Recommendations based on The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected Worldby Jacqueline Novogratz

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

  1. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

    by Nicholas D. Kristof
    Examining the global struggle of women and how to empower them in the face of oppression.

    From two of our most fiercely moral voices, a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls in the developing world. With Pulitzer ... (Goodreads)

  2. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

    by Tracy Kidder
    A story of one man's journey to fight poverty, illness, and injustice around the world.

    At the center of Mountains Beyond Mountains stands Paul Farmer. Doctor, Harvard professor, renowned infectious-disease specialist, anthropologist, the recipient of a MacArthur "genius" grant, ... (Goodreads)

  3. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time

    by Greg Mortenson
    A man's mission to build schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote peace.

    The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World

    by Eric Weiner
    A humorous exploration of the pursuit of happiness, through visits to different countries.

    Weiner spent a decade as a foreign correspondent reporting from such discontented locales as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Indonesia. Unhappy people living in profoundly unstable states, he notes, inspire ... (Goodreads)

  5. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

    by Loung Ung
    An inspiring true story of survival and resilience during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

    From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her ... (Goodreads)

  6. Start Something That Matters

    by Blake Mycoskie
    A guide to creating a successful business that also makes a positive impact on the world.

    Love your work, work for what you love, and change the world—all at the same time. What matters most to you? Should you focus on earning a living, pursuing your passions, or devoting yourself to the ... (Goodreads)

  7. Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

    by Rita Golden Gelman
    A woman leaves her conventional life behind to travel the world, immersing herself in different cultures and discovering her true self.

    “I move throughout the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities. ” —From the Preface Tales of a Female Nomad is the ... (Goodreads)

  8. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

    by Susan Cain
    An exploration of the power of introversion, examining the implications of modern society's emphasis on extroversion.

    The book that started the Quiet Revolution, At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Rules Do Not Apply

    by Ariel Levy
    A memoir of a woman's journey of self-discovery, exploring the boundaries of freedom and responsibility.

    A gorgeous, darkly humorous memoir about a woman overcoming dramatic loss and finding reinvention—for readers of Cheryl Strayed and Joan Didion When thirty-eight-year-old New Yorker writer Ariel Levy ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures

    by Anne Fadiman
    Exploring the cultural divide between the Hmong people and the medical establishment.

    Lia Lee was born in 1982 to a family of recent Hmong immigrants, and soon developed symptoms of epilepsy. By 1988 she was living at home but was brain dead after a tragic cycle of misunderstanding, ... (Goodreads)

  11. 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)

  12. Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World

    by Bob Goff
    An inspiring journey through life, full of stories and lessons on how to live an extraordinary life.

    The runaway New York Times bestseller! Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob certainty thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbors, rather than focusing on having the "right ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew America

    by Thomas L. Friedman
    Urges for a green revolution to combat climate change, population growth, and globalization. Provides solutions for a sustainable future.

    In this brilliant, essential book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas L. Friedman speaks to America's urgent need for national renewal and explains how a green revolution can bring about both a ... (Goodreads)

  14. Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda

    by Roméo Dallaire
    Tragic account of the Rwandan genocide from a UN peacekeeping mission commander's perspective.

    On the 10th anniversary of when UN peacekeepers landed in Rwanda, Random House Canada proudly publishes the unforgettable 1st-hand account of the genocide by the leader of the mission. Digging deep ... (Goodreads)

  15. The Places in Between

    by Rory Stewart
    A pilgrimage across Afghanistan, uncovering the country's forgotten history.

    Stewart arrives in Afghanistan in January 2002, beginning his journey in Herat and proceeding on foot to Kabul . He is initially accompanied by two armed guards, Qasim and Abdul Haq, at the ... (Wikipedia)

  16. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

    by John Perkins
    A former economic hit man exposes the dark secrets of how the US government and corporations manipulate developing countries for profit.

    From the author of the phenomenal New York Times bestseller, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man , comes an exposé of international corruption, and an inspired plan to turn the tide for future ... (Goodreads)

  17. Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

    by Cheryl Strayed
    Collection of heartfelt advice from a wise and compassionate storyteller.

    Life can be hard: your lover cheats on you; you lose a family member; you can’t pay the bills - and it can be great: you've had the hottest sex of your life; you get that plum job; you muster the ... (Goodreads)

  18. Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

    by Immaculée Ilibagiza
    True story of a woman's faith and resilience in the face of the Rwandan genocide.

    Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family ... (Goodreads)

  19. Rework

    by Jason Fried
    A guide to starting and running a successful business with unconventional advice and practical tips.

    Most business books give you the same old advice: Write a business plan, study the competition, seek investors, yadda yadda. If you're looking for a book like that, put this one back on the shelf. ... (Goodreads)

  20. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity

    by Katherine Boo
    Explores the lives of the people living in Mumbai's slums and the harsh realities they face.

    From Pulitzer Prize-winner Katherine Boo, a landmark work of narrative nonfiction that tells the dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking story of families striving toward a better life in one of the ... (Goodreads)

  21. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea

    by Barbara Demick
    Exploration of the lives of North Koreans during the famine and repression of the 1990s.

    Nothing to Envy follows the lives of six North Koreans over fifteen years—a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung, the unchallenged rise to power of his son Kim Jong-il, and the ... (Goodreads)

  22. Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After

    by Heather Harpham
    A memoir of a woman's journey through unexpected motherhood, illness, and love, finding happiness in the midst of chaos.

    Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine’s April 2018 book pick,A shirt-grabbing, page-turning love story that follows a one-of-a-kind family through twists of fate that require nearly unimaginable ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Cosmos

    by Carl Sagan
    Voyage through the vastness of space, unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

    Cosmos has 13 heavily illustrated chapters, corresponding to the 13 episodes of the Cosmos television series. In the book, Sagan explores 15 billion years of cosmic evolution and the development of ... (Goodreads)

  24. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

    by Haruki Murakami
    Reflections of a runner, exploring the physical and mental challenges of the sport.

    In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such ... (Goodreads)

  25. Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share

    by Martha Stewart
    A comprehensive guide to baking cookies with over 175 recipes, tips, and techniques from the queen of home cooking.

    A perfect Mother’s Day gift! Cookies are the treat that never disappoints. Whether you’re baking for a party or a picnic, a formal dinner or a family supper– or if you simply want something on hand ... (Goodreads)

  26. Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucía

    by Chris Stewart
    A humorous memoir of an Englishman's move to a remote Spanish village, where he learns to farm and embrace the laid-back lifestyle.

    No sooner had Chris Stewart set eyes on El Valero than he handed over a check. Now all he had to do was explain to Ana, his wife, that they were the proud owners of an isolated sheep farm in the ... (Goodreads)

  27. Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid

    by J. Maarten Troost
    A humorous and insightful travelogue of a man's journey through China, exploring its culture, history, and quirks.

    The bestselling author of, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, returns with a sharply observed, hilarious account of his adventures in China—a complex, fascinating country with enough dangers and delicacies ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life

    by Shauna Niequist
    A collection of personal essays that celebrate the beauty and joy of everyday life, encouraging readers to savor the small moments.

    Shauna Niequist calls us to see the beauty, hope, and dimension in our ordinary days through the life-giving practice of celebration., Cold Tangerines, is beautiful narration of Shauna's journey as a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Hidden Figures

    by Margot Lee Shetterly
    A recounting of the true story of three African-American women's contributions to NASA during the space race.

    The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American ... (Goodreads)

  30. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

    by Atul Gawande
    An exploration of the human experience of mortality and the importance of end-of-life care.

    In, Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending Medicine has triumphed in modern ... (Goodreads)