Recommendations based on What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist—the Facts of Daily Life in 19th-Century Englandby Daniel Pool

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

  1. A Year in Provence

    by Peter Mayle
    A humorous memoir of a British couple's first year in Provence, France, adjusting to the culture shock and idiosyncrasies of their new home.

    In this witty and warm-hearted account, Peter Mayle tells what it is like to realize a long-cherished dream and actually move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the remote country of the Lubéron ... (Goodreads)

  2. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

    by Lynne Truss
    A humorous look at the importance of punctuation and its effect on language.

    In Eats, Shoots & Leaves , former editor Lynne Truss, gravely concerned about our current grammatical state, boldly defends proper punctuation. She proclaims, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and ... (Goodreads)

  3. A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age

    by William Manchester
    A vivid portrayal of the medieval world, its beliefs, and practices, and the emergence of the Renaissance.

    From tales of chivalrous knights to the barbarity of trial by ordeal, no era has been a greater source of awe, horror, and wonder than the Middle Ages. In handsomely crafted prose, and with the grace ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Histories

    by Herodotus
    Exploration into the rise and fall of empires in the ancient world.

    One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic ... (Goodreads)

  5. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

    by Candice Millard
    A daring expedition through the Amazon to uncover the secrets of an uncharted river.

    At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous ... (Goodreads)

  6. Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith

    by Anne Lamott
    A memoir of the author's journey towards faith, filled with humor, honesty, and raw emotion.

    Despite–or because of--her irreverence, faith is a natural subject for Anne Lamott. Since Operating Instructions and Bird by Bird , her fans have been waiting for her to write the book that explained ... (Goodreads)

  7. Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History

    by Erik Larson
    Story of the 1900 Galveston hurricane, and one man's desperate struggle to save his city.

    September 8, 1900, began innocently in the seaside town of Galveston, Texas. Even Isaac Cline, resident meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Bureau failed to grasp the true meaning of the strange ... (Goodreads)

  8. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

    by Erik Larson
    Exploration of Lusitania's fateful voyage and its lasting impact on World War I.

    #1 New York Times Bestseller,From the bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the, Lusitania, On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. 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)

  10. 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)

  11. Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of a Young Black Girl in the Rural South

    by Anne Moody
    A brave memoir of a young woman's strength and resilience growing up in the Jim Crow South.

    Born to a poor couple who were tenant farmers on a plantation in Mississippi, Anne Moody lived through some of the most dangerous days of the pre-civil rights era in the South. The week before she ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

    by Karen Page
    A comprehensive guide to culinary creativity, offering combination ideas and flavor pairings.

    Winner of the 2009 James Beard Book Award for Best Book: Reference and Scholarship Great cooking goes beyond following a recipe–it's knowing how to season ingredients to coax the greatest possible ... (Goodreads)

  13. 41: A Portrait of My Father

    by George W. Bush
    An intimate portrait of former President George H. W. Bush, exploring his life and legacy.

    George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st President. Forty-three men have served as President of the United ... (Goodreads)

  14. Mary Queen of Scots

    by Antonia Fraser
    Biography of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, and her tumultuous life as a monarch in 16th century Scotland and England.

    She was the quintessential queen: statuesque, regal, dazzlingly beautiful. Her royal birth gave her claim to the thrones of two nations; her marriage to the young French dauphin promised to place a ... (Goodreads)

  15. The Way to Cook

    by Julia Child
    Comprehensive guide to cooking techniques and recipes, from basic to advanced, with detailed instructions and illustrations.

    In this magnificent new cookbook, illustrated with full color throughout, Julia Child give us her magnum opus the distillation of a lifetime of cooking. And she has an important message for Americans ... (Goodreads)

  16. Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old

    by Deepak Chopra
    A guide to achieving physical and mental well-being through the principles of quantum physics and Ayurveda.

