Different Types or Genres of Books With Examples

Subodh Sharma

Subodh Sharma

November 4, 2018

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Genres of books simply specify what categories or sub-categories does a book belong to. If you are a
regular book reader, you probably already know about some book genres that you have read or that you
love reading.

In this post, you will learn about the two main types of books and their sub-categories which we
commonly refer to as genres of books or book genres.

CONTENTS (click to navigate)

Types of Books

Fiction

Nonfiction

Genres of Books
[Under Fiction Category]

Action and Adventure

Anthology

Classic

Comic and Graphic Novel

Crime and Detective

Drama

Fable

Fairy Tale

Fan-Fiction

Fantasy

Historical Fiction

Horror

Humor

Legend

Magical Realism

Mystery

Mythology

Realistic Fiction

Romance

Satire

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

Short Story

Suspense/Thriller

[Under Nonfiction Category]

Biography/Autobiography

Essay

Memoir

Narrative Nonfiction

Periodicals

Reference Books

Self-help Book

Speech

Textbook

Poetry (Can be both Fiction or Nonfiction)

Types of Books

All the books can be broadly classified under two main categories: FICTION and NON-FICTION.

Fiction

Fiction books contain a made-up story – a story that did not actually happen in real life. These stories are
derived from the imagination and creativity of the authors and are not based on facts.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, 1984 by George Orwell, Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling are some of
the examples of fiction books.

Nonfiction

Non-fiction or nonfiction books are factual books. Unlike fiction books, they are based on facts and
information that can be verified to be true.

Some examples of non-fiction books are The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin,
How to Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie, an encyclopedia, etc.
Sometimes you may come across another category named semi-fiction. Do not be confused. Even semi-
fiction books are taken to be work of fiction. Apart from the made-up story, these books also include
some factual information.

For example, the famous book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is based on real historical events of
Afghanistan, but the story told in this book is actually a made up one.

Genres of Books

The above types of books can be further divided into many sub-categories and each of these sub-
categories is a genre. We will discuss the different genres of books under fiction and non-fiction
categories.

(Please Note that it is totally possible for the same book to be categorized under many book genres. For
example – Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie can come under Crime and Detective,
Mystery, Thriller and Realistic Fiction too)

Genres of Books Flowchart

Above picture shows a flowchart of different genres of books. Each of these are briefly explained below.
Number 1 to 23 are book genres under FICTION category.

Following is the list of different genres of books:

1. Action and Adventure

The stories under this genre usually show an event or a series of events that happen outside the course
of the protagonist’s ordinary life. The plot is mostly accompanied by danger and physical action. These
stories almost always move quickly and the high pace of the plot is usually an important part of the
story.

Some examples of Action and Adventure books are:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

2. Anthology

An anthology is a collection of series of works such as short stories, poems, essays, plays, etc. by
different authors into a single volume for publication. The selection of such works is made based on
some common theme or subject of books and usually done by an editor or small editorial board.

For example: The Poets Laureate Anthology by Elizabeth Hun Schmidt

3. Classic

Classic refers to the fictions that are accepted as the most important and influential books of a particular
time period or place. These books are widely taught in schools.

Examples of classic books are:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

1984 by George Orwell

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

4. Comic and Graphic Novel

These books are based on a sequence of hand-drawn pictures. The story is usually told visually with very
few words and those words are mostly placed either in panels on top or bottom of pictures or as speech
bubbles.

Some examples are:

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller

Saga by Brian K Vaughan

5. Crime and Detective

As the name suggests, this book genre deals with crime, criminal motives and the investigation and
detection of the crime and criminals.

Popular examples of this genre are:

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

And There Were None by Agatha Christie

Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie

6. Drama

Dramas are stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and
emotions are expressed through dialogue and actions.

Examples of drama are:

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

7. Fable

Fables are fictional narratives in prose or verse that typically features personified animals, mythical and
legendary creatures, plants, etc. as the main characters. The characters in fable possess human qualities,
such as the ability to speak in human language. These legendary tales demonstrate some useful truth
and are meant to teach a moral lesson.

Examples of Fables are:

The Lion And The Mouse by Aesop

The Fox and The Grapes by Aesop

8. Fairy Tale

Fairy tale is usually a story for children that involves imaginary creatures and magical events.

Examples of this genre are:

Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck

Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm

Beauty And The Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve

9. Fan-fiction

Fan Fiction, as the name suggests, is a fiction written by a fan of a particular book or book series. The
characters and the plot of fan fiction are usually taken from the original work but the story is different.

Some examples of fan-fiction are:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Harry Potter And The Method of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky

James Potter and the Hall of Elders’ Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

(All three books above are fan fiction of Harry Potter Series)

10. Fantasy

A Book under this genre contains a story set in a fantasy world – a world that is not real and often
includes magic, magical creatures, and supernatural events.
Some popular examples of fantasy are:

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

11. Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a genre of book that includes writings that reconstruct the past. The story is set in the
past keeping the manners, social conditions and other details of that period unchanged. The writers
incorporate the past events or people in their fictitious stories.

