Lynn, I could suggest dozens of books but before I do, two questions:

1. When you say "non-fiction that reads like fiction" do you mean a book that tells a true story in the same manner of a novel? In other words -- if you were never told it was a true story you'd assume it was a novel... or do you just mean a non-fiction book that's so good that it's a real page-turner?

2. Are there any specific non-fiction genres that appeal to you? Biography? Memoir? History? Science? True Crime? Current Events? Food?

I guess just any true story that reads like a novel in that you get to know and care about the characters or if the story is so incredible you would think it was not possible it were true. Some of my favorites: Seabiscuit, Helter Skelter,Three Cups of Tea. Just finished Immortal Life of Hentrietta Lacks and loved it. Look forward to reading Friday Night Lights. Hated: Eat, Pray, Love. I also like True Crime. I am interested in reading about the current financial situation and the people involved. I heard Columbine was pretty good.

Ok, so "any true story that reads like a novel in that you get to know and care about the characters or if the story is so incredible you would think it was not possible it were true." That actually gives me a lot to go on though I suspect my answers may skew to slightly dated classics. Off the top of my head:

The Art of Making Money by Jason Kersten: A new, amazing memoir from the best money counterfeiter America has seen in decades.

Roots by Alex Haley: It reads like an epic novel but the basic outline is the true history of the author's family.

Fatal Vision: A true-crime whodunit from 30 years ago that may be the only worth successor to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood (another one worth checking out.)

Open by Andre Agassi. A biography of the tennis player from the very end of 2009 that's truly Flashlight Worthy.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer: The now classic tale of barely surviving Mt. Everest.

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston: A terrifying story about the ebola virus that reads like a Michael Crichton novel.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett: A new book about a brazen rare-book thief who just couldn't help himself.

Ok... in looking back at this list, I'm *clearly* reading "boy" books. Any women out there want to chime in with some additional titles to balance out the list?

Oh, and finally, since I'm the guy who runs this site, may I ask that if you buy any of these books (or even go to look them up) that you do so by clicking the yellow "go to amazon.com" button right there on the right side of this page? The small commission from your purchases support this site.

- Peter (The guy who runs Flashlight Worthy)

Nathaniel Philbrook's In the Heart of the Sea tells the tale of the whale ship Essex (apparently the inspiration for Melville's Moby Dick) is fantastic--you forget you're reading about the history of whaling in the 1800s, something that could cause most people to groan with boredom. Definitely not the case with this book.

DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larson does a great job of this for about 70% of the book.

I'd add The Glass Castle to that list-- great read

Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer. Capote complained that Mailer ripped off his concept of a "nonfiction novel."

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon. The Lost City of Z by David Grann

The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West and Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legacy of the Pony Express, both by Chris Corbett.The Girls Who Went Away by Ann FesslerSex with the Queen and Sex With Kings, both by Eleanor Herman (Think non-fiction Philippa Gregory)Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer

In addition to the above (all of which I've either read or have on my ever-growing reading list), off the top of my head I'd suggest Krakauer's Into The Wild and Erik Larson's Devil In The White City. I also enjoyed The Professor and The Madman about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Among the Thugs by Bill BufordSoccer hooliganism in its depraved best. Buford embraces and is embraced by the culture. Loses/finds pieces of himself along the way. Not the most graceful prose but effective and very real. www.amazon.com/Among-Thugs-Bill-Buford/dp/0679745351Also:The Night of the Gun by David Carrwww.nightofthegun.com/Nick

The Last Days of the Incas, by Kim McQuarrie, reads like an epic adventure novel. Couldn't put it down.

Definitely get your hands on Peter Manseau's *Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Their Son* (Free Press, 2006). A beautiful book. And timely too.

The Bill Buford suggestion reminded me to mention his book HEAT about his decision to drop everything and work in Mario Batali's kitchen at Babbo.