    There is nothing inevitable about aging–that is the inspiring message from Dr. Deepak Chopra. "Once again Dr. Chopra presents us with information that can help us live long, healthy lives. For all ... (Goodreads)

  17. Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

    by Joe Dispenza
    A guide to breaking free from negative thought patterns and creating a new reality through meditation and neuroscience.

    You are not doomed by your genes and hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of your life., A new science is emerging that empowers all human beings to create the reality they choose. In Breaking ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing

    by Christiane Northrup
    An empowering exploration of female health, inspiring women to take charge of their own wellbeing.

    Międzynarodowy bestseller – biblia kobiecego zdrowia „Ciało kobiety, mądrość kobiety” dr Christiane Northrup to ekscytująca podróż przez kobiecość w wymiarze fizycznym i duchowym. Książka, która na ... (Goodreads)

  19. I Am Not Myself These Days

    by Josh Kilmer-Purcell
    A young man's journey of self-discovery and acceptance in an open relationship.

    The New York Times bestselling, darkly funny memoir of a young New Yorker's daring dual life—advertising art director by day, glitter-dripping drag queen and nightclub beauty-pageant hopeful by ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level

    by Gay Hendricks
    A guide to overcoming self-imposed limitations and achieving success by identifying and conquering one's "upper limit" beliefs.

    With over 100,000 copies sold, New York Times bestselling author Gay Hendricks demonstrates how to go beyond your internal limits, release outdated fears and learn a whole new set of powerful skills ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. 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)

  22. Essays and Poems

    by Ralph Waldo Emerson
    A collection of essays and poems exploring the transcendentalist philosophy, individualism, and nature's beauty.

    Essays and Poems , by Ralph Waldo Emerson , is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century

    by Ian Mortimer
    Exploring the history and culture of Medieval England.

    Imagine you could get into a time machine and travel back to the 14th century. This text sets out to explain what life was like in the most immediate way, through taking the reader to the Middle ... (Goodreads)

  24. 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)

  25. Seven Years in Tibet

    by Heinrich Harrer
    Exploration of Tibet, told through the story of a man who escapes internment and lives in the region for seven years.

    The book covers the escape of Harrer and his companion, Peter Aufschnaiter , from a British internment camp in India. , Harrer and Aufschnaiter then traveled across Tibet to Lhasa , the capital. Here ... (Wikipedia)

  26. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

    by Humphrey Carpenter
    A comprehensive biography of the life of J.R.R. Tolkien, exploring his inspirations and the creation of his iconic works.

    The authorized biography of the creator of Middle-earth. In the decades since his death in September 1973, millions have read THE HOBBIT, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE SILMARILLION and become ... (Goodreads)

  27. How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking

    by Nigella Lawson
    A guide to perfecting baking and cooking, emphasizing the joys of baking and comfort food.

    Nigella Lawson's How to Be a Domestic Goddess is about not only baking, but the enjoyment of being in the kitchen, taking sensuous pleasure in the entire process, and relishing the outcome. Nigella's ... (Goodreads)

  28. Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne

    by David Starkey
    An in-depth look at the rise of Queen Elizabeth I, detailing her turbulent and triumphant reign.

    The legend of Elizabeth I, the untouchable, charismatic Virgin Queen, is a powerful and enduring one. Most biographies focus on the years of her reign, during which she proved herself as adept a ... (Goodreads)

  29. Basic Christianity

    by John R.W. Stott
    An exploration of the fundamentals of Christianity, examining the teachings of Jesus.

    Named a "Book of the Century" by, Christianity Today, Who is Jesus Christ? While Jesus and his teaching continue to hold appeal, many people question the plausibility or relevance of the Christian ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

    by Ina Garten
    Recipes and entertaining tips from a renowned chef, bringing the flavors of the Mediterranean to your kitchen.

    #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • A collection of all-new soul-satisfying dishes from America’s favorite home cook! NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY, The New York Times Book Review ,•, ... (Barnes & Noble)