Recommendations based on Reasons to Stay Aliveby Matt Haig

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

  1. Notes on a Nervous Planet

    by Matt Haig
    A guide to navigating the overwhelming and anxiety-inducing aspects of modern life, offering practical advice and personal anecdotes.

    A follow-up to Matt Haig's internationally bestselling memoir,, Reasons to Stay Alive, a broader look at how modern life feeds our anxiety, and how to live a better life. The societies we live in are ... (Goodreads)

  2. We Should All Be Feminists

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A call to action for an inclusive, gender-equal society through an examination of feminism.

    What does “feminism” mean today? That is the question at the heart of We Should All Be Feminists , a personal, eloquently-argued essay—adapted from her much-viewed TEDx talk of the same name—by ... (Goodreads)

  3. Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination

    by J.K. Rowling
    An exploration of the power of imagination, and the importance of embracing failure.

    In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, VERY GOOD LIVES presents J.K. Rowling's words of wisdom ... (Goodreads)

  4. A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets

    by James Bowen
    A remarkable true story of a man and his cat, forging an unbreakable bond in the face of homelessness and despair.

    The moving, uplifting true story of an unlikely friendship between a man on the streets and the ginger cat who adopts him and helps him heal his life. ... (Goodreads)

  5. Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics

    by Tim Marshall
    Geopolitical exploration of global events and the impact of geography on politics.

    In the bestselling tradition of Why Nations Fail and The Revenge of Geography , an award-winning journalist uses ten maps of crucial regions to explain the geo-political strategies of the world ... (Goodreads)

  6. Moab Is My Washpot

    by Stephen Fry
    Autobiography of an English comedian, exploring his childhood, life struggles, and eventual success.

    Stephen Fry is not making this up! Fry started out as a dishonorable schoolboy inclined to lies, pranks, bringing decaying moles to school as a science exhibit, theft, suicide attempts, the illicit ... (Goodreads)

  7. This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor

    by Adam Kay
    An honest, funny, and heartbreaking account of life on the NHS frontline.

    Welcome to the life of a junior doctor: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a constant tsunami of bodily fluids, and the hospital parking meter earns more than you. Scribbled in secret after ... (Goodreads)

  8. What I Know for Sure

    by Oprah Winfrey
    A collection of personal reflections on life, love, and lessons learned.

    As a creative force, student of the human heart and soul, and champion of living the life you want, Oprah Winfrey stands alone. Over the years, she has made history with a legendary talk show - the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

    by Jen Campbell
    Lighthearted collection of humorous conversations between bookshop customers and staff.

    A simple Twitter question posed by John Cleese—“What is your biggest pet peeve?”—inspired Jen Campbell to start a blog collecting all the ridiculous conversations overheard in her bookstore. “Did ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

    by Jenny Lawson
    A witty memoir of overcoming struggles with mental illness, with a focus on finding joy in the midst of darkness.

    #1, New York Times, Bestseller In Furiously Happy , a humor memoir tinged with just enough tragedy and pathos to make it worthwhile, Jenny Lawson examines her own experience with severe depression ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

    by Austin Kleon
    Practical guide to building an audience and recognizing success in creative endeavors.

    In his, New York Times, bestseller, Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

    by Reni Eddo-Lodge
    A critical exploration of the UK's relationship with race and racism.

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, "This is a book that was begging to be written. This is the kind of book that demands a future where we’ll no longer need such a book. Essential." —Marlon James “The most ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. The Funny Thing Is...

    by Ellen DeGeneres
    A collection of humorous essays and observations on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.

    An indispensable reference for anyone who knows how to read—or wants to fool people into thinking they do—,The Funny Thing Is..., is sure to make you laugh. Ellen DeGeneres published her first book ... (Goodreads)

  14. 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)

  15. An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

    by Kay Redfield Jamison
    An exploration of bipolar disorder and its impact on one's life.

