About this list

The Week, 6 Books

British author and journalist Will Self, renowned for his intellectually provocative and satirical explorations of modern society, has curated a list of his six favorite non-fiction books for The Week magazine. The selection reflects Self's fascination with narratives where truth is indeed stranger than fiction, encompassing topics like America's crack cocaine crisis and transformative experiences within prison life. His criteria center on non-fiction works that challenge conventional perceptions and unsettle readers by revealing the instability of familiar categories. Through these recommendations, Self offers insights into the kinds of compelling and unsettling realities that inspire his own writing, aiming to disturb fundamental assumptions and provoke deep reflection.

This list was originally published in 2018 and was added to this site over 1 year ago.