Recommendations based on The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking Schoolby Kathleen Flinn

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

  1. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise

    by Ruth Reichl
    A restaurant critic's journey to understand the art of food and dining, while hiding her true identity.

    Ruth Reichl, world-renowned food critic and editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, knows a thing or two about food. She also knows that as the most important food critic in the country, you need to be ... (Goodreads)

  2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

    by Barbara Kingsolver
    A family's journey to eat locally grown, sustainable food.

    Author Barbara Kingsolver and her family abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life—vowing that, for one year, they'd only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it ... (Goodreads)

  3. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

    by Michael Pollan
    Argument for a return to traditional diets and away from processed, industrialized food.

    Michael Pollan's last book, The Omnivore's Dilemma , launched a national conversation about the American way of eating; now In Defense of Food shows us how to change it, one meal at a time. Pollan ... (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. Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook

    by Anthony Bourdain
    A journey through the culinary world, exploring the chefs and cultures that inspire its cuisine.

    A lot has changed since Kitchen Confidential. For the subculture of chefs and cooks, for the restaurant business as a whole—and for Anthony Bourdain. Medium Raw explores those changes, taking the ... (Goodreads)

  6. Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen

    by Julie Powell
    A memoir of a woman's year-long journey to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking."

    With the humor of Bridget Jones and the vitality of Augusten Burroughs, Julie Powell recounts how she conquered every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and saved her soul! ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

    by Michael Pollan
    Exploration of the modern food chain, examining the impact of food choices on our health and the environment.

    What should we have for dinner? The question has confronted us since man discovered fire, but according to Michael Pollan, the bestselling author of The Botany of Desire , how we answer it today, at ... (Goodreads)

  8. My Life in France

    by Julia Child
    A memoir of Julia Child's life in Paris, cooking and exploring French cuisine.

    The bestselling story of Julia's years in France–and the basis for Julie & Julia , starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams--in her own words. Although she would later singlehandedly create a new approach ... (Goodreads)

  9. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

    by Azar Nafisi
    Memoir of a professor's struggle in Iran, using literature to find freedom.

    The book consists of a memoir of the author's experiences about returning to Iran during the revolution (1978–1981) and living under the Islamic Republic of Iran government until her departure in ... (Wikipedia)

  10. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

    by Todd Burpo
    A young boy's spiritual journey of dying and visiting Heaven, and the aftermath of his visions.

    Unglaublich oder erstaunlich? Urteilen Sie selbst: Colton ist vier Jahre alt, als er lebensgefährlich erkrankt und operiert werden muss. Er überlebt um Haaresbreite. Später erzählt er seinen Eltern, ... (Goodreads)

  11. Comeback: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back

    by Claire Fontaine
    A memoir of a mother and daughter's journey through addiction, homelessness, and recovery, told in alternating perspectives.

    In powerful parallel stories, mother and daughter give mesmerizing first-person accounts of the nightmare that shattered their family and the amazing journey they took to find their way back to each ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris

    by Sarah Turnbull
    A memoir of an Australian journalist's journey to Paris, navigating the complexities of French culture and falling in love with a Frenchman.

    The charming true story of a spirited young woman who finds adventure–and the love of her life--in Paris. "This isn't like me. I'm not the sort of girl who crosses continents to meet up with a man ... (Goodreads)

  13. Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France

    by Peter Mayle
    A delightful collection of stories and anecdotes about the author's life in the South of France.

    A whole new feast of adventures, discoveries, hilarities, and culinary treats, liberally seasoned with a joyous mix of Gallic characters. After trying–what folly!--to live in other places, Peter ... (Goodreads)

  14. Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard

    by Liz Murray
    A remarkable story of redemption and hope, tracing a young woman's journey from poverty and homelessness to Harvard.

    In the vein of, The Glass Castle, Breaking Night is the stunning memoir of a young woman who at age fifteen was living on the streets, and who eventually made it into Harvard. Liz Murray was born to ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. Running with Scissors

    by Augusten Burroughs
    An autobiographical story of a young boy's difficult upbringing and his unconventional family.