    The personal memoir of a manic depressive and an authority on the subject describes the onset of the illness during her teenage years and her determined journey through the realm of available ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Princess Diarist

    by Carrie Fisher
    Actress Carrie Fisher reflects on her time filming Star Wars and her affair with co-star Harrison Ford.

    The last book from beloved Hollywood icon Carrie Fisher,, The Princess Diarist, is an intimate, hilarious, and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

    by Bessel van der Kolk
    Examining the physical, psychological and emotional effects of trauma, and how to heal.

    A pioneering researcher and one of the world’s foremost experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for healing. Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful ... (Goodreads)

  18. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

    by Pema Chödrön
    A guide to finding peace and strength in times of chaos and uncertainty, using Buddhist teachings and personal anecdotes.

    Pema Chödrön's perennially best-selling classic on overcoming life's difficulties cuts to the heart of spirituality and personal growth—now in a newly designed 20th-anniversary edition with a new ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Adulthood Is a Myth

    by Sarah Andersen
    Collection of humorous comic strips about the realities of being an adult.

    The hilarious debut, Sarah's Scribbles, collection from Sarah Andersen, winner of three consecutive, Goodreads Choice Awards, for Graphic Novels and Comics These casually drawn, perfectly on-point ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A guide for raising children with feminist values, and advocating for gender equality.

    From the best-selling author of, Americanah, and, We Should All Be Feminists, comes a powerful new statement about feminism today–written as a letter to a friend. A few years ago, Chimamanda Ngozi ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness

    by Steve Peters
    A guide to understanding and managing the inner workings of the human mind, using the analogy of a chimp to explain our emotional responses.

    Leading consultant psychiatrist Steve Peters knows more than anyone how impulsive behaviour or nagging self-doubt can impact negatively on our professional and personal lives. In this, his first ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Princess Saves Herself in This One

    by Amanda Lovelace
    A poetic exploration of healing and discovering resilience through pain, joy, and the power of self-love.

    Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Poetry (2016),, the princess saves herself in this one, is a collection of poetry about resilience. It is about writing your own ending. From Amanda ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

    by Charles Duhigg
    Uncovering the science of habit formation and how to use it to achieve success.

    A young woman walks into a laboratory. Over the past two years, she has transformed almost every aspect of her life. She has quit smoking, run a marathon, and been promoted at work. The patterns ... (Goodreads)

  24. Lost At Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries

    by Jon Ronson
    A journalist's adventures as he investigates some of the world's most bizarre stories.

    Ronson has spent his life investigating crazy events, following fascinating people and unearthing unusual stories. Collected here from various sources (including the Guardian and GQ America) are the ... (Goodreads)

  25. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

    by Jonathan Haidt
    Drawing on philosophy, religion, and science, a guide to finding greater satisfaction in life.

    In his widely praised book, award-winning psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines the world’s philosophical wisdom through the lens of psychological science, showing how a deeper understanding of ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams and Reaching Your Destiny

    by Robin S. Sharma
    A spiritual journey of self-discovery, learning to live life to its fullest.

    Wisdom to Create a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Peace This inspiring tale provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy. A wonderfully crafted fable, ... (Goodreads)

  27. 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)

  28. The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking

    by Oliver Burkeman
    Exploring alternative paths to happiness, rejecting traditional approaches of positive thinking.

    Success through failure, calm through embracing anxiety—a totally original approach to self-help Self-help books don't seem to work. Few of the many advantages of modern life seem capable of lifting ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help

    by Amanda Palmer
    A memoir about the power of asking for help and the importance of connection in art and life.

    Rock star, crowdfunding pioneer, and TED speaker Amanda Palmer knows all about asking. Performing as a living statue in a wedding dress, she wordlessly asked thousands of passersby for their dollars. ... (Goodreads)

  30. Women & Power: A Manifesto

    by Mary Beard
    A look at the history of female power and the cultural obstacles preventing women from achieving it.

    At long last, Mary Beard addresses in one brave book the misogynists and trolls who mercilessly attack and demean women the world over, including, very often, Mary herself. In Women & Power , she ... (Goodreads)