- General
- History
- Autobiography/Memoir
- About Teaching and Learning
General
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Looking to understand poor, white America? Part memoir, part sociological study, this poignant page-turner is about how one kid made it to Yale Law and why most kids don't. I loved this book.
The Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks
Brooks spent years working as a journalist in the Middle East, and this outstanding book provides an unflinching examination of Islam as it relates to women, both theoretically and practically.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Tough to believe a book about abject poverty, cancer, and genetic research could be so engrossing. Skloot masterfully uncovers the human story behind the world's biggest medical breakthroughs.
The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Surprisingly, this "biography" of cancer is both gripping and filled with hope. Simply a masterpiece.
Consider the Lobster and Other Essays by David Foster Wallace*
I can't say enough about this insightful, thoughtful man and his sharp, funny, gorgeous prose.
Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
Tells the stories of six ordinary North Korean citizens as told to Demick after their defections. It's hard to fathom the cruelty of the regime, but it's easy to relate to the humanity of its survivors.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
A nearly unbelievable, but true, account of families living in an Indian slum.
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Really interesting look at the history of food and eating, and modern food production that will make you think twice about how you choose your food.
The Mother Tongue, *A Short History of Nearly Everything, Shakespeare: The World as a Stage and really anything by Bill Bryson*
Bryson's humor and insight make any topic he selects instantly fascinating. One of my very favorites.
Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc
A masterpiece of reporting. This book follows a family over two generations, allowing readers a hard look at life in a Bronx ghetto. The writing style takes a while to get used to, but it's worth it.
Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger
You don't have to be a football fan to be sucked into the world of small-town Texas high school football. I, who loathe football, couldn't put it down.
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
At thirteen, Beah was kidnapped by warlords in his native Sierra Leone. This is the harrowing story of how he was forced to become a boy soldier, and of his miraculous rehabilitation.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
It's difficult to believe that this outrageous story of sleepy, charming Savannah and insidious murder is true, but the book, already wonderful, is made even more intriguing because of it.
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Irresistible collection of wacky questions and unexpected answers, posed and answered by a pair of economists used to crunching data. A delightful blend of insight and entertainment.
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Beginning with a violent double-murder committed according to God's will (or so say the suspects), Krakauer delves into the seamy history of the Mormon church.
Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn
Urgent book about women's rights around the planet that feels personal, not preachy.
History
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
A fascinating account of the lessons Frankl, a psychiatrist, learned about human nature and behavior as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. It is profound and surprisingly uplifting.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Whew. This is a wrenching read that tells the story of the deeply unjust eradication of Native American tribes from the US. Should be required reading for everyone, American or not.
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
In-depth account of the Dust Bowl from the perspective of those who didn't flee west. I thought I knew a fair bit about this period but Egan put me in my place. A fascinating, well-written book.
Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff*
Think Cleopatra was nothing but a curvy temptress? Think again. Schiff explains how this force to be reckoned with has been misconstrued by historians and tells the real story in her gripping book.
Seabiscuit and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Both sumptuous page-turners, Seabiscuit is the story of a racehorse and his entourage in San Francisco, and Unbroken is the incredible tale of a former Olympian turned-pilot-turned-P.O.W.
Maus by Art Spiegelman
A pair of graphic novels that tell how Spiegelman's father survived the Holocaust. Raw, moving, unique, and exquisitely composed.
Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
About an unbelievable man who commits unbelievably brave acts in the face of an unbelievably brutal chapter of history. Schindler was an unlikely hero, but he saved the lives of over 1,200 Jews.
In The Garden of Beasts and Devil in the White City by Erik Larson*
Larson is brilliant at making history three-dimensional. I loved his description of the American ambassador and his family in Berlin in the years preceding WWII. His twin accounts of Chicago's 1893 World's Fair and its contemporaneous serial killer was equally engrossing.
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
Fascinating and readable book about one of history's most intriguing characters. I loved learning about the ripples of Genghis Khan's influence that continue to move through today's world.
Roots by Alex Haley
A shattering, heart-rendering classic with a luminous ending.
Autobiography/Memoir
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl and the Window by Tetsuko Kurayanagi
Probably one of my favorite books, this is the story of how a misunderstood little girl in a repressive culture came into the care of a wise, insightful, revolutionary headmaster. A delightful tale.
All But My Life by Gerda Weissman Klein
One of the most fascinating Holocaust memoirs I've read.
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Very long, but fascinating account of this remarkable man. Focuses mainly on his early life and his years in prison; his life after his release is covered, but from more of a distance.
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun and Mukiwa by Peter Godwin*
A white native African, Godwin's perspective is unusual to say the least. The first of these books is about his fascinating parents and the second tells the story of his childhood in Zimbabwe.
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller*
Fuller's mother, a British woman who found herself transplanted to a farm in volatile Rhodesia in the 1970s, is pretty volatile herself, and her story (and her daughter's as well) is one-of-a-kind.
My Losing Season by Pat Conroy
A deeply personal, beautifully written account of Conroy's senior year as a basketball player at the Citadel. A fantastic choice for anyone who loves basketball, and even for those who detest it.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells
A charged memoir about Wells's unorthodox upbringing at the hands of her talented and loving but alcoholic father and carefree (and careless) mother.
Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer
Loved this glimpse into the world of traditional Tibet, and Harrer's descriptions of his interactions with the young Dalai Lama.
German Boy by Wolfgang W. E. Samuel
WWII is not often explored from the perspective of the German civilians who survived it. Samuel's account of his family's experiences, and particularly of his heroic mother's sacrifices, is riveting.
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt*
McCourt's inimitable voice tells the story of his difficult, impoverished childhood with such wit and charm that you can almost hear the twinkle in his eye. His story is both heart-breaking and uplifting.
All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot*
These stories of the animals Herriot treated, and their owners alongside whom he worked, are warm and lovely. Herriot's rich storytelling brings 1950's Yorkshire to sparkling life.
Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi
A philosophical memoir. Levi not only recounts his experiences but probes the peculiarities of human nature, as well.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Classic Holocaust survival story; profoundly thoughtful and personal.
About Teaching and Learning
Sticks and Stones by Emily Bazelon
Eye-opening account of bullying. Includes discussion of what bullying isn't and how parents and teachers can respond appropriately to different kinds of unkind behavior.
Out of Our Minds by Ken Robinson
About why we should value creativity in schools and workplaces, and what can be done to foster it.
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Fascinating book about the philosophical difference between people who accept failure as part of growth and people who give up (or never try in the first place). Very readable.
What to Read When by Pam Allyn
A very good reference for excellent titles to read to children at different ages and at different stages of life (e.g. prior to a visit to the dentist, after the death of a pet, etc.).
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