Recommendations based on I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Livesby Caitlin Alifirenka

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

  1. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

    by Daniel James Brown
    An inspiring story of a rowing crew battling against the odds to win gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

    This novel is about the University of Washington eight-oared crew that represented the United States in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and narrowly beat out Italy and Germany to win the gold medal. The ... (Wikipedia)

  2. The Boy on the Wooden Box

    by Leon Leyson
    A Holocaust survivor's account of his childhood, living in fear and struggling for survival.

    Even in the darkest of times— especially in the darkest of times—there is room for strength and bravery. A remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story

    by Hyeonseo Lee
    A harrowing journey of escape from a repressive regime and the struggle to find a new life in freedom.

    An extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships – and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her ... (Goodreads)

  4. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

    by Atul Gawande
    An exploration of the human experience of mortality and the importance of end-of-life care.

    In, Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending Medicine has triumphed in modern ... (Goodreads)

  5. Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek

    by Maya Van Wagenen
    A teenage girl follows a 1950s popularity guide for a year, learning valuable lessons about self-confidence and acceptance.

    A touchingly honest, candidly hysterical memoir from breakout teen author Maya Van Wagenen, Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t ... (Goodreads)

  6. Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

    by Irin Carmon
    Celebrating the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

    New York Times Bestseller Featured in the critically acclaimed documentary, RBG, "It was beyond my wildest imagination that I would one day become the 'Notorious RBG." — Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 2019 She ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets

    by James Bowen
    A remarkable true story of a man and his cat, forging an unbreakable bond in the face of homelessness and despair.

    The moving, uplifting true story of an unlikely friendship between a man on the streets and the ginger cat who adopts him and helps him heal his life. ... (Goodreads)

  8. March: Book Three

    by John Lewis
    The civil rights movement recounted through the eyes of Congressman Lewis and other activists.

    Welcome to the stunning conclusion of the award-winning and best-selling MARCH trilogy. Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, joins ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

    by Jean Sasson
    An inside look at the life of a Saudi princess, filled with struggles and struggles for freedom.

    Sultana is a Saudi Arabian princess, a woman born to fabulous, uncountable wealth. She has four mansions on three continents, her own private jet, glittering jewels, designer dresses galore. But in ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

    by Donalyn Miller
    Strategies and techniques to inspire children to read, unlocking the potential of every reader.

    Known for her popular blog, "The Book Whisperer," Donalyn Miller is a dedicated teacher who says she has yet to meet a child she couldn't turn into a reader. Her approach, however, is not ... (Goodreads)

  11. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

    by J.D. Vance
    An exploration of the struggles of working-class Americans, and the power of family and culture to shape one's life.

    Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for ... (Goodreads)

  12. Hamilton: The Revolution

    by Lin-Manuel Miranda
    A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the groundbreaking musical "Hamilton", and its impact on American culture.

    A backstage pass to the groundbreaking, hit musical, Hamilton, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, including the award-winning libretto, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. 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)

  14. The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom

    by Corrie ten Boom
    A remarkable testament to faith and courage in the face of unfathomable odds and unspeakable horrors.

    The book begins with the ten Boom family celebrating the 100th anniversary of the family business; they sell and repair watches under the family's elderly father, Casper ten Boom . The business takes ... (Wikipedia)

  15. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

    by Kate Moore
    Uncovering the untold story of female factory workers poisoned by radium paint in 1920s America.

    A New York Times , USA Today , Wall Street Journal , and Amazon Charts Bestseller! For fans of Hidden Figures, comes the incredible true story of the women heroes who were exposed to radium in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. El Deafo

    by Cece Bell
    Autobiographical graphic novel about a girl who becomes deaf and learns to navigate the world with her hearing aid, the Phonic Ear.

    The book depicts the childhood of Cece Bell, who required the assistance of a Phonic Ear hearing aid while she was growing up to be the person who she is now. While the hearing aid enables her to ... (Wikipedia)

  17. Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol

    by Holly Whitaker
    A memoir and self-help book that explores the author's journey to sobriety and critiques the societal norms around alcohol consumption.

