Creative nonfiction is one of those genres that’s hard to pin down—it’s part fact, part flair, and occasionally, part existential crisis. It’s what happens when storytelling and real life bump into each other and decide to hang out. Unlike the thrill-a-minute world of academic papers or the no-nonsense vibe of straight journalism, creative nonfiction actually lets writers sound like human beings.
Creative Nonfiction is my favorite genre to read. (and write.)
You can bring in your voice, your personality, and if the stars align, maybe even sneak in a halfway decent joke. If you’ve ever read something that made you laugh, cry, and spiral into a mini-identity crisis, you may have stumbled into the world of creative nonfiction. In this post, I’ll cover some creative nonfiction examples (most of which I’ve already read, and one in particular I wrote :)!)
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What Is Creative Nonfiction?
At its core, creative nonfiction is all about telling true stories—but, you know, in a way people might actually want to read. We’re talking memoirs, literary journalism, travel writing, biographies, and of course, personal essays.
Unlike fiction, creative nonfiction sticks to the facts—or at least the facts as best as we can remember them without getting sued. But instead of just dumping information on the page, it leans on the good stuff: scene-setting, dialogue, emotional depth, maybe a little self-deprecating humor. Because let’s face it—nobody wants to read a memoir that feels like a spreadsheet with feelings.
Types of Creative Nonfiction (With Examples)
If you’re wondering what falls under the umbrella of creative nonfiction, here are some key subgenres along with books that do them justice:
| Type of Creative Nonfiction | Description | Example Books |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Essays | Short, reflective, and often humorous takes on personal experiences and broader themes. | Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron, Essays Out of Left Field by Scott Johnson |
| Memoirs | A deep dive into a specific period or theme in the author’s life, rather than their entire biography. | Educated by Tara Westover, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman |
| Literary Journalism | Fact-based reporting told with the narrative techniques of fiction, making it more engaging. | In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Moneyball by Michael Lewis |
| Travel Writing | Explorations of places, cultures, and personal experiences through the lens of travel. | A Frog in the Fjord by Lorelou Desjardins, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, Walking With Sam by Andrew McCarthy |
| Food Writing | Blends true personal stories with the sights, smells, and emotions of food. | Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus, If You Can’t Take the Heat by Geraldine DeRuiter |
| Biography & Autobiography | A detailed account of a person’s life, either written by someone else (biography) or by the subject (autobiography). | Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, Becoming by Michelle Obama, Ant by Chris Hine |
Personal Essays
A personal essay is like a conversation with an exceptionally witty friend who has had just enough coffee (or beer?) to be entertaining but not so much that they’re unbearable. These essays mix personal experience with broader themes. Full disclosure – I may have written this entire blog post so you would stumble across my book of personal essays. And perhaps purchase it for you, a friend, an enemy, etc.
Examples:
- “Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris – a collection of personal essays that highlight his offbeat childhood, quirky family, and the trials of learning French as an adult. His dry, self-deprecating humor gives even the most mundane situations a strange sort of charm.
- “I Feel Bad About My Neck” by Nora Ephron – Ephron tackles the realities of aging, beauty routines, parenting, and empty-nesting with her trademark wit. Ephron delivers her funny, sharp, and painfully honest stories in the most comforting way.
- “Essays Out of Left Field” by Scott Johnson – (Oh, hey, that’s me!) A collection of humorous essays blending Midwest charm with sharp wit. And sports references.
Memoirs
Memoirs focus on a specific period or theme in the author’s life, rather than attempting to document everything from birth to present day (which, frankly, can be exhausting for everyone involved. Sorry, autobiographies.)
Examples:
- “Educated” by Tara Westover – A gripping memoir about growing up in a strict, survivalist family in rural Idaho and eventually breaking away to pursue formal education. It’s a powerful story of resilience, identity, and the complicated ties of family—told with clarity and emotional depth.
- “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah – A memoir about growing up mixed-race in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, where his very existence was considered illegal. Blending humor with hard truths, Noah shares stories of his unconventional childhood, his fearless mother, and systemic racism.
- Get the book!
- Read my review! (coming soon!)
- “Paddle Your Own Canoe” by Nick Offerman – Part memoir, part manly advice column, with a healthy dose of woodworking and bacon appreciation. Offerman shares stories from his life, career, and Midwestern upbringing while offering his take on everything from love to craftsmanship—with plenty of deadpan humor along the way.
Literary Journalism
Think of literary journalism as news reporting with a soul. Instead of dry recitations of facts, this style uses storytelling techniques to bring real events to life.
Examples:
- “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote – A chilling account of the 1959 murder of a Kansas family, told with the narrative style of a novel but grounded in true events. It’s often credited with launching the true crime genre, thanks to Capote’s meticulous reporting and unsettling attention to psychological detail.
- “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot – Blends science writing, biography, and investigative journalism to tell the story of the woman behind the famous HeLa cells. It’s both a fascinating look at medical ethics and a deeply personal portrait of Henrietta’s family, who were left in the dark about her legacy for decades.
