15 fascinating and truthful books about famous people and their achievements

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Honest and frank stories will inspire daily exploits and discoveries.

1. “Lords of infinity. Cosmonaut about profession and destiny ", Yuri Baturin

Yuri Baturin - pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of Russia, has been in space twice. In the book, he talks without postures and guile about his life path, the obstacles he had to face on the way into space, and about outer space itself - great, frightening and attractive.

From the book you will learn how astronauts actually live in zero gravity, how they return to Earth, and what space can teach a person in general. A nice bonus - illustrations made by Baturin himself in orbit.

2. "My travels", Fedor Konyukhov

Travel notes and reflections of the most famous Russian traveler Fyodor Konyukhov became the basis of the book. During his wanderings, the author repeatedly got into various troubles and many times stood on the brink of death. Alone, Fedor Konyukhov conquered the North Pole, repulsed an attack by pirates during a round-the-world trip and got out of a dangerous glacier high in the mountains.

The notes of a cheerful optimist-traveler will help you understand what motivates a person and makes him go in search of adventure.

3. “Do no harm. Stories of Life, Death and Neurosurgery ", Henry Marsh

British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh truthfully talks about his everyday life, life and death, good, evil and difficult choices that he has to make every day. Marsh-surgeon and Marsh-man will appear before you with their fears, dreams and hopes.

The author also speaks openly and without sentimentality about his mistakes, which cost people their lives. By his example, he encourages readers to take responsibility for their own actions in order to be able to lead a dignified life and respect themselves.

4. "From the third world to the first" by Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew is a former Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore. He is one of the most prominent politicians of the 20th century. In a short time, Lee Kuan Yew managed to turn a tiny island city into a magnificent metropolis, which ranked fourth in the world in terms of per capita income.

The miracle was made possible thanks to the exceptional qualities of the prime minister himself, who in a book of memoirs shares with readers his thoughts, analysis of the situation and the experience of making difficult decisions.

5. “Runner without sleep. Revelations of an Ultramarathon Runner, Dean Karnazes

Ultramarathon is not just very difficult. This is beyond human capabilities. Nevertheless, Dean Karnazes managed to become a legend of the super marathon. He went through trials that are even scary to read about.

The great marathon runner shares his experience in the book. Dean tells how and why he takes part in the most difficult races, how he prepares for the tests, including the psychological one, because without the appropriate fighting spirit you should not even try to surpass yourself.

6. “Risking my own skin. The hidden asymmetry of everyday life ", Nassim Taleb

Nassim Taleb, mathematician, trader, writer and just an extraordinary person, using the example of his life and the stories of friends and relatives, tells how to make decisions, when you can risk everything in order to achieve more, and when it is reasonable to step back and wait. Theory is fascinatingly interspersed with practice, so that each reader can try on this or that situation for himself and draw the appropriate conclusions.

Telling the author about his own experience will help you make the right choices in everyday situations.

7. Pencil of Hope by Adam Brown

A chance encounter with a street beggar turned the life of a successful young economist upside down. Adam Brown, an Ivy League graduate, dropped out of business and took up charity work. In five years, the foundation he created has built 250 schools around the world. Today the author of the story is included in the list of 50 people who changed the world.

In the book, Adam Brown tells why he gave up a promising career and how he managed to form the rules of life that allowed him to make the dreams of thousands of people from different countries come true.

8. "This is the captain of the ship," Patrick Smith

Patrick Smith, the world's most famous civil aviation pilot, has flown thousands of flights and visited nearly a hundred countries. He blogs, TV consultants and writes books. In his new creation, Patrick reveals the secrets of his professional world. From the book you can find out if there are safe places on the plane, what to do during turbulence and if planes meet with UFOs.

It is impossible not to become infected with the author's love for the sky, airplanes and life itself, while reading this light and very sincere work.

9. “Sony. Made in Japan ", Akio Morita

Morita Akio is one of the founders of the legendary Japanese corporation Sony. It was he who was the creator of some of the popular and innovative products for his time, such as a cassette player or CD. In his memoirs, Akio Morita frankly talks about the life and work of ordinary and prominent people, as well as how and why Japanese culture and traditions did not prevent the corporation from conquering the European and American markets.

10. “I was told to come alone,” Suad Mehennet

Suad Mehennet, a reporter for The Washington Post, was born, raised and educated in Germany. She has to endlessly balance between a Muslim upbringing and a European way of life. The author raises difficult questions of the balance of two cultures and value systems, and also shares his own view on the possibility of harmonious coexistence of different worlds. At the same time, Suad manages to maintain neutrality and not be biased in many issues.

11. “Time for the first. My destiny - I myself … ", Alexey Leonov

Alexei Leonov, a legendary personality, the first person who has been in outer space, talks openly about the nuances of a difficult profession, the confrontation between the USSR and the United States, the formation of character and what it is like to be a hero and idol of millions. Cosmos through Leonov's eyes is the harmony of music, color and silence.

The memoirs of the great cosmonaut and just a wonderful person will become an example of unprecedented courage and real heroism for readers.

12. "Tear of a Champion", Irina Rodnina

An honest and tough book by a three-time Olympic champion, an idol of millions and a popular favorite, Irina Rodnina, will reveal the truth about the carefree (so it seems to many from the outside) life of professional athletes, about the obstacles they have to face and how much strength, physical and moral, success requires.

The athlete speaks about many things for the first time, which captivates readers and fans.

13. "The Experience of the Revolutionary Struggle", Ernesto Che Guevara

Guerrilla warfare in peace? Then to Ernesto Che Guevara, the idol of the left-wing radical youth and the closest associate of Fidel Castro. His name and ideas have become a magnet for several generations, and today the personality of the Comandante is associated with devotion and selfless human dream. The book will help you understand the legendary incorruptible politician and get to know him as a person and a fiery revolutionary a little closer.

14. "Diary of a genius", Salvador Dali

It is difficult to say whether Salvador Dali himself considered himself a genius. An ordinary person with weaknesses, doubts and periods of disbelief in himself peeps behind the shocking antics. Dali kept a personal diary for many years. He recorded almost everything that happened to him, and everything that deserves the attention of the public. The pain of the artist, love for people, thoughts about morality - what Salvador Dali is called a genius for.

The artist's diary will reveal the motives of his extraordinary actions and bring him closer to the creative process, so that everyone finds sources of inspiration for themselves in everyday life.

15. "Young years of nurse Parovozov", Alexey Motorov

Alexey Motorov is a writer today, but in the past he was a medical school student, then a university, worked as a nurse, orderly and doctor. His youth fell on the 80s, albeit not dashing, but also full of adventures and absurdity years. The days when the future writer helped patients in the intensive care unit of an ordinary Soviet hospital are forever engraved in his memory.

Memories of Alexey Motorov are read in one breath. They do not feel the burden and tragedy of the time, and almost anecdotal situations are perceived very easily and instill in readers faith in the best human qualities.