Recommendations based on Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United Statesby Dave Barry

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

  1. 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)

  2. Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters

    by Dick Winters
    An account of World War II by a decorated officer who led the legendary Easy Company.

    They were called Easy Company—but their mission was never easy., Immortalized as the Band of Brothers , they suffered 150% casualties while liberating Europe—an unparalleled record of bravery under ... (Goodreads)

  3. America

    by Jon Stewart
    A satirical take on American politics and democracy, filled with humor and wit.

    Jon Stewart, host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show , and his coterie of patriots, deliver a hilarious look at American government. American-style democracy is the world's most ... (Goodreads)

  4. Dry

    by Augusten Burroughs
    A memoir of alcoholism, mental illness, and the search for redemption.

    You may not know it, but you've met Augusten Burroughs. You've seen him on the street, in bars, on the subway, at restaurants: a twenty-something guy, nice suit, works in advertising. Regular. ... (Goodreads)

  5. Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life

    by Steve Martin
    A memoir of the comedian's rise to fame, from the early days of stand-up comedy to the heights of success.

    In the midseventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. This book is, in his own words, the ... (Goodreads)

  6. Magical Thinking: True Stories

    by Augusten Burroughs
    A collection of autobiographical essays exploring the author's experiences with magical thinking and mental illness.

    From the #1 bestselling author of Running with Scissors and Dry–a contagiously funny, heartwarming, shocking, twisted, and absolutely magical collection. True stories that give voice to the thoughts ... (Goodreads)

  7. 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)

  8. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest

    by Stephen E. Ambrose
    An epic narrative of the American soldiers of Easy Company during World War II.

    As good a rifle company as any, Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, US Army, kept getting tough assignments–responsible for everything from parachuting into France early DDay morning to the ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Trial and Death of Socrates

    by Plato
    A philosophical dialogue into the life and death of the philosopher Socrates.

    Plato is among the most influential philosophers of all time. Along with his teacher Socrates and his pupil Aristotle, he can be said to have laid the foundations for Western philosophy, science and ... (Goodreads)

  10. Common Sense and Other Writings

    by Thomas Paine
    Collection of influential political writings advocating for American independence and democracy, including the famous pamphlet "Common Sense."

    Introduction and Notes by Joyce Appleby Though he didn't emigrate from England to the colonies until 1774, just a few months before the Revolutionary War began, Thomas Paine had an enormous impact on ... (Goodreads)

  11. Naked

    by David Sedaris
    Collection of humorous essays exploring the absurdities of everyday life.

    Welcome to the hilarious, strange, elegiac, outrageous world of David Sedaris. In Naked , Sedaris turns the mania for memoir on its proverbial ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, ... (Goodreads)

  12. 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)

  13. Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

    by H.W. Brands
    A biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, exploring his privileged upbringing and his radical presidency that transformed America.

    A sweeping, magisterial biography of the man generally considered the greatest president of the twentieth century, admired by Democrats and Republicans alike. Traitor to His Class sheds new light on ... (Goodreads)

  14. If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries What Am I Doing in the Pits?

    by Erma Bombeck
    A humorous take on the ups and downs of everyday life, from the perspective of a suburban housewife.

    The hilarious #1 New York Times bestseller: Erma Bombeck’s take on marriage and family life is “fun from cover to cover” (Hartford Courant). Ever since she was a child, Erma Bombeck has been an ... (Goodreads)

  15. Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories

    by Mike Birbiglia
    A collection of humorous and poignant autobiographical stories about love, life, and sleepwalking.

    Hello, I am Mike Birbiglia and I want you to read my book. Too on the nose? Sorry. Let me dial it back. I’m Mike Birbiglia and I’m a comedian. You may know me from Comedy Central or, This American ... (Goodreads)

  16. Zombie Spaceship Wasteland

    by Patton Oswalt
    A collection of humorous essays and stories that explore Oswalt's pop culture obsessions and personal experiences.

