’s life, rather than their entire life.

Some examples are “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King, “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert and “Night” by Elie Wiesel.

Self-Help Book

Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition: All Your Favorite Original Stories Plus 20 Bonus Stories for the Next 20 Years

A self-help book is one that is written to help readers solve personal physical, emotional and psychological problems. These books are also classified under “self-improvement” and have now become a postmodern cultural phenomenon. Although these books purport to help people, many of them are often written as catharsis by authors who have struggled to solve their own issues.

Some of the best self-help books are “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” by John Gray and “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey.

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex

Narrative Nonfiction

Also called creative nonfiction or literary nonfiction, this genre uses literary techniques to create a factually accurate body of work. This type of genre encompasses biographies, memoirs, food writing, itinerary and personal essays.

Some examples are “The Art of Travel” by Alain de Botton, “Cravings: Hungry for More” by Chrissy Teigen and “Calypso” by David Sedaris.

The Art of Travel by de Botton, Alain (2014) Paperback

Nonfiction Novels

Broadly speaking, nonfiction novels feature real historical figures and events, woven together with fiction-like storytelling techniques. It is also sometimes called a work of “faction,” which is a portmanteau of fact and fiction.

Some famous examples are “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote, “The Armies of the Night” by Norman Mailer and “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly.

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

Reference Books

As the name indicates, reference books are various types of text which can be referred for accurate information. The writing style is informative, there is no use of first person and the book is focused on facts. Some types of reference books are bibliographies, dictionaries, thesaurus, almanacs and encyclopedia.

The above genres are only some of the most popular types available in the market. Truth be told, all of us already know the basics of these genre, although not many of us have had the opportunity to explore them in depth. Everyone has a favorite type of book but it is even better to explore other genres. You never know what jewels you may find.

As C.S. Lewis once said, “We read to know we are not alone.”

The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019

The 23 most popular books of the past year, according to Goodreads members

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If you're looking for a great new book, it can be difficult to know where to start.
The books on this list are the most popular reads among Goodreads members in the past year.
The titles range from new romances to classics and everything in between.

Because there are nearly infinite books in the world, it can be difficult to know which one to pick up next. When I don't know what to read, I turn to fellow readers for the books they've read and adored, gravitating towards the titles I hear my friends mention over and over again.

Similarly, the internet can provide plenty of word-of-mouth reviews and rankings. The books on this list come from the most popular Goodreads members picked up in the last year, according to the 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge (where readers aim to read as many books as they can in one year). Goodreads is the world's largest platform for readers to rate, review, and discover new book recommendations, with over 125 million members sharing their favorite reads.

If you're looking to start off the new year right with a great new read, here are some of the most popular books readers are snagging right now.

The 23 most popular books right now, according to Goodreads members:

"the midnight library" by matt haig.

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.29

Nora Seed feels stuck in her life, bound to the choices she made that she still isn't sure were right. When Nora is ready to leave it all behind, she finds herself in a peculiar library, where each of the infinite books offers a portal to a parallel world, showing her all the many ways her life could have been slightly or drastically different, had she made other decisions.

"The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.19

" The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue " is a genre-bending fantasy book about a young woman named Addie who, in 1714, makes a bargain with a dark god and becomes cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Addie's story spans three centuries and countless countries — until she meets a boy in New York City in 2014 who can finally remember her.

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.42

Evelyn Hugo was an iconic Hollywood actress, just as notoriously remembered for her seven marriages as she was for her movie performances. Finally ready to tell her story, Evelyn Hugo chooses a little-known journalist named Monique, who goes to Evelyn's luxurious apartment to hear the truth behind Evelyn's lifetime of friendships, ambitions, and many loves.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.19

Considered one of the greatest novels of all time , " To Kill a Mockingbird " is an unforgettable historical fiction novel from 1960 that follows young Jean Louise Finch during a time of great racial inequality in her community. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer defending a Black man wrongly accused of a terrible crime as he faces a community desperate for a guilty conviction.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.44

" The Great Gatsby " is a classic about the wealthy Jay Gatsby, set during the Jazz Age in New York. When Nick Carraway moved to Long Island to find a job in New York City as a bond salesman, he meets his next-door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who throws extravagant parties and is constantly in pursuit of the stunning Daisy Buchanan.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.98

Kya Clark is known to most as the "Marsh Girl," running barefoot and wild in her quiet fishing village, having attended only one day of school. When a popular young boy is murdered, Kya's story unravels as the town accuses her of causing his death.

"1984" by George Orwell

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.48

" 1984 " is an iconic science fiction novel that imagines a dystopian future ruled by a totalitarian state, perpetually at war and at the mercy of strong propaganda. Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting historical records to conform to the state's version of events while secretly dreaming of rebellion and imagining what life would be like without Big Brother.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $5.47

" Pride and Prejudice " is a cherished, classic Jane Austen romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Loved for their unique relationship comprised of witty banter and flirting, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fall for each other in this story of class, wealth, and the duty of marriage.

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.35

In this Greek mythology-inspired tale , Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled by his father because of a misunderstanding when he meets the legendary Achilles. As the two form a unique relationship, Helen of Sparta is kidnapped and Achilles, along with all the heroes in Greece, joins the cause against Troy as they face a choice between love and fate.

"The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $15.70

Though the Vignes twin sisters grew up identical in their small, southern community, their lives split in young adulthood as one sister now lives in the same community with her Black daughter while the other passes for white in a white community. A beautiful story of influence and decisions emerges as their lives intersect over generations when their daughters finally meet.

"The Guest List" by Lucy Foley

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.09

Set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, a fascinating group of friends and family converge to celebrate the marriage of a rising television star and an ambitious magazine publisher. When someone is found dead, everyone becomes a suspect with their own strange and mysterious potential motives.

"People We Meet on Vacation" by Emily Henry

Alex and Poppy became best friends on a happenstance summer road trip in college, spurring a tradition of summer trips together — until two years ago, when everything changed between them. Though they haven't spoken since, Poppy desperately needs her best friend back and reaches out to Alex to see if they can try to rekindle their friendship in this adorable romance.

