Recommendations based on Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventuresby Stephen Fry

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold

    by Stephen Fry
    Reimagining of classic Greek myths, with a modern twist.

    Mythos is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant ... (Goodreads)

  2. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

    by Mary Beard
    An exploration into the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, tracing its impact on the modern world.

    New York Times Bestseller A New York Times Notable Book Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal , the Economist, Foreign Affairs , and Kirkus Reviews Finalist for the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  3. The Diary of a Bookseller

    by Shaun Bythell
    A humorous and insightful account of life in a small bookshop.

    Shaun Bythell owns The Bookshop, Wigtown - Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books, spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, and all set ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Fry Chronicles

    by Stephen Fry
    A memoir of the acclaimed English writer, actor and comedian, chronicling his rise to fame.

    Thirteen years ago, Moab Is My Washpot, Stephen Fry's autobiography of his early years, was published to rave reviews and was a huge best seller. In the years since, Stephen Fry has moved into a ... (Goodreads)

  5. Existentialism is a Humanism

    by Jean-Paul Sartre
    A philosophical exploration of the human condition, and the implications of freedom and responsibility.

    It was to correct common misconceptions about his thought that Jean-Paul Sartre, the most dominent European intellectual of the post-World War II decades, accepted an invitation to speak on October ... (Goodreads)

  6. Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind

    by V.S. Ramachandran
    An exploration of the human brain, examining its functions and mysteries.

    Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran is internationally renowned for uncovering answers to the deep and quirky questions of human nature that few scientists have dared to address. His bold insights about ... (Goodreads)

  7. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think

    by Hans Rosling
    A data-driven book that challenges common misconceptions about the world and presents a more accurate, optimistic view of global progress.

    Factfulness:, The stress-reducing habit of only carrying opinions for which you have strong supporting facts. When asked simple questions about global trends— what percentage of the world’s ... (Goodreads)

  8. Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?

    by Steven Tyler
    Memoir of Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith, detailing his life, struggles with addiction, and rise to fame.

    “Steven Tyler is one of the giants of American music, who’s been influential for a whole generation of Rock ’n’ Roll fans around the world. Long May He Rock!”,—Sir Paul McCartney,, Does the Noise in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life / The Little Book of Lykke / Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living

    by Hector Garcia Puigcerver
    Three books exploring the secrets of happiness and contentment from Japanese and Swedish perspectives.

    3 Books Collection Set:, Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life, The people of Japan believe that everyone has an ikigai – a reason to jump out of bed each morning. And according to the ... (Goodreads)

  10. Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo

    by Zlata Filipović
    A young girl's diary chronicles her life during the Bosnian War, revealing the horrors and struggles of living in a war-torn city.

    When Zlata’s Diary was first published at the height of the Bosnian War, it became an international bestseller and was compared to The Diary of Anne Frank , both for the freshness of its voice and ... (Goodreads)

  11. Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood

    by Julie Gregory
    A harrowing account of a young girl's life under the abuse of her mother's Munchausen by Proxy syndrome.

    A young girl is perched on the cold chrome of yet another doctor’s examining table, missing yet another day of school. Just twelve, she’s tall, skinny, and weak. It’s four o’clock, and she hasn’t ... (Goodreads)

  12. Book Love

    by Debbie Tung
    A graphic novel celebrating the joys and struggles of being a book lover, from finding new reads to dealing with book hangovers.

    Bookworms rejoice! These charming comics capture exactly what it feels like to be head-over-heels for hardcovers. And paperbacks! And ebooks! And bookstores! And libraries! Book Love is a gift book ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began

    by Art Spiegelman
    A graphic novel recounting a Holocaust survivor's harrowing experience and his son's attempt to reconcile with his father's past.

    Acclaimed as a quiet triumph and a brutally moving work of art, the first volume of Art Spieglman's Maus introduced readers to Vladek Spiegleman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a ... (Goodreads)

  14. Out of Africa / Shadows on the Grass

    by Isak Dinesen
    Memoir of a Danish woman's life in colonial Kenya, filled with love, loss, and the beauty of Africa.

    Out of Africa tells the story of a farm that the narrator once had in Africa. The farm is located at the foot of the Ngong hills outside of Nairobi, in what is now Kenya. It sits at an altitude of ... (Goodreads)

  15. A Brief History of Time

    by Stephen Hawking
    Exploring the depths of time and space and the emergence of the universe.

    In the ten years since its publication in 1988, Stephen Hawking's classic work has become a landmark volume in scientific writing, with more than nine million copies in forty languages sold ... (Goodreads)

  16. Mary Queen of Scots

    by Antonia Fraser
    Biography of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, and her tumultuous life as a monarch in 16th century Scotland and England.