    Running with Scissors covers the period of Burroughs' adolescent years, beginning at age 12 after a brief overview of his life as a child. Burroughs spends his early childhood in a clean and orderly ... (Wikipedia)

  16. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe

    by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
    A true story of a young Afghan woman who starts a dressmaking business under Taliban rule to support her family.

    The life Kamila Sidiqi had known changed overnight when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. After receiving a teaching degree during the civil war—a rare achievement for any Afghan ... (Goodreads)

  17. Giada's Family Dinners

    by Giada De Laurentiis
    A collection of Italian-inspired recipes for family dinners, with tips on entertaining and creating a warm atmosphere.

    In her, New York Times, bestseller, Everyday Italian, Giada De Laurentiis introduced us to the simple, fresh flavors of her native Italian cuisine. Now, America’s favorite Italian cook is back with a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling With Villains

    by Chuck Klosterman
    A collection of essays exploring the concept of villainy in popular culture and real life, challenging our perceptions of good and evil.

    From, New York Times, bestselling author, “one of America’s top cultural critics” (,Entertainment Weekly,), and “The Ethicist” for, The New York Times Magazine,, comes,, a new book of all original ... (Goodreads)

  19. A Wolf at the Table

    by Augusten Burroughs
    A memoir of childhood trauma, dark family secrets, and the power of forgiveness.

    “As a little boy, I had a dream that my father had taken me to the woods where there was a dead body. He buried it and told me I must never tell. It was the only thing we’d ever done together as ... (Goodreads)

  20. A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table

    by Molly Wizenberg
    A memoir of food, family, and life told through recipes and stories.

    • An irresistible story of cooking that goes beyond the kitchen: Molly Wizenberg shares stories of an everyday life and a way of eating that is inspiring, playful, and mindful. From her father’s ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. 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)

  22. The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II

    by Denise Kiernan
    The true story of the women who worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during the Manhattan Project.

    The incredible story of the young women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who unwittingly played a crucial role in one of the most significant moments in U.S. history., The Tennessee town of Oak Ridge was ... (Goodreads)

  23. Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World

    by Anthony Doerr
    Reflections on a year spent in Rome, exploring the city's culture and people.

    From the author of the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning #1 New York Times bestseller All the Light We Cannot See , a "dazzling" (Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran ) memoir about art and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

    by Ree Drummond
    Collection of home-style recipes from a modern-day homesteader and mother of four.

    #1 New York Times Bestseller Paula Deen meets Erma Bombeck in, The Pioneer Woman Cooks,, Ree Drummond’s spirited, homespun cookbook. Drummond colorfully traces her transition from city life to ranch ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day

    by Joel Osteen
    A self-help book that provides practical advice on how to improve oneself and live a more fulfilling life.

    Incorporating biblical lessons with personal stories, the bestselling author of Your Best Life Now offers seven action steps to help readers discover the better things they were born for: their ... (Goodreads)

  26. Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

    by Sue Johnson
    A guide to building and maintaining strong, healthy relationships through seven conversations that foster emotional connection and security.

    Heralded by the, New York Times, and, Time, as the couples therapy with the highest rate of success, Emotionally Focused Therapy works because it views the love relationship as an attachment bond., ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

    by Ree Drummond
    A memoir of a city girl turned rancher's wife, detailing her journey of love, family, and finding her place in the country.

    New York Times Bestseller Wildly popular award-winning blogger, accidental ranch wife, and #1, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin

    by Kathy Griffin
    Comedian Kathy Griffin recounts life stories and anecdotes from her career.

    Official Book Club Selection is Kathy Griffin unplugged, uncensored, and unafraid to dish about what really happens on the road, away from the cameras, and at the star party after the show. (It's ... (Goodreads)

  29. The Middle Place

    by Kelly Corrigan
    An exploration of family, faith, and the healing power of love.

    Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Corrigan opens her memoir with these words: "The thing you need to know about me is that I am George Corrigan's daughter, his only daughter." She continues ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story

    by Marie Kondō
    A graphic novel adaptation of the best-selling book on decluttering and organizing, following a young woman's journey to transform her messy life.

    From the #1, New York Times, bestselling author and star of Netflix’s, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, this graphic novelization brings Kondo's life-changing tidying method to life with the fun, quirky ... (Barnes & Noble)