Barbara Tuchman's _A Distant Mirror_ (Medieval history);Axel Munthe's _The Story of San Michele_ (memoir with a magical twist);Bruce Chatwin's _The Songlines_ (Australia);and, so far, everything I've read by John McPhee. I started with his _Encounters With the Archdruid_ (David Brouwer/Sierra Club).There's much more, but those are the ones off the top of my head.

HOUSE by Tracy Kidder (actually everything by Tracy Kidder)CHARLES AND EMMA: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

If you like short story type essays, try WHAT THE DOG SAW by Malcom GladwellTHE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR by Benjamin Wallace (a good whodunnit scam story about high priced wine and the foodies who buy it)

Hunter Stockton Thompson

Technically fiction, but historical fiction - The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Battle of Gettysburg

Wow, thanks for the suggestions. I have read some of them and they were great reads. I will be picking up some of the books I haven't read yet. Why don't you make a new list of these called "Non-fiction That Reads Like Fiction"

Definitely take a look at some of Dava Sobel's wonderful books, such as "Galileo's Daughter" and "Longitude".

The Glass Castle is an incredible memoir that reads like fiction.

Frank McCort's memoirs Angela's Ashes(Pulitzer Prize winner), 'Tis, and Teacher Man, are excellent choices.

"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote is wonderful, it is a rich and imaginative (and well researched) non fiction masterpiece.

The mention of Eric Larson leads me to add two of his other great books. "Isaac's Storm" about the 1900 hurrican that basically wiped out Galveston was so riveting I kept leaving my vacation companions to read.

"Thunderstruck" juxtaposes the accomplishment of Marconi and his development of wireless transatlantic communications with the life of an English murderer and how the ultimate connection between the two.

I can't believe that "The Professor and the Madman: a Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary," by Simon Winchester, is not on this list. Also worth checking out are these treasures:

-- "All God's Children: the Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence," by Fox Butterfield
-- "A World Lit Only by Fire: the Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, Portrait of an Age," by William Manchester
-- "The Amateurs: the Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an Olympic Gold Medal," by David Halberstam
-- "The Blackest Streets: the Life and Death of a Victorian Slum," by Sara Wise
-- "Constantine's Sword: the Church and the Jews," by James Carroll

"The Boy Who Harness the Wind" by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

"The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir" by Diana Welch and Liz Welch with Amanda Welch and Dan Welch

"Crazy for the Storm" by Norman Ollestad

"The Snake Charmer: A Life and Death in Pursuit of Knowledge" by Jamie James: The life and death of Dr. Joe Slowinski, a modern-day explorer who died in Burma in 2001.

Definitely "Among the Thugs" or "Heat", both by Bill Buford. Both are written in the first person and are such enjoyable reads. Also, Bill Buford is the antithesis of the author of "Eat, Pray, Love."

Kate Summerscale's two books, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher (historical true crime) and The Queen of Whale Cay (biography of an Anglo-American eccentric) are wonderful. Also The Lost City of Z by David Grann.

"Dreams from my Father" by Barack Obama. Regardless of how far to the left or right you may fall, this is a great memoir about identity, race and class.

Agent Zigzag by B. Macintyre - really exciting spy stuff.
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber by J Rubenstein - pretty funny and true!

Issac's Storm by Erik Larson and The Children's Blizzard by David Lashkin.

both are weather type books and well researched with first hand acccounts, letters, newspapers, etc. Loved them.

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson!!!

The Innocent Man by John Grisham

Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins

Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden

The Informant by Kurt Eichenwald

Just Kids - Patti Smith

Indecent Exposure by David McClintick. Published in 1982, it basically launched a new genre of non-fiction writing.

For anyone wanting to read a non-fiction book that reads like a novel, please try reading "Without Providence." Author Louise Baron Kent, Tate Publishing. The book is available at all bookstores and Amazon and Tate Publishing website. It is a true story and a book you will not be able to put down. LBKent