The history of *[niche subject]*
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 gatheringđ everyone will stand up and give you a round of applause when you share these cool factsđââď¸
created by lizzyy
last updated August, 2026
Comments
I read a book called The Secret Lives of Color which was delightful! I think I'm going to write down a few from this list and get them đ
lizzyyOP
Yay!! I hope you love themđ
The list has been made and I have ordered some from the library. I'm so excited!
lizzyyOP
I'm creating some lists for the 2026 bingo Goosie shared last week!! and of course I had to start with my beloved nonfiction genređ I'm taking inspiration from some AMAZING lists I have saved that have a ton of other books beyond just the history of niche subjects lol go check them out!!
- Here Today, Gone Tomato by gorgeous incredible notbillnye
- Teach me something new and oddly specific đŹ by THE list curator endless_tbr_list
- I'll add more as I go through them
Loooove that you're shouting out lists you took inspo from
There is a similar list of these types of books called âteach me something new and oddly specificâ by endless_tbr_list! Not saying you should delete yours, but looking at that could give you good ideas for yours đĽ°
lizzyyOP
YES!! I love it, I'm currently going through all the list I have saved, I added a comment so more people can take a look at those listsđĽł
Love that!! And thanks for the info about the Bingo board!
I think I just added half of these to my TBR⌠this is right up my alley!
lizzyyOP
Please, feel free to tell me more suggestion!! This list is for our nonfiction mini bingo board for our PB 2026 bingo.
This is a dangerous list for me being a hyperfixated robot sometimes....I will become insufferable in all my infodumping. lol
lizzyyOP
Not to me, love!! I welcome all the infodumping
I would recommend The Naming of the Shrew by John Wright. It looks like the one rating on PB is by someone who wasnât particularly interested in the history of taxonomy and Latin names, but as an evolutionary biologist Iâm really looking forward to reading it and think others might find it interesting đ
lizzyyOP
Ohhhh, sounds really cool!! Thank you for the recommendation, friendâď¸
forehead kisses for you, Bunny, you come up with the BEST lists đŤśđ˝đ
I love this!!
I love niche info to share with unsuspecting random people. đ Awesome list!
lizzyyOP
sameeee! the thrill it gives me to share a random fact is intoxicating
this is so cool! Can I suggest Who Ate the First Oyster by Cody Cassidy or Why Are People Into That by Tina Horn?
lizzyyOP
I'm trying to stay in the history of just one thing so I think the first book will not make the cutđ but it looks sooooo interesting!! And Why are people into that is going straight to the list! Thank youuuu
ooh makes sense totally get it! love a very specific, very niche subject
lizzyyOP
also a cultural investigation might be my kink
This is just the list I needed and I am so happy to have already read the book about anthropodermic bibliopegy.
lizzyyOP
That book immediately caught my eye!! How was it?
I really enjoyed it! And have convinced a classmate to read it for research for the fantasy mystery she is writing because one of her characters is a necromancy librarian lol
This is honestly exactly what I need to feed my obscure curiosities
lizzyyOP
yay!! i'm glad you liked itđ¤
Oooo where can I find this bingo card you speak of? đ
if i'm allowed to give a recommendation, then maybe you should consider Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green!! it's medical related but it also covered the whole history of tuberculosis and how society construct a disease in a very interesting and amazing way!
lizzyyOP
Hi! I donât support John Green for several reason but mainly due to his comments about Palestine, but tysm for the recommendation, if you have any more recs I would love to check them out
I am obsessed with this list!! Thank you for creating it :) May I recommend adding "Papyrus" by Irene Vallejo "The Secret Life of Stones" by Hettie Judah "Kindred" by Rebecca Wragg Skyes (Neanderthals) "The Golden Thread" by Kassia St Clair (fabric) There is also plenty of niche books about animals :)
lizzyyOP
Thank youđ Iâll check them out!
If you're open to suggestions, this is one of my favorite subgenres of nonfiction!
Sacred Trash (Cairo geniza) Cue the Sun (reality tv) Stiff (human cadavers) Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy (Little Women by LMA) Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus (hotdogs)
lizzyyOP
YESSSSS! Thank you
This is my jam đť A whole list of rabbit trails waiting to be followed down.
lizzyyOP
The world is so interesting!!! Like wdym refrigeration and bites and the alphabet can be so cool
okay, I know I said literally the same thing about a similar list, but as a historian that loves a new rabbit hole to fall down, Iâm so psyched to tackle some of the titles on this list đŤś
lizzyyOP
Ohhhh, another fellow nf lover!! Welcome to the club
