Paul's Best Non-Fiction Reads of 2024Like this list

11 items

• Don Binney

  Flight Path

  O'Brien, Gregory, 1961-

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  A thorough retrospective of a key Kiwi artist who took flight early in his career with vibrant and evocative images of NZ birds. Fellow artist Gregory O'Brien skilfully and sympathetically indicates Don Binney's struggle to find…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hard by the Cloud House

  Walker, Peter (Journalist)

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  Peter Walker chases his muse on a breeze of whimsy and successfully marries it with a more hard-nosed journalistic approach as he attempts to track down fossils and mythical traces of the legendary Haast eagle. Walker takes his readers on…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Wager

  a Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder

  Grann, David, 1967-

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  Non-fiction specialist David Grann returns with an epic naval saga where the violent emotions of crew and captain rival the stormy seas they encounter during the 18th century. This book is a survival tale that will leave you astounded…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Paintings in Proust

  a Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time

  Karpeles, Eric

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  A beautifully presented book with artworks referenced by Marcel Proust in his doorstopper of classic French literature. Sometimes it's a challenge to decide which is more gorgeous: the colour plate of the painting or Proust's elegant,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Still Standing

  a Memoir

  Crighton, Anna, 1944-

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  A powerful, and on occasion, shocking autobiography by Christchurch arts and heritage champion Anna Crighton. You will get through this concisely written page-turner in no time while admiring the honesty and dedication of the author.

• Wifedom

  Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life

  Funder, Anna, 1966-

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  George Orwell is hailed for the 20th century classics Animal Farm and 1984 that point a telling finger at the excesses of the ruling classes. Wifedom delves deep into the life of Eileen O'Shaughnessy and finds a creative, intelligent woman…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Grief on the Run

  How Active Grieving Helped Me Cope With Devastating Loss

  Zarifeh, Julie, 1967-

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  Christchurch psychologist Julie Zarifeh suffered terrible personal loss when her husband and son lost their lives within months of each other in unrelated events. Julie explains how she responded with kinetic vigour and mindfulness…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Doppelganger

  a Trip Into the Mirror World

  Klein, Naomi, 1970-

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  Naomi Klein fuses outrage, in-depth research, humour, criticial thinking and personal reflection as she valiantly fights for her identity in the online wild west that is, for many of us, today's reality.

• Gangster's Paradise

  Savage, Jared

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  Jared Savage locks and loads both barrels as he reports on the grip that the gangs of New Zealand have on organised crime in Aotearoa. Just pips fellow journo Benedict Collins' Mad on Meth book as my Kiwi drugs 'n' do-no-gooders yarn of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• This Monk Wears Heels

  Be Who You Are

  Nishimura, Kodo

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  A Japanese monk from the LGBTQIA+ community presents an inspiring treatise on finding one's identity and then building the inner strength to celebrate it. An enjoyable and instructive mix of Buddhist philosophy, showbiz anecdote and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• BBQ Economics

  Dann, Liam

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  Who would have thought but someone has written an entertaining read on economics in New Zealand. Liam Dann has nailed it and I wish this book was around years ago when I first started wondering about mortgages and interest rates.