Recommendations based on On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einsteinby Jennifer Berne

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

  1. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

    by Melissa Sweet
    Story of Tony Sarg and his pioneering puppetry in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    A Sibert Medal-winning picture book biography and perfect Thanksgiving Day read about the invention of the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! From Caldecott honor artist Melissa ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. Gift from the Sea

    by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
    Exploring the depths of the ocean, seeking solace and wisdom.

    In this inimitable, beloved classic—graceful, lucid and lyrical—Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down ... (Goodreads)

  3. Me...Jane

    by Patrick McDonnell
    A young girl embarks on a journey of exploration and imagination, inspired by the life of Jane Goodall.

    Patrick McDonnell-beloved, bestselling author-artist and creator of the Mutts syndicated comic strip–shares the inspiring story of young Jane Goodall, the legendary and inspiring conservationist ... (Goodreads)

  4. Brown Girl Dreaming

    by Jacqueline Woodson
    A poetic memoir of a young girl's coming-of-age in the Civil Rights era.

    Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. ... (Goodreads)

  5. 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)

  6. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures

    by Anne Fadiman
    Exploring the cultural divide between the Hmong people and the medical establishment.

    Lia Lee was born in 1982 to a family of recent Hmong immigrants, and soon developed symptoms of epilepsy. By 1988 she was living at home but was brain dead after a tragic cycle of misunderstanding, ... (Goodreads)

  7. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

    by Doreen Rappaport
    Biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his powerful words & vision for a better future.

    This picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the most ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

    by Atul Gawande
    An exploration of the human experience of mortality and the importance of end-of-life care.

    In, Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending Medicine has triumphed in modern ... (Goodreads)

  9. I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives

    by Caitlin Alifirenka
    True story of the meaningful friendship between an American teen and a girl from Zimbabwe, sparked by a letter.

    The true story of an all-American girl and a boy from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives forever. It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's ... (Goodreads)

  10. Women, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything

    by Geneen Roth
    A journey to spiritual discovery through mindful eating and understanding of the connection between food and the soul.

    Roth began exploring emotional eating in her bestseller When Food Is Love . Now, two decades later, here is her masterwork: WOMEN FOOD AND GOD . The way you eat is inseparable from your core beliefs ... (Goodreads)

  11. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began

    by Art Spiegelman
    A graphic novel recounting a Holocaust survivor's harrowing experience and his son's attempt to reconcile with his father's past.

    Acclaimed as a quiet triumph and a brutally moving work of art, the first volume of Art Spieglman's Maus introduced readers to Vladek Spiegleman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying

    by Nina Riggs
    A poignant memoir of a woman's journey through terminal cancer, exploring life, love, and mortality with grace and humor.

    * INSTANT, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER * “Stunning...heartrending...this year’s, When Breath Becomes Air,.” —Nora Krug,, The Washington Post, “Beautiful and haunting.” —Matt McCarthy, MD,, USA TODAY, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Notes on a Nervous Planet

    by Matt Haig
    A guide to navigating the overwhelming and anxiety-inducing aspects of modern life, offering practical advice and personal anecdotes.

    A follow-up to Matt Haig's internationally bestselling memoir,, Reasons to Stay Alive, a broader look at how modern life feeds our anxiety, and how to live a better life. The societies we live in are ... (Goodreads)

  14. How Doctors Think

    by Jerome Groopman
    A look into the decision-making process of doctors, exploring how biases and assumptions can lead to misdiagnosis and medical errors.

    On average, a physician will interrupt a patient describing her symptoms within eighteen seconds. In that short time, many doctors decide on the likely diagnosis and best treatment. Often, decisions ... (Goodreads)

  15. Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love

    by Jonathan Van Ness
    A memoir of Jonathan Van Ness' journey to self-love, overcoming trauma, addiction, and finding his true self.