- “Moneyball” by Michael Lewis – Dives into the world of baseball statistics and how the Oakland A’s used data to outsmart teams with much bigger budgets. It’s a smart, fast-paced look at how challenging conventional wisdom can change the game—literally and metaphorically.
- Get the book!
- Read my review! (coming soon)
Travel Writing
If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your job and wandering the world, travel writing is your escape hatch.
Examples:
- “A Frog in the Fjord” by Lorelou Desjardins – A humorous memoir about a French woman’s experiences living in Norway, navigating cultural differences, and adapting to the quirky Norwegian way of life. Desjardins uses wit and personal anecdotes to explore everything from language barriers to Norwegian weather.
- “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson – Bryson recounts his attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, mixing humor with insightful observations about nature, history, and the quirks of fellow hikers. It’s a blend of adventure, personal reflection, and Bryson’s signature dry wit, making even the most grueling parts of the hike entertaining.
- “Walking With Sam” by Andrew McCarthy – A heartfelt memoir about McCarthy’s trek along the Camino de Santiago with his son, Sam. It’s a story of personal growth, father-son bonding, and the transformative power of a long walk, all told with McCarthy’s thoughtful reflections and humor.
Food Writing
Food writing, as a form of creative nonfiction, blends storytelling with culinary exploration. It goes beyond simple recipes or reviews, offering personal reflections, cultural insights, and sensory experiences related to food. Writers often use food as a lens to discuss identity, tradition, and human connection, weaving in humor, history, and sensory detail to make the subject both informative and emotionally engaging.
Examples:
- “If You Can’t Take the Heat” by Geraldine DeRuiter – A witty and candid memoir about DeRuiter’s journey through life, love, and her culinary adventures. DeRuiter, a James Beard Award–winning blogger, uses her experiences with food and cooking to explore broader themes of gender roles, societal expectations, and the challenges women face in the culinary world.
- “Raw Dog” by Jamie Loftus– A genre-bending memoir that combines journalism, culinary critique, and personal reflection. In the summer of 2021, Loftus embarked on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend to sample iconic hot dogs from various American locales. Along the way, she delves into the history of hot dogs, the meat industry’s ethical concerns, and the cultural significance of this beloved food.
Biography & Autobiography
While biographies document someone else’s life in depth, autobiographies are the author’s firsthand account of their own experiences. The best ones read like compelling novels rather than history assignments.
Examples:
- “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson – A biography that offers an in-depth look at the life of the iconic Apple co-founder, exploring his visionary genius, tumultuous relationships, and complex personality. Drawing from interviews with Jobs and countless others, Isaacson presents a nuanced portrait of the man behind the tech revolution.
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama – A deeply personal memoir that chronicles her journey from her childhood in Chicago to her years as First Lady of the United States. With honesty and warmth, Obama reflects on her struggles, triumphs, and the challenges of balancing public life with personal identity, offering readers an inspiring and relatable narrative.
- “Ant” by Chris Hine – A basketball biography of one of the NBA’s brightest young superstars, Anthony Edwards. (Anthony Edwards is currently my favorite NBA player!)
- Get the book!
- Read my review! (coming soon)
Why Creative Nonfiction Matters
At its best, creative nonfiction isn’t just about telling stories—it’s about connection. The good kind. The kind where you read someone’s chaotic travel tale or heartfelt reflection and think, “Okay, maybe I’m not the only one who’s a walking disaster.”
Whether you’re laughing at someone else’s cringe moment or quietly nodding at their insight, this genre gives us an honest, unfiltered look at real life—flaws, awkward pauses, questionable decisions, and all.
Where to Start
If you’re new to creative nonfiction, don’t stress—it can seem overwhelming, especially with no dragons, fairies, or strange, unrealistic romances. (Well, not usually.) Here’s a quick guide to help you get started:
- Personal Essays – Short, punchy, and often hilarious. A great way to ease into the genre.
- Memoirs – Longer-form, reflective storytelling (and usually a few plot twists no fiction writer could get away with).
- Literary Journalism – Reporting with a human touch. Like the news, if the news was interesting.
- Travel Writing – Come for the exotic locations, stay for the author’s poor packing choices.
- Food Writing – Writing about food: eating food, making food, impacts of food on culture, etc.
- Biography/Autobiography – Real lives, written with narrative flair.
Final Thoughts on Creative Nonfiction
Creative nonfiction—especially personal essays—lets you blend humor, reflection, and real-life absurdity into something that actually feels… human. If you like stories that entertain while sneaking in a little perspective, history or enlightening information, you’re in the right place.
And if you’re a writer? Consider this your official nudge. Your weird, wonderful, totally true experiences might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
What are your favorite Creative Nonfiction books? This genre is sort of my jam, so I’m always looking for my next read! Leave a comment with your suggestion…
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
