Recommendations based on Ten Days in a Mad-Houseby Nellie Bly

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

  1. King Leopold's Ghost

    by Adam Hochschild
    A harrowing account of the colonization of the Congo and the exploitation of its people.

    In the 1880s, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized for himself the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the Congo River. Carrying out a ... (Goodreads)

  2. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory

    by Caitlin Doughty
    A journey through the funeral industry, exploring death, grief, and the beauty of life.

    "Morbid and illuminating" ( Entertainment Weekly )—a young mortician goes behind the scenes of her curious profession. Armed with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre, Caitlin ... (Barnes & Noble)

  3. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

    by Robert D. Hare
    Examination of psychopaths and their behaviors, and how to protect society from them.

    Most people are both repelled and intrigued by the images of cold-blooded, conscienceless murderers that increasingly populate our movies, television programs, and newspaper headlines. With their ... (Goodreads)

  4. Small Sacrifices

    by Ann Rule
    True crime story of a mother who goes to deadly lengths to get the perfect family.

    On 19 May 1983 at approximately 10:48 p.m, Diane Downs, drives to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield , Oregon with a gunshot wound to her arm. She claims that an unknown assailant attempted ... (Wikipedia)

  5. The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook

    by Bruce D. Perry
    Insightful case studies of children dealing with extreme trauma, and their resilience.

    In this instant classic of developmental psychology, a renowned psychiatrist examines the effect that trauma can have on a child, reveals how PTSD impacts the developing mind, and outlines the path ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors

    by Doug Stanton
    True story of the sinking of US Navy cruiser Indianapolis and the harrowing survival of its crew.

    A harrowing, adrenaline-charged account of America's worst naval disaster — and of the heroism of the men who, against all odds, survived., On July 30, 1945, the USS, Indianapolis, was torpedoed in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

    by Susannah Cahalan
    A journalist's journey of survival and recovery from a rare autoimmune disorder.

    An award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her ... (Goodreads)

  8. Girl, Interrupted

    by Susanna Kaysen
    A memoir of a woman's struggle with mental illness, her fight for survival, and her journey of self-discovery.

    In April 1967, 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen is admitted to McLean Hospital , in Belmont, Massachusetts , after attempting suicide by overdosing on pills. She denies that it was a suicide attempt to a ... (Wikipedia)

  9. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison

    by Michel Foucault
    Examines the emergence of the modern prison system and its effects on society.

    Librarian note: an alternate cover for this edition can be found, here,. Barely two hundred and fifty years ago a man condemned of attempting to assassinate the King of France was drawn and quartered ... (Goodreads)

  10. Schindler's List

    by Thomas Keneally
    Story of a German businessman who saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust.

    This novel tells the story of Oskar Schindler , self-made entrepreneur and, bon viveur, who almost by default found himself saving Polish Jews from the Nazi death machine. Based on numerous ... (Wikipedia)

  11. Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Stop Worrying About What You Should Do So You Can Finish What You Need to Do and Start Doing What You Want to Do

    by Sarah Knight
    A humorous self-help book that provides practical advice on how to organize your life and achieve your goals without stressing out.

    The, New York Times, bestseller from the author of, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, and, You Do You,. The no-f*cks-given, no-holds-barred guide to living your best life. Ever find ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. Harry, a History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon

    by Melissa Anelli
    A behind-the-scenes look at the Harry Potter fandom and its impact on the world, told by a prominent fan and journalist.

    THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS WERE JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY... During the brief span of just one decade, hundreds of millions of perfectly ordinary people made history: they became the only ones who ... (Goodreads)

  13. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

    by Michelle Alexander
    Exploring the roots and reality of systemic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system.

    "Jarvious Cotton's great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather was beaten to death by the Klu Klux Klan for attempting to vote. His grandfather was prevented from voting ... (Goodreads)

  14. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

    by Ishmael Beah
    A gripping tale of a child soldier's journey to survive and reclaim his humanity.

    My new friends have begun to suspect I haven't told them the full story of my life.,"Why did you leave Sierra Leone?","Because there is a war.","You mean, you saw people running around with guns and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. 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)

  16. 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)

  17. Where Am I Now?

    by Mara Wilson
    A memoir by former child actress Mara Wilson, reflecting on her life in and out of the spotlight.