    The founder of a female-focused recovery program offers a radical new path to sobriety.“You don’t know how much you need this book, or maybe you do. Either way, it will save your life.”—Melissa ... (Goodreads)

  18. Gift from the Sea

    by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
    Exploring the depths of the ocean, seeking solace and wisdom.

    In this inimitable, beloved classic—graceful, lucid and lyrical—Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down ... (Goodreads)

  19. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

    by Sheryl Sandberg
    An exploration of gender dynamics in the workplace and solutions for women to achieve success.

    Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures

    by Anne Fadiman
    Exploring the cultural divide between the Hmong people and the medical establishment.

    Lia Lee was born in 1982 to a family of recent Hmong immigrants, and soon developed symptoms of epilepsy. By 1988 she was living at home but was brain dead after a tragic cycle of misunderstanding, ... (Goodreads)

  21. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

    by Erik Larson
    Exploration of Lusitania's fateful voyage and its lasting impact on World War I.

    #1 New York Times Bestseller,From the bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the, Lusitania, On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

    by Allie Brosh
    A humorous and candid account of the author's life, exploring the highs and lows of everyday life.

    #1, New York Times, Bestseller “Funny and smart as hell” (Bill Gates), Allie Brosh’s, Hyperbole and a Half, showcases her unique voice, leaping wit, and her ability to capture complex emotions with ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a True Story

    by Josh Sundquist
    A humorous memoir of the author's attempts to understand why he's never had a girlfriend.

    From Paralympic ski racer and YouTube star, Josh Sundquist, comes an always-funny (and sometimes-awkward) memoir about teenage misadventures. When I was twenty-five years old, it came to my attention ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Chasing Lincoln's Killer

    by James L. Swanson
    A gripping account of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, and the events that followed his death.

    NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author James Swanson delivers a riveting account of the chase for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.,Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

    by Esther Earl
    An inspiring memoir about a courageous and passionate young girl living with cancer.

    A collection of the journals, fiction, letters, and sketches of the late Esther Grace Earl, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Photographs and essays by family and friends will help to tell ... (Goodreads)

  26. Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House

    by Alyssa Mastromonaco
    A memoir of Alyssa Mastromonaco's time as Deputy Chief of Staff under President Obama, offering insights into the inner workings of the White House.

    If your funny older sister were the former deputy chief of staff to President Barack Obama, her behind-the-scenes political memoir would look something like this . . . Alyssa Mastromonaco worked for ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

    by Candace Fleming
    A detailed account of the Romanov family's rise to power, their downfall, and the events leading up to their tragic end.

    Here is the tumultuous, heartrending, true story of the Romanovs—at once an intimate portrait of Russia's last royal family and a gripping account of its undoing. Using captivating photos and ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice

    by Rebecca Musser
    A memoir of a woman who escaped a polygamous cult and testified against its leaders, leading to their conviction.

    Rebecca Musser grew up in fear, concealing her family's polygamous lifestyle from the "dangerous" outside world. Covered head-to-toe in strict, modest clothing, she received a rigorous education at ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Glitter and Glue

    by Kelly Corrigan
    A memoir of a daughter's travels with her mother, exploring the complexities of their relationship and the lessons learned along the way.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER,From the author of, The Middle Place, comes a new memoir that examines the bond—sometimes nourishing, sometimes exasperating, occasionally divine—between mothers and ... (Goodreads)

  30. My Brief History

    by Stephen Hawking
    Autobiography of Stephen Hawking, detailing his life from childhood to present day, including his scientific discoveries and battle with ALS.

    Stephen Hawking has dazzled readers worldwide with a string of bestsellers exploring the mysteries of the universe. Now, for the first time, perhaps the most brilliant cosmologist of our age turns ... (Goodreads)