"It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.99

Ryle Kincaid is a stunning, assertive neurosurgeon with a soft spot for only Lily, who can't believe her luck that there's a spark between them. As the two fall into a passionate relationship, Lily can't help but think of her first love, Atlas. As her relationship with Ryle becomes more and more complicated, Atlas reappears and further complicates everything.

"The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14

" The Four Winds " is an award-winning historical fiction novel that illuminates the Dust Bowl era of the Great Depression, where farmers faced deadly droughts that often forced them from their land. To learn more about why we love this book, you can check out our review here.

"Malibu Rising" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.80

Famous surfer Nina Riva is preparing to host her iconic, annual party with her equally famous siblings, though she doesn't know the party will be literally up in flames by morning. As each sibling's story unravels, this historical fiction novel traverses from the party in 1983 to the Rivas' childhood, revealing long-buried secrets and spinning the present entirely out of control.

"The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides

Alicia Berenson had a seemingly perfect life with a painting career, a beautiful home, and a photographer husband until one night her husband returned home and Alicia shot him five times in the face and never spoke again. As Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, attempts to work with Alicia to get her to talk, his own twisted motives emerge in this gripping psychological thriller with many versions of the truth.

"Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.12

When a bank robbery goes terribly wrong, eight strangers find themselves being held hostage in an apartment with more in common than they imagined. Each anxious for their own reasons, the tensions mount as the police surround the apartment in this thought-provoking story of compassion where all the pieces slowly fit together.

"Red, White & Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.97

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz has a long-running nemesis: Prince Henry. When the tabloids catch the two in a confrontation, the plan for damage control includes staging a fake friendship between the boys in this fun, fan-favorite Queer romance.

"Normal People" by Sally Rooney

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.33

Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other in school, dropping the facade when Connell picks his mother up from a housekeeping job at Marianne's house. The two form a peculiar connection, drifting apart and back together over the years in this story about class, friendship, and human nature.

"The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.92

Originally written for the author's children, " The Hobbit " is a beloved prequel to the " Lord of the Rings " series where readers are introduced to the fantasy world of Middle-earth. When Bilbo Baggins is tricked into hosting a party, the wizard Gandalf convinces him to join him and a group of dwarves on an adventure to retrieve a treasure guarded by a dragon, igniting an epic tale adored by readers of all ages.

"Beach Read" by Emily Henry

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.35

January Andrews is a bestselling romance author, plagued with writer's block and staying at a beach house to try and write a new novel by her editor's deadline. When she meets the next-door literary fiction writer named Augustus, they decide to switch genres in an attempt to escape their creative ruts.

"The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.50

Before Hannah's new husband, Owen, disappears, he manages to slip her a note reading "protect her," which she knows refers to his 16-year-old daughter, Bailey. When the FBI arrests Owen's boss and comes to their home unannounced, Hannah and Bailey realize Owen isn't who they thought and must uncover the truth behind his disappearance while building a future together of their own.

"The Duke and I" by Julia Quinn

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.27

" The Duke and I " is the first Regency-era romance in the " Bridgerton " series, about Daphne Bridgerton who agrees to a fake courtship with Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. While Daphne needs her own prospects to soar and the Duke intends to avoid marriage altogether, their plan seems to be working perfectly — until the two can't deny the spark that seems to be igniting between them. If you love this book already, check out our list of other Julia Quinn novels to find your next great romance read.

Main content

Mixing it up: The importance of reading different genres

Posted on April 29, 2019 at 12:00 PM by Guest Author

Stuck in a reading rut? Discover the importance of reading different genres and learn how to expand your reading list.

The importance of reading different genres, how you benefit from expanding your reading list, ways to add variety to your reading list.

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”

― Oscar Wilde

Despite demonstrating a love of the written word, many readers tend to devote most of their time to consuming books in one or two specific genres.

And what’s the harm in that? If you find that a particular type of narrative speaks to you, shouldn’t you continue reading books that fall under that category?

Well … yes and no.

Of course you want to read books that entertain you and bring you joy, but it’s well worth adding some variety to your reading list. You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of reading different genres.

Reading isn’t just a fun pastime — it’s an opportunity to learn and achieve personal growth.

And the more you step outside of your comfort zone, the greater your chances of making new discoveries and experiencing a shift in your perspective.

Think of it like an adventure — one that will allow you to uncover treasures you never thought possible!

After all, we can’t discuss the importance of reading different genres without highlighting the benefits you can reap just by mixing things up with regard to your reading list…

You can improve your vocabulary.

When you read a wide array of books, it’s not uncommon to come across unfamiliar words and phrases.

Sometimes you can glean enough context from the sentence to understand the meaning; other times you’ll need to consult the dictionary for clarification.

Either way, you’re able to stow away the definition in your mind for later use.

Having a comprehensive vocabulary serves you well throughout your life.

It allows you to communicate more effectively with teachers and peers.

It improves your reading and writing skills.

It helps you process information faster.

It supports your efforts to stay informed of global affairs.

You may not even realize it at first, but when you add a greater variety of books to your reading list, you’ll slowly begin adding new words to your lexicon, reshaping the way you see and interact with the world.

You can develop a broader perspective.

It isn’t just exposure to new words that can affect your view of the world…

When you mix things up and add a wide selection of titles to your reading list, you can start to see people, places, and historical events in a new light.

For example, reading a nonfiction book about a group of people in another country can foster greater understanding of cultures unlike your own.

Even a piece of fiction set in a different time period can allow you to see where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.

When it comes to stressing the importance of reading different genres, the fact that doing so can broaden your perspective of the world is arguably the most noteworthy point of them all.

You can discover a new favorite genre.

You undoubtedly have a favorite genre or two now, but what if you’re missing out on others because you’re not adding any variety to your reading list?

Sure, you’ll likely find that not every genre is your cup of tea — and that’s okay.

