Ask HN: Great nontech book that you read recently?

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke.

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. Don't know if "great", but quite interesting and fun free book at hpmor.com

I'm going through the audiobook of Cryptonomicon, its my first Neal Stephenson book and I am quite enjoying it.

Hugo and Nebula award winner Ancillary Justice is pretty good, though perhaps not great. Before that I reread No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy is definitely great and I enjoyed it far more this time than when I read it nine years ago. Right now I am rereading Dune for the first time in at least twenty and possibly thirty years partially because Ancillary Justice reminded me of it, partially because it might be something I recommend trying to my son and partially because being able to read previously read books in new ways is turning out to be a pleasure of getting older. Anyway, Dune is great in ways that Dino Delaurentis and subsequent film makers had made me forget.

Langston Hughes' Weary Blues is amazing, but I'm no expert on poetry.

Dune - Frank Herbert. Just an amazing book.