Maya's Staff Picks (Top Favorite)

I highly recommend these top-rated books as a must-read because they offer a unique blend of captivating storytelling, relatable characters, and thought-provoking themes that will resonate with readers of all genres. These books have been widely acclaimed for their exceptional writing, well-developed plots, and ability to evoke emotions, making them a valuable addition to any bookshelf. Whether you're looking for a thrilling adventure, a heartwarming romance, or a journey of self-discovery, these books are sure to captivate and leave a lasting impression long after the final page is turned. In addition, the non-fiction titles provide valuable knowledge and expert insights on topics such as science, history, and personal development, while the biographies grant readers a unique glimpse into the lives of inspiring individuals who have shaped our world. Meanwhile, the sci-fi and fantasy novels transport us to new and imaginative realms, exploring complex themes and ideas that challenge our understanding of the universe and our place within it. With their engaging narratives, well-researched content, and memorable characters, these books are sure to educate, entertain, and inspire, making them a must-read for anyone looking to expand their minds and broaden their horizons.

Showing 1 - 15 of 15  There are a total of 105 valid entries on the list.
Book cover for "Alexander Hamilton"
Star rating for Alexander Hamilton
Author:
Average Rating:
3.9 stars
Description:
Few figures in American history have been more hotly debated or more grossly misunderstood than Alexander Hamilton. Chernow's biography gives Hamilton his due and sets the record straight, deftly illustrating that the political and economic greatness of today's America is the result of Hamilton's countless sacrifices to champion ideas that were often wildly disputed during his time. "To repudiate his legacy," Chernow writes, "is, in many ways, to...
Book cover for "Becoming Trader Joe"
Star rating for Becoming Trader Joe
Average Rating:
4 stars
Description:

Build an iconic shopping experience that your customers love—and a work environment that your employees love being a part of—using this blueprint from Trader Joe's visionary founder, Joe Coulombe.

Infuse your organization with a distinct personality and culture that draws customers in a way that simply competing on price cannot.

Joe Coulombe founded what would become Trader Joe's in the late 1960s and helped

...
Book cover for "Girl, wash your face"
Star rating for Girl, wash your face
Average Rating:
3 stars
Description:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER – OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD

Discover how to become the joyous, confident woman you were meant to be.

Do you ever suspect that everyone else has life figured out and you don't have a clue? If so, Rachel Hollis has something to tell you: that's a lie.

If you have ever said any of these things to yourself . . .

  • Something else will make me

  • ...
    Book cover for "The good neighbor"
    Star rating for The good neighbor
    Average Rating:
    4 stars
    Description:
    Drawing on original interviews, oral histories and archival documents, the author traces the iconic children's program host's personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work.
    Book cover for "Grit"
    Star rating for Grit
    Average Rating:
    4.4 stars
    Description:
    "In this must-read book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, athletes, students, and business people--both seasoned and new--that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called "grit." Why do some people succeed and others fail? Sharing new insights from her landmark research on grit, MacArthur "genius" Angela Duckworth explains why talent is hardly...
    Book cover for "I know why the caged bird sings"
    Star rating for I know why the caged bird sings
    Average Rating:
    4.4 stars
    Description:
    A black woman recalls the anguish of her childhood in Arkansas and her adolescence in northern slums.
    Book cover for "I'm glad my mom died"
    Star rating for I'm glad my mom died
    Average Rating:
    4.2 stars
    Description:
    "A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor--including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother--and how she retook control of her life"--
    Book cover for "Lies that Chelsea Handler told me"
    Star rating for Lies that Chelsea Handler told me
    Average Rating:
    4.2 stars
    Description:
    A hilarious #1 bestselling collection of essays from those nearest and dearest to comedian Chelsea Handler—the people she's lied to.
    "My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate." — Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
    It's no lie: Chelsea Handler...
    Book cover for "Life will be the death of me"
    Star rating for Life will be the death of me
    Average Rating:
    4.1 stars
    Description:
    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “This will be one of your favorite books of all time. Through her intensely vulnerable, honest, and hilarious reflections, Chelsea shows us more than just her insides. She shows us ourselves.”—Amy Schumer
     
    Don’t miss Chelsea Handler’s new Netflix stand-up special, Revolution, now streaming!
     
    In the wake of President Donald Trump’s...
    Book cover for "The millionaire next door"
    Star rating for The millionaire next door
    Average Rating:
    4 stars
    Description:
    "Why aren't I as wealthy as I should be?" Many people ask this question of themselves all the time. Often they are hard-working, well educated middle- to high-income people. Why, then, are so few affluent. For nearly two decades the answer has been found in the bestselling The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy, reissued with a new foreword for the twenty-first century. According to the authors, most people have it...
    Book cover for "Reading with Patrick"
    Star rating for Reading with Patrick
    Average Rating:
    3.5 stars
    Description:
    "A memoir of race, inequality, and the power of literature told through the life-changing friendship between an idealistic young teacher and her gifted student, jailed for murder in the Mississippi Delta"--Amazon.com.
    Book cover for "Talking as fast as I can"
    Star rating for Talking as fast as I can
    Average Rating:
    4.1 stars
    Description:
    In her first work of nonfiction, the star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood recounts her experiences on Gilmore Girls, the first and second time, and shares stories about life, love, and working in Hollywood.
    Book cover for "The third Gilmore girl"
    Star rating for The third Gilmore girl
    Average Rating:
    4.2 stars
    Description:
    A "memoir from award-winning ... actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more"--

    14. Untamed

    Book cover for "Untamed"
    Star rating for Untamed
    Average Rating:
    3.4 stars
    Description:
    "There is a voice of longing inside every woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good mothers, daughters, partners, employees, citizens, and friends. We believe all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives, relationships, and world, and wonder: Wasn't it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to...
    Book cover for "Your money or your life"
    Star rating for Your money or your life
    Author:
    Average Rating:
    4.5 stars
    Description:
    A fully revised edition of one of the most influential books ever written on personal finance with more than a million copies sold

    “The best book on money. Period.” –Grant Sabatier, founder of “Millennial Money,” on CNBC Make It
    "This is a wonderful book. It can really change your life." -Oprah


    For more than twenty-five years, Your Money or Your Life...