Books about Life Experiences

  1. A Year Down Yonder

    by Richard Peck
    Young girl moves to her grandmother's for a year, discovering life's hard lessons and unexpected joys.

    The year is 1938, and the Great Depression has hit the Dowdel family hard. 15-year-old Mary Alice is sent downstate to live with Grandma Dowdel while her mother and father remain in Chicago. Her ... (Wikipedia)

  2. 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)

  3. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

    by Fredrik Backman
    A grandfather's memories of life and love, intertwined with his grandson's journey of growing up.

    A little book with a big heart—from the New York Times bestselling author of, A Man Called Ove, and, Anxious People,. “I read this beautifully imagined and moving novella in one sitting, utterly ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. Patty Jane's House of Curl

    by Lorna Landvik
    Patty Jane and her sister Harriet open a beauty salon in Minnesota, navigating love, loss, and family secrets.

    After Patty Jane's husband leaves her, she and her irrepressible sister, Harriett, open a neighborhood beauty parlor–complete with live harp music and Norwegian baked goods. It's a warmhearted place ... (Goodreads)

  5. Naked

    by David Sedaris
    Collection of humorous essays exploring the absurdities of everyday life.

    Welcome to the hilarious, strange, elegiac, outrageous world of David Sedaris. In Naked , Sedaris turns the mania for memoir on its proverbial ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, ... (Goodreads)

  6. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

    by Amy Schumer
    A comedic and candid exploration of the author's life, experiences and views.

    THE INSTANT #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER "This is your happy hour with Amy Schumer... It's, Bossypants, meets, Trainwreck, meets your long weekend." —,TheSkimm, “Amy’s got your back. She’s in your ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas

    by Gertrude Stein
    A unique and captivating look into the life of the avant-garde writer and her circle of friends.

    The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas was written in 1933 by Gertrude Stein in the guise of an autobiography authored by Alice B. Toklas, who was her lover. It is a fascinating insight into the art ... (Goodreads)

  8. Lessico famigliare

    by Natalia Ginzburg
    An exploration of family life through memories and conversations of the narrator.

    Lessico famigliare è la storia di una famiglia ebrea, quella della stessa scrittrice, che si svolge a Torino fra gli anni Trenta e Cinquanta. Natalia, l'ultima dei cinque figli Levi, è la voce ... (Goodreads)

  9. A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: An Essay

    by David Foster Wallace

    Un capolavoro di comicità e virtuosismo stilistico con cui i lettori italiani hanno conosciuto il genio letterario di David Foster Wallace. Commissionatogli inizialmente come articolo per la ... (Goodreads)

  10. Scott Pilgrim, Volume 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together

    by Bryan Lee O'Malley
    A slacker's journey to becoming a mature adult, with the help of his friends.

    That’s right, folks! Put down the video game controller! Skip that rehearsal for your band! Make whatever sacrifices you must to those comic gods you hold so dear! Just make sure you’re ready because ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives

    by Michael Newton
    Explores the mystery of life after death, offering case studies of life between lives.

    Learn the latest details and most recent groundbreaking discoveries that reveal, for the first time, the mystery of life in the spirit world after death on Earth–proof that our consciousness ... (Goodreads)

  12. Clapton: The Autobiography

    by Eric Clapton
    A memoir of the life, struggles, and successes of musical icon Eric Clapton.

    I found a pattern in my behavior that had been repeating itself for years, decades even. Bad choices were my specialty, and if something honest and decent came along, I would shun it or run the other ... (Goodreads)

  13. Michael Tolliver Lives

    by Armistead Maupin
    Follow the life of Michael Tolliver, a gay man living in San Francisco, as he navigates love, loss, and aging in the 21st century.

    The novel represents Maupin's return to the, Tales of the City, characters some 18 years after the sixth book in the series was published. As well as further developing familiar characters, it ... (Wikipedia)

  14. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character

    by Richard P. Feynman
    A collection of tales from Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman's life, filled with humor and insight.

