Recommendations based on American Indian Myths and Legendsby Richard Erdoes

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

  1. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

    by Dee Brown
    An in-depth account of the displacement of Native American tribes by the US government.

    Now a special 30th-anniversary edition in both hardcover and paperback, the classic bestselling history The New York Times called "Original, remarkable, and finally heartbreaking...Impossible to put ... (Goodreads)

  2. Never Cry Wolf: The Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves

    by Farley Mowat
    A scientist's immersive study of Arctic wolves in the wild, challenging preconceptions of predator behavior.

    More than a half-century ago the naturalist Farley Mowat was sent to investigate why wolves were killing arctic caribou. Mowat's account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra alone—studying the ... (Goodreads)

  3. Walden

    by Henry David Thoreau
    A reflective journey into nature, exploring the power of contemplation and simplicity.

    Originally published in 1854, Walden; or, Life in the Woods, is a vivid account of the time that Henry D. Thoreau lived alone in a secluded cabin at Walden Pond. It is one of the most influential and ... (Goodreads)

  4. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux

    by John G. Neihardt
    A spiritual autobiography of a Sioux holy man, recounting the history of his people and their struggles.

    "Black Elk Speaks," the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much ... (Goodreads)

  5. Man and His Symbols

    by C.G. Jung
    An exploration of the collective unconscious, and its implications for self-realization.

    Man and His Symbols owes its existence to one of Jung's own dreams. The great psychologist dreamed that his work was understood by a wide public, rather than just by psychiatrists, and therefore he ... (Goodreads)

  6. Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools

    by Jonathan Kozol
    An exposé of the disparities in America's public education system and its effects on children.

    National Book Award-winning author Jonathan Kozol presents his shocking account of the American educational system in this stunning "New York Times" bestseller, which has sold more than 250,000 ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

    by Malcolm X
    A gripping account of one man's transformation from criminal to civil rights leader.

    Alternate cover for ISBN 9780345350688 Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. In this riveting account, he tells of his ... (Goodreads)

  8. Letters from a Stoic

    by Seneca
    A collection of Stoic philosophies and advice on living a meaningful life.

    The power and wealth which Seneca the Younger (c.4 B.C. - A.D. 65) acquired as Nero's minister were in conflict with his Stoic beliefs. Nevertheless he was the outstanding figure of his age. The ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Power of Myth

    by Joseph Campbell
    A conversation between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers on the role of mythology in human life, exploring universal themes and archetypes.

    The Power Of Myth launched an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Joseph Campbell and his work. A preeminent scholar, writer, and teacher, he has had a profound influence on millions of people. ... (Goodreads)

  10. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

    by James W. Loewen
    Exposing the inaccuracies in American history textbooks and exploring the forces that shaped them.

    “Every teacher, every student of history, every citizen should read this book. It is both a refreshing antidote to what has passed for history in our educational system and a one-volume education in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. Anatomy for the Artist

    by Jenő Barcsay
    Detailed illustrations and explanations of human anatomy for artists to improve their understanding and depiction of the human form.

    It’s the classic in its field—a reference work of unparalleled importance for all professionals and students of art. This superb art manual is the best guide available on a subject that has ... (Goodreads)

  12. Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail

    by Rusty Young
    Unforgettable story of an English drug smuggler's experience in Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison.

    Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the young ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Prose Edda

    by Snorri Sturluson
    A collection of Norse mythology and legends, including the creation of the world, the gods and goddesses, and the end of the world.

    'What was the beginning, or how did things start? What was there before?', The Prose Edda is the most renowned of all works of Scandinavian literature and our most extensive source for Norse ... (Goodreads)

  14. Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

    by Laurence Gonzales
    Exploring why some people are able to survive life-threatening situations while others don't.

    Laurence Gonzales’s bestselling Deep Survival has helped save lives from the deepest wildernesses, just as it has improved readers’ everyday lives. Its mix of adventure narrative, survival science, ... (Goodreads)

  15. I'm OK - You're OK

    by Thomas A. Harris
    A guide to transactional analysis, exploring how people communicate and interact with each other. Offers practical advice for improving relationships.

