Recommendations based on The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundlandby Jim DeFede

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

  1. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory

    by Caitlin Doughty
    A journey through the funeral industry, exploring death, grief, and the beauty of life.

    "Morbid and illuminating" ( Entertainment Weekly )—a young mortician goes behind the scenes of her curious profession. Armed with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre, Caitlin ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

    by J.D. Vance
    An exploration of the struggles of working-class Americans, and the power of family and culture to shape one's life.

    Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for ... (Goodreads)

  3. Schindler's List

    by Thomas Keneally
    Story of a German businessman who saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust.

    This novel tells the story of Oskar Schindler , self-made entrepreneur and, bon viveur, who almost by default found himself saving Polish Jews from the Nazi death machine. Based on numerous ... (Wikipedia)

  4. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

    by Isabel Wilkerson
    An exploration of the life-changing journeys of the millions of African-Americans who migrated from the South to the North, Midwest, and West from 1915 to 1970.

    In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black ... (Goodreads)

  5. 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)

  6. All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood

    by Jennifer Senior
    A thoughtful exploration of parenthood in the modern age, examining the joys and struggles of raising children.

    Thousands of books have examined the effects of parents on their children. Award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior now asks: what are the effects of children on their parents? "All Joy and No Fun is ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Wright Brothers

    by David McCullough
    The story of the Wright brothers and their pioneering invention of the airplane.

    Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found, here, Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who ... (Goodreads)

  8. Between the World and Me

    by Ta-Nehisi Coates
    A letter to his son, exploring the realities of racism in America.

    “This is your country, this is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it.” In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American ... (Goodreads)

  9. End of the Spear

    by Steve Saint
    A story of forgiveness and redemption, as a young missionary seeks to understand the tribe that killed his father.

    When I was a boy, I cried. But now I see it well. Steve Saint was only five years old when his father was brutally killed by Waodani warriors, men from the most savage culture ever known. But in a ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest

    by Anatoli Boukreev
    An exploration of the struggle and danger of climbing Mount Everest, and the triumph of the human spirit.

    As the climbers of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster vanished into thin air, one man had the courage to bring them down alive... On May 10, 1996, two commercial expeditions headed by expert leaders ... (Goodreads)

  11. Miracle in the Andes

    by Nando Parrado
    A harrowing tale of survival and resilience in the Andes Mountains.

    In the first hours there was nothing, no fear or sadness, just a black and perfect silence. Nando Parrado was unconscious for three days before he woke to discover that the plane carrying his rugby ... (Goodreads)

  12. A Long Way Home

    by Saroo Brierley
    Autobiography of a man's journey to find his family after becoming lost in India as a child.

    When Saroo Brierley used Google Earth to find his long-lost home town half a world away, he made global headlines. Saroo had become lost on a train in India at the age of five. Not knowing the name ... (Goodreads)

  13. Basic Christianity

    by John R.W. Stott
    An exploration of the fundamentals of Christianity, examining the teachings of Jesus.

    Named a "Book of the Century" by, Christianity Today, Who is Jesus Christ? While Jesus and his teaching continue to hold appeal, many people question the plausibility or relevance of the Christian ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident

    by Donnie Eichar
    Investigative account of the mysterious deaths of nine hikers in the Ural Mountains in 1959.

    A New York Times and Wall Street Journal Nonfiction Bestseller! — What happened that night on Dead Mountain? The mystery of Dead Mountain: In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. 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)

  16. The Magnolia Story

    by Chip Gaines
    The inspiring true story of Chip and Joanna Gaines, their journey in home renovation, and the faith that sustains their marriage.

    A National Bestseller - New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly. Now available in paperback with a new chapter. Fall in love with Chip and Joanna Gaines, as you read their ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. The Wordy Shipmates

    by Sarah Vowell
    A humorous and insightful look at the Puritan settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and their impact on American history.

    The Wordy Shipmates is an exploration of the Puritans and their journey to America to become the people of John Winthrop's "city upon a hill"—a shining example, a "city that cannot be hid." To this ... (Goodreads)

  18. John Adams

    by David McCullough
    Biography of the second President of the United States and his contributions to the founding of the nation.

    The enthralling, often surprising story of John Adams, one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived. In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous ... (Goodreads)

  19. White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America

    by Nancy Isenberg
    An in-depth analysis of the history of class in America, examining the lasting impact of the Establishment's grip on power.

    In her groundbreaking history of the class system in America, extending from colonial times to the present, Nancy Isenberg takes on our comforting myths about equality, uncovering the crucial legacy ... (Goodreads)

  20. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

    by Patricia Schultz
    An inspiring journey to explore the beauty of the world, discover hidden gems and make memories.

    Around the World, continent by continent, here is the best the world has to offer: 1,000 places guaranteed to give travelers the shivers. Sacred ruins, grand hotels, wildlife preserves, hilltop ... (Goodreads)

  21. Cash

    by Johnny Cash
    Autobiography of Johnny Cash, detailing his life as a musician, struggles with addiction, and personal relationships.

    He was the "Man in Black," a country music legend, and the quintessential American troubadour. He was an icon of rugged individualism who had been to hell and back, telling the tale as never before. ... (Goodreads)

  22. An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943

    by Rick Atkinson
    An account of the US Army's involvement in North Africa during WWII.

    WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE AND, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER,, In the first volume of his monumental trilogy about the liberation of Europe in WW II, Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson tells the ... (Goodreads)

  23. Shadow Divers

    by Robert Kurson
    Risk-taking divers uncover a sunken WWII German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey.

    In the tradition of Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm comes a true tale of riveting adventure in which two weekend scuba divers risk everything to solve a great ... (Goodreads)

  24. Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

    by Piers Paul Read
    Story of a group of Uruguayan rugby players who survive a plane crash in the Andes and must fight to stay alive.

    On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the forty-five original passengers and crew, only sixteen made it off the ... (Goodreads)

  25. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

    by Ben Carson
    An inspiring story of a young man overcoming poverty and discrimination to become a renowned neurosurgeon.

    In 1987, Dr. Ben Carson travels to Germany to meet a couple, Peter and Augusta Rausch, who have twins conjoined at the back of their heads. Dr. Carson believes he might be able to successfully ... (Wikipedia)

  26. Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family

    by Miep Gies
    The brave and moving story of the woman who helped to save Anne Frank's family during the Holocaust.

    The reminiscences of Miep Gies, the woman who hid the Frank family in Amsterdam during the Second World War, presents a vivid story of life under Nazi occupation. ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom

    by Corrie ten Boom
    A remarkable testament to faith and courage in the face of unfathomable odds and unspeakable horrors.

    The book begins with the ten Boom family celebrating the 100th anniversary of the family business; they sell and repair watches under the family's elderly father, Casper ten Boom . The business takes ... (Wikipedia)

  28. So You Want to Talk About Race

    by Ijeoma Oluo
    A guide to discussing race and racism in America, providing insight and tools for productive conversations.

    In this breakout book, Ijeoma Oluo explores the complex reality of today's racial landscape–from white privilege and police brutality to systemic discrimination and the Black Lives Matter ... (Goodreads)

  29. Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

    by Dava Sobel
    Story of a man's determination to solve the complex problem of determining longitude at sea.

    Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that "the longitude problem" was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day—and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their ... (Goodreads)

  30. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

    by Jocko Willink
    How to lead and win through the lessons learned by the U.S. Navy SEALs.

    The #1 New York Times bestseller "An incredible book... you teach guys and gals about leadership and you've helped not only military guys but families." - Megyn Kelly "You show in the book how to ... (Goodreads)