    Now in paperback, from a “multi-faceted, medium-hopping, culture skewering performer” ( SPIN) , this is a journey through the world of Patton Oswalt, best known for his roles in film ( Big Fan and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't

    by Stephen Colbert
    Entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of America's history, politics and culture.

    Book nation, in the history of mankind there has never been a greater country than America . You could say we're the #1 nation at being the best at greatness. But as perfect as America is in every ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Pacific

    by Hugh Ambrose
    A historical account of the Pacific Theater during World War II, told through the personal stories of soldiers and civilians.

    Penguin delivers you to the front lines of The Pacific Theater with the real-life stories behind the HBO miniseries. Between America's retreat from China in late November 1941 and the moment General ... (Goodreads)

  19. Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship

    by Joshua Harris
    An exploration of traditional courtship, providing guidance for healthy relationships.

    Purpose Driven Romance The last thing singles want is more rules. But if you're looking for an intentional, God-pleasing game plan for finding a future spouse, Joshua Harris delivers an appealing ... (Goodreads)

  20. Eating the Dinosaur

    by Chuck Klosterman
    Collection of essays exploring pop culture, sports, and society through a philosophical lens.

    Chuck Klosterman has chronicled rock music, film, and sports for almost fifteen years. He's covered extreme metal, extreme nostalgia, disposable art, disposable heroes, life on the road, life through ... (Goodreads)

  21. Napalm & Silly Putty

    by George Carlin
    A collection of humorous and thought-provoking essays on modern life and culture.

    I THINK I AM, THEREFORE I AM. I THINK. In Napalm & Silly Putty , George Carlin, the thinking person's comic, offers a hilarious new collection of razor-sharp observations on God, language, death, ... (Goodreads)

  22. An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963

    by Robert Dallek
    A comprehensive biography of John F. Kennedy, exploring his personal and political life, and his legacy as a president.

    Drawing on previously unavailable material and never-before-opened archives,, An Unfinished Life, is packed with revelations large and small – about JFK's health, his love affairs, RFK's appointment ... (Goodreads)

  23. 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)

  24. 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)

  25. The Basketball Diaries

    by Jim Carroll
    A teenage boy's struggles with addiction and his journey of self-discovery.

    The urban classic coming-of-age story about sex, drugs, and basketball. Jim Carroll grew up to become a renowned poet and punk rocker. But in this memoir of the mid-1960's, set during his ... (Goodreads)

  26. Me: Stories of My Life

    by Katharine Hepburn
    A memoir recounting the successes, struggles and influences of the iconic actress.

    A, NEW YORK TIMES, Notable Book of the Year ,“In her book about her life, Miss Hepburn insists that that woman in the movies was not her at all. ‘I’m not going to hide behind you anymore,’ she says. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source

    by Scott Dikkers
    A humorous collection of fake news headlines poking fun at the events of the past century.

    The Onion has quickly become the world's most popular humor publication, misinforming half a million readers a week with one-of-a-kind social satire both in print (on newsstands nationwide) and ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Greatest Generation

    by Tom Brokaw
    A narrative of the WWII generation and their struggles and triumphs in an uncertain world.

    "In the spring of 1984, I went to the northwest of France, to Normandy, to prepare an NBC documentary on the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, the massive and daring Allied invasion of Europe that ... (Goodreads)

  29. Utilitarianism

    by John Stuart Mill
    Exploration of the moral theory of utilitarianism, evaluating the role of pleasure in decision-making.

    This expanded edition of John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism includes the text of his 1868 speech to the British House of Commons defending the use of capital punishment in cases of aggravated murder. ... (Goodreads)

  30. Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story

    by Chuck Klosterman
    An exploration of life and death, featuring road trips to music-related death sites.

    Building on the national bestselling success of, Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, preeminent pop culture writer Chuck Klosterman unleashes his best book yet—the story of his cross-country tour of sites ... (Goodreads)