Recommendations based on Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimistby Michael J. Fox

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

  1. Lucky Man

    by Michael J. Fox
    Michael J. Fox's memoir about his life, career, and battle with Parkinson's disease.

    In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease – a degenerative neurological condition. In fact, he had been secretly fighting it for ... (Goodreads)

  2. Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life

    by Steve Martin
    A memoir of the comedian's rise to fame, from the early days of stand-up comedy to the heights of success.

    In the midseventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. This book is, in his own words, the ... (Goodreads)

  3. Stories I Only Tell My Friends

    by Rob Lowe
    Memoir of Rob Lowe's life, from his early days in Ohio to his rise to fame in Hollywood.

    A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. Seriously... I'm Kidding

    by Ellen DeGeneres
    A collection of humorous essays and anecdotes from the beloved comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

    "Sometimes the greatest things are the most embarrassing." Ellen Degeneres' winning, upbeat candor has made her show one of the most popular, resilient and honored daytime shows on the air. (To date, ... (Goodreads)

  5. Assassination Vacation

    by Sarah Vowell
    A comedic travelogue exploring the history of presidential assassinations in the United States.

    Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no ... (Goodreads)

  6. 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)

  7. Have a Little Faith: a True Story

    by Mitch Albom
    A journey through faith, exploring the power of belief and the strength of community.

    In, Have a Little Faith, Mitch Albom offers a beautifully written story of a remarkable eight-year journey between two worlds–two men, two faiths, two communities--that will inspire readers ... (Goodreads)

  8. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time

    by Greg Mortenson
    A man's mission to build schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote peace.

    The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s ... (Goodreads)

  9. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

    by Barack Obama
    An exploration of the Obama family history, tracing the threads of identity and race.

    In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New ... (Goodreads)

  10. Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland

    by Amanda Berry
    True story of a woman taken captive and her struggle to stay alive and be reunited with her family.

    Two women kidnapped by infamous Cleveland school-bus driver Ariel Castro share the stories of their abductions, captivity, and dramatic escape, On May 6, 2013, Amanda Berry made headlines around the ... (Goodreads)

  11. A Stolen Life

    by Jaycee Dugard
    A woman's harrowing account of being kidnapped and held captive for 18 years.

    On 10 June 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in Tahoe, California. It was the last her family and friends saw of her for over eighteen ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

    by Sidney Poitier
    Sidney Poitier reflects on his life, career, and spiritual journey, exploring the meaning of success and the importance of personal integrity.

    In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguable the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence ... (Goodreads)

  13. 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)

  14. The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

    by Rick Warren
    An exploration of faith and life's meaning, providing readers with an actionable manifesto for living.

    A #1 New York Times bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life will help you understand why you are alive and reveal God's amazing plan for you both here and now, and for eternity. Rick Warren will guide ... (Goodreads)

  15. Food: A Love Story

    by Jim Gaffigan
    A comedic exploration of the author's obsession with food and its effects.

    “What are my qualifications to write this book? None really. So why should you read it? Here’s why: I’m a little fat. If a thin guy were to write about a love of food and eating I’d highly recommend ... (Goodreads)

  16. There are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America

    by Alex Kotlowitz
    Tragic story of two brothers living in poverty and violence in the inner city of Chicago.

    This is the moving and powerful account of two remarkable boys struggling to survive in Chicago's Henry Horner Homes, a public housing complex disfigured by crime and neglect. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

    by David Sedaris
    A humorous collection of autobiographical essays reflecting on family relationships.

    David Sedaris plays in the snow with his sisters. He goes on vacation with his family. He gets a job selling drinks. He attends his brother’s wedding. He mops his sister’s floor. He gives directions ... (Goodreads)

  18. She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders

    by Jennifer Finney Boylan
    A memoir of a transgender woman's journey to self-discovery and acceptance, navigating the complexities of gender identity and relationships.

    The exuberant memoir of a man named James who became a woman named Jenny. She’s Not There is the story of a person changing genders, the story of a person bearing and finally revealing a complex ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Tender Bar: A Memoir

    by J.R. Moehringer
    An intimate look at an unconventional family and the power of storytelling.

    In the grand tradition of landmark memoirs - a classic American story of self-invention and escape, of the fierce love between a single mother and an only son, it's also a moving portrait of one ... (Goodreads)

  20. Yes Please

    by Amy Poehler
    Humorous memoir of a celebrated comedian, exploring her life, career, and relationships.

    In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please , she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some ... (Goodreads)

  21. Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    by Aron Ralston
    A harrowing true story of one man's fight for survival after being trapped in a canyon.

    A brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life which will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories. One ... (Goodreads)

  22. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's

    by John Elder Robison
    An honest account of a man's life with Asperger's, exploring his unique perspectives.

    Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, ... (Goodreads)

  23. Naked

    by David Sedaris
    Collection of humorous essays exploring the absurdities of everyday life.

    Welcome to the hilarious, strange, elegiac, outrageous world of David Sedaris. In Naked , Sedaris turns the mania for memoir on its proverbial ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, ... (Goodreads)

  24. Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers

    by David Perlmutter
    Examination of the effects of wheat, carbs, and sugar on the brain, exploring their role in chronic diseases.

    Dr. Perlmutter's #1, New York Times, bestseller about the devastating effects of gluten, sugar, and carbs on the brain and body — updated with the latest nutritional and neurological science,When, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

    by Vicki Myron
    The heartwarming true story of a library cat who touched the lives of a small-town community.

    How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually ... (Goodreads)

  26. Wishful Drinking

    by Carrie Fisher
    An autobiographical account of the author's life and struggles with fame, addiction, and mental illness.

    In Wishful Drinking , Carrie Fisher tells the true and intoxicating story of her life with inimitable wit. Born to celebrity parents, she was picked to play a princess in a little movie called Star ... (Goodreads)

  27. All Things Wise and Wonderful

    by James Herriot
    Reflections on a rural vet's life in Yorkshire, England, through humorous and heartwarming stories.

    The third volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series Readers adored James Herriot's tales of his life as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and ... (Goodreads)

  28. Running with Scissors

    by Augusten Burroughs
    An autobiographical story of a young boy's difficult upbringing and his unconventional family.

    Running with Scissors covers the period of Burroughs' adolescent years, beginning at age 12 after a brief overview of his life as a child. Burroughs spends his early childhood in a clean and orderly ... (Wikipedia)

  29. 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)

  30. Not My Father's Son

    by Alan Cumming
    A memoir of a man's journey to uncover his family's troubled past and reclaim his identity.

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Equal parts memoir, whodunnit, and manual for living . . . a beautifully written, honest look at the forces of blood and bone that make us who we are, and how we make ... (Barnes & Noble)