However, by diversifying your reading material, you could wind up enjoying a particular type of book just as much as others you read on a regular basis.

And when that happens, the number of works you can add to your reading list grows exponentially — so much, in fact, that you may need to increase how many you read at once.

You can get inspiration from surprising places.

It’s amazing how expanding your reading list can open your mind and provide you with inspiration when you need it most.

Of course, some genres are meant to provide encouragement, motivation, and support, such as self-help books and memoirs.

Others, however, aren’t designed specifically to inspire readers, yet they’re able to do so nonetheless.

By picking up a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read, you may be struck with a sudden urge to finally write your own novel, travel to a faraway place, or even just take up a new hobby.

Even when you understand the importance of reading different genres, you may find it difficult to adjust your reading list when it has remained more or less the same for so long.

The good news is that there’s no wrong way to go about it. However, if you could use some guidance so this new approach doesn’t turn into a failed experiment, consider the following:

Try incorporating one new type of book at a time. The more drastic the change, the less likely you’ll be to stick with it.

Don’t be afraid to read multiple books at once . It may be easier to alternate between a new find and an old favorite.

Ask friends, family members, and co-workers for recommendations. They may prefer books that you wouldn’t normally go for.

Review the complete works of your favorite writers. Though authors typically stick to one genre, some branch out. Taking this approach allows you to “dip your toe in” by reading a different type of work from an author you’re already familiar with.

Be spontaneous and choose a new genre at random! Go to your local library, bookstore, or e-book marketplace and head to a section you wouldn’t usually visit.

Is there a genre you tend to disregard? Give it another chance! You may be surprised to find that, while you never used to like works under that category, you’ve developed a newfound appreciation for them.

The importance of reading different genres should not be understated, as increasing the range of books you read can provide you with a number of benefits.

If you’ve found yourself in something of a reading rut, don’t be afraid to play around with your reading list. Pick up a book you wouldn’t usually go for. Chances are you’ll get more out of it than you may anticipate!

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Last updated on Apr 21, 2021

Nonfiction: 24 Genres and Types of Fact-Based Books

Many readers think of nonfiction as a genre in itself. But take a look through your local bookstore and you’ll see dozens of sections devoted to fact-based books, while fiction titles are sorted into just a few broadly defined genres like ‘Fantasy/Sci-Fi’ and ‘General Fiction’!

To give nonfiction books the recognition they deserve and help authors choose the right category for their work, here’s a list of the 24 most common genres of nonfiction along with their identifying features.

Expository nonfiction

Expository nonfiction aims to inform the reader about its subject — providing an explanation for it, be it a historical event, natural phenomenon, fashion trend, or anything else.

1. History

History books are not to be mistaken with textbooks. Rather than cherry-picking details to be memorized about a person, an event, or an era, these nonfiction titles are more like cross-sections in time. They provide readers with as much of the social and political contexts of events as possible with the use of rich primary and secondary sources, so as to better understand their causes and their legacies.

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond Tapping into geological, agricultural, and biological evidence, Diamond challenges perception of genetic differences and contextualizes the history of human development using various external, environmental conditions.

Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II, 1941-1944 by Anna Reid The Eastern Front of WWII is not as well-discussed as the Western one, though it's just as important. To balance the viewpoints out a little, Anna Reid explores life in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) during one of the longest, costliest, and deadliest military blockades in history.

2. Philosophy

This is where the big questions get asked. While ‘philosophy’ conjures up the image of impenetrable books written by Nietzche and Confucius for the enjoyment of beard-stroking academics, that isn’t the be-all-and-end-all of this genre! Contemporary authors have taken care to make their writings more accessible without sacrificing depth of analysis.

Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn An introduction to life’s grandest topics (ethics, freedom, self — all that jazz) as told through the prism of history’s greatest philosophers. Suitable for curious readers who don’t know their Aristotles from their Kants.

How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson The author smuggles in a history of the great philosopher king by presenting it as a self-help guide. By showing his readers how Marcus Aurelius’s beliefs can apply to modern life, Robertson appeals to readers who wouldn’t otherwise pick up a copy of Meditations from the library.

A Grammar of the Multitude by Paolo Virno See how philosophy has evolved in today’s international world through Paolo Virno's perspective. He advocates for the understanding of people as "multitudes" (courtesy of Dutch Enlightenment thinker, Spinoza). It's recommended that readers go into this book with some previous knowledge on classic philosophical paradigms.

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3. Religion and Spirituality

Books about religion and spirituality can take many forms. Some are theory-based, some are written from personal experience, and some are structured like a self-help book, with the end goal of helping readers find their spiritual home. Oftentimes, each book focuses on a particular belief system — there are even Christian publishers who are solely dedicated to publishing books about their religion.

📚 Examples

Waking the Buddha by Clark Strand An interesting cross between a historical research and a personal spiritual exploration, this book details the rise and continued influence of the Soka Gakkai, an international Buddhist organization that works towards egalitarianism and social justice.

The Power of Now by Ekchert Tolle This self-help-style book brings readers closer to spiritual enlightenment by acknowledging how our mind focuses on the past and the future rather than the present. It's the first step on the path toward mindful connection with the joys of the moment.

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Science books, or “Science & Maths” books — as Amazon would categorize them — can get quite technical. Most of the time, they’re reporting on scientists’ academic research. And so, science books tend to be well-organized and follow academic conventions like referencing and indexing . But while they sound dry, the intriguing questions that they address can always be presented in ways that keep readers coming. In any case, readers can always choose to scan over the complex mathematical proofs, or authors can put all that into the appendix.

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking See the concept of time through the logical and characteristically witty eyes of this world-renowned scientist. It doesn’t make for the breeziest read, but it will give readers a very in-depth understanding of this arbitrary but ever-present concept.

Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Donald Goldsmith Neil deGrasse Tyson takes readers on a tour of the universe's transformations through the years, introducing concepts of moons’ orbits and expanding stars along they way. All of this is a sturdy stepping stone to the complex realm of cosmology.

