David Grann writes books that read like thrillers but are completely true. He digs into historical mysteries and real-life adventures.
If you love stories that combine history, adventure, and a touch of the unknown, and you are seeking authors with a similar approach, here are some writers you might find interesting.
Books by Erik Larson offer readers detailed narratives that read smoothly and keep you hooked. Like David Grann, Larson takes real history and crafts it into engaging storytelling.
In “The Devil in the White City,” Larson weaves together two narratives set during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. On one side, architect Daniel Burnham faces pressure to build a dazzling metropolis in record time.
On the other, serial killer H.H. Holmes quietly constructs his own sinister world in the shadows of the fair. Larson blends meticulous historical research and suspense into a fascinating true story that’s hard to put down.
Books by Jon Krakauer appeal strongly to readers who enjoy David Grann’s storytelling style. Krakauer’s “Into the Wild” is an unforgettable true story about adventure, risk, and idealism.
The book follows Chris McCandless, a young man who leaves behind a comfortable life to find meaning and freedom in the wilds of Alaska. Krakauer captures McCandless’s intense desire for authenticity and shows clearly the thin line between bold ambition and reckless risk.
Readers fascinated by real-life adventures and human stories at the extremes will find Krakauer’s writing powerful and deeply engaging.
If you enjoy David Grann’s fascinating true-life stories filled with vivid characters and incredible events, you might appreciate Laura Hillenbrand. She has a talent for bringing historical accounts to life.
Her book “Unbroken” tells the real-life story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who became a bomber pilot during World War II. After his plane crashes into the Pacific, Zamperini survives weeks lost at sea only to face even harsher circumstances in a Japanese POW camp.
Hillenbrand carefully reconstructs Zamperini’s incredible tale of endurance and courage in a way that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
Sebastian Junger is an author known for his intense narratives of real-life events and vivid portrayals of human endurance during crisis.
In his book “The Perfect Storm,” Junger vividly reconstructs the devastating storm of October 1991, combining meticulous research with compelling storytelling.
He takes readers aboard the fishing boat Andrea Gail and introduces us to the six fishermen caught off guard by one of the most violent storms ever recorded.
The narrative shifts between the crew’s heroic struggle at sea and the anguished families at home, offering a gripping portrait of risk, human nature, and tragedy.
For readers who enjoy David Grann’s engaging blend of detailed investigation and absorbing narrative, Sebastian Junger’s works provide another captivating read grounded in true events.
Candice Millard writes gripping historical accounts about dramatic, real-life adventures. If you enjoyed David Grann’s “The Lost City of Z” or “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Millard’s stories will likely appeal to you.
Her book “The River of Doubt” details Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing journey through the uncharted Amazon rainforest after losing the election in 1912. Roosevelt faces illness, hunger, hostile natives, and deadly rapids along Brazil’s Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt).
Millard vividly recreates the tension, wilderness dangers, and human bravery that defined Roosevelt’s nearly catastrophic expedition.
Hampton Sides is an author known for bringing history to life through vivid storytelling and meticulous research. If you enjoyed David Grann’s detailed narratives, consider “In the Kingdom of Ice.”
This book tells the gripping true story of the USS Jeannette, a 19th-century American Arctic expedition that goes terribly wrong. Under Captain George De Long, the crew faces fierce ice, harsh conditions, and incredible survival challenges.
Sides reconstructs this forgotten journey with such clarity and emotion that readers feel the cold of the ice, the intensity of the crew’s struggles, and the courage of their final efforts.
Readers who enjoy David Grann’s deep dives into historical adventure and remarkable true stories will likely appreciate Nathaniel Philbrick. Philbrick has a talent for bringing history to life through vivid storytelling and meticulous research.
His book “In the Heart of the Sea” recounts the true story of the whaleship Essex, which inspired Melville’s “Moby-Dick.”
Set in 1820, it follows the harrowing journey of the Essex’s crew after a massive whale suddenly attacks their ship, forcing them into small lifeboats thousands of miles from the nearest land.
The sailors must confront starvation, desperation, and ethically impossible choices in their struggle to survive. Philbrick combines rich historical detail with powerful character portrayals, capturing the drama and humanity of an incredible maritime disaster.
Readers who enjoy David Grann might appreciate Simon Winchester, an author known for his ability to bring historical events vividly to life through meticulous research and engaging storytelling.
In “The Professor and the Madman,” Winchester tells the true and extraordinary story behind the making of the Oxford English Dictionary.
