...the non-fiction...

seribulan

Sorry to say, my life centers around more on fiction stuffs
rather than non-fiction. What comes to my mind when recalling
the non-fictions would be history, geographical, travel, business
or computer books. There should be more. Do enlighten me.

limau_nipis

Non-fiction
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Non-fiction is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. This presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition.

Non-fiction is one of the two main divisions in writing, particularly used in libraries, the other being fiction. However, non-fiction need not be written text necessarily, since pictures and film can also purport to present a factual account of a subject.

Essays, journals, documentaries, scientific papers, photographs, biographies, textbooks, blueprints, technical documentation, user manuals, diagrams and journalism are all common examples of non-fiction works, and fiction within any of these works is usually regarded as dishonest. Other works can legitimately be either fiction or non-fiction, such as letters, magazine articles, histories, websites, speeches and travelogues. Although they are mostly either one or the other it is not uncommon for there to be a blend of both, particularly non-fiction with a dash of fiction for added spice.

The numerous literary and creative devices used within fiction are generally thought inappropriate for use in non-fiction. They are still present particularly in older works but they are often muted so as not to overshadow the information within the work. Simplicity, clarity and directness are some of the most important considerations when producing non-fiction. Audience is important in any artistic or descriptive endeavour but it is perhaps most important in non-fiction. Whereas the motivation for fiction is often simply what entertains the authors themselves, the reasons for producing non-fiction have more to do with informing a readership. Understanding of the potential readers use for the work and their existing knowledge of a subject are both fundamental for effective non-fiction. Despite the truth of non-fiction it is often necessary to persuade the reader to agree with the ideas and so a balanced, coherent and informed argument is also vital.

As the word non-fiction is obviously derived from fiction it may be assumed that fiction is the earliest of the two. Cave painting, arguably one of the oldest forms of human expression, could be either a record of what prehistoric man caught on hunting trips or alternately a story expressing what they would like to catch on future occasions. If cave art is ambiguous on this matter, cuneiform inscriptions which hold the earliest writings seem to have been initially for non-fiction. Some of the most important symbols in cuneiform represent goods such as oxen and barley and the earliest texts in existence deal with the buying and selling of these items and other economic matters, although fiction was not far behind.

Much of the non-fiction produced throughout history is of a mundane and everyday variety such as records and legal documents which were only ever seen by a few and are of little interest except to the historian. It probably easily outweights fiction in the amount that has been produced but fiction generally has a longer lasting appeal as it is designed for entertainment and even rather mediocre fiction survives a few generations. The non-fiction which transcends its original time tends to be viewed as either exceptionally well made or perfectly embodying the ideas, manners and attitudes of the time it was produced, even if it was not actually created as history.

At any one time in history there is the body of non-fiction work which represents the currently accepted truths of the period. Although these non-fiction works may be contradictory they form a corpus which is regularly being altered with better explanations of ideas or with new facts. A good example of this are the non-fiction scientific books and papers which explain the science of the day but are then superceeded by better representations. Textbooks for explaining and teaching the current state of scientific and historical knowledge are regularly updated and manuals for operating new technology are also produced.

Types of non-fiction
Almanac
Autobiography
Biography
Blueprint
Book report
Creative nonfiction
Design document
Diagram
Diary
Dictionary
Documentary film
Encyclopedia
Essay
History
Journal
Journalism
Letter
Literary criticism
Memoir
Nonfictional character
Philosophy
Photograph
Science book
Scientific paper
Speech
Statute
Textbook
Travelogue
User manual

External link

:dia: Nonfiction Awards

limau_nipis

Notice that non fiction type even include user manual?

Well, well, I should regard user manual with more respect starting today..

MACD

for creating this sub-forum. I've read Limau Nipis' Wikipedia explanation on non-fiction and started to doubt my previous, probably partially correct, definition of it.

My idea was to create a new sub-forum for serious readings. So the sub-forum 'Serious Reading' would encompass all except of fiction books. Below is Amazon's way of categorizing their books.

1. Arts & Entertainment
2. Business & Technology
3. Fiction
4. Health & Spirituality
5. Lifestyle, Family & Home
6. Nonfiction
7. Recreation
8. Reference & Textbooks
9. Young Readers

With above definition of non-fiction, am I right to say that all categories other than 3 and 9 are belong to it?

limau_nipis

Originally posted by MACD at 29/3/06 08:45 PM
for creating this sub-forum. I've read Limau Nipis' Wikipedia explanation on non-fiction and started to doubt my previous, probably partially correct, definition of it.

