Let's read nonfiction.

An avid reader all my life, I attended a oneroom schoolhouse for nine years and read all the books in its small library. As I grew older, I started to collect books and have over 2,000 in my collection. I read about 60 books a year, most of them nonfiction.

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BEYOND THE SKY AND EARTH

A Journey into Bhutan

By Jamie Zeppa

A schoolteacher looks for something unusual to do before settling on a career. She goes to Bhutan and at first feels totally out of place. This is a beautiful and inspiring story of how one falls in love with a country and its people.

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THE RIVER'S TALE

A Year on the Mekong

By Edward A. Gargan

The author spent a year in Southeast Asia, traveling along the Mekong River and journeying through China, Tibet, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. His keen observations of the people who rely on this river are memorable.

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KING OF THE WORLD

By David Remnick

This biography of Muhammad Ali reminds me of my childhood on a small farm, where we gathered around the radio to hear the Friday Night Fights. Ali was larger than life, and this book will appeal to both boxing and nonboxing fans alike.

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SEABISCUIT

An American Legend

By Laura Hillenbrand

This book, about a horse, a jockey, and an owner that you can't help falling in love with, brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Through the ups and downs of their careers, you will cheer them on to greatness.

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UNTIL THE SEA SHALL FRE THEM

Life, Death, and Survival in the Merchant Marine

By Robert Frump

I love shipwreck stories, and this is the best. In 1983, the S. S. Marine Electric sank and only the captain and two others survived. The first half of the book describes the wreck, and the second depicts the court battle that followed.

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NO VISIBLE HORIZON

Surviving the World's Most Dangerous Sport

By Joshua Cooper Ramo

I am an adrenaline junkie, and this book will make it flow through your veins. Ramo is a stunt pilot who competes at the highest levels. His feats reflect why we push our bodies to the limit.

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DEEP SURVIVAL

Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

By Laurence Gonzales

This book offers many surprises, including the idea that not always the most experienced people survive. Whether you are the extreme sportsman or the casual hiker or somewhere in between, this book will give you principles for everyday life and the tools for staying safe.

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THE MAN WHO TRIED TO SAVE THE WORLD

By Scott Anderson

Anderson, a war correspondent, goes to Chechnya to determine the fate of Fred Cuny, who had tried to broker peace arrangements during the most horrific wars and disappeared in 1995. Anderson tells the tale of how one person can make a difference in our world.

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HOW AMERICA LOST IRAQ

By Aaron Glantz

Glantz worked outside the Green Zone interviewing people with intimate knowledge of the reasons why the United States is losing the war in Iraq. Although perhaps difficult to find in a bookstore or library, this often overlooked book is worth reading.

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COLLAPSE

How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

By Jared Diamond

Diamond explains how resource depletion can doom entire societies--but that even minor incidents can have a large effect. He explores how politically motivated decisions often run counter to the good of the people, and he shares important lessons about how our society should develop to ensure its survival.

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THE FATE OF AFRICA

A History of 50 Years of Independence

By Martin Meredith

Spending a month in Africa sparked my interest in this continent. This topical book covers the history of Africa during the last 50 years, when most of its countries gained independence and then fell under the rule of brutal dictators. Meredith's work provides a necessary context for Africa's current issues.

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Dick Craig lives in Puyallup, Washington