    For readers of Lena Dunham, Allie Brosh and Roxane Gay, this funny, poignant, daringly honest collection of personal essays introduces Mara Wilson—the former child actress best known for her starring ... (Goodreads)

  18. I Could Pee On This: And Other Poems By Cats

    by Francesco Marciuliano
    A book of humorous poems from the perspective of cats, exploring the unique personalities of felines.

    Animal lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of funny cats. In this hilarious book of tongue-in-cheek ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. The Miracle Worker: A Play

    by William Gibson
    The story of a young girl's triumph over blindness and deafness, with the help of a devoted teacher.

    In Tuscumbia, Alabama , an illness renders infant Helen Keller blind , deaf , and consequently mute ( deaf-mute ). , Pitied and badly spoiled by her parents, Helen is taught no discipline and, by the ... (Wikipedia)

  20. The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All For the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II

    by Gregory A. Freeman
    The true story of a daring rescue mission during WWII to save downed American airmen in Yugoslavia.

    In 1944 the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped and sheltered for months by villagers behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia. Classified for over half a century for political reasons, this ... (Goodreads)

  21. 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)

  22. Year of the Monkey

    by Patti Smith
    A memoir of a year of change, loss, and transformation, filled with dreams, reflections, and encounters with the surreal.

    From the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids and M Train , a profound, beautifully realized memoir in which dreams and reality are vividly woven into a tapestry of one transformative ... (Goodreads)

  23. Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs

    by Elissa Wall
    A memoir of a woman's experience growing up in a polygamous sect, being forced into marriage at 14, and ultimately escaping the cult.

    Stolen Innocence is the gripping New York Times bestselling memoir of Elissa Wall, the courageous former member of Utah’s infamous FLDS polygamist sect whose powerful courtroom testimony helped ... (Goodreads)

  24. Unnatural Causes: The Life and Many Deaths of Britain's Top Forensic Pathologist

    by Richard Shepherd
    A memoir of a forensic pathologist's career, detailing high-profile cases and the impact of death on his personal life.

    As the UK's top forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd has spent a lifetime uncovering the secrets of the dead. When death is sudden or unexplained, it falls to Shepherd to establish the cause. ... (Goodreads)

  25. This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection

    by Carol Burnett
    An uplifting collection of stories, reflections and anecdotes from the iconic comedian's life.

    A touching and hilarious memoir by the author of, Carrie and Me: A Mother Daughter Love Story, , , This Time Together, is 100 percent Carol Burnett – funny, irreverent, and irresistible. Carol ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed - A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings

    by Michelle Knight
    A survivor's account of her abduction, captivity and eventual escape from a decade of torture and abuse.

    The #1, New York Times, Bestseller and inspirational memoir by Michelle Knight, whose survival story gripped the world and continues to inspire and offer hope. Michelle was a young single mother when ... (Goodreads)

  27. Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

    by Marya Hornbacher
    A personal account of the author's struggles with eating disorders and her road to recovery.

    Why would a talented young woman enter into a torrid affair with hunger, drugs, sex, and death? Through five lengthy hospital stays, endless therapy, and the loss of family, friends, jobs, and all ... (Goodreads)

  28. Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference

    by Cordelia Fine
    Exposing the deeply embedded gender biases in our culture and beliefs.

    It’s the twenty-first century, and although we tried to rear unisex children–boys who play with dolls and girls who like trucks--we failed. Even though the glass ceiling is cracked, most women stay ... (Goodreads)

  29. Inside Out

    by Demi Moore
    Memoir of Demi Moore's life, including her rise to fame, struggles with addiction, and personal relationships.

    Una historia de supervivencia, éxito y rendición. Un retrato desgarradoramente honesto de una mujer con una vida tan icónica como normal. Durante décadas, Demi Moore ha sido sinónimo de celebridad. ... (Goodreads)

  30. Between the World and Me

    by Ta-Nehisi Coates
    A letter to his son, exploring the realities of racism in America.

    “This is your country, this is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it.” In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American ... (Goodreads)