Biographies & Memoirs

Explore the stories of remarkable lives in our Biographies & Memoirs section at Thryft. Discover firsthand accounts of influential figures and captivating memoirs that'll inspire and educate. Our collection is carefully curated to ensure you find the perfect narrative to delve into.

3002 Results

3002 Results

No results

No results

John Carey, John Donne

Selected Poetry

from $5.56

Unit price
per

Recommended for poetry enthusiasts keen to explore the depths of self-awareness through Donne's personalized rhythm, form and imagery. The timeless exploration of human complexities and ambiguities makes it an enriching experience.

from $5.56

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Amy Poehler

Yes Please

from $7.64

Unit price
per

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book full of words to live by.

from $7.64

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Allan H. Ropper, Brian David Burrell

Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole : Extraordinary Journeys into the Human Brain

from $8.61

Unit price
per

In this gripping book, Dr Allan Ropper takes the reader behind the scenes at Harvard Medical School's neurology unit to show how a seasoned diagnostician faces down bizarre, life-altering afflictions. Like Alice in Wonderland, Dr Ropper inhabits a world where absurdities abound: A figure skater whose body has become a ticking time-bomb, A salesman who drives around and around a roundabout, unable to get off, A college quarterback who can't stop calling the same play, A child molester who, after falling on the ice, is left with a brain that is very much dead inside a body that is very much alive, A mother of two young girls, diagnosed with ALS, who has to decide whether a life locked inside her own head is worth living, How does one begin to treat such cases, to counsel people whose lives may be changed forever? How does one train the next generation of clinicians to deal with the moral and medical aspects of brain disease? Ropper answers these questions by taking the reader into a rarefied world where lives and minds hang in the balance.

from $8.61

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Gretchen Rubin

The Happiness Project : Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

from $8.78

Unit price
per

"The Happiness Project" is a fountain of knowledge; it provides practical advice and sharp insights on how to make your life more fulfilling and enjoyable. Gretchen Rubin inspires readers to take action and navigate their own paths to happiness by sharing her journey and real-life experiences. The uniqueness of this book lies in its combination of philosophy, psychology, and self-help, which make it an ideal read for those trying to infuse their lives with more meaning and happiness.

from $8.78

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Guillem Balagué

Pep Guardiola : Another Way of Winning: The Biography

from $8.01

Unit price
per

This fully updated edition of the international bestseller includes Pep Guardiola's Bayern years and his decision to join Manchester CityPep Guardiola is the most successful and sought after football coach in the world. After being appointed first-team manager in 2008, he transformed Barcelona into arguably the greatest club side of all time, winning an unprecedented thirteen trophies in four years. Following a shock sabbatical from the game, he replaced Jupp Heynckes at the helm of Bayern Munich at the start of the 2013-14 season, twice winning the Double in his three years in charge. He then announced that he would be joining Manchester City for the 2016-17 season, thereby beginning what could prove to be his greatest challenge yet: turning them into a team that consistently wins in the most difficult of leagues and a regular challenger in the Champions League . . . and doing it the Guardiola way.Guillem Balagué has followed Pep's career from the outset and has had direct access to the man and his inner circle. This then is the definitive portrait of Pep Guardiola and his relentless pursuit of footballing perfection.

from $8.01

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Sam Wasson

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. : Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The Dawn of the Modern Woman

from $6.66

Unit price
per

Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Hepburn—dainty, immaculate—is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, “Moon River” composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the early sixties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good.

from $6.66

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Harold Bloom

William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

from $5.07

Unit price
per

This book is a classic tale of two young lovers whose love is forbidden by their families. It has themes of love, tragedy, and fate, and is a must-read for anyone interested in literature. The author, William Shakespeare, is renowned for his use of language and his ability to capture the essence of human emotions. Reading "Romeo and Juliet" will transport you to another time and place and give you insight into the complexities of human relationships.

from $5.07

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Mitch Albom

Finding Chika : A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family

from $12.20

Unit price
per

"Finding Chika" is a heartwarming story of a little girl who captures the hearts of her adoptive family. Mitch Albom chronicles the journey of Chika's diagnosis with a terminal illness and the remarkable bond that forms between them. Readers seeking a moving and uplifting tale of love, resilience, and the family we find along the way will thoroughly enjoy this book.

