The Glass Castle is a harrowing journey into the life of Jeannette Walls, a woman born into extreme poverty, abuse and neglect at the hands of her parents, Rex and Rose Mary Walls. The story follows her journey from her birthplace in Tucson, extended life in Welch, WV, and finally her rise to success in New York. Rex Walls, her father, is the primary antagonist. Through his violent alcoholism, he lies, cheats, neglects and steals from the family.

Into Thin Air is a personal breakdown of the 1996 disaster on Mt Everest where Jon Krakaurer retells his experience leading up to, during and after the disaster, through the death of his teammates and surviving the storm. If you aren't the biggest fan of fictional stories and want to connect with real world characters, this book is for you. The book is written from a first person POV and goes through Jon's actions and thoughts on the mountain.