Recommendations based on Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiatby Javaka Steptoe

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

  1. Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future

    by Pete Buttigieg
    A memoir of Pete Buttigieg's journey from serving in Afghanistan to becoming the youngest mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and his vision for America's future.

    Once described by the Washington Post as “the most interesting mayor you’ve never heard of,” Pete Buttigieg, the thirty-seven-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has now emerged as one of the ... (Goodreads)

  2. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

    by David W. Blight
    A comprehensive biography of Frederick Douglass, the former slave who became a leading abolitionist and one of America's greatest orators.

    As a young man, Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland. He was fortunate to have been taught to read by his slave owner mistress, and he would go on to become one ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

    by Vincent van Gogh
    Collection of letters written by Vincent van Gogh, revealing his artistic struggles, personal life, and mental health battles.

    A new selection of post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gough's letters, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh put a human face on one of the most haunting figures in modern Western culture. In this ... (Goodreads)

  4. True Compass: A Memoir

    by Edward M. Kennedy
    An intimate reflection on the life of a senator, exploring the triumphs and tragedies of his personal and political journey.

    In this landmark autobiography, five years in the making, Senator Edward M. Kennedy tells his extraordinary personal story–of his legendary family, politics, and fifty years at the center of national ... (Goodreads)

  5. Truman

    by David McCullough
    A biographical account of Harry S. Truman's rise to the Presidency and his impact on American history.

    The book provides a biography of Harry Truman in chronological fashion from his birth to his rise to U.S. Senator , Vice President , and President . It follows his activities until death, exploring ... (Wikipedia)

  6. Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots

    by Deborah Feldman
    A woman's journey of liberation, leaving behind the oppressive confines of her Hasidic community.

    The instant New York Times bestselling memoir of a young Jewish woman’s escape from a religious sect, in the tradition of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel and Carolyn Jessop’s Escape , featuring a new ... (Goodreads)

  7. Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire

    by Amanda Foreman
    A captivating biography of the 18th century aristocratic society, highlighting the life of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.

    The winner of Britain's prestigious Whitbread Prize and a bestseller there for months, this wonderfully readable biography offers a rich, rollicking picture of late-eighteenth-century British ... (Goodreads)

  8. Not My Father's Son

    by Alan Cumming
    A memoir of a man's journey to uncover his family's troubled past and reclaim his identity.

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Equal parts memoir, whodunnit, and manual for living . . . a beautifully written, honest look at the forces of blood and bone that make us who we are, and how we make ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Grant

    by Jean Edward Smith
    A comprehensive biography of Ulysses S. Grant, from his early life to his presidency and beyond.

    Finalist, Pulitzer Prize in Biography Ulysses S. Grant was the first four-star general in the history of the United States Army and the only president between Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson to ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. Wave

    by Sonali Deraniyagala
    Memoir of a family's tragic loss in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and a woman's journey of resilience and recovery.

    On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived. In this ... (Goodreads)

  11. My Life on the Road

    by Gloria Steinem
    Steinem's memoir of her travels as a feminist activist, sharing stories of the people and experiences that shaped her life and work.

    Gloria Steinem—writer, activist, organizer, and one of the most inspiring leaders in the world—now tells a story she has never told before, a candid account of how her early years led her to live an ... (Goodreads)

  12. Colonel Roosevelt

    by Edmund Morris
    Biography of Theodore Roosevelt's life, from his rise to power to his death.

    Of all our great presidents, Theodore Roosevelt is the only one whose greatness increased out of office. When he toured Europe in 1910 as plain “Colonel Roosevelt,” he was hailed as the most famous ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo

    by Tom Reiss
    Epic biography of the original Count of Monte Cristo, a forgotten black hero of the French Revolution.

    Here is the remarkable true story of the real Count of Monte Cristo – a stunning feat of historical sleuthing that brings to life the forgotten hero who inspired such classics as The Count of Monte ... (Goodreads)

  14. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

    by Amy Schumer
    A comedic and candid exploration of the author's life, experiences and views.

    THE INSTANT #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER "This is your happy hour with Amy Schumer... It's, Bossypants, meets, Trainwreck, meets your long weekend." —,TheSkimm, “Amy’s got your back. She’s in your ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention

    by Manning Marable
    A biography exploring the life of Malcolm X, civil rights activist and leader.

    Selected by, The New York Times Book Review, as a Notable Book of the Year Years in the making-the definitive biography of the legendary black activist. Of the great figure in twentieth-century ... (Goodreads)

  16. A Fighting Chance

    by Elizabeth Warren
    Autobiographical account of the Senator's rise from a middle-class family to the halls of power.