5. Popular Science

Is this type of nonfiction just academic science books but repackaged for laypeople? Why yes indeed. Popular science books take complex research and processes and get rid of most of the jargon, so that your average Joe can pick them up and learn something new about our universe. They’re almost like Vox videos, but that you read instead of watch.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson Bill Bryson isn’t a scientist or an anthropologist, but he’s brought together knowledge from various disciplines to create this digestible, comprehensive exploration of the universe and the human race.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson Tyson’s expertise as a science communicator shines through with this armchair-expert version of astrophysics, which he claims can be read on noisy buses and trains without much headache.

6. Politics and Social Sciences

With the ongoing social and political tumult across the world, there has been a rise in both the reading and writing of this kind of book. Some political and social science books are based more on anecdotal evidence, others are on par with academic papers in terms of depth of research. Either way, they usually pick out a specific feature or structure in society to analyze with a critical eye.

Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson Discover why some nations are stuck in poverty traps with these economists. Using empirical data, they compellingly demonstrate the importance of inclusive institutions in fostering growth. Their writing continues to inspire development theories and strategies worldwide.

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge It started with a blog post which the author wrote to express her frustration toward the domination of white people in discussions about racism. It became a tour-de-force work on the experiences and realities of deep-rooted racial discrimination in society.

A book of essays is a collection of themed pieces of writing written by an author, or multiple authors, who often has some sort of authority on or personal experience with the subject matter. While they sound incredibly serious, they don’t require as much research as the types of nonfiction we’ve mentioned above. They’re often quite introspective and personal, like op-ed pieces or magazine articles. In fact, many essay books are made up of articles that were previously published in newspapers or magazines.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin A collection of articles published in Harper’s Magazine , Partisan Review , and The New Leader , in which Baldwin discusses representations of Black people in the media, as well as his experiences as a Black man in Europe.

The Good Immigrant , edited by Nikesh Shukla 21 writers of color come together to talk about their lives in the UK, and how they're sometimes made to question their sense of belonging despite being born and raised there.

8. Self-Help

Out of all the non-fiction genres out there, this is probably the most popular one. The name itself is explanatory: a self-help book provides you with some guidance and actions through which you can solve personal problems. Self-help books can be research-based, or they can be reflective — like an extended blog post. Note, though, that while the latter kind may read somewhat like a memoir in style, if you choose to write a self-help book , you must explicitly advise the reader.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell What makes a person successful? Gladwell argues that it’s hardly just luck — even prodigies aren’t guaranteed recognition. Pulling from various examples and sociological studies, he identifies several factors, beyond genetics, that anyone can optimize to boost their chances.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson Sometimes what you need is for someone to give it to you straight. That’s when conversational, hilarious, blog-style books like this become handy. Mark Manson’s self-help book is all about accepting what you’re given and not allowing expectations ruin your happiness.

9. Business and Economics

While this a broad category that may include volumes with a journalistic flavor, business books tend to be guides to entrepreneurship and management. It’s a medium for those who've had experience in the workplace or the market to share their tips and tricks (and also a good tool for authors to bag guest-speaking events). In this sense, this kind of book is like self-help, but specifically for entrepreneurs and business managers.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Master the art of financial management through real-life case studies and a four-principle system with which can be applied to any business. It's straightfoward and has enough examples to demonstrate its success.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis Lewis makes the mess of the financial crisis of 2008 that little bit easier to wrap your head around in this darkly humorous book. He follows the stories of ordinary people who fell victim to the American financial sector, revealing the precariousness of this ever-expanding industry.

10. Health and Wellness

There's no shortage of health and wellness books out there — what do we care about if not a long and healthy life, right? These books cover many different topics, from diets to sleeping habits, from stress management to dealing with anxiety. Most are written by researchers and doctors, who have the technical knowhow to offer sound insight and advice.

Lifespan by David Sinclair Drawing from his knowledge as a geneticist, Sinclair gives readers the scoop on the ever-popular topic of aging. He assures us that for a long, healthy, and happy life, we should enjoy our chocolate and wine (in moderation, of course).

This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo Food provides more than just nutrients for sustenance and growth — what you eat also impacts your mood and mental health. Dr. Uma Naidoo is a psychiatrist, nutritionist, and a professional chef, so you can trust she knows what she’s talking about.

Types of Nonfiction | Health and Wellness Books

11. Crafts and Hobbies

Once upon a time, before Google became the omniscient engine that held the answer to all our questions, people relied on craft books to teach them how to pick up a new hobby. Origami, crochet, calligraphy, gardening — you name it, there’s a book about it. Nowadays, books like these appeal to the audience not solely because of the skills but also the author. Authors are usually someone with an online presence and authority when it comes to the craft, and their book's tone and interior design usually reflect a bit of their personality.

By Hand by Nicole Miyuki Santo Beautifully designed with plenty of samples with which readers could practice their own calligraphy, Santo’s guide is a meditative exercise book. It’s also a great avenue for her followers on Instagram to come closer to her art by practicing it themselves.

Alterknit Stitch by Andrea Rangel For knitters who have already nailed down the basics and want to experiment with new patterns, this is the book to get. It demonstrates ways to have fun with this cozy hobby by defying the conventions of knitting.

12. Travel Guides

Again, the internet seems to have taken over from books when it comes to helping travelers and tourists discover new places. Still, travel guides are a lot more comprehensive, keeping everything you might need to know about budgeting, languages, places to visit (or avoid), and much more, in one place. Ebooks are the perfect format for these guides — they’re easy for travelers to refer to on the go, and they’re not as costly to update to include the latest information.

The Lonely Planet series This collection has been growing since the 1970s, and it now holds plenty of books with various focuses. There are guides solely on helpful phrases in foreign languages, and then there are regional, country-level, and city guides, all made with contributions from locals.

The Time Out series While also written by locals, these books focus only on cities (mainly in Europe and the US). As with the magazine of the same name, the content of the books is all about local haunts and hidden shops that tourists may not be aware of.

