nonfiction is truth so don't call it nonfiction if it's a lie

Nonfiction is a true completely acurate story. That's it. No exceptions, unless your some form of book god. Highly unlikely if you ask me. It's the legitimate definition of nonfiction and there's no way around it. If you begin to fabricate details and jepordize the authenticity of a memoir of piece of work you're creating then it becomes fiction or some other sub-genre. This all may seem harsh but if I'm reading a nonfiction book, I expect it to be such and any less of the truth would make it seem false.

Frey and Mortenson both created wonderful books but in no way are they concidered nonfiction in my eyes. They contain false information which makes it regular fiction. This is no way affects the impact the book should have; it simply clarifys the category the book falls under and protects those who write and publish and such.

I don't really think David Shields' comment about blurring nonfiction and fiction holds any promise. We read nonfiction to gain knowledge and if you then read a book containing fabrication then you're not reading fiction, the truth is simply being altered to serve another purpose and I don't think that's justified in the long run. You're lying to many many people and decieving to make money. Besides blurring truth and fiction seems like it would land us in a load of trouble like highschool gossip does. Books should be above that, the're better than the lies they are becoming.