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Recommendations based on Books v. Cigarettesby George Orwell
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Why I Write
by George Orwell
Reflection on the art and craft of writing, exploring its purpose and power.
Whether puncturing the lies of politicians, wittily dissecting the English character or telling unpalatable truths about war, Orwell's timeless, uncompromising essays are more relevant, entertaining ... (Goodreads)
Down and Out in Paris and London
by George Orwell
An exploration of the dark side of two cities, and how life can be different for the privileged and the destitute.
This unusual fictional memoir - in good part autobiographical - narrates without self-pity and often with humor the adventures of a penniless British writer among the down-and-outs of two great ... (Goodreads)
Homage to Catalonia
by George Orwell
A first-hand account of the Spanish Civil War, and the political conflicts in the 1930s.
In 1936 George Orwell travelled to Spain to report on the Civil War and instead joined the fight against the Fascists. This famous account describes the war and Orwell’s own experiences. Introduction ... (Goodreads)
The Complete Maus
by Art Spiegelman
A graphic novel depicting a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust and his son's journey to understand the past.
On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its first publication, here is the definitive edition of the book acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the ... (Goodreads)
Ways of Seeing
by John Berger
A critical analysis of visual culture and how it shapes our perception of the world. It challenges traditional ways of seeing and encourages a new perspective.
John Berger’s Classic Text on Art John Berger's Ways of Seeing is one of the most stimulating and the most influential books on art in any language. First published in 1972, it was based on the BBC ... (Goodreads)
The Origin of Species
by Charles Darwin
Comprehensive scientific exploration of the evolution of species and the natural world.
Darwin's theory of natural selection issued a profound challenge to orthodox thought and belief: no being or species has been specifically created; all are locked into a pitiless struggle for ... (Goodreads)
Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents
by Nicholas Ganz
A comprehensive look at the global street art movement, featuring stunning photographs and interviews with prominent graffiti artists.
"Graffiti World is the ultimate graffiti book. Offering a unique insight into the very essence of graffiti and its creative explosion over the past thirty-five years, it takes us on an adventure ... (Goodreads)
Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity
by Kerry Cohen
A candid memoir of a woman's journey through promiscuity, exploring the emotional and psychological effects of her experiences.
For everyone who was that girl., For everyone who knew that girl., For everyone who wondered who that girl was. Kerry Cohen is eleven years old when she recognizes the power of her body in the leer ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984
by Riad Sattouf
A graphic memoir of a boy growing up in Syria, Libya, and France, navigating cultural differences and political upheaval.
The Arab of the Future begins in France, where Riad Sattouf is born in 1978. He describes himself as a “perfect” little boy with "platinum-blonde hair" and “bright puppy-dog eyes.” Riad is the eldest ... (Wikipedia)
News of a Kidnapping
by Gabriel García Márquez
A non-fiction account of the kidnappings of ten people by Pablo Escobar's Medellín cartel in Colombia.
THIS ASTONISHING BOOK by the Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez chronicles the 1990 kidnappings of ten Colombian man and women–all journalists but one--by the Medellín drug boss Pablo Escobar. ... (Goodreads)
Bravo Two Zero
by Andy McNab
A thrilling account of a Special Air Service patrol mission gone wrong in the Iraqi desert.
In January 1991, eight members of the SAS regiment embarked upon a top secret mission that was to infiltrate them deep behind enemy lines. Under the command of Sergeant Andy McNab, they were to sever ... (Goodreads)
Dear Theo
by Vincent van Gogh
Autobiographical letters from the artist to his brother, chronicling his struggles with poverty and mental illness.
Each night, Vincent van Gogh put pen to paper and poured out his heart through letters to his brother Theo. Van Gogh's letters lay bare his deepest feelings, as well as his everyday concerns and his ... (Goodreads)
What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
by Richard Nelson Bolles
A guide to the art of job-hunting and career-changing, providing insightful advice and strategies.
A favourite of job hunters and career changers for more than three decades, it continues to be a mainstay on best-seller lists, from Amazon.com to BusinessWeek to the New York Times, where it has ... (Goodreads)
The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
by Anatoli Boukreev
An exploration of the struggle and danger of climbing Mount Everest, and the triumph of the human spirit.
As the climbers of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster vanished into thin air, one man had the courage to bring them down alive... On May 10, 1996, two commercial expeditions headed by expert leaders ... (Goodreads)
The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness
by Steve Peters
A guide to understanding and managing the inner workings of the human mind, using the analogy of a chimp to explain our emotional responses.
