Recommendations based on Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runnerby Dean Karnazes

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

  1. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

    by Christopher McDougall
    A thrilling exploration of the Tarahumara tribe and their superhuman running abilities.

    Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does ... (Goodreads)

  2. Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness

    by Scott Jurek
    A professional runner's story of pushing physical and mental boundaries to become a champion ultramarathoner.

    For nearly two decades, Scott Jurek has been a dominant force—and darling—in the grueling and growing sport of ultrarunning. Until recently he held the American 24-hour record and he was one of the ... (Goodreads)

  3. North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

    by Scott Jurek
    A memoir of Scott Jurek's journey running the 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail, exploring his personal growth and connection to nature.

    From the author of the bestseller, Eat and Run, a thrilling memoir about his grueling, exhilarating, and immensely inspiring 46-day run to break the speed record for the Appalachian Trail. Scott ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself

    by Rich Roll
    A man's inspiring journey of self-transformation, unlocking his fullest potential.

    An incredible but true account of achieving one of the most awe-inspiring midlife physical transformations ever,On the night before he was to turn forty, Rich Roll experienced a chilling glimpse of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  5. Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival

    by Joe Simpson
    Gripping account of a mountaineer's harrowing survival after a fall in the Peruvian Andes.

    Joe Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000-foot peak in the Andes when disaster struck. Simpson plunged off the vertical face of an ice ledge, breaking ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

    by Alex Hutchinson
    Investigating the limits of human endurance, Hutchinson explores the science behind how our minds and bodies push past perceived boundaries.

    THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Foreword by Malcolm Gladwell Limits are an illusion: discover the revolutionary account of the science and psychology of endurance, revealing the secrets of reaching ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. The One Minute Manager

    by Kenneth H. Blanchard
    A practical guide to improving productivity and motivation through effective management.

    For more than twenty years, millions of managers in Fortune 500 companies and small businesses nationwide have followed The One Minute Manager 's techniques, thus increasing their productivity, job ... (Goodreads)

  8. The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence

    by Josh Waitzkin
    An inspiring story of how to attain excellence through the martial art of Tai Chi.

    Josh Waitzkin knows what it means to be at the top of his game. A public figure since winning his first National Chess Championship at the age of nine, Waitzkin was catapulted into a media whirlwind ... (Goodreads)

  9. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

    by Bill Bryson
    A humorous account of a man's attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, reflecting on the beauty and history of the American wilderness.

    The book starts with Bryson explaining his curiosity about the Appalachian Trail near his house. He and his old friend Stephen Katz start hiking the trail from Georgia in the South , and stumble in ... (Wikipedia)

  10. No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden

    by Mark Owen
    A first-hand account of the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden, detailing the training, planning, and execution of the operation.

    From the streets of Iraq to the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips in the Indian Ocean, and from the mountaintops of Afghanistan to the third floor of Osama Bin Laden's compound, operator Mark Owen ... (Goodreads)

  11. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

    by Eric Schlosser
    An exploration of the industrial food system and its effects on U.S. society.

    Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and propelled American cultural imperialism abroad. That's a lengthy list ... (Goodreads)

  12. Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission

    by Hampton Sides
    True story of the remarkable rescue of prisoners of war in the Philippines during WWII.

    On January 28, 1945, 121 hand-selected U.S. troops slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines. Their mission: March thirty rugged miles to rescue 513 POWs languishing in a hellish camp, among them ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That is Connecting the World

    by David Kirkpatrick
    A detailed account of the rise of Facebook, its impact on society, and the people behind it.

    The inside story of Facebook, told with the full, exclusive cooperation of founder Mark Zuckerberg and the company's other leaders. In little more than half a decade, Facebook has gone from a ... (Goodreads)

  14. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster

    by Jon Krakauer
    A gripping narrative of the 1996 expedition on Mount Everest that resulted in tragedy.

    When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. ... (Goodreads)

  15. Holidays on Ice

    by David Sedaris
    Collection of humorous essays, exploring the absurdities of the holiday season.

    David Sedaris's beloved holiday collection is new again with six more pieces, including a never before published story. Along with such favorites as the diaries of a Macy's elf and the annals of two ... (Goodreads)

  16. Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

    by Phil Jackson
    Phil Jackson's memoir of his journey to becoming the most successful coach in NBA history, with insights on leadership and teamwork.