    A, New York Times, bestseller—the outrageous exploits of one of this century's greatest scientific minds and a legendary American original. Richard Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, ... (Goodreads)

  15. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

    by Jonas Jonasson
    An adventurous old man escapes a nursing home for an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

    Allan Karlsson is about to celebrate his hundredth birthday, and his retirement home in Malmköping is planning to throw a party. Allan is not interested. Instead, he climbs out the window and ... (Wikipedia)

  16. Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer

    by Jen Lancaster
    A humorous journey of self-discovery through tales of a woman's life experiences.

    A NOTE FROM JEN LANCASTER: "To whom the fat rolls…I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. Three Junes

    by Julia Glass
    A story of interconnected lives, spanning three summers of joy, sadness and self-discovery.

    A luminous first novel, set in Greece, Scotland, Greenwich Village, and Long Island, that traces the members of a Scottish family as they confront the joys and longings, fulfillments and betrayals of ... (Goodreads)

  18. Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules

    by David Sedaris
    A collection of short stories by various authors, edited by David Sedaris, exploring the theme of childhood innocence and experience.

    A must-have for the fans of the #1 bestselling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris, a collection of his favorite short fiction from Flannery O'Connor to Tobias Wolff. A bestseller in its ... (Goodreads)

  19. Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys

    by Billy Crystal
    A humorous autobiography of the actor and comedian's life and career.

    Hilarious and heartfelt observations on aging from one of America's favorite comedians as he turns 65, and a look back at a remarkable career in this, New York Times, bestseller., Billy Crystal is ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. No One Belongs Here More Than You

    by Miranda July
    Short stories of everyday people struggling to find their place in the world.

    Screenwriter, director, and star of the acclaimed film Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July brings her extraordinary talents to the page in a startling, sexy, and tender collection. ... (Goodreads)

  21. Just Kids

    by Patti Smith
    Chronicles of two young artists in New York City, finding friendship and inspiration in each other.

    In Just Kids , Patti Smith's first book of prose, the legendary American artist offers a never-before-seen glimpse of her remarkable relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the epochal ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times

    by Jennifer Worth
    A midwife's story of bringing life into the world and the joys and struggles of living in poverty-stricken East London.

    At the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in post war London's East End slums. The colorful characters she meets while ... (Goodreads)

  23. Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness

    by Charles Bukowski
    A collection of raw and gritty short stories and poems that explore the darker side of human nature and the struggles of everyday life.

    Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness was a paperback collection of short stories by Charles Bukowski, first published by City Lights Publishers in 1972.[1] It ... (Goodreads)

  24. When You Are Engulfed in Flames

    by David Sedaris
    Humorous reflections on everyday life, navigating the absurdities of the human condition.

    It's early autumn 1964. Two straight-A students head off to school, and when only one of them returns home Chesney Yelverton is coaxed from retirement and assigned to what proves to be the most ... (Goodreads)

  25. The Green Road

    by Anne Enright
    A family's journey through life, with each member reflecting on their individual paths.

    The first half of the novel concerns each family member individually and goes chronologically from 1980 to 2005. Each of the four Madigan children and their mother Rosaleen receive a chapter of their ... (Wikipedia)

  26. The Long Hard Road Out of Hell

    by Marilyn Manson
    An autobiographical account of Marilyn Manson's rise to fame and struggles with celebrity.

    The 150,000-copy national bestselling autobiography of Marilyn Manson, America's most controversial celebrity icon, is offered with a bonus chapter not included in the hardcover. "By turns moving, ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café

    by Alexander McCall Smith
    A tale of the accidental proprietor of a small café in an African country.

    Mma Makutsi has decided to start a new venture: The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café. She envisages this to be place for fashionable men to hobnob, and in her excitement ignores the various warning signs, ... (Wikipedia)

  28. The Last Black Unicorn

    by Tiffany Haddish
    A humorous, honest account of the comedian's personal life, struggles and successes.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER “An inspiring story that manages to be painful, honest, shocking, bawdy, and, hilarious.” ,—The New York Times Book Review, From stand-up comedian, actress, and breakout ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. I Am Ozzy

    by Ozzy Osbourne
    A journey through the life of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, from his humble beginnings to his incredible success.

