Recommendations based on Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earthby Sarah Smarsh

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

  1. We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy

    by Ta-Nehisi Coates
    An exploration of the Obama years, and the racial injustices that still plague America.

    "We were eight years in power" was the lament of Reconstruction-era black politicians as the American experiment in multiracial democracy ended with the return of white supremacist rule in the South. ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Library Book

    by Susan Orlean
    A true story of the devastating 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, and the mystery surrounding it.

    On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not ... (Goodreads)

  3. I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life

    by Anne Bogel
    A love letter to reading, exploring the joys and challenges of being a book lover.

    For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time–it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we ... (Goodreads)

  4. Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

    by Pamela Druckerman
    A mother's exploration of French parenting practices and their effects on her children.

    The runaway, New York Times, bestseller that shows American parents the secrets behind France's amazingly well-behaved children When American journalist Pamela Druckerman had a baby in Paris, she ... (Goodreads)

  5. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

    by David Grann
    Exposé of a series of murders of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma and the FBI's investigation.

    In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, ... (Goodreads)

  6. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

    by Richard J. Foster
    A guide to spiritual growth through various disciplines, including meditation, prayer, fasting, and study.

    A newly repackaged and updated 40th anniversary edition of the timeless guide that has helped numerous seekers discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace, and a deeper understanding of ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

    by Isabel Wilkerson
    An exploration of the life-changing journeys of the millions of African-Americans who migrated from the South to the North, Midwest, and West from 1915 to 1970.

    In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black ... (Goodreads)

  8. Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey

    by Dion Leonard
    A heartwarming memoir of a runner who finds an unlikely companion, a stray dog, during a grueling 155-mile race across the Gobi Desert.

    Like A Streecat Named Bob before it, Finding Gobi is a truly heart-warming story for animal lovers worldwide… In 2016, Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, unexpectedly stumbled across a ... (Goodreads)

  9. Three Little Words

    by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
    Memoir of a girl's journey through foster care, adoption, and finding her voice. A story of resilience and hope.

    An inspiring true story of the tumultuous nine years Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent in the foster care system, and how she triumphed over painful memories and real-life horrors to ultimately find her ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. This Will Only Hurt a Little

    by Busy Philipps
    Memoir of actress Busy Philipps, detailing her personal struggles and triumphs in Hollywood and beyond.

    A hilarious, heartfelt, and refreshingly honest memoir and, New York Times, bestseller by the beloved comedic actress known for her roles on, Freaks and Geeks,, Dawson’s Creek, and, Cougar Town, who ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age

    by Dale Carnegie
    A modern adaptation of the classic self-help book, offering practical advice on building relationships and influence in the digital age.

    AN UP-TO-THE -MINUTE ADAPTATION OF DALE CARNEGIE ’S TIMELESS PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE DALE CARNEGIE’s commonsense approach to communicating has endured for a century, touching millions and ... (Goodreads)

  12. Obama: An Intimate Portrait: The Historic Presidency in Photographs

    by Pete Souza
    A photographic tribute to the 8-year presidency of Barack Obama.

    This is the definitive visual biography of Barack Obama's presidency, captured in intimate, unprecedented detail by his official White House photographer. Pete Souza began photographing President ... (Goodreads)

  13. My Mother Was Nuts

    by Penny Marshall
    A memoir of Penny Marshall's life, from her childhood in the Bronx to her successful career in Hollywood.

    At the age of twenty-six, Penny Marshall was a divorced mother of one living in the Bronx. One year later she starred in a Head & Shoulders commercial (she was the one with the dandruff) with Farah ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board

    by Bethany Hamilton
    A young surfer's inspiring journey of resilience, healing and faith.

    In 2003, 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton lives in Kauai, Hawaii with her parents Tom and Cheri, and two older brothers, Noah and Timmy. All are surfers, but she and her best friend Alana Blanchard have ... (Wikipedia)

  15. In Pieces

    by Sally Field
    Sally Field's memoir explores her life, career, and relationships, revealing the struggles and triumphs of a Hollywood icon.

    In this intimate, haunting literary memoir and, New York Times, Notable Book of the year, an American icon tells her own story for the first time — about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope, and Repair

    by Anne Lamott
    A memoir on the author's journey through addiction, loss, and grief, finding hope and healing through faith, community, and creativity.