Examples of this historical fiction are:

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

12. Horror

Horror is a genre that is intended to or has the ability to create the feeling of fear, repulsion, fright or
terror in the readers. In other words, it creates a frightening and horror atmosphere.

Examples of horror fiction are:

The Shining by Stephen King

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

It by Stephen King

13. Humor

Humor fiction is usually full of fun, fancy, and excitement. It is meant to entertain and sometimes cause
intended laughter in readers.
Examples of humor fiction are:

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

14. Legend

It’s a story, sometimes of a national or folk hero that is considered to be based on facts but also includes
imaginative material. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain
qualities that give the readers a reason to believe in the tale.

Examples of Legend fiction are:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

15. Magical Realism

It is a genre of book wherein magical or unreal elements play a natural part in an otherwise-realistic
environment.

Examples of magical realism are:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

16. Mystery
Mystery books have a suspenseful plot that often involves a mysterious crime. Suspects and motives are
considered and clues throughout the story lead to a solution to the problem.

Examples of mystery books are:

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

17. Mythology

These books include a legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that
reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism and often pertaining to the actions of
the gods.

Examples of mythology books are:

Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Treasury of Greek Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli

Norse Gods and Giants by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

18. Realistic Fiction

Realistic fiction has a story that is true to life and seems real but isn’t actually real. Stories under this
book genre are often set in modern times and have characters who seem like real people.

Examples of realistic fiction are:

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Wonder by R.J Palacio

19. Romance

The primary focus of romance fiction is on the relationship and romantic love between two people.
These books have an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.

Examples of this book genre are:

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

20. Satire

Satire is a genre of book that entertains making fun of vices, foolishness, shortcomings, etc. of
individuals, corporations, government, or society through sarcasm and irony. It is often done with the
intention of inducing the sense of improvement among people.

Although satire is usually meant to be humorous, the humor often shows the dark truth of the society
and is meant to work as constructive social criticism.

Examples of Satire are:

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

21. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

Science Fiction typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and
technology, time travel, extraterrestrial life, etc. The stories are often set in the future or on other
planets.

Examples of this book genre are:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Martian by Andy Weir

Dune by Frank Herbert

22. Short Story

A short story is a short prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting. The stories under this genre
often do not have subplots. It deals with a few characters and aims at the unity of effect and often
concentrate on the creation of mood rather than plot.

Examples of short stories are:

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

23. Suspense/Thriller

This genre of book is characterized and defined by the moods they evoke among the readers, giving
them heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, thrill, surprise, anticipation, and anxiety. Literary
devices such as plot twists and cliffhangers are extensively used in this genre.

Some popular examples of suspense/thriller books are:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Above genres of books were under FICTION category. Now, following is the list of different genres of
books under NON-FICTION category:
24. Biography/Autobiography

Biography is a narrative on someone’s life written by someone else. When a person himself writes about
his life, then the book is called an autobiography.

Some examples are:

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Edison: A Biography by Matthew Josephson

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

25. Essay

An essay is usually a short literary composition that reflects an author’s outlook or point of view on a
particular topic.

Examples of some popular essays are:

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

On The Pleasure of Hating by William Hazlitt

As a White Slave by Nellie Bly

26. Memoir

A memoir is basically a collection of memories that an individual writes on moments or events that he
experiences in his life. These writings are taken to be factual.

Sometimes a Memoir is taken to be an autobiography, but they are actually different. An autobiography
is an account of the person’s entire lifetime, but a memoir is an account of only a narrower set of the
author’s experience.

Some example of memoirs are:

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

The Liars’ Club by Mary Karr

27. Narrative Nonfiction

Narrative nonfiction (also known as literary nonfiction or creative nonfiction) is a genre of books that
uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives in a format that tells a story.

Some examples of Narrative nonfiction are:

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

28. Periodicals

Periodicals as the name suggest, are written periodically at regular definitive intervals. Newspapers,
magazines, Journals are some examples.

29. Reference Books

These are books that we refer to when we need some specific information. Some examples of this genre
of books are a dictionary, an encyclopedia, an atlas, etc.

30. Self-help Book

Self-help books contain information that is intended to help the readers to solve their personal problems
and make their life better.

Some Popular examples of self-help books are:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

31. Speech

This is a public address or discourse written into a book.

Examples of speech books are:

Lend Me Your Ears by William Safire

The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches by Brian MacArthur (Editor)

Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

32. Textbook

A textbook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. It contains an authoritative and detailed
factual description of a topic. Textbooks are produced as per the demands of educational institutions.
Mathematics, science, and history textbooks taught in schools are some basic examples.

33. Poetry

Poetry is one of the most important genres of books in which the expression of feelings and ideas is
given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm. Poems written under poetry can be of different
types according to the style in which they are written.

Poetry can fall into both Fiction and Non-Fiction categories. If the poetry is based on facts, it will be a
nonfiction poetry, and if it is not based on facts then it will be a fiction poetry.

Some examples of poetry books are:

Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

The Odyssey by Homer

Paradise Lost by John Milton

So, this was the list of genres of books with brief descriptions and examples.

Although most of the important genres are covered in this article, there can still be some more that
exist. If you are aware of any other genres of books that are not mentioned here, please mention it in
the comment section below. I will add that too.