Recommendations based on Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Surviveby Stephanie Land

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

  1. The Library Book

    by Susan Orlean
    A true story of the devastating 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, and the mystery surrounding it.

    On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not ... (Goodreads)

  2. Orange Is the New Black

    by Piper Kerman
    A memoir of a woman's experiences in prison, exploring the effects of incarceration.

    With her career, live-in boyfriend and loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the rebellious young woman who got mixed up with drug runners and delivered a suitcase of drug money to Europe over ... (Goodreads)

  3. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

    by Caroline Fraser
    Biography of pioneering author and her family's hardships, successes, and spirit.

    WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD,WINNER OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE HEARTLAND PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION,ONE OF THE, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW,'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids

    by Kim John Payne
    A guide to parenting with less stress and fewer material possessions, while creating more meaningful relationships with children.

    Today’s busier, faster, supersized society is waging an undeclared war . . . on childhood. As the pace of life accelerates to hyperspeed–with too much stuff, too many choices, and too little ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store

    by Cait Flanders
    A memoir of a woman's journey to simplify her life by embarking on a year-long shopping ban and decluttering her possessions.

    New in paperback: Millennial blogger recounts her yearlong shopping ban in a memoir that inspires readers to radically simplify their own lives and redefine what it means to have, and be, "enough." ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery

    by Robert Kolker
    The true story of the unsolved murders of five young women in Long Island, and the societal issues that contributed to their deaths.

    Award-winning investigative reporter Robert Kolker delivers a humanizing account of the true-life search for a serial killer still at large on Long Island and presents the first detailed look at the ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After

    by Clemantine Wamariya
    A memoir of a young girl's journey through war-torn Rwanda and her subsequent life as a refugee in America.

    A riveting story of dislocation, survival, and the power of the imagination to save us Clemantine Wamariya was six years old when her mother and father began to speak in whispers, when neighbors ... (Goodreads)

  8. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster

    by Jon Krakauer
    A gripping narrative of the 1996 expedition on Mount Everest that resulted in tragedy.

    When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. ... (Goodreads)

  9. I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

    by Michelle McNamara
    A true crime book chronicling the author's investigation into the unsolved case of the Golden State Killer.

    A masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer—the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California for over a decade—from Michelle McNamara, the gifted journalist who died ... (Goodreads)

  10. Possible Side Effects

    by Augusten Burroughs
    A humorous, darkly satirical look at the pharmaceutical industry and its effects on individuals.

    National Bestseller From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Running with Scissors comes Augusten Burroughs's most provocative collection of true stories yet. From nicotine gum addiction to ... (Goodreads)

  11. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

    by Bryan Stevenson
    A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.

    In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)

  12. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

    by John Carreyrou
    The rise and fall of Theranos, a fraudulent blood-testing startup, and the deceitful actions of its founder Elizabeth Holmes.

    The full inside story of the breathtaking rise and shocking collapse of a multibillion-dollar startup, by the prize-winning journalist who first broke the story and pursued it to the end in the face ... (Goodreads)

  13. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

    by Anthony Bourdain
    A humorous and unflinching account of life in restaurant kitchens, exploring the culture and camaraderie of the culinary world.

    A deliciously funny, delectably shocking banquet of wild-but-true tales of life in the culinary trade from Chef Anthony Bourdain, laying out his more than a quarter-century of drugs, sex, and haute ... (Goodreads)

  14. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

    by Ashlee Vance
    A revealing look into the life and accomplishments of tech innovator Elon Musk.

    Elon Musk, the entrepreneur and innovator behind SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity, sold one of his internet companies, PayPal, for $1.5 billion. Ashlee Vance captures the full spectacle and arc of the ... (Goodreads)

  15. Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America

    by Beth Macy
    A harrowing account of the opioid epidemic in America, exposing the greed and corruption that fueled it.

    Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of America's twenty-plus year struggle with opioid addiction. From distressed small communities in Central Appalachia to wealthy suburbs; from disparate cities ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Magnolia Story

    by Chip Gaines
    The inspiring true story of Chip and Joanna Gaines, their journey in home renovation, and the faith that sustains their marriage.

    A National Bestseller - New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly. Now available in paperback with a new chapter. Fall in love with Chip and Joanna Gaines, as you read their ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. They Called Us Enemy

    by George Takei
    Memoir of George Takei's childhood in Japanese-American internment camps during WWII and his journey to become an activist for social justice.

    New York Times Bestseller!,A stunning graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. Experience the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You

    by Elaine N. Aron
    A guide for highly sensitive people to understand and embrace their sensitivity, and navigate a world that can be overwhelming.

    NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Are you a highly sensitive person? Discover how to better understand yourself and create a fuller, richer life with the help of a clinical psychologist. “To say this book ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved

    by Kate Bowler
    A memoir of a woman's journey through cancer diagnosis, questioning faith, and finding meaning in life's struggles.

    A divinity professor and young mother with a Stage IV cancer diagnosis explores the pain and joy of living without certainty. Thirty-five-year-old Kate Bowler was a professor at the school of ... (Goodreads)

  20. 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)

  21. The Best We Could Do

    by Thi Bui
    A family's journey of remembrance, reflecting on the immigrant experience.

    National bestseller 2017 National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Finalist, ABA Indies Introduce Winter / Spring 2017 Selection, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Spring 2017 Selection, ALA 2018 ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life

    by Emily Nagoski
    An exploration of sexuality, examining how to create a fulfilling sex life.

    An essential exploration of why and how women’s sexuality works—based on groundbreaking research and brain science—that will radically transform your sex life into one filled with confidence and joy. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    by James Clear
    A practical guide to creating and maintaining good habits, and breaking bad ones, using small, incremental changes.

    No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach ... (Goodreads)

  24. Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

    by Mary Roach
    A journey through the digestive system, exploring its secrets and mysteries.

    The irresistible, ever-curious, and always best-selling Mary Roach returns with a new adventure to the invisible realm we carry around inside. “America’s funniest science writer” ( Washington Post ) ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Dry

    by Augusten Burroughs
    A memoir of alcoholism, mental illness, and the search for redemption.

    You may not know it, but you've met Augusten Burroughs. You've seen him on the street, in bars, on the subway, at restaurants: a twenty-something guy, nice suit, works in advertising. Regular. ... (Goodreads)

  26. Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds

    by David Goggins
    A memoir of David Goggins' journey from a depressed, overweight young man to a Navy SEAL and ultra-endurance athlete, with practical advice for mental toughness.

    For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through, self-discipline, mental toughness, and, hard work, Goggins ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. The Sun and Her Flowers

    by Rupi Kaur
    An exploration of personal growth, healing, and finding one's self.

    From Rupi Kaur, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of milk and honey, comes her long-awaited second collection of poetry. A vibrant and transcendent journey about growth and healing. Ancestry ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel, how they communicate : discoveries from a secret world

    by Peter Wohlleben
    An exploration of the complex relationships between trees and the environment.

    A, New York Times, bestseller,, With more than 2 million copies sold worldwide, this beautifully-written book journeys deep into the forest to uncover the fascinating—and surprisingly moving—hidden ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed

    by Lori Gottlieb
    A therapist's journey through therapy, exploring the human condition and the power of connection in healing.

    From a, New York Times, best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

    by Rick Warren
    An exploration of faith and life's meaning, providing readers with an actionable manifesto for living.

    A #1 New York Times bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life will help you understand why you are alive and reveal God's amazing plan for you both here and now, and for eternity. Rick Warren will guide ... (Goodreads)