from $12.20

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Julia Gillard

My Story

from $22.65

Unit price
per

On Wednesday 23 June 2010, with the government in turmoil, Julia Gillard asked then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for a leadership ballot.The next day, Julia Gillard became Australia’s 27th Prime Minister, and our first female leader. Australia was alive to the historic possibilities. Here was a new approach for a new time.It was to last three extraordinary years.This is Julia Gillard’s chronicle of that turbulent time – a strikingly candid self-portrait of a political leader seeking to realise her ideals. It is her story of what it was like – in the face of government in-fighting and often hostile media – to manage a hung parliament, build a diverse and robust economy, create an equitable and world-class education system, ensure a dignified future for Australians with disabilities, all while attending to our international obligations and building strategic alliances for our future. This is a politician driven by a sense of purpose – from campus days with the Australian Union of Students, to a career in the law, to her often gritty, occasionally glittering rise up the ranks of the Australian Labor Party.Refreshingly honest, peppered with a wry humour and personal insights, Julia Gillard does not shy away from her mistakes, as well as detailing her political successes. Here is an account of what was hidden behind the resilience and dignified courage Gillard showed as prime minister, her view of the vicious hate campaigns directed against her, and a reflection on what it means – and what it takes – to be a woman leader in contemporary politics.Here, in her own words, Julia Gillard reveals what life was really like as Australia’s first female prime minister.

from $22.65

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Megan Stielstra

The Wrong Way to Save Your Life : Essays

from $8.39

Unit price
per

“Stielstra is a masterful essayist.” —Roxane Gay, author of Bad Feminist and Hunger From an important new writer comes this powerful collection of personal essays on fear, creativity, art, faith, academia, the Internet, and justice. In this poignant and inciting collection of literary essays, Megan Stielstra tells stories to ward off fears both personal and universal as she grapples toward a better way to live. In her titular piece “The Wrong Way To Save Your Life,” she answers the question of what has value in our lives—a question no longer rhetorical when the apartment above her family’s goes up in flames. “Here is My Heart” sheds light on Megan’s close relationship with her father, whose continued insistence on climbing mountains despite a series of heart attacks leads the author to dissect deer hearts in a poetic attempt to interrogate her own feelings about mortality.  Whether she's imagining the implications of open-carry laws on college campuses, recounting the story of going underwater on the mortgage of her first home, or revealing the unexpected pains and joys of marriage and motherhood, Stielstra's work informs, impels, enlightens, and embraces us all. The result is something beautiful—this story, her courage, and, potentially, our own. Intellectually fierce and viscerally intimate, Megan Stielstra's voice is witty, wise, warm, and above all, achingly human.

from $8.39

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Glennon Doyle Melton

Love Warrior : A Memoir

from $6.32

Unit price
per

This book is a great read for anyone who has gone through a difficult period in their life and is looking for inspiration on how to overcome it. Glennon's story is raw, honest, and incredibly relatable, and her writing style is both captivating and thought-provoking. The most unique feature of this memoir is how it highlights the importance of embracing your vulnerabilities and flaws, and using them as a source of strength rather than weakness. Definitely a must-read for anyone who needs a reminder of their own inner warrior.

from $6.32

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Frank, Barbara Mooyaart-Doubleday

The Diary of a Young Girl

from $4.96

Unit price
per

Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, the Franks and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.--back cover

from $4.96

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Solomon Northup

Twelve Years a Slave

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup is a memoir of a black man who was born free in New York state but kidnapped, sold into slavery and kept in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana before the American Civil War. He provided details of slave markets in Washington, DC, as well as describing at length cotton cultivation on major plantations in Louisiana.

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Robert Kuok Hock Nien, Andrew Tanzer

Robert Kuok : A Memoir

from $17.44

Unit price
per

Robert Kuok's memoir could be a good read for anyone interested in learning from a successful businessman with 75 years of experience in conducting business. From management insights to strategies and lessons learned, Kuok shares his principles, philosophy, and moral code, and offers a unique perspective on nearly a century of Asian history.

from $17.44

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Kate Grenville

One Life : My Mother's Story

from $8.37

Unit price
per

'Clear, authentic and utterly engaging . . . it is as successful as it is authentic' Independent on Sunday Born to an unhappy marriage and into a deeply sexist society, Nance Russell worked hard for everything she had, and while the world changed around her, she went on to university, to opening businesses and raising a family. One Life is Nance's story - and many other women's too - beautifully captured by her daughter, the bestselling novelist Kate Grenville. Kate draws on the tales passed down to her to create an evocative portrait of life in twentieth-century rural Australia, and a deeply intimate and caring homage to a mother.

from $8.37

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Melissa De Silva

Others Is Not A Race

from $7.09

Unit price
per

"Others Is Not A Race" provides a unique insight into the life and experiences of the Eurasian community in Singapore, through personal narratives and family memoirs, while addressing themes of identity, language, loss, and cultural reclamation. The book offers a reflective and thought-provoking journey of self-discovery for readers seeking to understand what it means to exist at the confluence of being Singaporean and being Eurasian.

