Powered by a book like {foo}
Recommendations based on Congratulations, by the way: Some Thoughts on Kindnessby George Saunders
* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans
Wave
by Sonali Deraniyagala
Memoir of a family's tragic loss in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and a woman's journey of resilience and recovery.
On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived. In this ... (Goodreads)
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader
by Anne Fadiman
A collection of essays about the joy and significance of reading, exploring the impact of books on everyday life.
Anne Fadiman is—by her own admission—the sort of person who learned about sex from her father's copy of, Fanny Hill, whose husband buys her 19 pounds of dusty books for her birthday, and who once ... (Barnes & Noble)
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
by Laura Hillenbrand
An inspiring story of the rise of champion racehorse Seabiscuit and his unlikely jockey.
There's an alternate cover edition, here, Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more ... (Goodreads)
The End of Your Life Book Club
by Will Schwalbe
Exploration of the importance of books and relationships through the story of a mother and son's book club.
The inspiring story of a son and his dying mother, who form a "book club" that brings them together as her life comes to a close. Mary Anne Schwalbe is waiting for her chemotherapy treatments when ... (Goodreads)
We Should All Be Feminists
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A call to action for an inclusive, gender-equal society through an examination of feminism.
What does “feminism” mean today? That is the question at the heart of We Should All Be Feminists , a personal, eloquently-argued essay—adapted from her much-viewed TEDx talk of the same name—by ... (Goodreads)
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar
by Cheryl Strayed
Collection of heartfelt advice from a wise and compassionate storyteller.
Life can be hard: your lover cheats on you; you lose a family member; you can’t pay the bills - and it can be great: you've had the hottest sex of your life; you get that plum job; you muster the ... (Goodreads)
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog
by John Grogan
A heartfelt journey of a family and their beloved, but mischievous, dog.
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of ... (Goodreads)
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
An exploration of how disorder and chaos can lead to strength and resilience.
From the bestselling author of The Black Swan and one of the foremost philosophers of our time, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a book on how some systems actually benefit from disorder. In The Black Swan ... (Goodreads)
Uganda Be Kidding Me
by Chelsea Handler
A humorous travelogue of Chelsea Handler's trip to Uganda, filled with anecdotes and observations about the country and its people.
Wherever Chelsea Handler travels, one thing is certain: she always ends up in the land of the ridiculous. Now, in this uproarious collection, she sneaks her sharp wit through airport security and ... (Goodreads)
The Dark Between Stars
by Atticus Poetry
A collection of poems exploring love, loss, and the beauty found in the darkness of life.
NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER From the internationally bestselling author of, Love Her Wild, comes, The Dark Between Stars, a new illustrated collection of heartfelt, whimsical, and romantic poems from ... (Barnes & Noble)
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)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
by John Berendt
A journalist's exploration of a mysterious murder in Savannah, Georgia.
A sublime and seductive reading experience. This portrait of a beguiling Southern city was a best-seller (though a flop as a movie). ~ Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty, ... (Goodreads)
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne Lamott
A witty and honest guide to writing and life, encouraging writers to embrace imperfection and find their own voice.
A newer edition of this title can be found, here., "Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to ... (Goodreads)
To Heaven and Back: The True Story of a Doctor's Extraordinary Walk with God
by Mary C. Neal
A doctor's near-death experience and spiritual journey after a kayaking accident.
Is there life after death? Is God real? Is there sufficient reason to live by faith? Dr. Mary Neal's walk with God has been both ordinary and extraordinary, brimming with the gift and privilege of ... (Goodreads)
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
by Eric Schlosser
An exploration of the industrial food system and its effects on U.S. society.
Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and propelled American cultural imperialism abroad. That's a lengthy list ... (Goodreads)
A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back
by Kevin Hazzard
A memoir of a paramedic's experiences in Atlanta, Georgia, dealing with life and death situations on a daily basis.
A former paramedic’s visceral, poignant, and mordantly funny account of a decade spent on Atlanta’s mean streets saving lives and connecting with the drama and occasional beauty that lies inside ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
by Oliver Sacks
A collection of case studies, illustrating extraordinary neurological phenomena.