    During his storied career as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson won more championships than any coach in the history of professional sports. Even more important, he ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

    by Malcolm X
    A gripping account of one man's transformation from criminal to civil rights leader.

    Alternate cover for ISBN 9780345350688 Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. In this riveting account, he tells of his ... (Goodreads)

  18. EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches

    by Dave Ramsey
    A collection of business advice and strategies, to help entrepreneurs and business leaders succeed.

    From the, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Total Money Makeover, and radio and podcast host Dave Ramsey comes an informative guide based on how he grew a successful, multimillion dollar ... (Goodreads)

  19. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

    by Michael Lewis
    How an unconventional approach to baseball changed the competitive landscape.

    Billy Beane, general manager of MLB's Oakland A's and protagonist of Michael Lewis's Moneyball , had a problem: how to win in the Major Leagues with a budget that's smaller than that of nearly every ... (Goodreads)

  20. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

    by Malcolm Gladwell
    An exploration of unlikely success stories, examining conventional wisdom and biases.

    In his #1 bestselling books The Tipping Point , Blink , and Outliers , Malcolm Gladwell has explored the ways we understand and change our world. Now he looks at the complex and surprising ways the ... (Goodreads)

  21. Fearless: The Heroic Story of One Navy SEAL's Sacrifice in the Hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the Unwavering Devotion of the Woman Who Loved Him

    by Eric Blehm
    A tribute to a fallen Navy SEAL and the enduring love of his wife.

    Go deep into SEAL Team SIX, straight to the heart of one of its most legendary operators. When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn’t know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life

    by J.L. Collins
    A financial guide to help readers achieve financial freedom and create wealth.

    “In the dark, bewildering, trap-infested jungle of misinformation and opaque riddles that is the world of investment, JL Collins is the fatherly wizard on the side of the path, offering a simple map, ... (Goodreads)

  23. The 4-Hour Workweek

    by Timothy Ferriss
    A guide to creating a lifestyle of financial and personal freedom by optimizing work and lifestyle.

    What do you do? Tim Ferriss has trouble answering the question. Depending on when you ask this controversial Princeton University guest lecturer, he might answer: "I race motorcycles in Europe." "I ... (Goodreads)

  24. What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

    by Randall Munroe
    A humorous exploration of science, tackling the most bizarre questions with real-world scenarios.

    Randall Munroe left NASA in 2005 to start up his hugely popular site XKCD 'a web comic of romance, sarcasm, math and language' which offers a witty take on the world of science and geeks. It now has ... (Goodreads)

  25. Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea

    by Steven Callahan
    A harrowing tale of survival at sea after a shipwreck, and a man's inner journey.

    Before The Perfect Storm , before In the Heart of the Sea , Steven Callahan's dramatic tale of survival at sea was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than thirty-six weeks. In some ways ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs

    by Tyler Hamilton
    An expose of doping, cover-ups and unethical practices in the world of professional cycling.

    The Secret Race is a definitive look at the world of professional cycling—and the doping issue surrounding this sport and its most iconic rider, Lance Armstrong—by former Olympic gold medalist Tyler ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Road to Character

    by David Brooks
    A journey through the lives of influential figures, exploring how they developed their character and moral compass.

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • David Brooks challenges us to rebalance the scales between the focus on external success—“résumé virtues”—and our core principles. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE ... (Goodreads)

  28. It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

    by Lance Armstrong
    A story of resilience and courage, detailing Armstrong’s fight against cancer and recovery.

    In 1993 , 21-year-old Lance Armstrong becomes World Cycling Champion . In Austin, Texas, four years later on October 2, 1996, at age 25, Armstrong is diagnosed with testicular cancer with metastasis ... (Wikipedia)

  29. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

    by Miguel Ruiz
    A guide to transforming one's life by adopting four simple agreements.

    In The Four Agreements , don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a ... (Goodreads)

  30. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

    by Sheryl Sandberg
    An exploration of resilience in the face of adversity, and hope in the midst of tragedy.

    From Facebook’s COO and Wharton’s top-rated professor, the #1 New York Times best-selling authors of Lean In and Originals: a powerful, inspiring, and practical book about building resilience and ... (Goodreads)