    I Am Ozzy ... (Goodreads)

  30. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

    by Kathleen Rooney
    An elderly woman's journey through the streets of New York, reflecting on her extraordinary life.

    It’s the last day of 1984, and 85-year-old Lillian Boxfish is about to take a walk. As she traverses a grittier Manhattan, a city anxious after an attack by a still-at-large subway vigilante, she ... (Goodreads)

  31. The Complete Collected Poems

    by Maya Angelou
    Anthology of lyrical writings spanning the poet's life and work.

    For the first time, the complete collection of Maya Angelou's published poems-including "On the Pulse of Morning"-in a permanent collectible, handsome hardcover edition. ... (Goodreads)

  32. Living to Tell the Tale

    by Gabriel García Márquez
    Autobiographical account of the author's life, from his childhood to his Nobel Prize in Literature.

    He is perhaps the most acclaimed, revered and widely read writer of our time, and in this first volume of a planned trilogy, Gabriel Garcia Marquez begins to tell the story of his life. Living to ... (Goodreads)

  33. Naïve. Super

    by Erlend Loe
    A humorous coming-of-age story of a young man's search for understanding and purpose in life.

    The narrator of this funny and poignant novel is searching for meaning, going back to his childhood, onto the web and off to New York to find it. He writes lists, obsesses over the nature of time, ... (Goodreads)

  34. I Love Everybody

    by Laurie Notaro
    Humorous memoir of one woman's search for self-acceptance, with an irreverent twist.

    Here are more scathingly funny tales from the wild side! Laurie Notaro survived the debauched ride of her twenties and the bumpy road to matrimony. Now she’s ready to take on the thirtysomething ... (Goodreads)

  35. Rich Man, Poor Man

    by Irwin Shaw
    A family saga spanning generations, exploring the power of money and its influence on relationships.

    In the early parts of the novel Shaw goes to great lengths to make the point about "Jordache blood" – violent, bitter, resentful. One of the ways he does this is by meticulously describing the ... (Wikipedia)

  36. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

    by Chip Heath
    Examining the key elements that make moments extraordinary and powerful.

    The, New York Times, bestselling authors of, Switch, and, Made to Stick, explore why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us—and how we can learn to, create, such ... (Goodreads)

  37. Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake

    by Anna Quindlen
    Reflective musings on life, aging and the joys of growing older.

    In this irresistible memoir, the #1 New York Times bestselling author writes about her life and the lives of women today, looking back and ahead - and celebrating it all - as she considers marriage, ... (Goodreads)

  38. Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded

    by Hannah Hart
    A memoir of Hannah Hart's life, from her childhood to her rise to internet fame, with a focus on mental health and personal growth.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER,, With a New Afterword by the Author, ,"By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Hannah Hart’s new book is a roaring, beautiful, and profoundly human account of an ... (Barnes & Noble)

  39. I Was Told There'd Be Cake: Essays

    by Sloane Crosley
    A collection of humorous essays depicting the highs and lows of modern life.

    Hailed by David Sedaris as "perfectly, relentlessly funny" and by Colson Whitehead as "sardonic without being cruel, tender without being sentimental," from the author of the new collection, Look ... (Barnes & Noble)

  40. 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)

  41. A Work in Progress

    by Connor Franta
    A memoir of self-discovery and personal growth, chronicling the author's journey from childhood to YouTube stardom.

    In this intimate memoir of life beyond the camera, Connor Franta shares the lessons he has learned on his journey from small-town boy to Internet sensation so far. Here, Connor offers a look at his ... (Goodreads)

  42. The Art of Memoir

    by Mary Karr
    A guide to writing memoirs, exploring the art of storytelling and the complexities of memory.

    Credited with sparking the current memoir explosion, Mary Karr’s The Liars’ Club spent more than a year at the top of the New York Times list. She followed with two other smash bestsellers: Cherry ... (Goodreads)

  43. A Mango-Shaped Space

    by Wendy Mass
    A girl discovers her unique ability to see colors associated with time, space, and emotions.

