Recommendations based on Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Marsby Nathalia Holt

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

  1. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

    by Kate Moore
    Uncovering the untold story of female factory workers poisoned by radium paint in 1920s America.

    A New York Times , USA Today , Wall Street Journal , and Amazon Charts Bestseller! For fans of Hidden Figures, comes the incredible true story of the women heroes who were exposed to radium in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. The Wright Brothers

    by David McCullough
    The story of the Wright brothers and their pioneering invention of the airplane.

    Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found, here, Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who ... (Goodreads)

  3. What Happened

    by Hillary Rodham Clinton
    A candid look into the 2016 election, exploring the events leading up to her defeat.

    “In the past, for reasons I try to explain, I’ve often felt I had to be careful in public, like I was up on a wire without a net. Now I’m letting my guard down.” —Hillary Rodham Clinton, from the ... (Goodreads)

  4. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

    by Bill Bryson
    A humorous account of a man's attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, reflecting on the beauty and history of the American wilderness.

    The book starts with Bryson explaining his curiosity about the Appalachian Trail near his house. He and his old friend Stephen Katz start hiking the trail from Georgia in the South , and stumble in ... (Wikipedia)

  5. Lab Girl

    by Hope Jahren
    A memoir about a young woman's journey to discover her scientific calling and resilience.

    Acclaimed scientist Hope Jahren has built three laboratories in which she’s studied trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. Her first book is a revelatory treatise on plant life—but it is also so much ... (Goodreads)

  6. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

    by Matthew Desmond
    An exploration of eviction’s devastating consequences on the lives of the urban poor.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF, TIME,’S TEN BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE DECADE • One of the most acclaimed books of our time, this modern classic “has set a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. I Know I Am, But What Are You?

    by Samantha Bee
    Samantha Bee's humorous memoir about growing up in Canada, her journey to becoming a comedian, and her experiences in the entertainment industry.

    Candid, outspoken, laugh-out-loud funny essays from the much-loved Samantha Bee, the Most Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart . Critics have called her "sweet, adorable, and ... (Goodreads)

  8. Cosmos

    by Carl Sagan
    Voyage through the vastness of space, unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

    Cosmos has 13 heavily illustrated chapters, corresponding to the 13 episodes of the Cosmos television series. In the book, Sagan explores 15 billion years of cosmic evolution and the development of ... (Goodreads)

  9. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

    by Timothy Snyder
    A study of history and a call to action against the rise of authoritarianism.

    #1, New York Times, Bestseller •, A historian of fascism offers a guide for surviving and resisting America's turn towards authoritarianism., The Founding Fathers tried to protect us from the threat ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

    by Cal Newport
    Strategies and techniques to help readers stay focused on tasks and achieve greater success.

    One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on ... (Goodreads)

  11. 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)

  12. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

    by Daniel James Brown
    An inspiring story of a rowing crew battling against the odds to win gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

    This novel is about the University of Washington eight-oared crew that represented the United States in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and narrowly beat out Italy and Germany to win the gold medal. The ... (Wikipedia)

  13. This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

    by Esther Earl
    An inspiring memoir about a courageous and passionate young girl living with cancer.

    A collection of the journals, fiction, letters, and sketches of the late Esther Grace Earl, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Photographs and essays by family and friends will help to tell ... (Goodreads)

  14. Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House

    by Alyssa Mastromonaco
    A memoir of Alyssa Mastromonaco's time as Deputy Chief of Staff under President Obama, offering insights into the inner workings of the White House.

    If your funny older sister were the former deputy chief of staff to President Barack Obama, her behind-the-scenes political memoir would look something like this . . . Alyssa Mastromonaco worked for ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal

    by Ben Mezrich
    The story of the founding of Facebook, from its humble beginnings in a Harvard dorm room to becoming a global phenomenon.

