Reading isn't just an enjoyable way to relax and pass the time in your assisted living apartment at Autumn View Gardens in Creve Coeur. A regular reading habit has various proven health and well-being benefits for seniors, including improved sleep, reduced stress and even enhanced memory.
While many lists of recommended books for seniors in assisted living communities focus on fiction, there are plenty of enjoyable factual reads when you want to get lost in a good book while learning something new. Below, you can find a list of the best non-fiction books seniors should read.
Bill Bryson is well known for his perfectly observed travel books, and his foray into history writing is equally rich in laughs. In A Short History of Everything, Bryson charts the history of the human race from its inception to the rise of major civilizations.
The book is painstakingly researched, and Bryson consulted some of the most respected scientific minds to gain a deeper understanding of the scientific and anthropological foundations underpinning the history of humanity. It's the ideal read for seniors who want to expand their scientific knowledge while enjoying an accessible and endlessly entertaining book.
This masterpiece of an autobiography by Maya Angelou charts the poet's life from early childhood. Although it tackles painful and challenging memories, it is also brimming with hope. It provides an inspirational account of how Angelou overcame bigotry and trauma to become one of the most famous and inspirational modern poets. Her honesty and dignity in retelling her story has made I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings a classic must-read for people of all ages.
Not all books can change the way we think about the world, but this modern non-fiction classic by Malcolm Gladwell does just that. It forensically examines and explains the tipping point phenomenon and illustrates how seemingly small ideas, actions or fashions can gain traction to create a snowball effect and an unexpectedly far-reaching impact.
While this book introduces complex concepts, the author explains them masterfully to make them straightforward and even enjoyable to grasp. Gladwell's talent for engaging storytelling makes this a thoroughly entertaining yet educational read.
This incredibly detailed account tells the story of how the migration of nearly six million people between 1915 and 1970 changed American history. Wilkerson's incredible feat of research allowed her to encapsulate the social and personal changes that resulted from this unprecedented movement of people in America and track how individuals enriched the cultures of the places where they settled.
Wilkerson's work is both educational and engaging because she focuses on the stories of three black citizens that made up just a tiny part of a massive social shift. Their touching and inspirational journeys allow the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the aspirations and challenges of people migrating during this time and helped secure the book's victory as the winner of the Mark Lynton History Prize.
In this book, acclaimed science writer Mukherjee follows the human history of one of the most prevalent illnesses of all time. While the topic may seem like a depressing choice, the author's engaging, informative style makes it a fascinating and often surprising chronicle of human resilience and innovation.
The book describes the inventive and sometimes misguided ways that scientists have sought effective cancer treatments, but it also provides a tantalizingly optimistic glimpse of the possibilities for the future. Aside from being an enjoyable and engaging read, it provides comfort and reassurance to readers worried about the impact of cancer on future generations.
This book is one of the most popular non-fiction texts of all time and provides wisdom and guidance that can help you enjoy greater success in your endeavors. Carnegie explains effective ways to build connections with others and to encourage them to consider other viewpoints without damaging your relationship with them. While this book is a perennial favorite among people wanting to climb the career ladder, its pearls of wisdom apply just as much to the lives of seniors in assisted living communities.
This bestselling book was written by a Christian pastor and explores the questions and doubts that believers and non-believers often share about religion. Keller draws on rigorous research and his own impressive logic to explain belief as a rational viewpoint. It's an ideal book to help seniors in faith-based assisted living communities reconcile any doubts or uncertainties about their beliefs and provides a robust rebuttal to those who say that religion is irrational.