Leading consultant psychiatrist Steve Peters knows more than anyone how impulsive behaviour or nagging self-doubt can impact negatively on our professional and personal lives. In this, his first ... (Goodreads)
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader
by Anne Fadiman
A collection of essays about the joy and significance of reading, exploring the impact of books on everyday life.
Anne Fadiman is—by her own admission—the sort of person who learned about sex from her father's copy of, Fanny Hill, whose husband buys her 19 pounds of dusty books for her birthday, and who once ... (Barnes & Noble)
Seven Years in Tibet
by Heinrich Harrer
Exploration of Tibet, told through the story of a man who escapes internment and lives in the region for seven years.
The book covers the escape of Harrer and his companion, Peter Aufschnaiter , from a British internment camp in India. , Harrer and Aufschnaiter then traveled across Tibet to Lhasa , the capital. Here ... (Wikipedia)
Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies
by Ben Macintyre
A detailed account of British spies and their role in the secret operations of WWII.
In his celebrated bestsellers, Agent Zigzag, and, Operation Mincemeat, Ben Macintyre told the dazzling true stories of a remarkable WWII double agent and of how the Allies employed a corpse to fool ... (Goodreads)
The Shepherd's Life: A People's History of the Lake District
by James Rebanks
A chronicle of life in the Lake District of England, exploring the traditional way of life of shepherds.
Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks' isn't. The first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and ... (Goodreads)
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work
by Mason Currey
Examining the daily lives of 161 famous artists, uncovering their creative rituals and habits.
Franz Kafka, frustrated with his living quarters and day job, wrote in a letter to Felice Bauer in 1912, “time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if ... (Goodreads)
Humans of New York: Stories
by Brandon Stanton
A collection of poignant and inspiring stories of individuals living in New York City.
The #1, New York Times, Bestseller! With over 500 vibrant, full-color photos,, Humans of New York: Stories, is an insightful and inspiring collection of portraits of the lives of New Yorkers. Humans ... (Barnes & Noble)
Songbook
by Nick Hornby
A collection of essays on the power of music and its impact on our lives, exploring the emotional connections we make with songs.
“All I have to say about these songs is that I love them, and want to sing along to them, and force other people to listen to them, and get cross when these other people don’t like them as much as I ... (Goodreads)
The Innocents Abroad
by Mark Twain
An account of an American tour group as they travel through Europe and the Middle East.
The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress is a travel book by American author Mark Twain published in 1869 which humorously chronicles what Twain called his "Great Pleasure Excursion" on ... (Goodreads)
Clapton: The Autobiography
by Eric Clapton
A memoir of the life, struggles, and successes of musical icon Eric Clapton.
I found a pattern in my behavior that had been repeating itself for years, decades even. Bad choices were my specialty, and if something honest and decent came along, I would shun it or run the other ... (Goodreads)
Goodbye to All That
by Robert Graves
Autobiographical account of Robert Graves' experiences during World War I and his disillusionment with the war and British society.
An autobiographical work that describes firsthand the great tectonic shifts in English society following the First World War, Robert Graves's Goodbye to All That is a matchless evocation of the Great ... (Goodreads)
Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity
by David Lynch
Exploration of the creative process through meditation and mindfulness.
Where do ideas come from? In Catching the Big Fish , internationally acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch provides a rare window into his methods as an artist, his personal working style, and the immense ... (Goodreads)
Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software
by Erich Gamma
A guide to creating effective and efficient software through the principles of object-oriented design.
Capturing a wealth of experience about the design of object-oriented software, four top-notch designers present a catalog of simple and succinct solutions to commonly occurring design problems. ... (Goodreads)
First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers
by Loung Ung
An inspiring true story of survival and resilience during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.
From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her ... (Goodreads)
The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
by Wayne W. Dyer
Exploring the power of intention to manifest and create the life of one's dreams.
Intention is generally viewed as a pit-bull kind of determination propelling one to succeed at all costs by never giving up on an inner picture. In this view, an attitude that combines hard work with ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Consolation of Philosophy
by Boethius
A philosophical journey of self-reflection, exploring the true nature of happiness and existential purpose.
Boethius was an eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric, and an exceptional Greek scholar. When he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in Pavia, it was to the Greek ... (Goodreads)