13. Cookbooks

Cookbooks make up another type of nonfiction that’s evermore popular, and not just because we’re cooking more and more at home nowadays. They’re increasingly beautiful, and to write a cookbook is to have a vision in mind about what kind of mouth-watering photos (or illustrations!) it would offer alongside easy-to-follow instructions. They also tend to have cohesive themes, i.e. desserts for vegans, at-home experimental fine-dining, or worldly culinary adventures from your kitchen.

In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen Grandmothers from eight different Eastern African countries show readers both hearth and heart through the familial stories associated with their food. Beyond the loving taste of traditional homecooked dishes, readers will also get to learn about life in the villages of Africa.

Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi Israeli-English chef Yotam Ottolenghi is the owner of several branches of restaurants, bakeries and food shops in London, but you can get a taste of his cuisine with this collection of 130 Middle Eastern recipes that can be made within 30 minutes. Who says simple cooking couldn't be adventurous?

Midnight Chicken: & Other Recipes Worth Living For by Ella Risbridger A slightly different take on cookbooks, Midnight Chicken is a manifesto for an joyful life, built on homemade food. Her recipes are simple and homely, just like the illustrations of her book, so that anyone can make them even after a long and tiring day.

14. Parenting and Family

Parenting is anything but easy, and since Supernanny is not always on air, a little help from experts and those who've had experience dealing with children is the next best thing. From understanding with the psychology of young minds to finding the best environments and ways to nurture them, parenting books with sound academic backing provide useful insights and advice to help readers become better guardians and caregivers.

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Laura Markham Based on the latest research on brain development and clinical tests, Markham emphasizes the importance of the emotional connection between parent and child in development. When parents understand their own emotions, they can raise their children with empathy, set healthy boundaries, and communicate with clarity.

Unequal Childhoods by Annette Lareau Beyond the home, there's a complex world which parents don’t have control of. Annette Lareau sociologically examines the social and political contexts in which children would be exposed to (if they live in America) and how childrearing can be affected by it.

15. Children’s Nonfiction

Explaining the world to children, even on a limited scale, can be incredibly difficult, as it’s hard to keep their attention. Luckily, a bit of assistance from an illustrator can do wonders. As a result, many children’s nonfiction books are in the style of picture books and chapter books. Topics covered include short historical accounts and biographies, or stories that explain scientific phenomena and how they are studied. For a more detailed breakdown of children’s nonfiction, check out editor Melissa Stewart’s system of classification .

The Little Leaders series by Vashti Harrison Read about exceptional men and women of various ethnic backgrounds throughout history, and enjoy their adorable portraits in this series. There’s hardly a better way to help children embrace differences than through nonfiction books about diversity such as this.

There Are Bugs Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup Open young minds up to the natural world through this colorful elementary guide to the insect world. Answering questions about where insects live or how they find and store food with engaging drawings, it’s a great educational tool for parents and teachers.

16. Educational Guides

Many educational guides as the YA version of nonfiction books. These are targeted at final-year high-schoolers and young college students, with the aim providing them some guidance as they reach that strange age where independence is desperately craved but also a bit scary. Unlike popular YA fiction , this is still definitely a niche, yet, as rising study-with-me YouTubers would show you, there is potential for growth. Other than that, there are also learning guides for older audiences as well.

The Uni-Verse by Jack Edwards Sharing his experience in preparing for and being at university, Edwards hopes to ensure readers that they, too, could emerge from univeristy happy and successful. From how to take lecture notes to how to get along with your roommates, this guide is full of helpful advice for anyone who’s feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Beginners by Tom Vanderbilt Education doesn’t have to be limited to the classroom, as Tom Vanderbilt shows us in this call-to-action for life-long learning. As testament to the value of learning as an adult, he tells the stories behind his journey with five skills: playing chess, singing, surfing, drawing, and juggling.

Types of Nonfiction | Educational Guides

17. Textbooks

We’ve all had our fair share of poring over these books: each comprehensively puts together information about a specific subject (and sometimes even the subject of teaching itself). The content of textbooks also include questions that stimulate learners, encouraging them to reflect on certain matters. As they are meant to accompany a curriculum, textbooks have to be written with a good overarching grasp of the subject and solid understanding of pedagogy. Given all this work, textbook writers deserve more appreciation than they get!

Oxford’s Very Short Introduction series by Oxford University Press This popular series offers a short and concise introduction to just about every topic out there. Breaking big concepts and lesson outcomes into bitesize definitions, they make great overviews or quick refreshers before an exam.

Letting Go of Literary Whiteness by Carlin Borsheim-Black and Sophia Tatiana Sarigianides This textbook is made not for students but for teachers. Based on experiences and examples from their own classrooms, the authors supply advice, and real-life scenarios in which they apply, on how to be anti-racist in schools.

18. Language Books

Language books can be general guides as to how to learn any language, or they can go into the nitty-gritty of a particular language. Some of them aren’t even about learning to use and communicate in a language; instead, they take a dive into the origins and inner workings of these complex systems. Regardless, because of the complexity of the subject, these nonfiction titles require expert knowledge from the part of the author.

Through the Language Glass by Guy Deutscher Linguist Guy Deutscher (a perfect name for the profession) makes the case for the connection between language and culture in this volume, opening up a whole new perspective on language learning beyond the practicalities.

How to Speak Any Language Fluently by Alex Rawlings This book does what it says on the tin: it gives you the tools to pick up any language you want. Rawling's advice is as fun as it is helpful, so everyone can learn their language of choice with extra enjoyment!

Many of them are memoirs of comedians and talk show hosts, others are written by celebrated essayists and journalists. The celebrity profiles of authors in the genre explains humorous nonfiction's popularity. While form may vary, most of these titles are penned as social commentaries that candidly talk about issues that are often overlooked.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell A witty exploration of the legacies of presidential assassinations in America, which notes how they’ve been used for political and commercial purposes that ridiculously undermine their historical importance. It’s history and politics, but with a healthy dose of sharp humor.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh Bill Gates says it’s “funny as hell” , and that’s all the advertising it needs. Taking the unconventional form of meme-worthy comic strips accompanied by texts to provide context, Brosh’s memoir is a candid reflection on both hilarious and bleak moments she's been through.

