Recommendations based on Please Stop Laughing at Me... One Woman's Inspirational Storyby Jodee Blanco

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

  1. 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)

  2. Who Moved My Cheese?

    by Spencer Johnson
    A parable about navigating change through the eyes of four characters.

    It is the amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in life, for ... (Goodreads)

  3. Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail

    by Malika Oufkir
    An autobiographical account of a family's struggle to survive two decades in a Moroccan prison camp.

    A gripping memoir that reads like a political thriller–the story of Malika Oufkir's turbulent and remarkable life. Born in 1953, Malika Oufkir was the eldest daughter of General Oufkir, the King of ... (Goodreads)

  4. 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)

  5. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence

    by Sarah Young
    Devotional insights on how to experience the presence of Jesus and find peace in life.

    After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior's voice and begin listening for what He was saying. So with pen in ... (Goodreads)

  6. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

    by Susannah Cahalan
    A journalist's journey of survival and recovery from a rare autoimmune disorder.

    An award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her ... (Goodreads)

  7. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and It's All Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things From Taking Over Your Life

    by Richard Carlson
    A guide to help readers stop worrying about small things and focus on what really matters in life.

    Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and it's all small stuff is a book that shows you how to keep from letting the little things in life drive you crazy. In thoughtful and insightful language, author ... (Goodreads)

  8. Black Milk: On Writing, Motherhood, and the Harem Within

    by Elif Shafak
    A memoir exploring the intersection of motherhood, creativity, and womanhood. The author reflects on her experiences and cultural expectations.

    An acclaimed Turkish novelist's personal account of balancing a writer's life with a mother's life. After the birth of her first child in 2006, Turkish writer Elif Shafek suffered from postpartum ... (Goodreads)

  9. My Lobotomy: A Memoir

    by Howard Dully
    A look into one man's experience of a lobotomy, and his journey of healing and redemption.

    At twelve, Howard Dully was guilty of the same crimes as other boys his age: he was moody and messy, rambunctious with his brothers, contrary just to prove a point, and perpetually at odds with his ... (Goodreads)

  10. It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be

    by Paul Arden
    A series of short lessons for success, inspiring creativity and positive thinking.

    It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be, is a handbook of how to succeed in the world: a pocket bible for the talented and timid alike to help make the unthinkable thinkable and the ... (Goodreads)

  11. A Child Called "It"

    by Dave Pelzer
    True story of a child's unbearable suffering at the hands of an abusive parent.

    Also see: Alternate Cover Editions for this ISBN [ACE], ACE #1, This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of ... (Goodreads)

  12. 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)

  13. Pedagogy of the Oppressed

    by Paulo Freire
    Analysis of the educational system, advocating a pedagogy of liberation.

    First published in Portuguese in 1968, Pedagogy of the Oppressed was translated and published in English in 1970. The methodology of the late Paulo Freire has helped to empower countless impoverished ... (Goodreads)

  14. The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

    by Barack Obama
    A political memoir that explores Obama's vision for America and his hopes for the future of the country.

    The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama's call for a new kind of politics—a politics that builds upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. Lucid in his vision of America's ... (Goodreads)

  15. The Lost Boy

    by Dave Pelzer
    A heart-wrenching story of a boy's survival of extreme childhood abuse and neglect.

    The book continues after the ending of the previous book,, A Child Called "It", with David Pelzer, 9 years old, running away from his home in Daly City, California . He ends up in a bar, getting ... (Wikipedia)

  16. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

    by James McBride
    A memoir of a black man's journey to understand his white mother's past and how it shaped his own identity.

    Touches readers of all colors as a vivid portrait of growing up, a haunting meditation on race and identity, and a lyrical valentine to a mother from her son. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? A ... (Goodreads)

  17. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

    by Brené Brown
    An exploration of vulnerability, courage, and the strength to embrace imperfection.

    The #1, New York Times, bestseller. More than 2, million copies sold!,Look for Brené Brown’s new podcast,, Dare to Lead, as well as her ongoing podcast, Unlocking Us,!,From thought leader Brené ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey

    by Dion Leonard
    A heartwarming memoir of a runner who finds an unlikely companion, a stray dog, during a grueling 155-mile race across the Gobi Desert.

