Recommendations based on Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americansby Kadir Nelson

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

  1. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

    by Melissa Sweet
    Story of Tony Sarg and his pioneering puppetry in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    A Sibert Medal-winning picture book biography and perfect Thanksgiving Day read about the invention of the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! From Caldecott honor artist Melissa ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

    by Mordicai Gerstein
    A heroic story of a tightrope walker who successfully crossed the Twin Towers in 1974.

    From a highly-respected picture book author/illustrator comes a lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers. ... (Goodreads)

  3. 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)

  4. Snowflake Bentley

    by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
    A heartwarming story of a man's dedication to snowflake photography and his passion for understanding nature.

    "Of all the forms of water the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied." — Wilson Bentley (1865–1931) Snow in Vermont is as common as dirt. Why ... (Goodreads)

  5. Me...Jane

    by Patrick McDonnell
    A young girl embarks on a journey of exploration and imagination, inspired by the life of Jane Goodall.

    Patrick McDonnell-beloved, bestselling author-artist and creator of the Mutts syndicated comic strip–shares the inspiring story of young Jane Goodall, the legendary and inspiring conservationist ... (Goodreads)

  6. The Cake Mix Doctor

    by Anne Byrn
    Transform ordinary cake mixes into delicious desserts with easy-to-follow recipes and creative ideas.

    The Cake Mix Doctor, is in! And the prescription is simple: By doctoring up packaged cake mix with just the right extras–a touch of sweet butter here, cocoa powder there, or poppy seeds, vanilla ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

    by James McBride
    A memoir of a black man's journey to understand his white mother's past and how it shaped his own identity.

    Touches readers of all colors as a vivid portrait of growing up, a haunting meditation on race and identity, and a lyrical valentine to a mother from her son. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? A ... (Goodreads)

  8. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl

    by Stacey O'Brien
    A remarkable story of an owl's unconditional love and the bond between a woman and her beloved pet.

    When biologist Stacey O'Brien first met a four-day-old baby barn owl with nerve damage in one wing, she knew he had no hope of surviving on his own in the wild, so gave him a permanent home living ... (Goodreads)

  9. Succulent Wild Woman

    by S.A.R.K.
    An invitation to reclaim the wild nature of being female.

    This book is my glowing invitation to you—to live a rich, succulent life! I explore love, sexuality, romance, money, fat, fear and creativity. It's a little bit like reading my diary – with ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

    by Malcolm X
    A gripping account of one man's transformation from criminal to civil rights leader.

    Alternate cover for ISBN 9780345350688 Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. In this riveting account, he tells of his ... (Goodreads)

  11. The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

    by Garrett M. Graff
    A comprehensive oral history of the events of 9/11, told through the voices of those who experienced it firsthand.

    15 hours, 54 minutes Read by a 45-person cast, with Holter Graham and the author Over the past eighteen years, monumental literature has been published about 9/11, from Lawrence Wright’s The Looming ... (Goodreads)

  12. What I Know for Sure

    by Oprah Winfrey
    A collection of personal reflections on life, love, and lessons learned.

    As a creative force, student of the human heart and soul, and champion of living the life you want, Oprah Winfrey stands alone. Over the years, she has made history with a legendary talk show - the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Heart Berries

    by Terese Marie Mailhot
    A memoir of a First Nations woman's journey through trauma, mental illness, and healing. Raw, poetic, and unflinching.

    Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman's coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to ... (Goodreads)

  14. The Last Lecture

    by Randy Pausch
    Reflection on life and lessons learned, approaching death with courage and optimism.

    A lot of professors give talks titled 'The Last Lecture'. Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we ... (Goodreads)

  15. Salt

    by Nayyirah Waheed
    A lyrical collection of poems about love, loss, identity and truth.

    salt. a literary work. ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive

    by Daniel J. Siegel
    Comprehensive guide to understanding and nurturing a child's developing mind.

    Your toddler throws a tantrum in the middle of a store. Your preschooler refuses to get dressed. Your fifth-grader sulks on the bench instead of playing on the field. Do children conspire to make ... (Goodreads)

  17. Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

    by Marie Kondō
    A guide to finding joy through organizing and tidying up your home.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • The star of the,, hit Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, and author of, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, helps you visualize your ideal lifestyle. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

    by John Medina
    A comprehensive look at the science of brain development, exploring how to maximize its potential.

    Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know—like the need for physical activity ... (Goodreads)

  19. Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

    by Gilbert King
    A gripping story of racial injustice in the Jim Crow-era America and the fight for justice.

    Devil in the Grove is the winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Arguably the most important American lawyer of the twentieth century, Thurgood Marshall was on the verge of ... (Goodreads)

  20. Concerning the Spiritual in Art

    by Wassily Kandinsky
    A philosophical examination of the spiritual and creative power of art.

    A pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. Written by the famous ... (Goodreads)

  21. All Creatures Great and Small / All Things Bright and Beautiful

    by James Herriot
    Humorous tales of a veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales, caring for animals and their owners.

    Twenty-five years ago, a volume of memoirs by an unknown Scottish veterinarian was first published– All Creatures Great and Small. Within a year, the book had become recognized as a masterpiece. It ... (Goodreads)

  22. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

    by Sherman Alexie
    A memoir about the troubled relationship between a Spokane Indian father and his son.

    A searing, deeply moving memoir about family, love, loss, and forgiveness from the critically acclaimed, bestselling National Book Award-winning author of, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait

    by Frida Kahlo
    A collection of personal diary entries and sketches by the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, providing insight into her life and art.

    Published here in its entirety, Frida Kahlo's amazing illustrated journal documents the last ten years of her turbulent life. This passionate, often surprising, intimate record, kept under lock and ... (Goodreads)

  24. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

    by Patricia Schultz
    An inspiring journey to explore the beauty of the world, discover hidden gems and make memories.

    Around the World, continent by continent, here is the best the world has to offer: 1,000 places guaranteed to give travelers the shivers. Sacred ruins, grand hotels, wildlife preserves, hilltop ... (Goodreads)

  25. Napoleon: A Life

    by Andrew Roberts
    Biography of the French political and military leader and the age of revolution he embodied.

    The definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Storm of War,—winner of the, Los Angeles Times, Book Prize for Biography and the Grand Prix ... (Goodreads)

  26. Year of Yes

    by Shonda Rhimes
    A memoir of Shonda Rhimes' journey to saying "yes" to everything that scared her, leading to personal growth and success.

    In this poignant, hilarious and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood's most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with ... (Goodreads)

  27. Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime

    by John Heilemann
    A behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 US Presidential Election and the people who ran it.

    “It’s one of the best books on politics of any kind I’ve read. For entertainment value, I put it up there with Catch 22 .” — The Financial Times “It transports you to a parallel universe in which ... (Goodreads)

  28. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

    by Tony Hsieh
    A business leader's journey from success to significance, showing how to build a corporate culture of happiness.

    You want to learn about the path that we took at Zappos to get to over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in less than ten years. You want to learn about the path I took that eventually led me to ... (Goodreads)

  29. March: Book Two

    by John Lewis
    An inspiring narrative of the civil rights movement, highlighting the courage and resilience of its participants.

    Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, continues his award-winning graphic novel trilogy with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. Hark! A Vagrant

    by Kate Beaton
    A collection of humorous and witty comic strips about history, literature, and popular culture.

    Hark! A Vagrant is an uproarious romp through history and literature seen through the sharp, contemporary lens of New Yorker cartoonist and comics-sensation Kate Beaton. No era or tome emerges ... (Goodreads)