    An unlikely political star tells the inspiring story of the two-decade journey that taught her how Washington really works—and really doesn't—in A Fighting Chance As a child in small-town Oklahoma, ... (Goodreads)

  17. What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love

    by Carole Radziwill
    A memoir of a woman's journey through love, loss, and friendship.

    On a clear summer night in July 1999, a small plane plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, carrying John Kennedy, his wife, Carolyn, and her sister Laura. Three weeks later, John's cousin Anthony Radziwill ... (Goodreads)

  18. Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference

    by Cordelia Fine
    Exposing the deeply embedded gender biases in our culture and beliefs.

    It’s the twenty-first century, and although we tried to rear unisex children–boys who play with dolls and girls who like trucks--we failed. Even though the glass ceiling is cracked, most women stay ... (Goodreads)

  19. Mortality

    by Christopher Hitchens
    Reflections on the inevitability of death, drawing on personal and philosophical insights.

    On June 8, 2010, while on a book tour for his bestselling memoir, Hitch-22 , Christopher Hitchens was stricken in his New York hotel room with excruciating pain in his chest and thorax. As he would ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More

    by Janet Mock
    A memoir of a transgender woman's journey of self-discovery and her experiences of the world.

    In 2011, Marie Claire magazine published a profile of Janet Mock in which she stepped forward for the first time as a trans woman. Those 2300 words were life-altering for the People.com editor, ... (Goodreads)

  21. Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes

    by Elizabeth Bard
    A memoir of a young American woman who falls in love with a Frenchman and discovers the joys of French cuisine and culture.

    In Paris for a weekend visit, Elizabeth Bard sat down to lunch with a handsome Frenchman — and never went home again. , Was it love at first sight? Or was it the way her knife slid effortlessly ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Einstein: His Life and Universe

    by Walter Isaacson
    A comprehensive biography of Albert Einstein, exploring his personal life, scientific achievements, and impact on the world.

    Einstein was a rebel and nonconformist from boyhood days, and these character traits drove both his life and his science. In this narrative, Walter Isaacson explains how his mind worked and the ... (Goodreads)

  23. Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef

    by Gabrielle Hamilton
    A memoir of a chef's journey from childhood to adulthood, exploring the struggles of creating an independent life.

    Before Gabrielle Hamilton opened her acclaimed New York restaurant Prune, she spent twenty hard-living years trying to find purpose and meaning in her life. Blood, Bones & Butter follows an ... (Goodreads)

  24. Molly's Game: From Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker

    by Molly Bloom
    Memoir of Molly Bloom, who ran high-stakes poker games for celebrities and billionaires, until her arrest by the FBI.

    When Molly Bloom was a little girl growing up in a small Colorado town, she watched her brothers win medals, ace tests, and receive high praise from everyone they met. Molly wanted nothing more than ... (Goodreads)

  25. This Will Only Hurt a Little

    by Busy Philipps
    Memoir of actress Busy Philipps, detailing her personal struggles and triumphs in Hollywood and beyond.

    A hilarious, heartfelt, and refreshingly honest memoir and, New York Times, bestseller by the beloved comedic actress known for her roles on, Freaks and Geeks,, Dawson’s Creek, and, Cougar Town, who ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History

    by Katy Tur
    A journalist's firsthand account of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, from the campaign trail to the White House.

    A New York Times Bestseller “Compelling… this book couldn’t be more timely.” – Jill Abramson,, New York Times Book Review, Called "disgraceful," "third-rate," and "not nice" by Donald Trump, NBC News ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. sTORI Telling

    by Tori Spelling
    Memoir of Tori Spelling's life growing up in Hollywood, her rise to fame, and personal struggles.

    This title sees Tori set the record straight on her personal life and lets readers experience the truly unique life she's led - with its undeniable childhood privileges, tabloid misperceptions, ... (Goodreads)

  28. A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal

    by Ben Macintyre
    The true story of a legendary British spy, who betrayed his country and family.

    Master storyteller Ben Macintyre’s most ambitious work to date brings to life the twentieth century’s greatest spy story. Kim Philby was the greatest spy in history, a brilliant and charming man who ... (Goodreads)

  29. My Bondage and My Freedom

    by Frederick Douglass
    Autobiography of an escaped slave, detailing his journey to freedom and civil rights activism

    Ex-slave Frederick Douglass's second autobiography-written after ten years of reflection following his legal emancipation in 1846 and his break with his mentor William Lloyd Garrison-catapulted ... (Goodreads)

  30. Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter

    by Simone de Beauvoir
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery and exploration of her place in the world.

    A superb autobiography by one of the great literary figures of the twentieth century, Simone de Beauvoir's Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter offers an intimate picture of growing up in a bourgeois French ... (Goodreads)