    Like A Streecat Named Bob before it, Finding Gobi is a truly heart-warming story for animal lovers worldwide… In 2016, Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, unexpectedly stumbled across a ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg Heffley Went Hollywood

    by Jeff Kinney
    Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movie. Includes interviews, photos, and anecdotes.

    A NEWER, REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION OF THIS BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE,, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, (DOG DAYS EDITION), ISBN 978-1419706424. INCLUDES 32 NEW PAGES ABOUT THE THIRD WIMPY KID MOVIE, DOG ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. Frida Kahlo: 1907-1954 Pain and Passion

    by Andrea Kettenmann
    A comprehensive biography of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, exploring her life, art, and enduring legacy.

    Suffering and the female experience, The Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, (1907-1954) is one of the most important 20th century painters, and one of the few Latin American artists to have achieved a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families: Creating a Nurturing Family in a Turbulent World

    by Stephen R. Covey
    A guide to creating a strong and nurturing family unit through the implementation of seven effective habits.

    In his first major work since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems–large and small, mundane and ... (Goodreads)

  22. My Thoughts Exactly

    by Lily Allen
    Lily Allen's candid memoir about her rise to fame, struggles with addiction, and personal relationships.

    THE NUMBER ONE, SUNDAY TIMES, BESTSELLER Shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 2018 'Unflinching, unputdownable' Guardian 'Witty, dark, devastating' Caitlin Moran 'An amazing read. ... (Goodreads)

  23. How We Fight For Our Lives

    by Saeed Jones
    A memoir exploring the author's coming-of-age as a black gay man in the American South, grappling with identity, family, and sexuality.

    From award-winning poet Saeed Jones,, How We Fight for Our Lives,—winner of the Kirkus Prize and the Stonewall Book Award—is a “moving, bracingly honest memoir” (,The New York Times Book Review,) ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It

    by Karl Weber
    An eye-opening guide to the food industry, revealing the hidden costs of cheap food and offering solutions for a healthier and more sustainable future.

    Food, Inc. is guaranteed to shake up our perceptions of what we eat. This powerful documentary deconstructing the corporate food industry in America was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “more than a ... (Goodreads)

  25. sTORI Telling

    by Tori Spelling
    Memoir of Tori Spelling's life growing up in Hollywood, her rise to fame, and personal struggles.

    This title sees Tori set the record straight on her personal life and lets readers experience the truly unique life she's led - with its undeniable childhood privileges, tabloid misperceptions, ... (Goodreads)

  26. 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)

  27. The Prince

    by Niccolò Machiavelli
    A timeless political treatise on the art of acquiring and maintaining power.

    Machiavelli needs to be looked at as he really was. Hence: Can Machiavelli, who makes the following observations, be Machiavellian as we understand the disparaging term? 1. So it is that to know the ... (Goodreads)

  28. When Rabbit Howls

    by Truddi Chase
    A true story of a woman with dissociative identity disorder, detailing her 92 personalities and the trauma that caused them.

    Truddi Chase began therapy to discover why she suffered from blackouts. What surfaced was terrifying: she was inhabited by 'the Troops'-92 individual personalities. This groundbreaking true story is ... (Goodreads)

  29. Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence

    by Daniel Goleman
    Exploring the power of focus, Goleman reveals how it can be harnessed to achieve excellence in all aspects of life.

    Bestselling author Daniel Goleman returns with a groundbreaking look at today's scarcest resource and the secret to high performance and fulfillment: attention For more than two decades, psychologist ... (Goodreads)

  30. Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope, and Repair

    by Anne Lamott
    A memoir on the author's journey through addiction, loss, and grief, finding hope and healing through faith, community, and creativity.

    “Lamott’s …most insightful book yet,, Stitches, offers plenty of her characteristic witty wisdom…this slim, readable volume [is] a lens on life, widening and narrowing, encouraging each reader to ... (Goodreads)