20. Arts Books

The arts section is a fun mix — to name a few, there are photography collections, art catalogues, books on theory and critique, and volumes that teach artistic endeavors. With nuggets of wisdom from industry experts and often great attention paid to design details these books really are like pieces of artwork themselves.

The World of Art series by Thames & Hudson This collection offers a variety of art styles and their hallmark pieces from across time and space. You could pick any one of them and feast your eyes on not only the art itself, but the wonderful interior design — courtesy of Adam Hay .

Women Artists by Flavia Frigeri In a now seminal feminist art history text written in the 70s, Linda Nochlin raised a provocative question: “Why have there been no great women artists?” Well, this addition to the Art Essentials series answers the question by showcasing 50 women artists throughout history, proving that the problem lies not in the lack of female artists, but in the failure to give them the recognition they deserve.

Narrative nonfiction

While narrative nonfiction books are still factual, they're written in the style of a story. As such a book's chapters have a flow — a story structure , if you will — rather than being systematically organized by topic.

21. Memoirs and autobiographies

Memoirs and autobiographies are books about the writer’s life. The former covers a shorter time period, focusing on a particularly noteworthy moment, such as experience in a certain industry, or an unconventional childhood. It’s thus often written by younger authors. The latter follows a longer timeline, going through a whole life, like a personal history. As such, while anyone, with or without a public presence, can write a memoir , autobiographies are always penned by well-known figures. Autobiographies are also often used by politicians and activists to share their journey and views.

Gone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung by Min Kym Prodigal violinist Min Kym was the youngest pupil at the Purcell School of Music, though her life wasn't a bed of roses. While struggling with the theft of a 17th-century Stradivarius in her possession (which made national headlines in the UK in 2010), she came to realize with incredible clarity that she had lost much more on the journey to meet the expectations of her teachers, her parents, and the world. And all of it was beautifully recorded in this memoir.

A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa Masaji Ishikawa's life in Japan is just like any ordinary person’s life, but to have gotten there, he’d undergone the challenges of escaping the totalitarian state of North Korea. His experience with this totalitarian state and his subsequent escape makes for a memoir readers can't put down.

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela The man at the heart of one of the biggest, most publicised international movement against racial discrimination and for political freedom shares his journey from being an activist to his 27 years in prison in this autobiography.

22. Biographies

Take note, biographies are different from auto biographies in a very crucial way, even though both are basically life stories. While autobiographies are written by authors about themselves , biographies are written by an author about somebody else . If the subject is alive, their consent should be acquired for ethical purposes (though this isn’t always done). A biography could also be penned long after its subject’s death, presented as a history book that’s focused solely on the life and circumstances of one person. Many of these have gone on to inspire award-winning movies and musicals.

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow Ron Chernow is truly the master of biographies, and any of his titles would be a great example of his brilliance as a writer and researcher. This Pulitzer Prize winner on America’s founding father is recommended for its nuanced portrait of a legendary figure. Chernow took four years to research and an additional two to complete the manuscript — it was no easy project!

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar Perhaps more famous for its movie adaptation starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, Sylvia Nasar’s biography provides a window into the turbulent life of schizophrenic mathematician and economist John Nash. While it challenged ethical practices by not consulting with Nash even though he was alive, the book was still very well-received.

23. Travel Literature

Some call them travelogues, others call them travel memoirs — either way, travel literature books straddle the line between informing on the many cultures of the world and self-reflection. Books that fall into this genre are usually quite poetic and insightful (unlike practical travel guides). They’re all about personal journeys that are meditative and eye-opening, and can be about a specific place or a series of places.

Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bike by Dervla Murphy In 1963, Dervla Murphy kept a daily diary of her trek “across frozen Europe and through Persia and Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan and into India.” After the trip, she published the diary and invited readers to join her on this remarkable feat, whether from their couch or as they start their own journey.

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson Focusing on the place and not the journey, Bill Bryson documents his “farewell tour” of the UK as he prepared to return to America after almost two decades of living across the pond. Mixing cultural insights with a healthy dose of humor, he wraps his travel notes in social commentary to both satirize and praise the idiosyncrasies of the British.

24. Journalism

Follow investigative journalists as they uncover ugly truths. Other than doing justice by in-depth and sometimes even dangerous investigations, this type of nonfiction also enthralls readers with the twists and turns of real events and details of actual underground operations, conspiracies, and court dramas, to name a few.

All the President’s Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein Journalists Woodward and Bernstein's reports in The Washington Post won them a Pulitzer Prize and led to President Nixon’s impeachment. In this book, they recollect the process behind their famous exposé on Watergate.

Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow On his trail to investigate Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual assaults, Farrow discovered a systematic mechanism which favors offenders with big pockets and silences the voice of victims. His book is thus an exposé on the journalism industry itself.

Voilà! Those are 24 of the most popular types of nonfiction along with some typical exmaples. And keep in mind that as more and more titles get released, the genres will expand beyond this list. It goes to show how expansive this side of the publishing world can be. If you’re writing , publishing, or marketing a nonfiction book , hopefully this list has clarified the purpose, styles, and formats of each genre so that you can find the perfect fit for your own work.

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Are Plants Intelligent? If So, What Does That Mean for Your Salad?

A new book, “The Light Eaters,” looks at how plants sense the world and the agency they have in their own lives.

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Zoë Schlanger looks straight at the camera in this portrait.

By Elizabeth A. Harris

Zoë Schlanger was a reporter covering climate change — a daily onslaught of floods, fires and other natural disasters — when she started wading into botany journals to relax.

There, she found something that surprised her: Researchers were debating whether plants might have an intelligence of their own.