from $7.09

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger

Apollo 13

from $6.35

Unit price
per

This book is an incredible testament to human courage and grit during a crisis. You will be swept up in the suspenseful and harrowing story of the astronauts' bravery in the face of danger. Lovell's personal insights make this a must-read for fans of space exploration and true life stories.

from $6.35

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Anthony Kiedis, Larry Sloman

Scar Tissue

from $13.86

Unit price
per

Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller by one of rocks most provocative figures Scar Tissue is Anthony Kiediss searingly honest memoir of a life spent in the fast lane. In 1983, four self-described knuckleheads burst out of the mosh-pitted mosaic of the neo-punk rock scene in L.A. with their own unique brand of cosmic hardcore mayhem funk. Over twenty years later, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, against all odds, have become one of the most successful bands in the world. Though the band has gone through many incarnations, Anthony Kiedis, the groups lyricist and dynamic lead singer, has been there for the whole roller-coaster ride. Whether hes recollecting the influence of the beautiful, strong women who have been his muses, or retracing a journey that has included appearances as diverse as a performance before half a million people at Woodstock or an audience of one at the humble compound of the exiled Dalai Lama, Kiedis shares a compelling story about the price of success and excess. Scar Tissue is a story of dedication and debauchery, of intrigue and integrity, of recklessness and redemptiona story that could only have come out of the world of rock.

from $13.86

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Jean Sasson

Princess : Secrets to Share

from $6.50

Unit price
per

Recommended for those interested in women's rights, true stories, and the culture of the Middle East. The book presents a candid glance into the experiences of women living in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the activism of Princess Sultana Al Saud in rescuing abused women. The book is informative, eye-opening, and a powerful read.

from $6.50

Unit price
per

Out of stock

A.E. Hotchner

Hemingway In Love - His Own Story

from $2.72

Unit price
per

In June of 1961, A.E. Hotchner visited an old friend in the psychiatric ward of St. Mary's Hospital. It would be the last time they spoke: a few weeks later, Ernest Hemingway was released home, where he took his own life. Their final conversation was also the final installment in a story whose telling Hemingway had spread over nearly a decade.In characteristically pragmatic terms, Hemingway divulged to Hotchner the details of the affair that destroyed his first marriage: the truth of his romantic life in Paris and how he lost Hadley, the real part of each literary woman he'd later create and the great love he spent the rest of his life seeking. And he told of the mischief that made him a legend: of impotence cured in a house of God; of a plane crash in the African bush, from which he stumbled with a bunch of bananas and a bottle of gin in hand; of F. Scott Fitzgerald dispensing romantic advice; of midnight champagne with Josephine Baker; of adventure, human error, and life after lost love. This is Hemingway as few have known him: humble, thoughtful, and full of regret.To protect the feelings of Ernest's wife, Mary - also a close friend - Hotch kept the conversations to himself for decades. Now he tells the story as Hemingway told it to him. "Hemingway in Love "puts you in the room with the master as he remembers the definitive years that set the course for the rest of his life and dogged him until the end of his days.

from $2.72

Unit price
per

Out of stock

John Kaag

Hiking with Nietzsche : On Becoming Who You Are

from $6.50

Unit price
per

Hiking with Nietzsche is an introspective journey that explores the wisdom and revelations at the core of Nietzsche's philosophy. It encourages readers to come to grips with the unobtainable, defeat complacency, balance sanity and madness, and most importantly, become who they are. This book is perfect for individuals who seek meaning in life, and those who enjoy a philosophical exploration of the human condition.

from $6.50

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Glennon Doyle

Untamed : Stop Pleasing, Start Living: THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

from $6.34

Unit price
per

This book, Untamed, is a powerful and liberating read for women who feel trapped in societal expectations. It encourages you to listen to the voice deep inside you and embrace your untamed self. With soulful storytelling and thought-provoking insights, Glennon Doyle inspires you to let go of the world's expectations and reclaim your true identity. Through her own journey of self-discovery, she shows you the importance of setting boundaries, honoring your emotions, and unleashing your wildest instincts. This book will empower you to be brave and live life on your own terms.

from $6.34

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Sven Birkerts

The Art Of Time In Memoir : Then, Again

Regular price $7.21 from $5.05 Save up to 30%

Unit price
per

"The Art of Time in Memoir" would be a great read for anyone who enjoys memoirs or wants to improve their own memoir writing. Through the analysis of Virginia Woolf's "A Sketch of the Past" and Mary Karr's "The Liars' Club," Birkerts delves into the art of assembling patterns of meaning and how successful memoirs present the subjective experience of time. This book would be perfect for aspiring writers or anyone interested in understanding the power of memoir as a literary genre.

