Recommend me some brilliant non fiction books

2 of my favourite books from the last few years:

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin - about Lincoln and his cabinet. Uh, the other politicians he worked with in government that is, as opposed to a piece of furniture he really liked.

The Better Angels of our Nature by Steven Pinker - fascinating look at how violence has declined over the years (contrary to what a lot of people think), and the reasons why this is. He's got some great books on psychology as well.

I've only read the first half of Team of Rivals but it was fantastic. Lincoln is one of the most interesting people dead or alive. As important as Chase and Seward were to the race and to the subsequent government, I felt some of their parts dragged in comparison to Lincoln's.

I've also read the first half of Bill Clinton's autobiography - My Life. His early life is fascinating. I loved reading about his college years. I wish more pages were devoted to it in the book, especially the time he spent as a Rhodes Scholar.

I bought First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong a while back but have yet to get around to reading it. It says on the cover that it is the 'first authorised biography'. He was a very private man. I've heard good things about it.

I'm sure you can spot a pattern in my reading now, though. I buy and/or attempt to read 'heavy' books and it takes so long due to other commitments that I run out of steam.