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Recommendations based on The Penguin Lessonsby Tom Michell
* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans
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)
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
by Elizabeth Kolbert
Examination of the current extinction of species caused by human activity and the potential global implications.
Over the last half-billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring ... (Goodreads)
Notes from a Small Island
by Bill Bryson
A humorous travelogue of Bryson's final tour of Britain before moving to the US. He reflects on the quirks and charms of British life.
"Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it." After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson - bestselling author of ... (Goodreads)
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women
by Elena Favilli
Collection of inspiring stories about extraordinary women and their accomplishments.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a children's book packed with 100 bedtime stories about the life of 100 extraordinary women from the past and the present, illustrated by 60 female artists from ... (Goodreads)
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)
This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor
by Adam Kay
A candid and darkly humorous account of a doctor's time working in the NHS.
Welcome to the life of a junior doctor: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a constant tsunami of bodily fluids, and the hospital parking meter earns more than you. Scribbled in secret after ... (Goodreads)
Where Am I Now?
by Mara Wilson
A memoir by former child actress Mara Wilson, reflecting on her life in and out of the spotlight.
For readers of Lena Dunham, Allie Brosh and Roxane Gay, this funny, poignant, daringly honest collection of personal essays introduces Mara Wilson—the former child actress best known for her starring ... (Goodreads)
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
by Ross King
An exploration of the artistic genius of Michelangelo, and the turbulent politics behind the Sistine Chapel.
In 1508, despite strong advice to the contrary, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. With little experience as a painter ... (Goodreads)
A Short History of Nearly Everything
by Bill Bryson
A captivating overview of the natural sciences, spanning the history of the universe.
In Bryson's biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand—and, if possible, answer—the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory ... (Goodreads)
Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World
by Rita Golden Gelman
A woman leaves her conventional life behind to travel the world, immersing herself in different cultures and discovering her true self.
“I move throughout the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities. ” —From the Preface Tales of a Female Nomad is the ... (Goodreads)
The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State
by Nadia Murad
Nadia Murad's harrowing account of being kidnapped and enslaved by ISIS, and her subsequent fight for justice and awareness.
WINNER OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, In this intimate memoir of survival, a former captive of the Islamic State tells her harrowing and ultimately inspiring story. Nadia Murad was born and raised in ... (Goodreads)
Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life
by Alison Weir
Biography of a medieval queen and her legacy, exploring her remarkable life and impact.
In this beautifully written biography, Alison Weir paints a vibrant portrait of a truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world. Renowned in her time for being the most ... (Goodreads)
Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales
by William M. Bass
Investigative journey into a unique laboratory dedicated to solving crimes using forensic science.
Dr. Bill Bass, one of the world's leading forensic anthropologists, gained international attention when he built a forensic lab like no other: The Body Farm. Now, this master scientist unlocks the ... (Goodreads)
All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation
by Rebecca Traister
Examining the power and influence of unmarried women on modern society.
In 2009, award-winning journalist Rebecca Traister started All the Single Ladies about the twenty-first century phenomenon of the American single woman. It was the year the proportion of American ... (Goodreads)
The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology
by Simon Winchester
Biography of William Smith and his geological map, tracing the evolution of geology and its impact on the world.
In 1793, a canal digger named William Smith made a startling discovery. He found that by tracing the placement of fossils, which he uncovered in his excavations, one could follow layers of rocks as ... (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)
Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea
by Steven Callahan
A harrowing tale of survival at sea after a shipwreck, and a man's inner journey.
Before The Perfect Storm , before In the Heart of the Sea , Steven Callahan's dramatic tale of survival at sea was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than thirty-six weeks. In some ways ... (Goodreads)
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
by Frans de Waal
Examining the intelligence of animals and their potential for morality and culture.
Hailed as a classic, Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition―in crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and ... (Goodreads)
The Tender Bar: A Memoir
by J.R. Moehringer
An intimate look at an unconventional family and the power of storytelling.
In the grand tradition of landmark memoirs - a classic American story of self-invention and escape, of the fierce love between a single mother and an only son, it's also a moving portrait of one ... (Goodreads)
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)
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
by Sarah Vowell
A humorous and insightful look at the role of the Frenchman Lafayette in the American Revolution and his complicated relationships with the Founding Fathers.
From the bestselling author of, Assassination Vacation, and, Unfamiliar Fishes, a humorous and insightful account of the Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette–the one Frenchman we could all ... (Goodreads)
A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea
by Masaji Ishikawa
A harrowing memoir of a man's life in North Korea, detailing his escape from the oppressive regime and the struggles he faced as a refugee.
The harrowing true story of one man’s life in—and subsequent escape from—North Korea, one of the world’s most brutal totalitarian regimes. Half-Korean, half-Japanese, Masaji Ishikawa has spent his ... (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)
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
by Aron Ralston
A harrowing true story of one man's fight for survival after being trapped in a canyon.
A brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life which will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories. One ... (Goodreads)
Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town
by Paul Theroux
An exploration of Africa, from the ancient wonders of the Nile to the modern marvels of the Cape.
In Dark Star Safari the wittily observant and endearingly irascible Paul Theroux takes readers the length of Africa by rattletrap bus, dugout canoe, cattle truck, armed convoy, ferry, and train. In ... (Goodreads)
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
by Ross King
A look into the remarkable life and legacy of the pioneering artist and architect, Filippo Brunelleschi.
The, New York Times, bestselling, award winning story of the construction of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and the Renaissance genius who reinvented architecture to build it. On ... (Barnes & Noble)
One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway
by Åsne Seierstad
Tragic account of the life of a mass murderer and the terror he inflicted on Norway.
A harrowing and thorough account of the massacre that upended Norway, and the trial that helped put the country back together On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik detonated a bomb outside ... (Goodreads)
Prozac Nation
by Elizabeth Wurtzel
A young woman's personal account of her struggles with depression and her recovery journey.
A harrowing story of breakdowns, suicide attempts, drug therapy, and an eventual journey back to living, this poignant and often hilarious book gives voice to the high incidence of depression among ... (Goodreads)
The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well
by Meik Wiking
A guide to embracing the Danish concept of Hygge, creating a cozy and content home life.
Denmark is often said to be the happiest country in the world. That's down to one thing: hygge. 'Hygge has been translated as everything from, the art of creating intimacy, to, cosiness of the soul, ... (Goodreads)
Shakespeare: The World as Stage
by Bill Bryson
An exploration of Shakespeare's life, works, and enduring cultural impact.
At first glance, Bill Bryson seems an odd choice to write this addition to the Eminent Lives series. The author of 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid' isn't, after all, a Shakespeare scholar, ... (Goodreads)