Regular price $7.21 from $5.05 Save up to 30%

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Bill Clinton

My Life

from $9.09

Unit price
per

President Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe IV on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas, three months after his father died in a traffic accident. When he was four years old, his mother wed Roger Clinton, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. In high school, he took the family name. As a delegate to Boys Nation while in high school, he met President John Kennedy in the White House Rose Garden. The encounter led him to enter a life of public service. Clinton was graduated from Georgetown University and in 1968 won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. He received a law degree from Yale University in 1973, and entered politics in Arkansas. He was defeated in his campaign for Congress in Arkansas's Third District in 1974. The next year he married Hillary Rodham and in 1980 and Chelsea, their only child, was born. Clinton and his running mate, Tennessee's Senator Albert Gore Jr., then 44, represented a new generation in American political leadership. For the first time in 12 years both the White House and Congress were held by the same party. But that political edge was brief; the Republicans won both houses of Congress in 1994. In 1998, as a result of issues surrounding personal indiscretions with a young woman White House intern, Clinton was the second U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives. He was tried in the Senate and found not guilty of the charges brought against him. He apologized to the nation for his actions and continued to have unprecedented popular approval ratings for his job as president.

from $9.09

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Katie Piper

Beautiful : A beautiful girl. An evil man. One inspiring true story of courage

from $2.91

Unit price
per

A harrowing but ultimately inspiring memoir of how one girl's beautiful face and spirit was destroyed after a vicious acid attack I heard a horrible screaming sound, like an animal being slaughtered . . . then I realised it was me. When Katie Piper was 24, her life was near perfect. Young and beautiful, she was well on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a model. But then she met Daniel Lynch on Facebook and her world quickly turned into a nightmare. After being held captive and brutally raped by her new boyfriend, Katie was subjected to a vicious acid attack. Within seconds, this bright and bubbly girl could feel her looks and the life she loved melting away. This is the moving true story of how one young woman had her mind, body, and spirit cruelly snatched from her and how she inspired millions with her fight to get them back.

from $2.91

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Patti Smith

Just Kids

from $9.07

Unit price
per

"Just Kids" is a touching memoir that captures the essence of two young artists' love and devotion, their struggles and triumphs as they navigate the art world in New York City during the late sixties and seventies. Patti Smith's prose is poetic and raw, offering an intimate and honest look into her deep bond and friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. This is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about art, love, and initiation.

from $9.07

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Christopher McDougall

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

from $8.83

Unit price
per

An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury.In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner Christopher McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America's best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall's incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.--back cover

from $8.83

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Kevin Maurer, Mark Owen

No Easy Day The Only First-hand Account of the Navy Seal Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden

from $15.65

Unit price
per

For the first time anywhere, a first-person account of the planning and execution of the Bin Laden raid from inside the US Navy SEAL team who carried out the extraordinary mission to kill the terrorist mastermind. From the streets of Iraq to the successful rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from pirates in the Indian Ocean; from the mountaintops of Afghanistan to the third floor of Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, operator Mark Owen of the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group - commonly known as SEAL Team Six - has been a part of some of the most memorable special operations in history, as well as countless missions that never made headlines. No Easy Day puts readers inside the elite, handpicked twenty-four-man team as they train for the most important mission of their lives, Operation Neptune Spear. The SEALs were going after bin Laden. Two weeks later, from a forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan, the helicopter-borne assault force took off into the night and flew low across the border.Then, deep inside Pakistan's heavily defended airspace, things started to go badly wrong. From the crash of the Black Hawk helicopter that threatened the mission with disaster through to the radio call confirming their target was dead, the SEAL team raid on bin Laden's secret HQ is recounted in nail-biting second-by-second detail. In No Easy Day, team leader Mark Owen takes readers behind enemy lines with one of the world's most astonishing fighting forces. It is the only insider's account of their most spectacular mission. Mark Owen is a former member of the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as SEAL Team Six. In his many years as a Navy SEAL, he has participated in hundreds of missions around the globe, including the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips in the Indian Ocean in 2009. Owen was a team leader on Operation Neptune Spear in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on 1 May 2011, which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. Owen was one of the first men through the door on the third floor of the terrorist mastermind's hideout, where he witnessed bin Laden's death. Mark Owen's name and the names of the other SEALs mentioned in this book have been changed for their security. Kevin Maurer has covered special-operations forces for nine years. He has been embedded with the Special Forces in Afghanistan six times, spent a month in 2006 with special-operations units in east Africa, and has embedded with US forces in Iraq and Haiti. He is the author of four books, including several about special operations.