    Who gave Jonathan Van Ness permission to be the radiant human he is today? No one, honey. The truth is, it hasn’t always been gorgeous for this beacon of positivity and joy. Before he stole our ... (Goodreads)

  16. Heaven Is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy

    by Stephanie Nielson
    A woman's inspiring story of surviving a plane crash, and the journey of rebuilding her life afterwards.

    Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat ... (Goodreads)

  17. Relish: My Life in the Kitchen

    by Lucy Knisley
    An autobiographical exploration of food, cooking, and how it shapes relationships.

    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and funny ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. Personal History

    by Katharine Graham
    A memoir recounting the life and career of a pioneering female journalist and business leader.

    In lieu of an unrevealing Famous-People-I-Have-Known autobiography, the owner of the Washington Post has chosen to be remarkably candid about the insecurities prompted by remote parents and a ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor

    by Howard Marks
    A renowned investor shares his insights on successful investing, emphasizing the importance of risk management and contrarian thinking.

    "This is that rarity, a useful book."–Warren Buffett Howard Marks, the chairman and cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management, is renowned for his insightful assessments of market opportunity and risk. ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Last Seven Months of Anne Frank

    by Willy Lindwer
    Documentary film of the last seven months of Anne Frank's life in the Secret Annex.

    The "unwritten" final chapter of "Anne Frank: Diary Of A Young Girl" tells the story of the time between Anne Frank's arrest and her death through the testimony of six Jewish women who survived the ... (Goodreads)

  21. Coming Clean

    by Kimberly Rae Miller
    A memoir of growing up with hoarder parents and the emotional toll it takes on the author.

    Kimberly Rae Miller is an immaculately put-together woman with a great career, a loving boyfriend, and a beautifully tidy apartment in Brooklyn. You would never guess that behind the closed doors of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

    by Steve Sheinkin
    A riveting account of the race to build the world's first atomic bomb during WWII.

    In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos

    by Brian Greene
    A groundbreaking exploration of the multiple universes that may exist beyond our own.

    From the best-selling author of, The Elegant Universe, and, The Fabric of the Cosmos, comes his most expansive and accessible book to date—a book that takes on the grandest question: Is ours the only ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope

    by William Kamkwamba
    An inspiring tale of a young boy from Malawi who, against all odds, invents a windmill to power his village.

    Now a Netflix Film, Starring and Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor of 12 Years a Slave William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery. It was also a land ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

    by Caroline Fraser
    Biography of pioneering author and her family's hardships, successes, and spirit.

    WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD,WINNER OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE HEARTLAND PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION,ONE OF THE, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW,'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Jerusalem: A Cookbook

    by Yotam Ottolenghi
    Exploring the vibrant flavors of Jerusalem through recipes, stories, and photographs.

    With Jerusalem, Ottolenghi re-teams with his friend and co-owner of his restaurants, Sami Tamimi. Both men were born in Jerusalem in the same year: Tamimi on the Arab east side and Ottolenghi in the ... (Goodreads)

  27. Humans of New York: Stories

    by Brandon Stanton
    A collection of poignant and inspiring stories of individuals living in New York City.

    The #1, New York Times, Bestseller! With over 500 vibrant, full-color photos,, Humans of New York: Stories, is an insightful and inspiring collection of portraits of the lives of New Yorkers. Humans ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. Lincoln: A Photobiography

    by Russell Freedman
    A visual biography of Abraham Lincoln, featuring photographs and historical context of his life and presidency.

    Abraham Lincoln stood out in a crowd as much for his wit and rollicking humor as for his height. This Newbery Medal-winning biography of our Civil War president is warm, appealing, and illustrated ... (Goodreads)

  29. The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way

    by Amanda Ripley
    A comparison of education systems across the world, exploring the secrets to success.

    How do other countries create “smarter” kids? What is it like to be a child in the world’s new education superpowers?, The Smartest Kids in the World, “gets well beneath the glossy surfaces of these ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History

    by Art Spiegelman
    A graphic novel depicting the traumatic experiences of a Holocaust survivor and his son.

    The first installment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust” (Wall Street Journal) and “the first ... (Goodreads)