If a man has lost a leg or an eye, he knows he has lost a leg or an eye; but if he has lost a self—himself—he cannot know it, because he is no longer there to know it. Dr. Oliver Sacks recounts the ... (Goodreads)
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
by Atul Gawande
An exploration of the human experience of mortality and the importance of end-of-life care.
In, Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending Medicine has triumphed in modern ... (Goodreads)
Rent
by Jonathan Larson
Struggling artists in New York City navigate love, friendship, and poverty amidst the AIDS epidemic.
In these pages, Rent offers what most theater books can't: a chance to step behind the curtain and feel the electricity of a stage phenomenon as it unfolds. Rent has single-handedly reinvigorated ... (Goodreads)
Secretariat: The Making of a Champion
by William Nack
The story of Secretariat, the greatest racehorse of all time, and his journey to becoming a champion.
In 1973, Secretariat, the greatest thoroughbred in horse-racing history, won the Triple Crown. The only horse to ever break the two-minute mark in winning the Kentucky Derby until recent winner ... (Goodreads)
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
by Charles Duhigg
Uncovering the science of habit formation and how to use it to achieve success.
A young woman walks into a laboratory. Over the past two years, she has transformed almost every aspect of her life. She has quit smoking, run a marathon, and been promoted at work. The patterns ... (Goodreads)
Obama: An Intimate Portrait: The Historic Presidency in Photographs
by Pete Souza
A photographic tribute to the 8-year presidency of Barack Obama.
This is the definitive visual biography of Barack Obama's presidency, captured in intimate, unprecedented detail by his official White House photographer. Pete Souza began photographing President ... (Goodreads)
Zombie Spaceship Wasteland
by Patton Oswalt
A collection of humorous essays and stories that explore Oswalt's pop culture obsessions and personal experiences.
Now in paperback, from a “multi-faceted, medium-hopping, culture skewering performer” ( SPIN) , this is a journey through the world of Patton Oswalt, best known for his roles in film ( Big Fan and ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One
by Amanda Lovelace
A collection of feminist poetry that empowers women and challenges the patriarchy.
2016 Goodreads Choice Award-winning poet Amanda Lovelace returns in, the witch doesn't burn in this one —, the bold second book in her "women are some kind of magic" series. The witch: supernaturally ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better
by Gretchen Rubin
A framework to better understand yourself and others, and the best way to get along with different personalities.
In this groundbreaking analysis of personality type, bestselling author of, Better Than Before, and, The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin reveals the one simple question that will transform what you ... (Barnes & Noble)
Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography
by Alex Ferguson
The memoir of one of the most successful football managers in history, detailing his life and career in the sport.
The celebratory, revealing, inspiring, and entertaining autobiography of the greatest manager in the history of British soccer. Over the past four years, Alex Ferguson has been reflecting on and ... (Goodreads)
Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir
by Clint Hill
Clint Hill, a Secret Service agent, recounts his experiences protecting and befriending Jacqueline Kennedy during her time as First Lady.
The #1 New York Times bestselling memoir by Clint Hill that Kirkus Reviews called “clear and honest prose free from salaciousness and gossip,” Jackie Kennedy’s personal Secret Service agent details ... (Barnes & Noble)
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
by Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox's memoir about his life with Parkinson's disease and how he maintains a positive outlook despite the challenges.
There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Actor. Husband. Father. Activist. But readers of Always Looking Up will soon add another to the list: Optimist. Michael writes about the hard-won ... (Goodreads)
The Barefoot Investor: The Only Money Guide You'll Ever Need
by Scott Pape
A practical guide to managing personal finances, including budgeting, investing, and reducing debt.
This is the only money guide you'll ever need That's a bold claim, given there are already thousands of finance books on the shelves. So what makes this one different? Well, you won't be overwhelmed ... (Goodreads)
The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster
by Sarah Krasnostein
The biography of Sandra Pankhurst, a trauma cleaner who tidies up after deaths, suicides, and hoarders. A story of resilience and compassion.
Winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature, Sarah Krasnostein’s, The Trauma Cleaner:,, One Woman’s Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster, is the fascinating biography of ... (Barnes & Noble)