from $15.65

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Saroo Brierley

Lion : A Long Way Home

from $8.53

Unit price
per

Lion could be a good read for anyone who wants to know how one man's determination and resilience helped him survive the streets of Calcutta for years, before he finally found his way back home. Saroo's story is breathtaking and inspiring, and it showcases the strength of the human spirit. The book is well-written and is filled with a plethora of memories and emotions that make it hard to put down. It's a perfect read for someone looking for a true story that proves that even in the darkest of times, hope endures.

from $8.53

Unit price
per

Out of stock

James Comey

A Higher Loyalty : Truth, Lies, and Leadership

from $3.49

Unit price
per

Former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.Mr. Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. He previously served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. deputy attorney general in the administration of President George W. Bush. From prosecuting the Mafia and Martha Stewart to helping change the Bush administration's policies on torture and electronic surveillance, overseeing the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation as well as ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey has been involved in some of the most consequential cases and policies of recent history.

from $3.49

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Frank Schaeffer

Why I am an Atheist Who Believes in God : How to give love, create beauty and find peace

from $7.20

Unit price
per

WHY I AM AN ATHEIST WHO BELIEVES IN GOD How to Create Beauty, Give Love and Find Peace By Frank Schaeffer *** Caught between the beauty of his grandchildren and grief over a friend’s death, Frank Schaeffer finds himself simultaneously believing and not believing in God—an atheist who prays. Schaeffer wrestles with faith and disbelief, sharing his innermost thoughts with a lyricism that only great writers of literary nonfiction achieve. Schaeffer writes as an imperfect son, husband and grandfather whose love for his family, art and life trumps the ugly theologies of an angry God and the atheist vision of a cold, meaningless universe. Schaeffer writes that only when we abandon our hunt for certainty do we become free to create beauty, give love and find peace. *** “As someone who has made redemption his work, Frank has, in fact, shown amazing grace.” — Jane Smiley, Washington Post *** “To millions of evangelical Christians, the Schaeffer name is royal, and Frank is the reluctant, wayward, traitorous prince. His crime is not financial profligacy, like some pastors’ sons, but turning his back on Christian conservatives.” — New York Times *** “Frank Schaeffer’s gifts as a writer are sensual and loving. He’s also laugh-out-loud funny!” — Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog

from $7.20

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Emma Byrne, John Wyse-Jackson

Best-Loved Oscar Wilde

from $7.88

Unit price
per

With John Wyse Jackson's stimulating commentary, and stylish design and illustration by Emma Byrne, this fresh gathering of Oscar Wilde's words will interest and delight new readers and devotees alike. For many years after his death, Oscar Wilde was almost ignored, but more recently, his importance as a world figure has been acknowledged. This selection is a landmark celebration of one of Ireland's greatest sons.

from $7.88

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Amy Poehler

Yes Please

from $4.91

Unit price
per

In a perfect world, we'd all be friends with Amy Poehler. Unfortunately, she's busy being a Golden Globe-winning actress, a producer, a director, frequent acting double for Meryl Streep and mother to two young sons, so isn't available for movie nights.Luckily, we have the next best thing: Yes Please, Amy's hilarious and candid book, offering her thoughts on everything from her childhood to Hollywood, and from the demon that looks back at all of us in the mirror to her joy at being told she has 'a face for wigs'. A delight on every page, Yes Please is chock-full of words, and wisdom, to live by.

from $4.91

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Harold Bloom

William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Offers a brief profile of the author, discusses themes, structure, and characters in "Romeo and Juliet," and includes selections from critical essays

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Martinus Evans

Slow AF Run Club - The Ultimate Guide For Anyone Who Wants To Run

from $6.34

Unit price
per

This book is a game-changer for those who have felt excluded from the running community due to their size, athletic ability, or health issues. Martinus Evans, a marathon runner himself, understands the struggles and doubts that come with being a non-traditional runner. With specialized advice, humor, and personal anecdotes, he encourages readers to embrace their bodies and start running for the sheer joy of it. The Slow AF Run Club is a practical and empowering guide for anyone who wants to run, showcasing that running is for everyone, regardless of their shape or size.

from $6.34

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Augusten Burroughs

Running with Scissors : A Memoir

Regular price $8.22 from $5.75 Save up to 30%

Unit price
per

Running with Scissors is a gritty, yet darkly humorous memoir that explores the unorthodox upbringing of author Augusten Burroughs, including his time living with a mentally unstable mother and her equally unstable psychiatrist. While the subject matter may not be for everyone, those who enjoy reading about unique, gritty, and occasionally bizarre upbringings will likely appreciate this book.