My idea was to create a n ...

Whoa MACD... yes, I notice that no 3 and 9 does not belong in tne non fiction categories.
well well.. should broaden our horizon, I suppose..

i think most of us still love fiction more than non fiction..

but how about Dan Brown's novel -The Da Vinci Code? He opened a new perspective in reading fiction, with history facts interwoven inside the plot. Makes history interesting I should say! And it did make me looks at History differently..

MACD

Actually, I am shocked to know that most of us here love to read fiction rather than non-fiction. I was thinking non-fiction books sell more but I guess I am wrong I have not read any fiction books for more than 10 years except of Jefrey Archer's.

All novels should belong to the fiction group no matter how much history they put in there. Same goes to sci-fi. I guess later we would have a new category call hi-fi (Historical fiction). Hehe.

aabu

I used to love fiction books when I was young ,but Now I love nonfiction more than fiction books  from classic written by  Napolean Hill & dale Carnergie to modern  by Stephen Covey.

MACD

Originally posted by aabu at 29-3-2006 11:07 PM
I used to love fiction books when I was young ,but Now I love nonfiction more than fiction books  from classic written by  Napolean Hill & dale Carnergie to modern  by Stephen Covey.

Fantastic. Me too! When I was young, I was into sci-fi, fantasy, & detective stuff but now I am more inclined towards serious readings like you

FaRiShAsYaHaNaZ

i am trying to switch from fiction to non-fiction since i hv found myself become less interested with fiction books. as a start ... i've bought myself a farish noor book called from majapahit to putrajaya:serching for another malaysia ... compilation of his articles/thoughts frm silverfish books. refreshing la jugak ... i'd never thought that i'd be engrossed reading a non-fiction ..last non-fiction ebooks that kept me going were donald trumps books ... hehe ... zaman2 syok tgk apprentice

FaRiShAsYaHaNaZ

Originally posted by limau_nipis at 29-3-2006 09:42 PM


Whoa MACD... yes, I notice that no 3 and 9 does not belong in tne non fiction categories.
well well.. should broaden our horizon, I suppose..

i think most of us still love fiction more than ...

hmmm ... talking about dan brown ni kan ... i think in a way he's helped me to understand better about christianity ... after reading his books ... and his explanations (minus the theories) baru lah i paham seskit ttg apa itu christianity ...

pessoa

Originally posted by MACD at 29-3-2006 08:45 PM

1. Arts & Entertainment
2. Business & Technology
3. Fiction
4. Health & Spirituality
5. Lifestyle, Family & Home
6. Nonfiction
7. Recreation
8. Reference & Textbooks
9. Young Readers

With above definition of non-fiction, am I right to say that all categories other than 3 and 9 are belong to it?  

Only 3 and 6 can (with exceptions)  be considered serious reading. The rest are not. And motivational/business books ARE NOT serious readings.

periwinkle..

kalau baca encyclopedia, kira serious reading ke...

MACD

Originally posted by pessoa at 30-3-2006 12:35 AM


Only 3 and 6 can (with exceptions)  be considered serious reading. The rest are not. And motivational/business books ARE NOT serious readings.

why is that fiction books are considered as serious readings? And how do you categorize business books then?

limau_nipis

Originally posted by periwinkle.. at 30/3/06 09:19 AM
kalau baca encyclopedia, kira serious reading ke...

serious? what does it means by serious?

as for me, encyclopedia kan be presented in a fun way (i found one from Japan with lots of drawings and cartoons to explain you body organs), if it broaden you perspective in life.. it is considered critical..

as for serious, it does sound boring kan? hehe

pessoa

Originally posted by MACD at 30-3-2006 04:25 PM

why is that fiction books are considered as serious readings? And how do you categorize business books then?

Sebab fiksyen bercakap tentang perkara fundamental dalam hidup sebagai manusia, tentang falsafah, tentang cinta, tentang masyarakat.

Buku bisnes bukan saja bacaan tak serius, ia bacaan yang boleh membunuh sifat kemanusiaan. Kebanyakannya mengajar manusia jadi hipokrit, jadi mesin, jadi materialistik, dan jadi manusia yang tak mahu berfikir.

