The 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Past 25 Years

This is one of the 282 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.

  • Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder by Lawrence Weschler

    The book explores a peculiar museum in Los Angeles, run by a man named Mr. Wilson, which houses a collection of bizarre and often unbelievable exhibits, including a bat that can fly through walls and a two-headed tortoise. The author delves into the history and philosophy of the museum and its eccentric owner, while also examining the blurred lines between reality and illusion, and how this ambiguity affects our perception of the world. The book is a blend of journalism, history, and philosophical musings on the nature of truth.

  • Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

    This striking narrative non-fiction tells the real-life story of a young man who turns his back on society to live in the Alaskan wilderness. Despite a privileged background and a promising future, he donates his savings to charity, abandons his car and most of his possessions, and embarks on a journey into the wild. His solitary existence in the wild, his struggles for survival, and his untimely death provide a profound exploration of the allure of wilderness and the human yearning for solitude and self-discovery.

About this list

Slate, 2 Books

Slate’s books team selects the definitive works of reporting, memoir, and argument of the past quarter-century.

Added almost 3 years ago.

How Good is this List?

This list has a weight of 48%. To learn more about what this means please visit the Rankings page.

Here is a list of what is decreasing the importance of this list:

  • List: only covers 25 years
  • Voters: specific voter details are lacking
  • Voters: are mostly from a single country/location

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