Regular price $8.22 from $5.75 Save up to 30%

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Michael Paterniti

Love and Other Ways of Dying : Essays

from $8.26

Unit price
per

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS •  In this moving, lyrical, and ultimately uplifting collection of essays, Michael Paterniti turns a keen eye on the full range of human experience, introducing us to an unforgettable cast of everyday people.Michael Paterniti is one of the most original and empathic storytellers working today. His writing has been described as “humane, devastating, and beautiful” by Elizabeth Gilbert, “spellbinding” by Anthony Doerr, and “expansive and joyful” by George Saunders. In the seventeen wide-ranging essays collected for the first time in Love and Other Ways of Dying, he brings his full literary powers to bear, pondering happiness and grief, memory and the redemptive power of human connection.In the remote Ukranian countryside, Paterniti picks apples (and faces mortality) with a real-life giant; in Nanjing, China, he confronts a distraught jumper on a suicide bridge; in Dodge City, Kansas, he takes up residence at a roadside hotel and sees, firsthand, the ways in which the racial divide turns neighbor against neighbor. In each instance, Paterniti illuminates the full spectrum of human experience, introducing us to unforgettable everyday people and bygone legends, exploring the big ideas and emotions that move us. Paterniti reenacts François Mitterrand’s last meal in a rustic dining room in France and drives across America with Albert Einstein’s brain in the trunk of his rental car, floating in a Tupperware container. He delves with heartbreaking detail into the aftermath of a plane crash off the coast of Nova Scotia, an earthquake in Haiti, and a tsunami in Japan—and, in searing swirls of language, unearths the complicated, hidden truths these moments of extremity teach us about our ability to endure, and to love.Michael Paterniti has spent the past two decades grappling with some of our most powerful subjects and incomprehensible events, taking an unflinching point of view that seeks to edify as it resists easy answers. At every turn, his work attempts to make sense of both love and loss, and leaves us with a profound sense of what it means to be human. As he writes in the Introduction to this book, “The more we examine the grooves and scars of this life, the more free and complete we become.”Praise for Michael Paterniti and Love and Other Ways of Dying“One of the best books I’ve read all year . . . These pieces are exceptional artifacts of literary journalism.” —Mark O’Connell, Slate“These pieces are extraordinary. . . . Journalism elevated beyond its ordinary capacities, well into the realm of literature.” — Columbia Journalism Review“A fearless, spellbinding collection of inquiries by a brilliant, globally minded essayist whose writing is magic and whose worldview brims with compassion . . . The size of Michael Paterniti’s curiosity is matched only by the size of his heart.” —Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See“Michael Paterniti is a genius.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of The Signature of All Things“One of the best living practitioners of the art of literary journalism, able to fully elucidate and humanize the everyday and the epic.” —Dave Eggers, author of The Circle“In each of these essays, Michael Paterniti unveils life for us, the beauty and heartbreak of it, as we would never see it ourselves but now can never forget it. Paterniti is brilliant—a rare master—and one of my favorite authors on earth.” —Lily King, author of Euphoria

from $8.26

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Joshua Wong, Ai Weiwei, Jason Y. Ng

Unfree Speech : The Threat to Global Democracy and Why We Must Act, Now

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Unfree Speech is an inspiring call to action, chronicling the story of Joshua Wong- a young activist and his journey to fight for democracy. This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of democracy and wants to understand the importance of free speech in today's world. It is an urgent manifesto that highlights the need to defend our democracies, wherever we are in the world, and why we must act now. Joshua Wong's message is powerful- when we stay silent, no one is safe, but when we free our speech, our voice becomes one. This book is an inspiring guide to mobilizing for democracy, and it will leave readers motivated to take action and uphold democratic values.

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Anna Quindlen

A Short Guide to a Happy Life

from $6.05

Unit price
per

From the New York Times bestselling author of Alternate Side,  Anna Quindlen’s classic reflection on a meaningful life makes a perfect gift for any occasion.“Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live . . . to love the journey, not the destination.”In this treasure of a book, Anna Quindlen, the bestselling novelist and columnist, reflects on what it takes to “get a life”—to live deeply every day and from your own unique self, rather than merely to exist through your days. “Knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us,” Quindlen writes, “because unless you know the clock is ticking, it is so easy to waste our days, our lives.” Her mother died when Quindlen was nineteen: “It was the dividing line between seeing the world in black and white, and in Technicolor. The lights came on for the darkest possible reason. . . . I learned something enduring, in a very short period of time, about life. And that was that it was glorious, and that you had no business taking it for granted.” But how to live from that perspective, to fully engage in our days? In A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Quindlen guides us with an understanding that comes from knowing how to see the view, the richness in living.