    As long as she can remember, Mia Winchell has seen words and numbers as colors. However, Mia has kept this a secret from everyone, including friends and family. In the year since her grandfather's ... (Wikipedia)

  44. Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story

    by Chuck Klosterman
    An exploration of life and death, featuring road trips to music-related death sites.

    Building on the national bestselling success of, Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, preeminent pop culture writer Chuck Klosterman unleashes his best book yet—the story of his cross-country tour of sites ... (Goodreads)

  45. Not Taco Bell Material

    by Adam Carolla
    A humorous memoir of Adam Carolla's life, from his childhood to his rise in the entertainment industry.

    In his second book, Adam Carolla — author of, New York Times, bestseller, In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks, and chart-topping podcaster — reveals all the stories behind how he came to be the angry ... (Goodreads)

  46. Born With Teeth

    by Kate Mulgrew
    Actress Kate Mulgrew's memoir of her life in Hollywood, including her struggles with family, love, and career.

    Raised by unconventional Irish Catholics who knew "how to drink, how to dance, how to talk, and how to stir up the devil," Kate Mulgrew grew up with poetry and drama in her bones. But in her mother, ... (Goodreads)

  47. Girl Walks Into a Bar...: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle

    by Rachel Dratch
    Actress Rachel Dratch shares humorous anecdotes about her life, including dating mishaps and unexpected motherhood.

    The former, SNL, star recounts the adventures and unexpected joy of dating and becoming a mom when she least expected it—at the age of forty-four. Anyone who saw an episode of Saturday Night Live ... (Barnes & Noble)

  48. Life & Laughing: My Story

    by Michael McIntyre
    Autobiography of comedian Michael McIntyre, detailing his life and rise to fame in the entertainment industry.

    Michael McIntyre has become Britain’s biggest comedy star. His debut stand-up DVD was the fastest selling of all time, only to be eclipsed by his second that sold over 1.4 million copies and was the ... (Goodreads)

  49. Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

    by Chelsea Handler
    A collection of pranks and lies played by Chelsea Handler on her friends and family, as told by the victims themselves.

    A hilarious #1 bestselling collection of essays from those nearest and dearest to comedian Chelsea Handler–the people she's lied to. "My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake ... (Goodreads)

  50. How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

    by Michael Gates Gill
    A wealthy advertising executive loses everything and finds redemption working at Starbucks.

    In his fifties, Michael Gates Gill had it all: a big house in the suburbs, a loving family, and a top job at an ad agency with a six-figure salary. By the time he turned sixty, he had lost everything ... (Goodreads)

  51. On the Bright Side: The new secret diary of Hendrik Groen

    by Hendrik Groen

    Nederland leerde Hendrik Groen kennen door zijn dagboek Pogingen iets van het leven te maken . Samen met zijn vriend Evert en de andere leden van de Oud-maar-niet-dood-club, probeert Hendrik zijn ... (Goodreads)

  52. Being Nikki

    by Meg Cabot
    After a case of mistaken identity, a girl finds herself living the life of a famous celebrity. But is it all it's cracked up to be?

    THINGS AREN'T PRETTY FOR EMERSON WATTS. Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac in the body of a teenaged supermodel. But it turned out she was wrong. It turns out she has ... (Goodreads)

  53. Touch

    by Claire North
    Kepler can jump into other people's bodies, living their lives for them. But when she jumps into a killer's body, she must race against time to stop them.

    Kepler had never meant to die this way — viciously beaten to death by a stinking vagrant in a dark back alley. But when reaching out to the murderer for salvation in those last dying moments, a ... (Goodreads)

  54. A Tiny Bit Marvellous

    by Dawn French
    A dysfunctional family's struggles with love, life and growing up. Told through the perspectives of each family member.

    This is a poignant novel by Dawn French which is told through the eyes of a mother and her two teenage children. Each chapter is narrated by a different voice, telling the story of a modern family, ... (Goodreads)

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