Take corn, for example. It is one of several types of plants that can identify a caterpillar’s species by its saliva and send out plumes of chemical compounds into the air, summoning the insect’s predator. Alerted to the caterpillar’s presence by these compounds, a parasitic wasp arrives and destroys it, protecting the corn.

“One of the big debates is whether or not there’s any form of intention with plants and whether you need intention for something to have intelligence,” Schlanger said. “But one could argue that it doesn’t even matter if you can find intention in plants. What matters is watching what they actually do. And what they do is make decisions in real time and plan for the future.”

Schlanger spent the next several years exploring plant behavior for her book, “The Light Eaters,” which was published this month. On a recent walk through Central Park — past hydrangeas, hellebores, hyacinths and a Broadway softball league game between team “Hamilton” and team “The Lion King” — Schlanger described some of the astonishing things plants can do, and how learning more about them has informed her work reporting on climate change, which she now does for The Atlantic.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

What are some surprising things plants can do?

I am most drawn to the ways that plants manipulate animals to their benefit.

Yellow monkey flowers are able to lie to bees about how much pollen they have in their flowers to dupe them into showing up. Bees have this screening process where they’re sampling the volatile chemicals coming off the flowers, and those chemicals will indicate how much pollen is there for them. The monkey flowers have come up with a way to not have to go through the very expensive, energetic work of making all this pollen, but just emitting the volatile chemicals. The bee shows up and there is nothing there for it, but the flower gets pollinated anyway.

Or there’s the whole world of sexually deceptive orchids, which I think is so cool. There are some that grow one really unusual petal: this long strand, with a little bulb at the end of it. Male wasps will arrive and cling to it because it’s exuding almost the exact same pheromone as a female wasp.

I like it when they summon a predator. That’s just crazy.

Back in the ‘90s, researchers realized that corn and tomatoes were able to sample the saliva of the caterpillar eating them, and then synthesize chemicals that summon the exact parasitic wasp that would come and inject the caterpillars with their larva. So the wasp comes, puts loads of larvae inside of the caterpillars. The larvae hatch and eat the caterpillars from the inside out and then glue their cocoons to the outside of the caterpillar. So then you just have these husks of caterpillars, covered in wasp cocoons.

Yeah, it’s a very creepy, bristly image. But the plant is trying to save itself. It’s eliminating a certain number of these caterpillars by summoning the exact predator to come destroy them. You can think of that as a plant using a tool. I mean, I don’t know about your feed, but mine is full of videos of things like crows using sticks as tools.

The algorithm has found you!

Absolutely. And obviously these crows are brilliant for doing that, but then what does it mean when plants are doing essentially the same thing, but to living organisms? They’re releasing chemicals that cause an animal to do something. Does that animal believe it’s doing this of its own free will? Is this a zombification of other animals, or is it more of a collaborative mutual exchange where the wasp gets something out of it? It’s hard to tell the difference between manipulation and collaboration in nature.

When scientists talk about “intelligence” in plants, what do they mean?

There are all of these calculations plants are constantly making by taking in every aspect of their environment and adjusting their lives accordingly, and it starts to look an awful lot like what we might consider intelligence — in a totally alien life form. That’s kind of how you have to treat it. Intelligence won’t show up in the way we expect ourselves to be intelligent. It’ll show up in ways that are evolutionarily appropriate for plants.

So no one is saying the plant is going to write a poem or do your math homework?

Not yet! Although researchers who study plant communication talk about syntax in plant communication and, in a way, sentence structure. But they’re talking about chemistry, chemical compounds floating in the air that have meaning.

What about the way plants sense the world? Do they interact with sound?

There’s some research happening now where scientists are playing tones for plants and realizing certain tones make plants produce more of certain compounds. There’s a tone that, if played for enough time, will make broccoli ramp up its antioxidants. In alfalfa sprouts, other tones will cause the plant to produce more vitamin C. One could see how — if they figured this out better — you could adjust the nutrition content of crops just by playing tones.

There’s also a whole world of playing tones to plants that causes them to produce more of their own pesticide, which is interesting when you think about how much pesticide we use to grow our food crops.

Have you changed your own behavior after spending so much time thinking about this? Do you have trouble eating salad now?

Obviously we’re animals that need to eat plants. There’s no way around that. But there is a way of imagining a future with agricultural practices and harvesting practices that are more tuned into the life style of the plant, the things it’s capable of and its proclivities.

This opens up the world of plant ethics. What does our world look like if we include plants in a moral imagination? There are lots of cultures that are already based on this. Robin Wall Kimmerer (author of “ Braiding Sweetgrass ”) writes a lot about this, how Indigenous science leaves a lot more room for questions about plants that are centered on respect and mutual interest.

What do you want people to take away from this book?

In thinking about plant intelligence, what we’re really thinking about is how much plants are active participants in their own life. They have some sense of agency, even if it doesn’t look anything like our own agency. I think that is really humbling. Everything wants to keep living. That has really helped me come back to climate reporting with more of a sense of what we stand to lose from climate change. Every single species is this ingenious biological feat that would be so foolish to extinguish.

More about Elizabeth A. Harris

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‘oh, canada’ review: richard gere and his ‘american gigolo’ filmmaker paul schrader reunite for reflective drama about truth, regrets and mortality – cannes film festival.

‘Kinds Of Kindness’ Review: Yorgos Lanthimos’ Latest Is Puzzling, Brilliant, Funny … And Not Easy To Like – Cannes Film Festival

By Stephanie Bunbury

Stephanie Bunbury

‘Kinds of Kindness’ Cannes Film Festival Premiere Photos: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley & More

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Thus begins a long, wild trail through three otherwise ostensibly unrelated stories, all featuring the same actors playing different roles in each story. All three stories do, however, reflect Lanthimos’ recurrent motifs: control, cruelty and erotomania.

He and his co-writer, Efthimis Filippou, have conjured many closed dystopias over the years, but this one seems all the darker for containing three stories rather than one. It isn’t about an isolated quirk, like the imprisoned family in Dogtooth . It isn’t centered on a single oddball institution, like the one that turns surplus unmarried humans into animals in The Lobster .

