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Books I Can't Live Without (with links)
42
items Books that helped me either grow as a person, who give me advice in the things I wish to do, or just books that I enjoy!
Sections
7
Biographies
Fiction
Opening Your Mind
Creative Writing Help
Musical Knowledge
Graphic Novels/Comics
Biographies
An incredible biography about one of the greatest pro wrestlers the world has ever known. Make sure to learn about the incredible life of Shinsuke Nakamura!
King of Strong Style: 1980-2014
It is a moment shrouded in horror and mystery. Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849, at just forty, in a painful, utterly bizarre manner that would not have been out of place in one of his own tales of terror. What was the cause of his untimely de...
A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe|Paperback
If you are a big military buff like myself, then a book like this is an incredible read that keeps you invested and intrigued like crazy. My favorite book about one of the biggest and most important battles in human history
When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day|Hardcover
Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift is one of the most important and influential artists the music industry has ever seen. Go deep into her career and see just how much she has changed pop music for the better, and how it has lead to her truly becomin...
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music
Whatever your political allegiances may be, it is hard to deny that Barack Obama is one of the best writers and most talented speakers the world has seen in a long time. Reading this book is an incredile insight into his lengthy and very exciting lif...
A Promised Land
A story that is somehow real despite sounding so wild and fantastical. An absolutely incredible read that is as educational as it is wild. A MUST for any library or bookshelf.
Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Desperadoes Who Plotted Hitler's Downfall, Giving Birth to Modern-day Black Ops
An incredibly unique and fun book written by an incredibly talented and unique man. Stanley Tucci moves through his life and enjoys the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible. The meals shared in thi...
What I Ate in One Year: (and related thoughts)
A beautifully brutal story of one of the star child actors in the last few decades. Jennette McCurdy shares her incredibly traumatic and tough upbringing while being front and center as one of the premier Nickelodeon stars. Not for the faint of heart...
I'm Glad My Mom Died
After his incredibly tragic death, Matthew Perry has been remembered fondly as one of the best and funniest television actors the world has ever known. His life full of tragedy and sadness is incredibly inspiring, and hearing him be so open about it ...
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir
Monty Python is perhaps the single greatest comedy group the world has ever known. Some of the greatest jokes, sketches, characters, and more packed into this incredibly detailed and lovely memoir from one of its biggest stars. A serious gift for any...
The Spamalot Diaries
Sweeping and definitive, The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap’s Masked Iconoclast recounts the rise, fall, redemption, and untimely demise of MF DOOM. Broken down into five sections: The Man, The Myth, The Mask, The Music, and The Legend, journalis...
The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast
Kurt Cobain filled dozens of notebooks with lyrics, drawings, and writings about his plans for Nirvana and his thoughts about fame, the state of music, and the people who bought and sold him and his music. His journals reveal an artist who loved musi...
Journals (Kurt Cobain)
Fiction
The greatest fantasy series I have EVER read. Some of the most creative ideas and world building I have seen, and it is a lovely read.
A Darker Shade of Magic Series
The most fun and light hearted romp through nostalgia that you will ever see. If you love pop culture, then you will LOVE this book
Ready Player One
A bit of an older book, but one that truly shaped me as a child and helped me become fascinated and passionate about writing and really creating art in general. The best YA series to ever be written!
Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief
A gorgeous and incredibly high quality book! I feel like the plot is relatively well known, but in a future where books are being burned and people are kept dumb and easy to control…AHH! It's just so good! Such a brutal but incredible read.
Fahrenheit 451
I'm not really sure how much I can get into talking about Winnie The Pooh without getting emotional. He is genuinely the first fictional character I ever loved, the first stuffed animal I ever had, and the first book I remember reading with my Mother...
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Hardcover
Dune is perhaps the greatest piece of science fiction literature ever written. One of the most dense and well thought out stories to ever be created, and something that has acted as MAJOR inspiration for me and how I approach story telling. It is big...
Dune (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Hardcover
H. P. Lovecraft is one of my favorite authors to ever exist. His stories and his writing are just so incredible. Such high quality that I would say he is the upper limit. I do not know anybody who could surpass his skills and creativity with some of ...