from $6.05

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman IV : A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas

from $9.59

Unit price
per

Chuck Klosterman IV is a must-read for anyone who lives, breathes, and loves pop culture. Klosterman's ability to write about topics as diverse as Britney Spears, Metallica, and Super People with wit, introspection, and a dose of humor is what makes this book a unique and fun read. The footnotes may seem like distractions, but they end up adding another layer to Klosterman's already fascinating stories. If you are a fan of pop culture and are looking for a book that will make you think, laugh, and maybe even challenge your beliefs, Chuck Klosterman IV is the book for you.

from $9.59

Unit price
per

Out of stock

George Orwell

Such, Such Were The Joys

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Recommend for those interested in critical essays, histories

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air : A Personal Account of the Everest Disaster

from $4.68

Unit price
per

If you're seeking an adrenaline-fueled journey, packed with suspense and a touch of introspection, "Into Thin Air" is a must-read. Jon Krakauer's gripping account of the deadly 1996 Everest disaster will have you on the edge of your seat as he takes you step by step through the treacherous journey to the mountain's summit. Through his expert storytelling and personal reflection, Krakauer delves into the allure and mystique of Everest, leaving readers questioning what drives people to risk it all for the thrill of conquering the world's tallest peak.

from $4.68

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Dave Pelzer

A Child Called "it" : An Abused Child's Journey from Victim to Victor

from $7.81

Unit price
per

A Child Called "it" is a must-read for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of child abuse and its devastating effects. This book is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of never giving up, no matter how dire the circumstances. Readers will be moved by Dave Pelzer's courageous journey from victim to victor and will gain a newfound appreciation for the power of hope and determination in the face of adversity.

from $7.81

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Melinda French Gates

The Moment of Lift : How Empowering Women Changes the World

from $7.58

Unit price
per

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“In her book, Melinda tells the stories of the inspiring people she’s met through her work all over the world, digs into the data, and powerfully illustrates issues that need our attention―from child marriage to gender inequity in the workplace.” ―President Barack Obama“The Moment of Lift is an urgent call to courage. It changed how I think about myself, my family, my work, and what’s possible in the world. Melinda weaves together vulnerable, brave storytelling and compelling data to make this one of those rare books that you carry in your heart and mind long after the last page.”―Brené Brown, Ph.D., author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Dare to Lead“Melinda Gates has spent many years working with women around the world. This book is an urgent manifesto for an equal society where women are valued and recognized in all spheres of life. Most of all, it is a call for unity, inclusion and connection. We need this message more than ever.” ― Malala Yousafzai"Melinda Gates's book is a lesson in listening. A powerful, poignant, and ultimately humble call to arms." ―Tara Westover, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller EducatedA debut from Melinda Gates, a timely and necessary call to action for women's empowerment.“How can we summon a moment of lift for human beings – and especially for women? Because when you lift up women, you lift up humanity.”For the last twenty years, Melinda Gates has been on a mission to find solutions for people with the most urgent needs, wherever they live. Throughout this journey, one thing has become increasingly clear to her: If you want to lift a society up, you need to stop keeping women down.In this moving and compelling book, Melinda shares lessons she’s learned from the inspiring people she’s met during her work and travels around the world. As she writes in the introduction, “That is why I had to write this book―to share the stories of people who have given focus and urgency to my life. I want all of us to see ways we can lift women up where we live.”Melinda’s unforgettable narrative is backed by startling data as she presents the issues that most need our attention―from child marriage to lack of access to contraceptives to gender inequity in the workplace. And, for the first time, she writes about her personal life and the road to equality in her own marriage. Throughout, she shows how there has never been more opportunity to change the world―and ourselves.Writing with emotion, candor, and grace, she introduces us to remarkable women and shows the power of connecting with one another.When we lift others up, they lift us up, too.

from $7.58

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Lena Dunham

Not That Kind Of Girl - A Young Woman Tells You What She's Learned

from $7.76

Unit price
per

For readers of Nora Ephron, Tina Fey, and David Sedaris, this hilarious, poignant, and extremely frank collection of personal essays confirms Lena Dunham – the acclaimed creator, producer, and star of HBO’s ‘Girls’ – as one of the brightest and most original writers working today.“If I could take what I’ve learned and make one menial job easier for you, or prevent you from having the kind of sex where you feel you must keep your sneakers on in case you want to run away during the act, then every misstep of mine was worthwhile. I’m already predicting my future shame at thinking I had anything to offer you, but also my future glory in having stopped you from trying an expensive juice cleanse or thinking that it was your fault when the person you are dating suddenly backs away, intimidated by the clarity of your personal mission here on earth. No, I am not a sexpert, a psychologist, or a dietician. I am not a mother of three or the owner of a successful hosiery franchise. But I am a girl with a keen interest in having it all, and what follows are hopeful dispatches from the frontlines of that struggle.”

