Lifestyle
Book Club: 13 non-fiction beach reads to take on holidays
Allison Tait shares 10 new books that will make you laugh, gasp and, yes, think while you enjoy your down time.
By Allison Tait
When we think of beach reads, we often turn to light, fluffy fiction. But, at its best, non-fiction books can provide all the drama, tension and escape you need when you’re stretched out on a towel at the beach or beside the pool.
We’ve uncovered 10 non-fiction books, from memoir to true crime to ghost stories, to help you while away the hours on the sand. There are even a couple in there to make you think. If that’s even possible on a beach holiday?
Destination Moon by Kate Reid
Is there anything better than pastries to put you in a holiday mood? Imagine earning a degree in aerospace engineering, then joining one of the top Formula 1 teams in the UK – only to discover that the dream you’d held since your early teens wasn’t what you needed at all. Kate Reid did just that and this memoir about how she went from F1 to opening the world-famous Lune Croissanterie is an epic tale of glitz, glamour, depression and passion.
Vagabond by Tim Curry
If you still remember the first time you saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the movies, you’ll love this frank and funny memoir from the cult actor and star who brought Frank N Furter to life.
Softly As I Leave You by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
Much has been written about the story of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley and Elvis Presley, the man she met as a 14 year old and married when she was 21. Priscilla filed for divorce six years later, and this memoir is about what happened in the years they were together – and the many years afterwards. Now 80, Priscilla has a lot to write about!
What Have I Done? by Ben Elton
Ben Elton has done a lot, and much of it is very funny. At 66, Elton’s writing career covers plays, musicals, stand-up shows, comedy series (‘Blackadder’ – with Richard Curtis, ‘The Young Ones’ – with Rik Mayall), movies and books. And now he’s written a door-stopper of a memoir full of anecdotes and observations about the comedy industry.
Future Boy by Michael J Fox
In this memoir, beloved actor Michael J Fox focuses on 1985, the year in which he was juggling his day job – rehearsing and taping ‘Family Ties’ – and filming ‘Back To The Future’, the movie that would launch him to super-stardom.
Book of Lives: A Memoir Of Sorts by Margaret Atwood
The life story of an 85-year-old literary novelist, funny and engaging, and full of insights, observations, photos and drawings. It’s a huge life, full of writing, yes, but also nature, love, challenges, horoscopes, knitting and gardening. If you’re wondering how writers are born and how their lives are shaped, this exceptional writer takes you behind the curtain.
The Butterfly Thief by Walter Marsh
Subtitled ‘adventure, empire and Australia’s greatest museum heist’, this is the story of Colin Wyatt, a Cambridge-educated ski champion, mountaineer, wartime camouflage artist and amateur naturalist. Wyatt was also a thief, who stole over 3000 rare and precious specimens of butterflies from Australia’s most prestigious museums. Drawing on unpublished case files, dossiers and private archives, Walter Marsh pieces together Wyatt’s life story and his decades-long impact on the world of natural history. Marsh also asks some important questions.
Fashion Critical by Fashion Critical
Bound in cherry-red pleather and embossed in gold, this may well be the most stylish book on the beach this summer. It’s also a very funny take on the world of fashion – or FARSHUN, as this anonymous Aussie fashion blogger has dubbed it. With plenty of pictures throughout, criticism that leans to harmless rather than mean-spirited, and a good dose of laughs, it’s the perfect escape.
Best Australian Ghost Stories by Graham Seal
Ghost stories around the campfire are a summer staple, and this collection, sub-titled ‘spine-chilling tales of hauntings, apparitions and the unexplained’, uncovers and explores the stories from our own backyard. From the Min Min Lights and Guyra Ghost to the convict era ghosts still troubling the Hawkesbury River, Seal travels widely in order to find our most frightening yarns.
Just Saying by Hugh Mackay
Popular social researcher Hugh Mackay takes a deep-dive into 25 remarkable quotations from some of the world’s greatest thinkers to interpret our world and challenge us to do better. From Confucius and Plato to Bertrand Russella and Gloria Steinem, Mackay explores themes from kindness and humility to power and prejudice – and everything in between.
It’s A Scorcher! by William McInnes
In this unapologetically nostalgic collection, bestselling author William McInnes has written about summers past, evoking school holidays, festivals, swimming, backyard cricket – and the deafening sound of cicadas. If you’ve ever danced under a backyard sprinkler or been on a holiday road trip that seemed to last forever, this book, with its blend of memoir, observation and discourse, will take you back.
Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics by Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins
Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon have used hundreds of episodes of Story Time, the history spin-off to their popular podcast The Final Word, to explore the wildest characters, matches and situations the cricket pitch has seen. This book brings together the stories they enjoyed telling most.
Retire Life Ready by James Wrigley
The beach may not seem like the obvious place to be learning how to maximise your retirement, but if you’d like to spend more time on your towel in the future, this book may be what you need. James Wrigley is a financial advisor, podcaster, YouTuber and speaker and he’s all about practical tips to help you build clarity and confidence.
Allison Tait is a bestselling author, dedicated reader and co-founder of the Your Own Next Read and Your Kids Next Read Facebook groups. Find her on Instagram.
All book images sourced from Amazon, used with permission. Citro may receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using the links in this article.
Tell us in the comments: What’s your pick of memoirs right now?
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