Recommendations based on How to Be a Victorianby Ruth Goodman

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

  1. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

    by Allie Brosh
    A humorous and candid account of the author's life, exploring the highs and lows of everyday life.

    #1, New York Times, Bestseller “Funny and smart as hell” (Bill Gates), Allie Brosh’s, Hyperbole and a Half, showcases her unique voice, leaping wit, and her ability to capture complex emotions with ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery

    by Henry Marsh
    A neurosurgeon's gripping account of the life and death decisions made in the operating room.

    What is it like to be a brain surgeon? How does it feel to hold someone's life in your hands, to cut into the stuff that creates thought, feeling, and reason? How do you live with the consequences of ... (Goodreads)

  3. Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ

    by Giulia Enders
    Exploration of the human gut, its impact on our health, and its importance.

    “Everything you ever wanted to know about the gut (and then some).” —SELF In this, New York Times, bestseller, scientist Giulia Enders reveals the secrets of your digestive system—including new ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. The Six Wives of Henry VIII

    by Alison Weir
    A historical account of the tumultuous lives of Henry VIII's six wives, their political and religious struggles.

    The tempestuous, bloody, and splendid reign of Henry VIII of England (1509-1547) is one of the most fascinating in all history, not least for his marriage to six extraordinary women. In this ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

    by Steven Pinker
    Investigation into the causes of violence and the reasons why it has decreased in modern society.

    Believe it or not, today we may be living in the most peaceful moment in our species' existence. In his gripping and controversial new work, New York Times bestselling author Steven Pinker shows that ... (Goodreads)

  6. One Summer: America, 1927

    by Bill Bryson
    A vivid portrait of America in the summer of 1927, featuring a host of historical figures and events.

    In One Summer Bill Bryson, one of our greatest and most beloved nonfiction writers, transports readers on a journey back to one amazing season in American life. The summer of 1927 began with one of ... (Goodreads)

  7. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

    by Matthew Walker
    Exploring the science of sleep, uncovering its powerful effects on health, productivity, and wellbeing.

    “,Why We Sleep, is an important and fascinating book...Walker taught me a lot about this basic activity that every person on Earth needs. I suspect his book will do the same for you.” —Bill Gates A, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. At Home: A Short History of Private Life

    by Bill Bryson
    An exploration of the extraordinary and often overlooked history of the home.

    “Houses aren’t refuges from history. They are where history ends up.” Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has ... (Goodreads)

  9. 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)

  10. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

    by Alison Bechdel
    An autobiographical story of a daughter's complex relationship with her father and her own journey of self-discovery.

    The narrative of Fun Home is non-linear and recursive. , Incidents are told and re-told in the light of new information or themes. , Bechdel describes the structure of Fun Home as a labyrinth , ... (Wikipedia)

  11. 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)

  12. Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls

    by Lauren Graham
    An intimate memoir of the actor's experience playing Lorelai Gilmore and her journey to becoming an author.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • In this collection of personal essays, the beloved star of, Gilmore Girls, and, Parenthood, reveals stories about life, love, and working as a woman in Hollywood—along ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. 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)

  14. Home: A Memoir of My Early Years

    by Julie Andrews Edwards
    Julie Andrews' memoir of her early years, from her childhood in England to her rise to stardom on Broadway.

    Since her first appearance on screen in Mary Poppins , Julie Andrews has played a series of memorable roles that have endeared her to generations. But she has never told the story of her life before ... (Goodreads)

  15. Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez

    by Philip Carlo
    A chilling account of the life and crimes of notorious serial killer Richard Ramirez, known as the Night Stalker.

    The shocking true story behind the serial killer case that inspired the hit Netflix series! Painstakingly researched over three years, based on nearly one hundred hours of exclusive interviews with ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Good Immigrant

    by Nikesh Shukla
    Exploring the experiences of immigrants in Britain, and the complex identity issues faced.

    How does it feel to be constantly regarded as a potential threat, strip-searched at every airport? Or be told that, as an actress, the part you’re most fitted to play is ‘wife of a terrorist’? How ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Shock of the New

    by Robert Hughes
    A critical analysis of modern art and its evolution from the Industrial Revolution to the present day.

    A beautifully illustrated hundred-year history of modern art, from cubism to pop and avant-garde. More than 250 color photos. ... (Goodreads)

  18. 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)

  19. The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery

    by Sam Kean
    A captivating exploration of the history of the human brain, unraveled through fascinating case studies.

    From the author of the bestseller, The Disappearing Spoon, tales of the brain and the history of neuroscience. Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for ... (Goodreads)

  20. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

    by Fiona Carnarvon
    The true story of Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, and her life at Highclere Castle, the real-life setting of Downton Abbey.

    Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes's Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey , and the life of ... (Goodreads)

  21. Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War

    by Karen Abbott
    Uncovering the untold stories of four women who risked their lives as undercover spies during the Civil War.

    Karen Abbott, the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City and “pioneer of sizzle history” (USA Today ), tells the spellbinding true story of four women who risked everything to ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Relish: My Life in the Kitchen

    by Lucy Knisley
    An autobiographical exploration of food, cooking, and how it shapes relationships.

    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and funny ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed

    by Patricia Cornwell
    A riveting crime mystery, tracing the true identity of the notorious Jack the Ripper.

    Now updated with new material that brings the killer's picture into clearer focus. In the fall of 1888, all of London was held in the grip of unspeakable terror. An elusive madman calling himself ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do

    by Sarah Knight
    Practical guide to cutting out stress and self-imposed obligations, freeing up time for activities that matter.

    The "genius" national bestseller on the art of caring less and getting more — from the author of, Get Your Sh*t Together and You Do You, (,Cosmopolitan,). Are you stressed out, overbooked, and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload

    by Daniel J. Levitin
    A guide to managing information overload and improving productivity through organization and understanding of the brain's cognitive processes.

    New York Times, bestselling author and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin shifts his keen insights from your brain on music to your brain in a sea of details. The information age is drowning us with an ... (Goodreads)

  26. Crush It!: Why Now Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

    by Gary Vaynerchuk
    How to turn one's passion into a successful business venture.

    Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love. In Crush It! ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science

    by J. Kenji López-Alt
    Detailed guide to cooking, leveraging science to unlock the best culinary techniques.

    Ever wondered how to pan-fry a steak with a charred crust and an interior that's perfectly medium-rare from edge to edge when you cut into it? How to make homemade mac 'n' cheese that is as ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Complete Maus

    by Art Spiegelman
    A graphic novel depicting a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust and his son's journey to understand the past.

    On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its first publication, here is the definitive edition of the book acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the ... (Goodreads)

  29. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

    by Richard Louv
    Examining the consequences of disconnecting children from nature, and the need for reconnection.

    "I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are," reports a fourth-grader. Never before in history have children been so plugged in—and so out of touch with the ... (Goodreads)

  30. 1421: The Year China Discovered America

    by Gavin Menzies
    Exploration of the mystery behind the Chinese Admiral's journey to the Americas in 1421.

    On 3/8/1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China. Its mission was "to proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas" & ... (Goodreads)