Books about Character Development

  1. Wizard and Glass

    by Stephen King
    A journey of love, loss, and horror as a group of misfits face a mysterious enemy in a world of dark magic.

    Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Jake’s pet bumbler survive Blaine the Mono’s final crash, only to find themselves stranded in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, one that has been ravaged by ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Passage of Power

    by Robert A. Caro
    An in-depth account of Lyndon B. Johnson's rise to power and his evolution as a leader.

    The Passage of Power follows Lyndon Johnson through both the most frustrating and the most triumphant periods of his career—1958 to1964. It is a time that would see him trade the extraordinary power ... (Goodreads)

  3. Stoner

    by John Williams
    An academic's life of quiet desperation, finding solace in literature.

    William Stoner is born on a small farm in 1891. After high school, the county agent advises he go to agriculture school. Stoner enrolls in the University of Missouri , where all agriculture students ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Words of Radiance, Part 1

    by Brandon Sanderson
    The second book in the Stormlight Archive series, following the journey of Kaladin and Shallan as they navigate a world torn apart by war and magic.

    The natural heir to Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series hit No.1 in the US and No.2 in the UK with the hardback release of the massive second volume, WORDS OF RADIANCE. Split ... (Goodreads)

  5. Point of Impact

    by Stephen Hunter
    A gripping story of a sniper and his mission to protect the President from an assassin.

    He was one the best Marine snipers in Vietnam. Today, twenty years later, disgruntled hero of an unheroic war, all Bob Lee Swagger wants to be left alone and to leave the killing behind. But with ... (Goodreads)

  6. Sense and Sensibility

    by Jane Austen
    The contrasting fortunes of two sisters, and the love and heartbreak that ensue.

    Henry Dashwood, his second wife, and their three daughters live for many years with Henry's wealthy bachelor uncle at Norland Park, a large country estate in Sussex. That uncle decides, in late life, ... (Wikipedia)

  7. The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression

    by Angela Ackerman
    A comprehensive guide for writers to help them create realistic and compelling characters by exploring a wide range of emotions and expressions.

    The bestselling, Emotion Thesaurus, often hailed as "the gold standard for writers" and credited with transforming how writers craft emotion, has now been expanded to include 55 new entries! , One of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. Knife of Dreams

    by Robert Jordan
    Epic fantasy adventure as a young man embarks on a quest to save the world from destruction.

    This volume of, The Wheel of Time, depicts several distinct plots. Unusual Trolloc attacks, the dead walking, ripples in the fabric of the world and other events seem to indicate that the Last Battle ... (Wikipedia)

  9. King Richard the Third

    by William Shakespeare
    A tragedy of ambition, deceit, and treachery as a villainous king rises to power.

    This edition of Richard III features seven scenes, opening with the Duke of Gloucester’s villainous “Winter of our discontent” speech and followed by his audacious wooing of Lady Anne. Queen ... (Goodreads)

  10. A Woman After God's Own Heart

    by Elizabeth George
    A guide to faith and spiritual growth, helping readers discover their purpose in life.

    Change Your Priorities to Change Your Life and Your Home, You will experience peace, order, and joy when you follow God's guidelines for every area of your life, and best of all, you will become a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

    by Robin McKinley
    An unconventional retelling of a classic fairytale, exploring themes of love and transformation.

    Roderick Huston, a wealthy merchant and widower, has three daughters; Grace, Hope, and Honour. When Honour was a child she asked what her name meant and afterwards said she'd rather be named Beauty, ... (Wikipedia)

  12. Golden Fool

    by Robin Hobb
    FitzChivalry Farseer, the bastard son of a prince, becomes embroiled in court intrigue and must navigate dangerous political waters to protect his loved ones.

    Fitz has succeeded in rescuing Prince Dutiful from the clutches of the Piebald rebels. But once again the cost of protecting the Farseer line has been dear: Nighteyes is dead. Fitz, though bitter and ... (Wikipedia)

  13. 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)

  14. The Pursuit of Holiness

    by Jerry Bridges
    A guide to spiritual growth and maturity, focusing on living a holy life.

    This new edition replaces both, The Pursuit of Holiness, (ISBN 9781576839324) and the study guide (ISBN 9781576839881) by combining both resources into one volume! “Be holy, for I am holy,” commands ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. The Long Winter

    by Laura Ingalls Wilder
    A family's courageous struggle to survive a harsh winter in the American frontier.

    On a hot August day in the 1880s, at the Ingallses' homestead in Dakota Territory , Laura offers to help Pa stack hay to feed their stock in the winter. As they work, she notices a muskrat den in the ... (Wikipedia)

  16. My Man Jeeves

    by P.G. Wodehouse
    A series of humorous adventures featuring a bumbling English gentleman and his ever-resourceful valet.

    Who can forget our beloved gentleman's personal gentleman, Jeeves, who ever comes to the rescue when the hapless Bertie Wooster falls into trouble. My Man Jeeves is sure to please anyone with a taste ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Gunslinger Born

    by Peter David
    A thrilling fantasy adventure, filled with action, suspense, and unexpected plot twists.