    The high-energy tale of how two socially awkward Ivy Leaguers, trying to increase their chances with the opposite sex, ended up creating Facebook. Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know

    by Katty Kay
    A guide for women to develop confidence, backed by scientific research and interviews with successful women.

    Following the success of Lean In and Why Women Should Rule the World , the authors of the bestselling Womenomics provide an informative and practical guide to understanding the importance of ... (Goodreads)

  17. My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto

    by Jen Lancaster
    A humorous memoir of a reality TV addict's attempt to become more cultured and less lazy.

    Readers have followed, New York Times, bestselling author Jen Lancaster through job loss, sucky city living, weight loss attempts, and 1980s nostalgia. Now, in this bitter and witty memoir, Jen ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. 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)

  19. 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)

  20. America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't

    by Stephen Colbert
    Entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of America's history, politics and culture.

    Book nation, in the history of mankind there has never been a greater country than America . You could say we're the #1 nation at being the best at greatness. But as perfect as America is in every ... (Goodreads)

  21. Chaos Monkeys: Obscene Fortune and Random Failure in Silicon Valley

    by Antonio García Martínez
    A memoir of a tech entrepreneur's rise and fall in Silicon Valley, exposing the cutthroat culture and unethical practices of the industry.

    Liar’s Poker meets The Social Network in an irreverent exposé of life inside the tech bubble, from industry provocateur Antonio García Martínez, a former Twitter advisor, Facebook product manager and ... (Goodreads)

  22. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

    by Rhoda Janzen
    A journey of self-discovery as a young woman returns to her conservative Mennonite roots.

    A hilarious and moving memoir—in the spirit of Anne Lamott and Nora Ephron—about a woman who returns home to her close-knit Mennonite family after a personal crisis Not long after Rhoda Janzen turned ... (Goodreads)

  23. Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been

    by Jackie Hill Perry
    A memoir of a woman's journey from homosexuality to Christianity, exploring the intersection of faith and sexuality.

    "I used to be a lesbian." In, Gay Girl, Good God, , author Jackie Hill Perry shares her own story, offering practical tools that helped her in the process of finding wholeness. Jackie grew up ... (Goodreads)

  24. Kindle Paperwhite User’s Guide

    by Amazon
    A comprehensive guide to using the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader, including tips and tricks for getting the most out of the device.

    Kindle Paperwhite User's Guide ... (Goodreads)

  25. Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

    by Dani Shapiro
    Dani Shapiro discovers through a DNA test that her beloved father is not her biological father, leading her on a journey to uncover family secrets.

    An Instant, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER,A, LOS ANGELES TIMES, BOSTON GLOBE, WALL STREET JOURNAL,, and NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER,Named A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by *,Elle * Vanity Fair * Wired * Real ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II

    by Denise Kiernan
    The true story of the women who worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during the Manhattan Project.

    The incredible story of the young women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who unwittingly played a crucial role in one of the most significant moments in U.S. history., The Tennessee town of Oak Ridge was ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl

    by Timothy Egan
    A gripping account of the Dust Bowl, its causes, and the people who survived it. A tale of human resilience in the face of environmental disaster.

    The dust storms that terrorized the High Plains in the darkest years of the Depression were like nothing ever seen before or since. Timothy Egan's critically acclaimed account rescues this iconic ... (Goodreads)

  28. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

    by David Grann
    Exposé of a series of murders of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma and the FBI's investigation.

    In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, ... (Goodreads)

  29. The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film

    by Emma Thompson
    Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel.

    This engaging and beautiful book includes the complete Academy Award-winning script and Thompson's own diaries detailing the production of the film, reviewed by Stanley Kauffmann in The New Republic ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Laramie Project

    by Moisés Kaufman
    A theatrical exploration of the death of a young gay man, and the effect it had on the town of Laramie, Wyoming.

    For a year and a half following the murder of Matthew Shepard, Moisés Kaufman and his Tectonic Theater Project–whose previous play, Gross Indecency , was hailed as a work of unsurpassed ... (Goodreads)