Recommendations based on The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storytellerby John Truby

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

  1. Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting

    by Robert McKee
    A comprehensive guide to the craft and principles of successful screenwriting.

    Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress and putting major screenwriting careers back on track. Quincy ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

    by Stephen King
    A series of personal reflections on the art of writing, and the power of story-telling.

    "Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon the publication of Stephen King's On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is ... (Goodreads)

  3. Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

    by Blake Snyder
    Step-by-step guide to writing a successful screenplay, using the "Save the Cat" approach.

    This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat! ... (Goodreads)

  4. Rework

    by Jason Fried
    A guide to starting and running a successful business with unconventional advice and practical tips.

    Most business books give you the same old advice: Write a business plan, study the competition, seek investors, yadda yadda. If you're looking for a book like that, put this one back on the shelf. ... (Goodreads)

  5. Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them

    by Francine Prose
    An exploration of how to appreciate and create literature with an analytical eye.

    In her entertaining and edifying New York Times bestseller, acclaimed author Francine Prose invites you to sit by her side and take a guided tour of the tools and the tricks of the masters to ... (Goodreads)

  6. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

    by David Allen
    A guide to improving efficiency and productivity through better organization.

    The book, Lifehack, calls ,"The Bible of business and personal productivity.","A completely revised and updated edition of the blockbuster bestseller from 'the personal productivity guru'",—,Fast ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Assuming Names: A Con Artist's Masquerade

    by Tanya Thompson
    A memoir of a woman who spent years assuming different identities and scamming people.

    When it was over, there were a lot of questions. The detectives were embarrassed but they still wanted answered, "How did a 15-year-old runaway successfully pose as a world traveled countess?" The ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

    by William Zinsser
    Comprehensive guide to writing nonfiction, covering craft, style, and technique.

    On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get ... (Goodreads)

  9. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

    by Scott McCloud
    Exploration of the visual language of comics and its role in storytelling.

    Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is a seminal examination of comics art: its rich history, surprising technical components, and major cultural significance. Explore the secret world between the ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Hero With a Thousand Faces

    by Joseph Campbell
    Mythology and folklore of the world explored, illustrating a universal hero's journey.

    The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating ... (Goodreads)

  11. Alexander Hamilton

    by Ron Chernow
    Comprehensive biography of the Founding Father, delving into his contributions to the American Revolution.

    An alternate cover edition can be found, here., Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow presents a landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father who galvanized, inspired, ... (Goodreads)

  12. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

    by Peter Thiel
    A guide to launching a startup, exploring the power of entrepreneurship.

    If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets. The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, ... (Goodreads)

  13. The 48 Laws of Power

    by Robert Greene
    A guide to understanding the dynamics of gaining and keeping power.

    Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy, New York Times, bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate ... (Goodreads)

  14. Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works

    by Ash Maurya
    A practical guide to building a successful startup by testing and iterating ideas to find a sustainable business model.

    We live in an age of unparalleled opportunity for innovation. We’re building more products than ever before, but most of them fail—not because we can’t complete what we set out to build, but because ... (Goodreads)

  15. The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

    by Megan Mullally
    A comedic memoir of the love story between actors Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman.

    At last, the full story behind Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman's epic romance, including stories, portraits, and the occasional puzzle, all telling the smoldering tale that has fascinated Hollywood ... (Goodreads)

  16. Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up

    by Tom Phillips
    A humorous and irreverent take on the history of human civilization, highlighting our many mistakes and missteps along the way.

    *NOW AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER* A Toronto Star Bestselling Book of the Year “Witty and entertaining.”—Sarah Knight “Laugh-out-loud.”—Steve Brusatte AN EXHILARATING JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOST CREATIVE ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer

    by Irene Gut Opdyke
    A young Polish woman's harrowing experiences during WWII, including hiding Jews and working for the German army, and her journey to America.

    "You must understand that I did not become a resistance fighter, a smuggler of Jews, a defier of the SS and the Nazis all at once. One's first steps are always small: I had begun by hiding food under ... (Goodreads)

  18. A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments

    by David Foster Wallace
    Collection of essays and arguments, exploring the absurdities of contemporary culture.

    In this exuberantly praised book — a collection of seven pieces on subjects ranging from television to tennis, from the Illinois State Fair to the films of David Lynch, from postmodern literary ... (Goodreads)

  19. Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions

    by Guy Kawasaki
    A guide to the art of enchantment, teaching how to influence and persuade others in a positive way.

    Enchantment, as defined by bestselling business guru Guy Kawasaki, is not about manipulating people. It transforms situations and relationships. It converts hostility into civility and civility into ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. Imagine: How Creativity Works

    by Jonah Lehrer
    Exploring the science and psychology of creativity to understand how ideas are born and flourish.

    Did you know that the most creative companies have centralized bathrooms? That brainstorming meetings are a terrible idea? That the color blue can help you double your creative output? From the New ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee

    by Sarah Silverman
    A comedic account of a woman's journey to overcome her childhood bedwetting.

    From the outrageously filthy and oddly innocent comedienne Sarah Silverman comes a memoir—her first book—that is at once shockingly personal, surprisingly poignant, and still pee-in-your-pants funny. ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies

    by Erik Brynjolfsson
    Examination of the societal implications of technology and its disruptive impact on the economy.

    In recent years, Google’s autonomous cars have logged thousands of miles on American highways and IBM’s Watson trounced the best human Jeopardy! players. Digital technologies—with hardware, software, ... (Goodreads)

  23. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

    by Susan Cain
    An exploration of the power of introversion, examining the implications of modern society's emphasis on extroversion.

    The book that started the Quiet Revolution, At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Art of War

    by Sun Tzu
    Ancient Chinese military treatise outlining strategies for success in battle.

    Twenty-Five Hundred years ago, Sun Tzu wrote this classic book of military strategy based on Chinese warfare and military thought. Since that time, all levels of military have used the teaching on ... (Goodreads)

  25. Getting Real: The Smarter, Faster, Easier Way to Build a Web Application

    by 37 Signals
    A practical guide to building web applications with a focus on simplicity, efficiency, and user experience.

    Getting Real details the business, design, programming, and marketing principles of 37signals. The book is packed with keep-it-simple insights, contrarian points of view, and unconventional ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future

    by Ryder Carroll
    A guide to organizing your life through a customizable journaling system. Learn to prioritize tasks, set goals, and reflect on personal growth.

    New York Times, bestseller! , There’s a reason this system for time management, goal setting, and intentional living has been adopted by millions around the globe: it works. Not only will you get ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. 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)

  28. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

    by Richard Louv
    Examining the consequences of disconnecting children from nature, and the need for reconnection.

    "I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are," reports a fourth-grader. Never before in history have children been so plugged in—and so out of touch with the ... (Goodreads)

  29. Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe

    by Simon Singh
    A comprehensive exploration of the Big Bang Theory, from its earliest beginnings to its implications today.

    A half century ago, a shocking Washington Post headline claimed that the world began in five cataclysmic minutes rather than having existed for all time; a skeptical scientist dubbed the maverick ... (Goodreads)

  30. Father and I Were Ranchers

    by Ralph Moody
    A boy's coming-of-age story, learning the values of hard work and perseverance while growing up on a ranch.

    Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasures and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth ... (Barnes & Noble)