Nyahkan dia dari hidup.

limau_nipis

Originally posted by pessoa at 31/3/06 09:23 AM


Sebab fiksyen bercakap tentang perkara fundamental dalam hidup sebagai manusia, tentang falsafah, tentang cinta, tentang masyarakat.

Buku bisnes bukan saja bacaan tak serius, ia bacaan yang  ...

mungkin sbb kebanyakan buku bisnes yang berlambak di pasaran lebih ke arah materialisitik, kerana penulisnya banyak orang barat...

mungkin pessoa boleh baca Cukup Wang Hati Senang tulisan Hajjah Rohani..
itu juga buku bisnes, tapi bisnes berlandaskan akhirat.. insya Allah!

MACD

Originally posted by pessoa at 31-3-2006 09:23 AM
Sebab fiksyen bercakap tentang perkara fundamental dalam hidup sebagai manusia, tentang falsafah, tentang cinta, tentang masyarakat.

Buku bisnes bukan saja bacaan tak serius, ia bacaan yang boleh membunuh sifat kemanusiaan. Kebanyakannya mengajar manusia jadi hipokrit, jadi mesin, jadi materialistik, dan jadi manusia yang tak mahu berfikir.

Nyahkan dia dari hidup.

Idea kau idea komunis. Aku syak kau seorang komunis. Dan aku syak kau tidak pernah membaca lebih daripada 5 buah buku bisnes.

Sekiranya buku fiksyen Sweet Valley High dikatakan sebagai buku serius, sila gantung aku. Aku lebih rela digantung daripada mengaku buku cinta remaja sebagai bahan bacaan serius.

Buku bisnes yg aku pernah baca tak mengajar manusia menjadi hipokrit, mesin dan tak mahu berfikir. Aku rasa kau salah baca buku. Dan aku tak menganggap The Communist Manifesto sebagai bahan bacaan bisnes walaupun ianya serius.

MACD

Originally posted by limau_nipis at 31-3-2006 08:06 AM
serious? what does it means by serious?

as for me, encyclopedia kan be presented in a fun way (i found one from Japan with lots of drawings and cartoons to explain you body organs), if it broaden you perspective in life.. it is considered critical..

as for serious, it does sound boring kan? hehe  

Please excuse my vocabulary. Can you help me to understand what 'critical' reading really is? And how does it differs from serious reading?

To me serious reading is never boring. Serious reading enlightens and broaden my perspective.

[ Last edited by MACD at 31-3-2006 11:23 AM ]

limau_nipis

Originally posted by MACD at 31/3/06 11:21 AM

Please excuse my vocabulary. Can you help me to understand what 'critical' reading really is? And how does it differs from serious reading?

To me serious reading is never boring. Serious readi ...

tumpang tempek seribulan's definition:

"Although we can easily read materials in order to pick up basic facts and general information, critical reading isn't a simple thing to do. Critical reading opens us up to new ideas and new ways of looking at the world that often cause us to question previous assumptions.

We will read several types of texts. Our definition of "text" will be broad, including not only books and articles, but also websites, comic strips, and movies. Subsequently, our definition of "reading" will also be broad. Think of reading as interpreting, as the making of meaning. Meaning can be made from words, but it can also be made from gestures and images. Even without words, images can have meaning for us.

We will look at the texts in terms of their rhetorical context, involves asking question such as,
who composed this? (author)
what is it about? (subject)
when did they compose it? (occasion)
why did they compose it? (purpose)
who did they think would read it? (audience)"

MACD, i just say serious bunyi cam boring.. the word serious tu, not the definition behind it.. but doesn't mean to offend anybody, serious = critical

MACD

Originally posted by limau_nipis at 31-3-2006 11:28 AM
"Although we can easily read materials in order to pick up basic facts and general information, critical reading isn't a simple thing to do. Critical reading opens us up to new ideas and new ways of looking at the world that often cause us to question previous assumptions.

We will read several types of texts. Our definition of "text" will be broad, including not only books and articles, but also websites, comic strips, and movies. Subsequently, our definition of "reading" will also be broad. Think of reading as interpreting, as the making of meaning. Meaning can be made from words, but it can also be made from gestures and images. Even without words, images can have meaning for us.

Enligtening! Thanks Limau & Seribulan. Your definition of reading gives a new meaning to me.

Maybe we are looking at the same thing. Our idea's the same. I think of it as serious reading, but you may call it as critical. Whatever it is, no discussion on Sweet Valley High should be allowed here.