    An enormously popular (7-million copies sold) and insightful classic of popular psychology based on Eric Berne’s theory of Transactional Analysis that has helped millions of people who never before ... (Goodreads)

  16. Tao Te Ching

    by Lao Tzu
    A collection of wise sayings and reflections on the nature of existence.

    A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or -The Classic of ... (Goodreads)

  17. Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented the 20th Century

    by Sean Patrick
    A narrative of the life and inventions of the renowned scientist, Nikola Tesla.

    If you want to learn about one of history’s most fascinating minds and uncover some of his secrets of imagination—secrets that enabled him to invent machines light years ahead of his time and ... (Goodreads)

  18. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail

    by David Miller
    A man's journey of self-discovery on a 2,200 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.

    In 2003, software engineer David Miller left his job, family, and friends to hike 2,172 miles of the Appalachian Trail., AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, is Miller’s account of this thru-hike from ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth

    by Warsan Shire
    A lyrical exploration of womanhood, identity, and the power of words.

    What elevates 'teaching my mother how to give birth', what gives the poems their disturbing brilliance, is Warsan Shire's ability to give simple, beautiful eloquence to the veiled world where ... (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. The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

    by Elyn R. Saks
    Story of a woman's struggles with schizophrenia and her journey of recovery.

    Elyn Saks is a success by any measure: she's an endowed professor at the prestigious University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She has managed to achieve this in spite of being diagnosed ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Double Helix

    by James D. Watson
    A personal account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, revealing the scientific process and the personalities involved.

    By identifying the structure of DNA, the molecule of life, Francis Crick and James Watson revolutionized biochemistry & won themselves a Nobel Prize. At the time, Watson was only 24, a young ... (Goodreads)

  23. A Field Guide to Getting Lost

    by Rebecca Solnit
    Exploring being lost in the world, embracing the uncertainty of life, and finding new ways of being.

    Whether she is contemplating the history of walking as a cultural and political experience over the past two hundred years ( Wanderlust ), or using the life of photographer Eadweard Muybridge as a ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Executioner's Song

    by Norman Mailer
    The true story of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer who became the first person executed in the US after the death penalty was reinstated.

    In what is arguably his greatest work, America's most heroically ambitious writer follows the short, blighted career of Gary Gilmore, an intractably violent product of America's prisons who became ... (Goodreads)

  25. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

    by Michael Bungay Stanier
    Strategies for effective leadership, emphasizing the power of asking questions.

    Look for Michael’s new book,, The Advice Trap, which focuses on taming your Advice Monster so you can stay curious a little longer and change the way you lead forever. In Michael Bungay Stanier's The ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. The Orchid Thief

    by Susan Orlean
    A captivating story of obsession, intrigue, and the beauty of the rare flower.

    The Orchid Thief is Susan Orlean’s tale of an amazing obsession. Determined to clone an endangered flower—the rare ghost orchid Polyrrhiza lindenii— a deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

    by Jack Canfield
    A comprehensive guide to personal success, providing practical advice and tips for achieving goals.

    Jack Canfield, cocreator of the phenomenal bestselling, Chicken Soup for the Soul,® series, turns to the principles he's studied, taught, and lived for more than 30 years in this practical and ... (Goodreads)

  28. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

    by John J. Ratey
    Exercise is not just good for the body, but also for the brain. It can improve mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being.

    Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Out of Africa

    by Isak Dinesen
    Memoir of a Danish author's life in Kenya, exploring nature and culture.

    'Out of Africa' is Isak Dinesen's memoir of her years in Africa, from 1914 to 1931, on a four-thousand-acre coffee plantation in the hills near Nairobi. She had come to Kenya from Denmark with her ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival

    by John Vaillant
    A thrilling tale of a Siberian tiger's fight for survival amidst conflict between man and nature.

    It’s December 1997, and a man-eating tiger is on the prowl outside a remote village in Russia’s Far East. The tiger isn’t just killing people, it’s annihilating them, and a team of men and their dogs ... (Goodreads)