Recommendations based on Travels with Herodotusby Ryszard Kapuściński

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

  1. The Shadow of the Sun

    by Ryszard Kapuściński
    An epic account of a journey through Africa, navigating the continent's diverse cultures and politics.

    In 1957, Ryszard Kapuscinski arrived in Africa to witness the beginning of the end of colonial rule as the first African correspondent of Poland's state newspaper. From the early days of independence ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Histories

    by Herodotus
    Exploration into the rise and fall of empires in the ancient world.

    One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices

    by Xinran
    Xinran shares the stories of women in China, revealing their struggles and triumphs in a male-dominated society.

    When Deng Xiaoping's efforts to "open up" China took root in the late 1980s, Xinran recognized an invaluable opportunity. As an employee for the state radio system, she had long wanted to help ... (Goodreads)

  4. Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found

    by Suketu Mehta
    An exploration of the diverse and complex city of Bombay, India.

    A native of Bombay, Suketu Mehta gives us an insider’s view of this stunning metropolis. He approaches the city from unexpected angles, taking us into the criminal underworld of rival Muslim and ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Great Railway Bazaar

    by Paul Theroux
    A travelogue of a four-month journey by train from London to Tokyo, exploring the cultures and people encountered along the way.

    First published in 1975, Paul Theroux's strange, unique, and hugely entertaining railway odyssey has become a modern classic of travel literature. Here Theroux recounts his early adventures on an ... (Goodreads)

  6. Just Kids

    by Patti Smith
    Chronicles of two young artists in New York City, finding friendship and inspiration in each other.

    In Just Kids , Patti Smith's first book of prose, the legendary American artist offers a never-before-seen glimpse of her remarkable relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the epochal ... (Goodreads)

  7. In Patagonia

    by Bruce Chatwin
    A journey through the far reaches of Patagonia, exploring its culture and history.

    An exhilarating look at a place that still retains the exotic mystery of a far-off, unseen land, Bruce Chatwin’s exquisite account of his journey through Patagonia teems with evocative descriptions, ... (Goodreads)

  8. A Confession

    by Leo Tolstoy
    A spiritual journey of self-discovery, examining religious faith and moral responsibility.

    A Confession – an essay by Leo Tolstoy on his religious thoughts -- shows the great author in process of looking for answers to profound questions that trouble all who take them on: "What will come ... (Goodreads)

  9. Gulag: A History

    by Anne Applebaum
    A comprehensive account of the Soviet Union's notorious prison system, the history of its inhumane treatment of inmates.

    The Gulag–a vast array of Soviet concentration camps that held millions of political and criminal prisoners--was a system of repression and punishment that terrorized the entire society, embodying ... (Goodreads)

  10. War's Unwomanly Face

    by Svetlana Alexievich
    An exploration of the lives of Soviet women who served in World War II.

    This book is a confession, a document and a record of people's memory. More than 200 women speak in it, describing how young girls, who dreamed of becoming brides, became soldiers in 1941. More than ... (Goodreads)

  11. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

    by Chris Hadfield
    Experiences and insights from a veteran astronaut's career, empowering readers to achieve their greatest goals.

    Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a ... (Goodreads)

  12. Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk

    by Legs McNeil
    An exploration of the punk rock movement through interviews with its pioneers and participants.

    A, Time Out, and, Daily News, Top Ten Book of the Year upon its initial release,, Please Kill Me, is the first oral history of the most nihilist of all pop movements. Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee ... (Goodreads)

  13. A Short History of Nearly Everything

    by Bill Bryson
    A captivating overview of the natural sciences, spanning the history of the universe.

    In Bryson's biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand—and, if possible, answer—the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory ... (Goodreads)

  14. Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography

    by Roland Barthes
    An exploration of the nature of photography and its power to evoke emotion.

    A graceful, contemplative volume, Camera Lucida was first published in 1979. Commenting on artists such as Avedon, Clifford, Mapplethorpe, and Nadar, Roland Barthes presents photography as being ... (Goodreads)

  15. A Little History of the World

    by E.H. Gombrich
    A concise and engaging history of the world, from prehistoric times to the present day, written for young readers but enjoyable for all ages.

    In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, the 26-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited by a publishing acquaintance to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. ... (Goodreads)

  16. 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)

  17. The World of Yesterday

    by Stefan Zweig
    Autobiography of a Jewish writer, describing the intellectual and social life of fin de siècle Europe.

    The World of Yesterday, mailed to his publisher a few days before Stefan Zweig took his life in 1942, has become a classic of the memoir genre. Originally titled “Three Lives,” the memoir describes ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

    by M. Scott Peck
    A guide to personal growth and spiritual development, emphasizing the importance of discipline, love, and grace in achieving a fulfilling life.

    The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth 316 pp. "Psychotherapy is all things to all people in this mega-selling pop-psychology watershed, which ... (Goodreads)

  19. Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster

    by Svetlana Alexievich
    An oral history of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as told by the survivors.

    Written by the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear reactor accident in history occurred in Chernobyl and contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. ... (Goodreads)

  20. Meditations

    by Marcus Aurelius
    Reflections on Stoic philosophy, exploring the nature of existence and how to live life.

    Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual ... (Goodreads)

  21. Travels with Charley: In Search of America

    by John Steinbeck
    A road trip across America, exploring the culture and landscape of the country.

    A quest across America, from the northernmost tip of Maine to California’s Monterey Peninsula To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colors and the ... (Goodreads)

  22. 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)

  23. The Guns of August

    by Barbara W. Tuchman
    A riveting account of the events leading up to World War I and its devastating consequences.

    Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Guns of August, and The Zimmerman Telegram comprise Barbara W. ... (Goodreads)

  24. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

    by Timothy Snyder
    A study of history and a call to action against the rise of authoritarianism.

    #1, New York Times, Bestseller •, A historian of fascism offers a guide for surviving and resisting America's turn towards authoritarianism., The Founding Fathers tried to protect us from the threat ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

    by Alfred Lansing
    True story of a remarkable Antarctic expedition, a testament to the power of courage and tenacity.

    The harrowing tale of British explorer Ernest Shackleton's 1914 attempt to reach the South Pole, one of the greatest adventure stories of the modern age. In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest ... (Goodreads)

  26. A Room of One's Own

    by Virginia Woolf
    Examining gender roles and societal expectations with an eye to achieving independence and creative freedom.

    A Room of One's Own is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf. First published on the 24th of October, 1929, the essay was based on a series of lectures she delivered at Newnham College and Girton ... (Goodreads)

  27. Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year

    by Demi Lovato
    Daily affirmations and personal anecdotes to help readers stay strong and positive throughout the year.

    Demi Lovato wakes up each morning and affirms her commitment to herself—to her health, her happiness, her being. Those commitments are the bedrock of her recovery and her work helping other young ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea

    by Marc Randolph
    Co-founder Marc Randolph shares the story of how Netflix went from a small startup to a global entertainment powerhouse.

    In the tradition of Phil Knight's, Shoe Dog, comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company-all revealed by co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph. Once upon a time, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. 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)

  30. Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman

    by Alice Steinbach
    A middle-aged woman travels solo through Europe, seeking adventure and self-discovery.

    "In many ways, I was an independent woman," writes Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Alice Steinbach. “For years I’d made my own choices, paid my own bills, shoveled my own snow.” But somehow she had ... (Goodreads)