from $7.76

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Katherine Wilson

Only In Naples - Lessons In Food And Famiglia From My Italian Mother-In-Law

from $6.57

Unit price
per

'See Naples and die', said Goethe. But Katherine Wilson saw Naples and started to live.Katherine is fresh out of college when she arrives in Naples to intern at the US Consulate. There she meets handsome, studious Salvatore, and finds herself enveloped by his family - in particular by his elegant, accomplished mother, Raffaella. And it is here that Katherine's real education begins.Immersed in Neapolitan culture, tradition and cooking, slowly and unexpectedly falling for Salvatore, and basking in Raffaella's company and guidance, Katherine discovers how to prepare meals that sing, from rich ragù to pasta al forno with bacon, béchamel and four kinds of cheese. Through courtship, culture clashes, Sunday Mass, marriage and motherhood, Katherine slowly comes to appreciate carnale, the quintessentially Neapolitan sense of comfort and confidence in one's own skin.Steeped in sunlight, wine and unforgettable food, Only in Naples is a love letter to a city and a family, a coming-of-age story, and a transporting account of learning to live the Italian way.

from $6.57

Unit price
per

Out of stock

James Herriot

Let Sleeping Vets Lie

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Let Sleeping Vets Lie is a heartwarming and hilarious memoir of James Herriot's experiences as a veterinary assistant in Yorkshire. The book is filled with both the beauty and the challenges of working with animals, as well as the joys and frustrations of life in a rural community. Herriot's witty and engaging writing style will keep readers laughing and engaged throughout, making this book a must-read for any animal lover seeking a good laugh and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of Britain's wild places.

from $3.88

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Chris Hadfield

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

Regular price $5.34 $1.00 Save up to 88%

Unit price
per

Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, and been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft. The secret to Col. Hadfield's success-and survival-is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst-and enjoy every moment of it. In An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Col. Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks, and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement-and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counterintuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff. You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Col. Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth-especially your own.

Regular price $5.34 $1.00 Save up to 88%

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl

from $4.47

Unit price
per

Thirteen-year-old Anne Frank, with her parents and sister and four other people, went into hiding in the sealed-off back rooms of an Amsterdam office building in 1942, when the Nazi invaders intensified their persecution of Jews.For two years they remained safe. In August 1944 they were betrayed, Anne died in the ghastly concentration camp at Belsen. All the others perished too, except her father. Anne's astonishingly intimate diary was found by accident. With a touch of genius it records the strains of her unusual life, the problems of her unfolding womanhood, her falling in love, her unswerving faith in her religion. And it reveals the shining nobility of her spirit.Now known and loved the world over through State, Screen and TV adaptations or in translation, this touchingly human document remains timeless in its appeal--back cover

from $4.47

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Trevor Noah

Born a Crime : Stories from a South African Childhood

from $8.30

Unit price
per

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followedNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Michiko Kakutani, New York Times - USA Today - San Francisco Chronicle - NPR - Esquire - Newsday - BooklistTrevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents' indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa's tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man's relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother--his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother's unconventional, unconditional love.Praise for Born a Crime "[A] compelling new memoir . . . By turns alarming, sad and funny, [Trevor Noah's] book provides a harrowing look, through the prism of Mr. Noah's family, at life in South Africa under apartheid. . . . Born a Crime is not just an unnerving account of growing up in South Africa under apartheid, but a love letter to the author's remarkable mother."--Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times"[An] unforgettable memoir."--Parade "What makes Born a Crime such a soul-nourishing pleasure, even with all its darker edges and perilous turns, is reading Noah recount in brisk, warmly conversational prose how he learned to negotiate his way through the bullying and ostracism. . . . What also helped was having a mother like Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah. . . . Consider Born a Crime another such gift to her--and an enormous gift to the rest of us." --USA Today "[Noah] thrives with the help of his astonishingly fearless mother. . . . Their fierce bond makes this story soar." --People

from $8.30

Unit price
per

Out of stock

Dive Into Real-Life Stories

Biographies and memoirs offer unparalleled insights into the lives and minds of individuals who've shaped our world. Be it political icons, celebrities, or unsung heroes, Thryft brings you a rich assortment of stories that reveal extraordinary experiences and life lessons. Embark on a journey through time as you explore the personal tales that have influenced history and culture.