    “Lamott’s …most insightful book yet,, Stitches, offers plenty of her characteristic witty wisdom…this slim, readable volume [is] a lens on life, widening and narrowing, encouraging each reader to ... (Goodreads)

  17. Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness

    by Tracy Kidder
    A young man escapes genocide in Burundi and arrives in New York City with nothing. His journey to rebuild his life is a testament to the human spirit.

    Strength in What Remains is a wonderfully written, inspiring account of one man’s remarkable American journey and of the ordinary people who helped him – a brilliant testament to the power of will ... (Goodreads)

  18. Run Baby Run

    by Nicky Cruz
    A former gang leader's journey of spiritual transformation, from violence to redemption.

    This is the thrilling story of Nicky Cruz's desperate battle against drugs, alcoholism, and a violent environment, as he searched for a better way of life on the streets of New York City. ... (Goodreads)

  19. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

    by David W. Blight
    A comprehensive biography of Frederick Douglass, the former slave who became a leading abolitionist and one of America's greatest orators.

    As a young man, Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland. He was fortunate to have been taught to read by his slave owner mistress, and he would go on to become one ... (Goodreads)

  20. Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

    by Dani Shapiro
    Dani Shapiro discovers through a DNA test that her beloved father is not her biological father, leading her on a journey to uncover family secrets.

    An Instant, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER,A, LOS ANGELES TIMES, BOSTON GLOBE, WALL STREET JOURNAL,, and NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER,Named A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by *,Elle * Vanity Fair * Wired * Real ... (Barnes & Noble)

  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. Heaven Is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy

    by Stephanie Nielson
    A woman's inspiring story of surviving a plane crash, and the journey of rebuilding her life afterwards.

    Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat ... (Goodreads)

  23. All You Can Ever Know

    by Nicole Chung
    A memoir about a Korean-American adoptee's search for her birth family and the complexities of identity and belonging.

    NATIONAL BESTSELLER, What does it mean to lose your roots—within your culture, within your family—and what happens when you find them?, Nicole Chung was born severely premature, placed for adoption ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border

    by Francisco Cantú
    A memoir of a former border patrol agent's experiences on the US-Mexico border and the moral dilemmas he faced.

    For Francisco Cantú, the border is in the blood: his mother, a park ranger and daughter of a Mexican immigrant, raised him in the scrublands of the Southwest. Haunted by the landscape of his youth, ... (Goodreads)

  25. Alan Turing: The Enigma

    by Andrew Hodges
    Biographical exploration of the life and work of the British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing.

    Alan Turing (1912-54) was a British mathematician who made history. His breaking of the German U-boat Enigma cipher in World War II ensured Allied-American control of the Atlantic. But Turing's ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Book of General Ignorance

    by John Lloyd
    A humorous and informative book that challenges common misconceptions and reveals surprising facts about the world we live in.

    Misconceptions, misunderstandings, and flawed facts finally get the heave-ho in this humorous, downright humiliating book of reeducation based on the phenomenal British bestseller. Challenging what ... (Goodreads)

  27. Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

    by Casey Cep
    The true crime story of Reverend Willie Maxwell and the trial that fascinated Harper Lee.

    The story of an Alabama serial killer and the true-crime book that Harper Lee worked on obsessively in the years after To Kill a Mockingbird . Reverend Willie Maxwell was a rural preacher accused of ... (Goodreads)

  28. Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source

    by Scott Dikkers
    A humorous collection of fake news headlines poking fun at the events of the past century.

    The Onion has quickly become the world's most popular humor publication, misinforming half a million readers a week with one-of-a-kind social satire both in print (on newsstands nationwide) and ... (Goodreads)

  29. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

    by Maya Angelou
    Autobiographical account of a Black woman's journey to find her identity in a prejudiced society.

    Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters. Here is a book as ... (Goodreads)

  30. Personal History

    by Katharine Graham
    A memoir recounting the life and career of a pioneering female journalist and business leader.

    In lieu of an unrevealing Famous-People-I-Have-Known autobiography, the owner of the Washington Post has chosen to be remarkably candid about the insecurities prompted by remote parents and a ... (Goodreads)