Readers of CBC Books have chosen 40 non-fiction works they’d like to see compete in next February's edition of Canada Reads, CBC’s annual book debate.

The titles range from classics like Jane Jacobs's The Death and Life of Great American Cities to memoirs such as Senator Roméo Dallaire's Shake Hands with the Devil to biographies such as Charles Foran's Mordecai: The Life and Times.

Writers on the list include Farley Mowat, Wayne Johnston, M.G. Vassanji, Pierre Berton and Margaret MacMillan. Two of Vancouver writer John Vaillant's books have been nominated: The Golden Spruce and The Tiger.

Over the past three weeks, avid readers have suggested titles online at CBC Books. Readers must now shorten the list to 10 books, with online voting open until midnight on Oct. 30.

Then, the participating celebrity panellists will choose books from the list that most appeal to them for discussion during Canada Reads: True Stories. The upcoming edition is the first time Canada Reads has considered Canadian non-fiction books.

The full list of 40 books:

  • Adventures in Solitude by Grant Lawrence.
  • And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat.
  • Baltimore's Mansion by Wayne Johnston.
  • The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown.
  • Burmese Lessons by Karen Connelly.
  • Burning Down the House by Russell Wangersky.
  • The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin.
  • The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary by Andrew Westoll.
  • Cockeyed by Ryan Knighton.
  • The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs.
  • Down to This by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall.
  • The Film Club by David Gilmour.
  • Gabrielle Roy written by Francois Richard, translated by Patricia Claxton.
  • The Game by Ken Dryden.
  • The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant.
  • Jane Austen by Carol Shields.
  • The Last Spike by Pierre Berton.
  • Louis Riel by Chester Brown.
  • The Love Queen of Malabar by Merrily Weisbord.
  • Mordecai by Charles Foran.
  • Most of Me by Robyn Michele Levy.
  • Mrs. King by Charlotte Gray.
  • On a Cold Road by Dave Bidini.
  • One Bird's Choice by Iain Reid.
  • Paper Shadows by Wayson Choy.
  • Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan.
  • A Place Within by M.G. Vassanji.
  • Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat.
  • Shake Hands with the Devil by Roméo Dallaire.
  • Sixtyfive Roses by Heather Summerhayes Cariou.
  • Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre.
  • Tangles by Sarah Leavitt.
  • Through the Glass by Shannon Moroney.
  • The Tiger by John Vaillant.
  • Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner.
  • Trauma Farm by Brian Brett.
  • Two Generals by Scott Chantler.
  • What Disturbs Our Blood by James FitzGerald.
  • Who Killed Mom? by Steve Burgess.
  • The Year of Finding Memory by Judy Fong Bates.