H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Hardcover
A book I had to read in high school, and I'm very happy that I did. A genuinely incredible story that is a must read for any literature fans. So SO good.
To Kill a Mockingbird|Hardcover
One of the best comedic stories ever written and something that I will read over and over again every time I finish it. Just so absolutely creative and has some amazing world building for such a comedic and funny story. Highly reccomend.
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Hardcover
Opening Your Mind
A very informative and wonderful book that really helped me see the world differently and open my eyes to the wonders that there are to offer!
How to Change Your Mind
A lovely book to learn about the world. A great way to analyze humanity and to help you think about what makes you…YOU. It really helped me grow and become a more aware and honest person.
The Strange Order of Things: Life and Cultures
An absolutely incredible and beautifully researched and written book that helped me discover my morals and beliefs while keeping me educated about a variety of topics! I would highly reccomend this book!
A History of God
A book that really helped me with my constantly shifting mental state and analysing in a way that really benefited me and helped me live a much more fulfilling and enjoyable life!
Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition): Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering
A lovely and powerful book to help you better understand yourself and your mind! Renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate its surprising mysteries.
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain|Paperback
Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know—like the need for physical activity to get your brain working its best.
Brain Rules (Updated and Expanded): 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School|Paperback
Eating doesn’t have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings welcome simplicity to our daily decisions about food. Written with clarity, concision, and wit that has become bestsel...
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual|Paperback
Creative Writing Help
As somebody who has loved creative writing ever since I was a young child, this book was a super amazing and incredibly informative and helpful for me and my writing journey.
The Fantasy Fiction Formula
A book that I have used and read front to back over and over again, hoping to use its lessons to write the best and most beliveable fight scenes I possibly could! If you are ever interested in trying out creative writing, especially in the action gen...
Fight Write: How to Write Believable Fight Scenes
A bit of a light hearted but incredibly informative book that helps with those wanting to write and not make any mistakes!
27 Fiction Writing Blunders - And How Not To Make Them!|Paperback
A great book full of wonderful advice throughout history! With a chapter devoted to each key strategy, Roy Peter Clark expands and contextualizes the original author's suggestions and offers anecdotes about how each one helped him or other writers sh...
Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser|Paperback
This book is a set of tools: literary crowbars, chisels, mallets, pliers and tongs. Use them to pry, chip, yank and sift good characters out of the place where they live in your imagination!
Elements of Fiction Writing - Characters & Viewpoint: Proven advice and timeless techniques for creating compelling characters by an a ward-winning author|Paperback
Musical Knowledge
If you are interested in making music like I am, then this book is a MUST HAVE for starting your journey and educating yourself!
Twentieth-century harmony
My absolute favorite book when it comes to composing and analyzing music. A MUST have if you ever have a fascination for music in any capacity.
Scoring the Screen: The Secret Language of Film Music
Incredible and amazing book that really helps to grow your mind to the world of composition. In addition to presenting the commonly known classical forms, this book offers invaluable general guidance on developing and connecting musical ideas, buildi...
Musical Composition: Craft and Art
You literally get to learn about music composition from one of the GREATEST to ever do it! Learn from the master!
Fundamentals of Musical Composition
Graphic Novels/Comics
An absolute masterclass of comic book writing with some of the greatest art you will ever see! A beautiful and tragic story with twists and turns that will keep you invested the entire way through!
Batman: The Killing Joke
Arguably, but well deservedly, THE greatest graphic novel to ever be created. An absolute masterclass in every single sense of the word, and really shows just how beautiful and artistic the medium of comics can be.
Watchmen
Such a beautiful and honestly perfect as can be depiction of the incredible Superman character. A real recommendation even for non comic book fans!
All Star Superman: Grant Morrison
Poetry
Edgar Allen Poe is perhaps my favorite poet and writer ever, and this was the absolute best gift I could have ever received! A perfect gift for anybody who appreciates poetry!
The Complete Tales And Poems Of Edgar Allan Poe
Genuinely a book that became the inciting thing of me wanting to write fantasy epics and tell stories of hereos and adventures. Before this book, I wanted to write super basic stories, but this helped me so SO much!
The Iliad ; And, The Odyssey of Homer