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Recommendations based on Jane Austen: A Lifeby Claire Tomalin
* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn
by Alison Weir
A detailed account of the events leading to the execution of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII.
The imprisonment and execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife, in May 1536 was unprecedented in English history. It was sensational in its day, and has exerted endless fascination ... (Goodreads)
The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film
by Emma Thompson
Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel.
This engaging and beautiful book includes the complete Academy Award-winning script and Thompson's own diaries detailing the production of the film, reviewed by Stanley Kauffmann in The New Republic ... (Goodreads)
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson
A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.
In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)
Life and Death in Shanghai
by Nien Cheng
Autobiographical account of a woman's survival during China's Cultural Revolution.
In August 1966 a group of Red Guards ransacked the home of Nien Cheng. Her background made her an obvious target for the fanatics of the Cultural Revolution: educated in London, the widow of an ... (Goodreads)
The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family
by Mary S. Lovell
A sweeping tale of a powerful family, spanning generations and continents.
This is the story of a British upper class family splintered by the violent ideologies of Europe between the two World Wars. Jessica was a Communist; Debo became the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy was ... (Goodreads)
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
by Alison Weir
A historical account of the tumultuous lives of Henry VIII's six wives, their political and religious struggles.
The tempestuous, bloody, and splendid reign of Henry VIII of England (1509-1547) is one of the most fascinating in all history, not least for his marriage to six extraordinary women. In this ... (Goodreads)
Twelve Years a Slave
by Solomon Northup
A man's journey of survival and resilience after being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the antebellum South.
Twelve Years a Slave, sub-title: Narrative of Solomon Northup, citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in ... (Goodreads)
French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew
by Peter Mayle
A humorous and informative memoir of a man's culinary adventures in France, exploring the country's food, wine, and culture.
A delightful, delicious, and best-selling account of the gustatory pleasures to be found throughout France, from the beloved author of A Year in Provence . The French celebrate food and drink more ... (Goodreads)
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
A comprehensive study of the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, and the unique cabinet he assembled.
Winner of the Lincoln Prize Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from ... (Goodreads)
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)
A People's History of the United States
by Howard Zinn
An examination of American history from a perspective of marginalized people.
In the book, Zinn presented a different side of history from the more traditional "fundamental nationalist glorification of country". Zinn portrays a side of American history that can largely be seen ... (Goodreads)
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)
The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? the Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World
by Richard Stearns
Investigating what it means to be a Christian and how to live out the gospel in our lives.
What Does God Expect of Us? Is our faith just about going to church, studying the Bible and avoiding the most serious sins-or does God expect more? Have we embraced the whole gospel or a gospel with ... (Barnes & Noble)
Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life
by Alison Weir
Biography of a medieval queen and her legacy, exploring her remarkable life and impact.
In this beautifully written biography, Alison Weir paints a vibrant portrait of a truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world. Renowned in her time for being the most ... (Goodreads)
American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot
by Craig Ferguson
A comical and reflective account of an immigrant's journey to becoming an American citizen.
“With American on Purpose , Craig Ferguson somehow manages to avoid the pitfalls of self-indulgence and self-importance that plague most (okay, all) Hollywood autobiographies. He has, instead, ... (Barnes & Noble)
On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
by Gary Ezzo
Guide to setting healthy sleep schedules for babies, helping both child and parents get the rest they need.
The infant management concepts presented in this book have found favor with over two million parents and twice as many contented babies. On Becoming Babywise brings hope to the tired and bewildered ... (Goodreads)
The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are - The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology
by Robert Wright
A scientific exploration of how evolutionary psychology shapes human behavior and morality.
Are men literally born to cheat? Does monogamy actually serve women's interests? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animal one of the most provocative science books in recent ... (Goodreads)
The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity
by Lee Strobel
Investigation into the biggest questions and doubts about Christianity.
Was God telling the truth when he said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"? In his #1 bestseller The Case for Christ , Lee Strobel examined the claims of Christ, ... (Goodreads)
Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Exploration of racial identity and the role of schools in creating and maintaining racial divides.
Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black, White, and Latino youth clustered in their own groups. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? Beverly ... (Goodreads)
The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal
by Jared Diamond
Study of the evolution and history of the human species, exploring its relationship with other primates.
At some point during the last 100,000 years, humans began exhibiting traits and behavior that distinguished us from other animals, eventually creating language, art, religion, bicycles, spacecraft, ... (Goodreads)
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
by John Elder Robison
An honest account of a man's life with Asperger's, exploring his unique perspectives.
Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, ... (Goodreads)
Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography
by Mark Mathabane
A memoir of growing up black in apartheid South Africa, detailing the author's journey to overcome poverty and oppression through education and tennis.
At his mother's insistence, Mathabane starts school and learns to love it, rising to the top of his class in spite of frequent punishments due to his family's late payments for school fees and ... (Wikipedia)
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
by William McDonough
A revolutionary approach to design, advocating for products that can be reused or recycled indefinitely, creating a sustainable and regenerative economy.
"Reduce, reuse, recycle," urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart point out in this ... (Goodreads)
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)
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital
by Sheri Fink
The gripping story of a hospital during Hurricane Katrina, examining issues of medical ethics and life-saving decisions.
In the tradition of the best investigative journalism, physician and reporter Sheri Fink reconstructs 5 days at Memorial Medical Center and draws the reader into the lives of those who struggled ... (Goodreads)
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
by Roméo Dallaire
Tragic account of the Rwandan genocide from a UN peacekeeping mission commander's perspective.
On the 10th anniversary of when UN peacekeepers landed in Rwanda, Random House Canada proudly publishes the unforgettable 1st-hand account of the genocide by the leader of the mission. Digging deep ... (Goodreads)
'Tis
by Frank McCourt
Sequel to Angela's Ashes, following Frank McCourt's journey to America and his struggles to adapt to a new life.
Dopo aver raccontato, nelle "Ceneri di Angela", la sua infanzia "infelice, irlandese e cattolica" come il più atroce e ilare dei mondi possibili, McCourt ci trasporta qui nell'America del secondo ... (Goodreads)
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)
Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love
by Dava Sobel
A captivating exploration of Galileo's life and times, told through his daughter's letters.
Dramatically recolors the personality and accomplishment of a mythic figure whose seventeenth-century clash with Catholic doctrine continues to define the schism between science and religion. ... (Goodreads)
Teacher Man
by Frank McCourt
A memoir of the author's 30-year career as an English teacher in New York City.
McCourt's long-awaited book about how his thirty-year teaching career shaped his second act as a writer. Nearly a decade ago Frank McCourt became an unlikely star when, at the age of sixty-six, he ... (Goodreads)