The narrative revolves around two very different men: Professor James Murray, the dedicated editor tasked with overseeing this monumental dictionary project, and Dr. William Chester Minor, a brilliant yet troubled contributor confined to an asylum for the criminally insane.
Winchester explores the unlikely friendship between these two characters as he uncovers the fascinating events behind one of the world’s most respected reference works.
Readers fascinated by David Grann’s true stories might enjoy author Ben Macintyre. Macintyre specializes in gripping historical non-fiction with sharp focus on espionage, wartime deception, and daring undercover operations.
In “Operation Mincemeat,” he recounts an extraordinary real-life espionage plot during World War II. British agents devised a detailed deception that involved planting fake military plans on a corpse to mislead Nazi intelligence.
Macintyre brings the operation vividly to life, backed by thorough research and engaging storytelling. Fans of Grann’s meticulous narratives will appreciate Macintyre’s ability to uncover hidden details within history’s most remarkable secret missions.
Douglas Preston is an author known for fascinating nonfiction narratives that explore historical mysteries in unfamiliar places. If you’ve enjoyed David Grann’s “The Lost City of Z,” you might want to read Preston’s “The Lost City of the Monkey God.”
This book tells the story of an expedition into one of the world’s wildest jungles, in Honduras, aiming to locate a legendary ancient city.
Preston recounts the team’s adventures, unexpected dangers, and surprising discoveries in a remote landscape full of legends and real-world peril.
The blend of history, archaeology, and adventure in a hidden corner of Central America will appeal to anyone fascinated by forgotten places and their secrets.
Michael Lewis is an author who thrives on uncovering hidden stories that shape our world. If you’re a fan of David Grann’s talent for combining deep research with captivating narrative, Lewis might be another author you’d enjoy.
His book “The Big Short” explores the chaotic world behind the 2008 financial crisis through the eyes of a few unlikely heroes who figured it out ahead of everyone else.
Lewis clearly explains complex Wall Street ideas through sharp, memorable characters whose stories keep you glued to the page. He reveals how greed, ignorance, and corruption led to economic disaster, yet still manages to entertain with humor and surprising humanity.
Rick Atkinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for bringing history vividly to life through detailed storytelling and powerful narratives.
In his book “An Army at Dawn,” Atkinson takes readers back to World War II, specifically to the North African campaign—a lesser-known but pivotal moment in the war. He highlights human experiences against the backdrop of chaos and struggle.
Through letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts, Atkinson pieces together a detailed look at military strategies and the personal struggles of soldiers on the ground.
Fans of David Grann’s detailed yet human-centered storytelling in books like “Killers of the Flower Moon” may find Atkinson’s particularly appealing.
If you enjoy David Grann’s adventurous storytelling and his way of turning true events into page-turners, you might like the work of Robert Kurson. Kurson writes narrative nonfiction full of adventure, suspense, and real historical insight.
His book “Shadow Divers” recounts the thrilling story of two deep-sea divers who discover a mysterious WWII German submarine submerged off the American coast.
The submarine’s identity becomes the heart of a gripping mystery, leading the divers through dangerous waters, historical puzzles, and personal challenges.
Kurson doesn’t just tell a great story; he immerses the reader in the divers’ world, capturing their excitement, their fears, and their relentless search for the truth.
Readers who enjoy David Grann’s style of narrative nonfiction might appreciate Steve Sheinkin’s storytelling approach to historical events. Sheinkin has a talent for uncovering captivating but little-known moments in history and making them accessible and memorable.
In his book “Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon,” he reveals the true story behind how scientists, spies, and politicians fought to build the first atomic bomb during World War II.
Sheinkin explores both the scientific breakthroughs and the espionage efforts of Soviet spies who infiltrated America’s most secure labs. The narrative weaves together personal stories, suspenseful spy exchanges, and critical moments of scientific discovery.
It’s a gripping look at history filled with intrigue, tension, and fascinating characters.
S. C. Gwynne is a skilled nonfiction writer known for vividly told history that draws readers in through strong storytelling and depth of research. If you enjoyed books by David Grann, it’s easy to appreciate Gwynne’s “Empire of the Summer Moon.”
This book tells the remarkable story of Quanah Parker, the charismatic leader of the Comanche nation, and the tribe’s tough resistance against settlers expanding across the American West.
Gwynne delivers vivid descriptions, dramatic conflicts, and portrays a historical era that comes alive page by page. Through detailed storytelling, the book sheds light on the dramatic events and complex personalities shaping a crucial chapter in American history.