Recs if you like Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries...

Niche nonfiction, aka micro-histories!

This list was a winner of the Q2 2026 Community Voting event - if you'd like to participate in the Quest, a link is pinned in the comments.

Do you want to be hot and smart but are tired of trying to find a nonfiction book that appeals to you? Why don't you try finding a fun subject and become the life of the party at your next gathering👀 everyone will stand up and give you a round of applause when you share these cool facts🙂‍↕️

Death will unfailingly find every person to have ever lived, yet is treated as a taboo topic in some cultures, causing extreme, pervasive anxiety. This nonfiction list aims to broaden understanding of this inevitability, both to hopefully negate some of the anxiety as well as satisfy some of our more morbid curiosities. It also aims to show that death is another, still useful, stage in the life cycle, aiding those that remain by helping to advance medicine, solve crimes, or understand art.

Nonfiction books to explore your morbid curiosity. Topics include death, pathogens, the paranormal, and more.

Check out my list horror nonfiction for books about horror media.

history you probably didn't learn in school

Books that tackle death and dying.

Nonfiction about strange, outlandish, and/or macabre subjects (books that make you more or less go “wtf?!”)

how we keep them, how they happen, how they taste, how we think about them, and everything else in-between

Niche nonfiction books that dads are still likely to enjoy that either 1) are not military history at all or 2) a niche area of a war that is not military history

Nonfiction about macabre and taboo subjects

This list will focus on death, dying, and grief in all aspects, as well as the value of human life. Concepts of death education, grief and coping. In addition, cultural and religious perspectives and traditions, plus accounts from moritians and death doulas.

Non-fiction that delves deep into the folklore, psychology, and science behind the paranormal.

Inspired by the Morbidly Curious Book Club, these are nonfiction books that tackle topics often treated as taboo or seen as too grim and grisly to discuss.

histories of our final resting places - cemeteries, graveyards, burial grounds, catacombs

suggestions welcome!

For when you want to enjoy spooky season and learn something new. Please comment your suggestions!

If you've ever wandered what happens in national parks, the answer is everything from murder, to cryptids, to history, to hauntings, and everything in between. National Park After Dark explores all that our parks offer with story's of heroism, survival, death, beauty, conservationism, history and animal life. Here is a growing list of books mentioned by Danielle and Cassy. Enjoy the view. But watch your back!

Please feel free to let me know if there are others I may have missed!

Remember you must die. Demystify the taboo surrounding mortality and promote ‘death positivity’. Learn to value life and living intentionally.

Books related to death and dead bodies. Mostly nonfiction, but some fiction has slipped its way in.