    She was the quintessential queen: statuesque, regal, dazzlingly beautiful. Her royal birth gave her claim to the thrones of two nations; her marriage to the young French dauphin promised to place a ... (Goodreads)

  17. All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood

    by Jennifer Senior
    A thoughtful exploration of parenthood in the modern age, examining the joys and struggles of raising children.

    Thousands of books have examined the effects of parents on their children. Award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior now asks: what are the effects of children on their parents? "All Joy and No Fun is ... (Goodreads)

  18. Ten Days in a Mad-House

    by Nellie Bly
    Nellie Bly goes undercover in a mental institution to expose the mistreatment of patients. A shocking and eye-opening account of the horrors of the asylum system.

    In 1887, 23-year-old reporter Nellie Bly had herself committed to a New York City asylum for 10 days to expose the horrific conditions for 19th-century century mental patients. ... (Goodreads)

  19. Marie Antoinette: The Journey

    by Antonia Fraser
    A biography of Marie Antoinette, from her childhood in Austria to her reign as Queen of France and eventual execution during the French Revolution.

    Marie Antoinette's dramatic life-story continues to arouse mixed emotions. To many people, she is still 'la reine méchante', whose extravagance and frivolity helped to bring down the French monarchy; ... (Goodreads)

  20. George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

    by Brian Kilmeade
    The incredible story of the undercover espionage mission that helped secure the American Revolution.

    As a Long Islander endlessly fascinated by events that happened in a place I call home, I hope with this book to give the secret six the credit they did not get in life. The Culper spies represent ... (Goodreads)

  21. Meditations

    by Marcus Aurelius
    Reflections on Stoic philosophy, exploring the nature of existence and how to live life.

    Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual ... (Goodreads)

  22. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

    by Humphrey Carpenter
    A comprehensive biography of the life of J.R.R. Tolkien, exploring his inspirations and the creation of his iconic works.

    The authorized biography of the creator of Middle-earth. In the decades since his death in September 1973, millions have read THE HOBBIT, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE SILMARILLION and become ... (Goodreads)

  23. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History

    by Art Spiegelman
    A graphic novel depicting the traumatic experiences of a Holocaust survivor and his son.

    The first installment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust” (Wall Street Journal) and “the first ... (Goodreads)

  24. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident

    by Donnie Eichar
    Investigative account of the mysterious deaths of nine hikers in the Ural Mountains in 1959.

    A New York Times and Wall Street Journal Nonfiction Bestseller! — What happened that night on Dead Mountain? The mystery of Dead Mountain: In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Slash

    by Slash
    The life story of iconic rock guitarist Slash, from his childhood to his days in Guns N' Roses.

    From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll He was born in England but reared in L.A., surrounded by the leading artists of the day ... (Goodreads)

  26. Parenting With Love and Logic

    by Foster W. Cline
    A guide to raising responsible and self-reliant children through the use of empathy, logical consequences, and natural learning opportunities.

    Over 900,000 copies sold! Who uses love and logic in their parenting? Parents, counselors, and teachers around the globe—even Bill and Melinda Gates have found the philosophy of Parenting with Love ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide

    by Carol Anderson
    Examination of systemic racism in the United States and its effects on African Americans.

    From the Civil War to our combustible present,, White Rage r,eframes our continuing conversation about race, chronicling the powerful forces opposed to black progress in America–now in paperback with ... (Goodreads)

  28. Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory

    by Ben Macintyre
    True story of a WWII deception operation involving a dead body, fake documents, and a daring plan to mislead the Nazis.

    “Pure catnip to fans of World War II thrillers and a lot of fun for everyone else.”—Joseph Kanon,, Washington Post Book World, “Thrilling . . . What makes, Operation Mincemeat, so winning, in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. No More Mr. Nice Guy

    by Robert A. Glover
    A journey to reclaim lost masculinity and create healthier relationships with emotions and women.

    Originally published as an e-book that became a controversial media phenomenon, No More Mr. Nice Guy! landed its author, a certified marriage and family therapist, on The O'Reilly Factor and the Rush ... (Goodreads)

  30. Geisha, a Life

    by Mineko Iwasaki
    Autobiography of a geisha, recounting her life of beauty, art, and traditional Japanese culture.

    "No woman in the three-hundred-year history of the karyukai has ever come forward in public to tell her story. We have been constrained by unwritten rules not to do so, by the robes of tradition and ... (Goodreads)