When choosing what to read, many people prefer books based on real events. The very idea that this is not a fictional plot, but a real life story is captivating . Sometimes it is a touching novel, and sometimes it is a deep documentary that helps to better understand certain historical events. But how true are such books, how are they created, and what themes prevail in this genre? Let's understand this fact, as well as how important it is in general.
Are books based on true events really true?
It is impossible to say for sure how true and objective the facts described in a particular book are. Often, the author's views, formed while observing certain events, may differ from the perceptions of those who were a direct participant and experienced everything personally.
Sometimes the plot is supplemented with artistic details to liven up the dry facts of journalistic investigations or official reports. This is done to interest the reader, make the book more exciting and easy to understand.
In any case, books based on true events are not fiction. They reflect what really happened, albeit through the prism of individual perception, which may be unique to each person.
Why is it worth reading books based on true events?
Books based on real events are sometimes even more interesting than those where the author gives free rein to his imagination. If the writer knows how to skillfully transform reality, simply by describing it, it is difficult for the reader to imagine that before him is not fiction, but a real story. True stories are often full of emotions, tragedies and victories, striking in their strength and honesty. They allow the reader to see the world through the prism of truth, without embellishment and falsehood.
Top 10 best books based on true events
To help you understand this type of literature , we have prepared for you a selection of books from various genres that have captivated the whole world.
1. Solid. Shoe factory of life .
A fascinating story about a Lviv enterprise located near Rynok Square. During the Holocaust, the monks of the Studite Order hid Jews at this factory, with the blessing of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. This is also the story of Father Josef Peters, known as the "Lviv Schindler", who, as a monk and priest, founded a successful production facility that became a center of salvation with the support of the Head of the Greek Catholic Church.
2. The scariest days of my life .
The shelling of the train station in Kramatorsk and the shopping center in Kremenchuk, the bombing of the center of Chernihiv and the maternity hospital in Mariupol, the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, the detention of people in the school basement in Yahodne, persecution and torture in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions, the occupation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and a hospital in Mykolaiv region... A collection of reports written by journalists of The Reckoning Project — an initiative of Ukrainian and international media professionals, analysts, and lawyers involved in documenting war crimes — has become a historical document of the first year of the great war.
This book-report tells the story of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992-1995. Wojciech Tochman describes the post-war period, when a group of scientists led by Dr. Eva searches for mass graves of Muslims who died during the "ethnic cleansing." The families of the dead turn to the expedition in the hope of finding the remains of their loved ones, reliving their tragic losses.
4. Today we are drawing death .
On April 6, 1994, in Rwanda, where the country was divided between two hostile ethnic groups - Tutsi and Hutu, a tragedy occurred: the head of state died in a plane crash. Among the Hutus, a single version of events quickly spread : the Tutsi were behind the disaster. This event marked the beginning of one of the bloodiest pages in modern history - the genocide, during which over a million people were killed in a hundred days.
5. Swamp Sweeter Than Honey: Voices of Communist Albania .
These are stories of bloody uprisings in the labor camps of Albania, tragic escapes from a country that became a concentration camp. The author reveals the unknown side of Albania and the darkest period of its history, combining the stories of her heroes into a moving chorus of voices.
6. Hackers and States. Cyberwars as New Realities of Modern Geopolitics .
If you are interested in the history of cyberwars, legendary hackers, strategic espionage and counterintelligence technologies, encryption methods, security system vulnerabilities, and practical ways to protect against cyberthreats, this book will become a valuable source of knowledge that will allow you to better understand the modern world of cyber conflicts.
7. Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. Memoirs of an FBI Director .
The memoir of James Comey, the former FBI director who was fired by Donald Trump in 2017 for his refusal to be loyal to the president. The book , which became a bestseller in the US, tells the story of Comey's 20-year career in law enforcement and justice, as well as his reflections on ethical leadership.
8. Awakening .
Oliver Sacks' book offers a fascinating account of a group of patients who suffered from sleeping sickness. While their stories may seem fantastic, they are completely real. The author details medical cases after World War I, when several thousand people were in a state of sleep for years.
9. Mossad. The most prominent operations of Israeli intelligence .
Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal reveal the history and operations of the legendary Israeli Mossad, considered one of the most effective secret services in the world, in their book. The authors not only present official data, but also share the memories of direct participants in the events, which creates an extremely fascinating history of this secret service.
10. KGB Archives. Unfictional Stories .
Documents of the Soviet state security agencies, which were declassified in Ukraine, have become a real treasure for researchers and journalists. Over the months and years, the stories found by Eduard Andryushchenko in the archives have been turned into articles for Ukrainian and international publications. Now they are collected in one publication. The main characters of these stories have become famous artists and ruthless killers, agents and Chekists, fugitives and spies.
You can buy historical novels and other interesting books based on real events at an affordable price in our online store Tyra. Thanks to convenient filters, you will quickly find the literature you need and can order fast delivery to Lviv, Kharkiv, Rivne, Vinnytsia and other cities of Ukraine.