    'The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.' With those words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King's Roland ' an implacable gunslinger in search of the ... (Goodreads)

  18. The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones

    by George R.R. Martin
    A comprehensive exploration of the world and characters of the popular fantasy novel and television series.

    If the past is prologue, then George R. R. Martin’s masterwork—the most inventive and entertaining fantasy saga of our time—warrants one hell of an introduction. At long last, it has arrived with The ... (Goodreads)

  19. 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)

  20. Sideways Stories from Wayside School

    by Louis Sachar
    A collection of humorous tales set in an offbeat school, featuring a cast of eccentric characters.

    There was a terrible mistake - Wayside School was built with one classroom on top of another, thirty stories high (The builder said he was sorry.) Maybe that's why all kinds of funny things happened ... (Goodreads)

  21. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

    by Paul Tough
    Examines the importance of character development in children's success, and the impact of adversity on their lives.

    Why do some children succeed while others fail? The story we usually tell about childhood and success is the one about intelligence: Success comes to those who score highest on tests, from preschool ... (Goodreads)

  22. Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish

    by James Scott Bell
    A comprehensive guide to crafting a compelling plot, with practical exercises and examples.

    Craft an Engaging Plot How does plot influence story structure? What's the difference between plotting for commercial and literary fiction? How do you revise a plot or structure that's gone off ... (Goodreads)

  23. Chicken Soup for the Soul

    by Jack Canfield
    Uplifting stories that inspire and motivate readers to live better lives.

    Two of America's best-loved inspirational speakers share the very best of their collected stories and favorite tales that have touched the hearts of people everywhere. Canfield and Hansen bring you ... (Goodreads)

  24. Player's Handbook

    by James Wyatt
    A comprehensive guide to playing Dungeons & Dragons, featuring rules and strategies.

    Everything a player needs to create heroic characters for the world’s greatest roleplaying game The Player’s Handbook® is the essential reference for every Dungeons & Dragons® roleplayer. It contains ... (Goodreads)

  25. Carry On, Jeeves

    by P.G. Wodehouse
    A series of comedic stories filled with eccentric characters, witty banter and outrageous scenarios.

    The titles of the first story in this collection—'Jeeves Takes Charge'— and the last—'Bertie Changes His Mind'—sum up the relationship of twentieth-century fiction's most famous comic characters. In ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

    by John Truby
    A comprehensive guide to crafting compelling stories, covering everything from character development to plot structure.

    John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in ... (Goodreads)

  27. Uncle Vanya

    by Anton Chekhov
    A study of the ennui and monotony of rural life, with characters struggling with their place in the world.

    A garden in Professor Serebryakov's country estate. Astrov and Marina discuss how old Astrov has grown, and his boredom with his life as a country doctor. Vanya enters, and complains of the ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Harry Potter: Film Wizardry

    by Brian Sibley
    An exploration of the magical world of Harry Potter, showcasing the filmmaking process.

    New York Times bestselling Harry Potter Film Wizardry was the first book to delve into the fascinating and intriguing world of an enormously successful film franchise. The book features interviews ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Men at Arms: The Play

    by Stephen Briggs
    A humorous play about a hapless army unit, facing a seemingly undefeatable enemy.

    Edward d'Eath, an Assassin and son of a down-and-out noble family, becomes convinced that the restoration of the Ankh-Morpork monarchy will solve the social change in the city which he blames for his ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Medea and Other Plays

    by Euripides
    Classic Greek tragedy exploring the human experience through stories of revenge and justice.

    Four plays which exemplify his interest in flawed, characters who defy the expectations of Greek society The four tragedies collected in this volume all focus on a central character, once powerful, ... (Goodreads)

  31. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens

    by Sean Covey
    A guide to help teens become successful, by developing the right habits and attitudes.

    Being a teenager is both wonderful and challenging. In, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey applies the timeless principles of the 7 Habits to teens and the tough issues and ... (Goodreads)

  32. Marrying Winterborne

    by Lisa Kleypas
    A young woman determined to make her own way in life, finds love in a society where her choices are limited.

    A ruthless tycoon., Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, ... (Goodreads)

  33. Shepherding a Child's Heart

    by Tedd Tripp
    A guide to parenting, emphasizing the importance of nurturing a child's heart and leading with wisdom.

    Shepherding a Child's Heart is about how to speak to the heart of your child. The things your child does and says flow from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way: "...out of the overflow of the heart ... (Goodreads)

  34. MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors

    by Richard Hooker
    A humorous and poignant tale of three army doctors and their experiences during the Korean War.

    Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake , commander of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital , requests two new surgeons for his unit. Captains Duke Forrest and Hawkeye Pierce share a jeep to the post, in ... (Wikipedia)

If you enjoyed this, try uploading your goodreads reviews and seeing what recommendations we can come up with for you.