Recommendations based on Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocitiesby Amy Stewart

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

  1. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

    by Barbara Kingsolver
    A family's journey to eat locally grown, sustainable food.

    Author Barbara Kingsolver and her family abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life—vowing that, for one year, they'd only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it ... (Goodreads)

  2. What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

    by Randall Munroe
    A humorous exploration of science, tackling the most bizarre questions with real-world scenarios.

    Randall Munroe left NASA in 2005 to start up his hugely popular site XKCD 'a web comic of romance, sarcasm, math and language' which offers a witty take on the world of science and geeks. It now has ... (Goodreads)

  3. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

    by Mary Roach
    An exploration of the strange and often unknown history of cadavers, and their uses in science and medicine.

    Okay, you're thinking: ,"This must be some kind of a joke. A humorous book about cadavers?", Yup — and it works. Mary Roach takes the age-old question, "What happens to us after we die?" quite ... (Goodreads)

  4. 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)

  5. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

    by Sam Kean
    Fascinating tales of discovery and exploration of the elements of the periodic table.

    Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, ... (Goodreads)

  6. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

    by Jean-Dominique Bauby
    A paralyzed man's memoir, transcribed through blinking his left eye.

    On December 8, 1995, Bauby, the editor-in-chief of French, Elle, magazine, suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma . He awoke 20 days later, mentally aware of his surroundings, but physically ... (Wikipedia)

  7. Sh*t My Dad Says

    by Justin Halpern
    Collection of humorous musings and witticisms from an elderly father.

    After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is "like Socrates, but angrier, ... (Goodreads)

  8. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

    by Michael Pollan
    Argument for a return to traditional diets and away from processed, industrialized food.

    Michael Pollan's last book, The Omnivore's Dilemma , launched a national conversation about the American way of eating; now In Defense of Food shows us how to change it, one meal at a time. Pollan ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Communist Manifesto

    by Karl Marx
    A treatise on the fundamental principles of communism, and its role in society.

    A rousing call to arms whose influence is still felt today Originally published on the eve of the 1848 European revolutions, The Communist Manifesto is a condensed and incisive account of the ... (Goodreads)

  10. How to Murder Your Life

    by Cat Marnell
    A memoir of a young woman's descent into addiction and self-destruction while working in the fashion industry.

    At the age of 15, Cat Marnell unknowingly set out to murder her life. After a privileged yet emotionally-starved childhood in Washington, she became hooked on ADHD medication provided by her ... (Goodreads)

  11. 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)

  12. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

    by Christopher Hitchens
    Criticism of organized religion, arguing it is the root of much suffering in the world.

    With his unique brand of erudition and wit, Hitchens describes the ways in which religion is man-made. "God did not make us," he says. "We made God." He explains the ways in which religion is ... (Goodreads)

  13. Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucía

    by Chris Stewart
    A humorous memoir of an Englishman's move to a remote Spanish village, where he learns to farm and embrace the laid-back lifestyle.

    No sooner had Chris Stewart set eyes on El Valero than he handed over a check. Now all he had to do was explain to Ana, his wife, that they were the proud owners of an isolated sheep farm in the ... (Goodreads)

  14. Anatomy for the Artist

    by Jenő Barcsay
    Detailed illustrations and explanations of human anatomy for artists to improve their understanding and depiction of the human form.

    It’s the classic in its field—a reference work of unparalleled importance for all professionals and students of art. This superb art manual is the best guide available on a subject that has ... (Goodreads)

  15. 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)

  16. Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men

    by Harold Schechter
    The true story of Belle Gunness, a notorious female serial killer who lured men to their deaths in the early 1900s.

    “A deeply researched and morbidly fascinating chronicle of one of America’s most notorious female killers.” —,The New York Times Book Review,, An Amazon Charts bestseller., In the pantheon of serial ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson

    by Jann S. Wenner
    A biography of the legendary journalist Hunter S. Thompson, exploring his wild and unconventional life and career.

    Few American lives are stranger, more action-packed, or wilder than that of Hunter S. Thompson. Born a rebel in Louisville, Kentucky, Thompson spent a lifetime channeling his energy and insight into ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

    by Marie Kondō
    A guide to mastering the art of decluttering and organizing for a more fulfilling life.

    #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • The book that sparked a revolution and inspired the hit Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,: the original guide to decluttering your home once and for all. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Homer's Odyssey

    by Gwen Cooper
    A cat's journey across the world, discovering the power of friendship and redemption.

    Once in nine lives, something extraordinary happens... The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Lost Painting

    by Jonathan Harr
    The search for a lost masterpiece by Caravaggio, and the fascinating history behind its disappearance and rediscovery.

    An Italian village on a hilltop near the Adriatic coast, a decaying palazzo facing the sea, and in the basement, cobwebbed and dusty, lit by a single bulb, an archive unknown to scholars. Here, a ... (Goodreads)

  21. Madness: A Bipolar Life

    by Marya Hornbacher
    A memoir of living with bipolar disorder, detailing the author's struggles with mania, depression, and addiction.

    An astonishing dispatch from inside the belly of bipolar disorder, reflecting major new insights When Marya Hornbacher published her first book, Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia, she did not ... (Goodreads)

  22. A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table

    by Molly Wizenberg
    A memoir of food, family, and life told through recipes and stories.

    • An irresistible story of cooking that goes beyond the kitchen: Molly Wizenberg shares stories of an everyday life and a way of eating that is inspiring, playful, and mindful. From her father’s ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story

    by Debbie Tung
    A young introvert's journey of understanding her identity and learning to embrace her differences.

    Sweet, funny, and quietly poignant, Debbie Tung’s comics reveal the ups and downs of coming of age as an introvert. This illustrated gift book of short comics illuminates author Debbie Tung's ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster

    by Jon Krakauer
    A gripping narrative of the 1996 expedition on Mount Everest that resulted in tragedy.

    When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. ... (Goodreads)

  25. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking

    by Jeff Hertzberg
    A revolutionary guide to baking artisan bread, with a simple and easy method.

    The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, is a fully revised and updated edition of the bestselling, ground-breaking, and revolutionary approach to bread-making—a perfect gift for foodies and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Dali

    by Robert Descharnes
    A comprehensive biography of the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, exploring his life, art, and eccentricities.

    This publication presents in 2 volumes in a box the entire painted oeuvre of Salvadore Dali (1904-1989). After many years of research, Robert Descharnes and Gilles Neret finally located all the ... (Goodreads)

  27. Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson

    by Jeff Guinn
    Exploration of the life of notorious cult leader Charles Manson, examining his criminal behavior and cultural impact.

    The New York Times bestselling, authoritative account of the life of Charles Manson, filled with surprising new information and previously unpublished photographs: “A riveting, almost Dickensian ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. 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)

  29. Victoria The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire

    by Julia Baird
    Comprehensive account of Queen Victoria's life, from her early childhood to her death.

    The true story for fans of the PBS Masterpiece series Victoria, this page-turning biography reveals the real woman behind the myth: a bold, glamorous, unbreakable queen–a Victoria for our times. ... (Goodreads)

  30. Seven Days in the Art World

    by Sarah Thornton
    An inside look at the contemporary art world, exploring its various facets and players.

    A fly-on-the-wall account of the smart and strange subcultures that make, trade, curate, collect, and hype contemporary art., The art market has been booming. Museum attendance is surging. More ... (Barnes & Noble)