RELATED: Cannes Film Festival Photos

Kinds of Kindness is about a ubiquitous interdependence between ruthless power and willing submission that crops up everywhere, which implies that we are all in its thrall. That makes it their gloomiest film yet. Of course, it is also very funny.

The first story follows Robert, a corporate dweeb played by Jesse Plemons . If it wasn’t already obvious after his scene-stealing rampage in Civil War , Plemons is really having a moment; here, he manages to make an unappealing character, the cringing acolyte of a tyrannical boss, utterly riveting. The car crashes, along with every detail of Robert’s life from his marriage to the meals he is allowed to eat, are masterminded by his boss Raymond, played by Willem Dafoe . Lanthimos seems to have made it his life’s purpose to get Dafoe to go full Voldemort. As in so many other aspects of his gloriously excessive filmmaking, he has now wholly succeeded.

In between these two stories comes a different slant on death, grief and torment, in which Plemons plays a decent, dull police officer whose wife Liz — Stone again — is part of a scientific team lost while investigating marine life on remote reefs. Plemons’ Daniel is deranged with worry, but when Liz returns he is convinced the woman in his house is an imposter. Liz responds to his hostility with a deluge of endearments and abject willingness to obey his every demand. He has obviously gone mad – what kind of man demands his wife cooks her own fingers for his dinner? – but it is true that the woman in his kitchen doesn’t seem much like an intrepid adventurer.

Strange things happen, but this isn’t a ghost story. Lanthimos is not interested in the uncanny so much as the ominous, an atmosphere underlined in all three stories with a jabbing piano score by Jerskin Fendrix and emphasized by cinematographer Robbie Ryan’s alternating lenses, wacky angles, extreme close-ups and a repeating motif of gleaming surfaces. Indeed, the polished wood floors, walls and ceilings in Daniel and Liz’s rustic bungalow in the second story, which give the entire episode an increasingly sanguinary glow, deserve a credit of their own.

Of course, the attention to set detail means you always know exactly where you are in a Lanthimos film: the flower arrangement on an occasional table, a maze of overstuffed beige couches, or the spread of wasteland visible from a window tell the stories of the people in this excruciatingly tidy house, this dazzlingly glazed office, this murkily-purposed institution. Lanthimos could give David Cronenberg a run for his money on murkily-purposed institutions.

So here it is, the new Lanthimos: puzzling, brilliant and, in all honesty, not easy to like. What is this teasingly unfathomable filmmaker telling us? We may never know, any more than we will find out why RMF is a marked man. Perhaps the point is that RMF is just a pawn in a succession of other men’s games, including Lanthimos’ own. That in itself is more than enough food for thought.

Title: Kinds of Kindness Festival: Cannes (Competition) Distributor: Searchlight Pictures /Disney Director : Yorgos Lanthimos Screenwriter: Efthimis Filippou Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau Running time: 2 hr 45 min

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Emma Stone’s Descent Into Sex Cults and Cannibalism in ‘Kinds of Kindness’ Lands 4.5-Minute Standing Ovation in Cannes

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 17: Joe Alwyn, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos attend the "Kinds Of Kindness" Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Yorgos Lanthimos’ “ Kinds of Kindness ,” starring Emma Stone , freaked out Cannes Film Festival on Friday night with an anthology of stories about sex cults, cannibalism and general debauchery.

Popular on Variety

MORE: Best of Cannes Red Carpet Fashion

The stars came out in force on the red carpet prior to the movie’s grand unveiling. Lanthimos was flanked by Stone, his Oscar-winning “Poor Things” star, along with Dafoe (another “Poor Things” alum), Plemons, Alwyn, Chau, Mamoudou Athie and Qualley. Along with the cast, the celebrity-heavy audience included Demi Moore, “Challengers” breakout Mike Faist, Eva Green and Chloe Fineman.

“Kinds of Kindness” is one of the highest-profile debuts at a festival that has already seen the bows of “Furiousa,” George Miller’s prequel to “Mad Max: Fury Road,” as well as the premiere of “Megalopolis,” Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-in-the-making fantasy drama.

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List of Book Genres: 30 Fiction And Nonfiction Genres You Should Know

What does your book genre tell you?

List of Book Genres

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21 of the Most Popular Book Genres, Explained

Action and Adventure

The Three Musketeers

The Call of the Wild

To Kill a Mockingbird

Little Women

Vintage Beloved

The Walking Dead: Compendium One

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

The Night Fire

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

And Then There Were None

The Water Dancer

Ninth House

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Vintage Memoirs of a Geisha

The Haunting of Hill House

Literary Fiction

Where the Crawdads Sing

Olive, Again

The Dutch House: A Novel

Brazen and the Beast

Royal Holiday

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

Nan A. Talese The Testaments

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Short Stories

This Is How You Lose Her

How Long 'til Black Future Month?

The 19th Christmas

The Guardians

My Sister, the Serial Killer

The Queen of Hearts

Red at the Bone

Biographies and Autobiographies

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Cravings: Hungry for More

The Jemima Code

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1

Notes of a Native Son

Bad Feminist

The Source of Self-Regard

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Born a Crime

The Glass Castle

Sylvia Plath: The Collected Poems

The Sun and Her Flowers

There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé

Harper Everything Is F*cked

Dare to Lead

Catch and Kill

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

Helter Skelter

A Reader’s Guide To The Different Book Genres

Margaret Kingsbury

What does genre mean to me?

Fiction Book Genres

Literary Fiction

General Fiction

Historical Fiction

Mystery/Suspense

Action/Adventure

Science Fiction

Nonfiction Book Genres

Folklore Studies

New Age & Alternative Beliefs

Health & Wellness

Social Science

Business & Economics

Communications

Home & Garden

Animal & Pet Care

Recreation & Leisure

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Types Of Book Genres: Exploring The Most Popular Fiction, Non-Fiction, And Hybrid Books