Can anyone recommend a good book that is a true story?

Answer 1

this is a wide open question, so here are some of my favorites. Most were best sellers and many of them I have loaned out or recommended to friends and they've loved them:

Books by Jon Krakauer
1. Into the Wild (being made into a movie) about this kid who dies in the wilderness of Alaska
2. Into thin Air - about an ill-fated climb of Mt. Everest recently where several beginning climbers died
3. Under the Banner of Heaven - a true crime book mixed with history, about a murderous, hoaxing mormon; interweaves his crimes with a history of the religion. great read.

4. The island of Lost Maps by Miles Harvey. Again, a true crime mixed with history, about a guy who steals historical maps from old book collections. Fascinating.

5. The Fasting Girl by Michelle Stacey. About a girl in brooklyn at the turn of the century, who just stops eating, and stays alive on nothing but a banana for years. (supposedly, although there are lots of theories about whether she was sleepwalking and eating or something like that.)

6. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. About a convicted murderer who helps develop entries for the dictionary.

7. NIckel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. the essayist and social commentator goes "undercover" and tries to survive on the rotten salaries of today's blue collar jobs (waitressing, wal-mart, etc.) made into a play (and might be in development for a movie.) really good and reads more like a story than social commentary.

About some of the previous answers:
Of course read "The Diary of Anne Frank" and if you love it try the recent biography "Anne Frank" by Melissa Muller or also really moving is the book "Anne Frank Remembered" by the "helper" Miep Gies.

I loved "never cry wolf" by Farley Mowat, and I recommend reading it, but unfortunately it might not quite fit the category, as in recent years the "truth" behind whether or not Farley Mowat actually "lived" among the wolves in the dramatic way he claimed has come into question. Wikipedia cites the journalist John Goddard with making the case for questioning Farley Mowat's stories truthfulness in an article published in 1996.

and then, there's the one that makes me really mad: Beverly Sparks, PhD, the writer of "It happened to Nancy." This lady is responsible for the book "Go Ask Alice," which I read and believed in 8th grade. She sold and promoted it as a true story and true diary, and was exposed many years later as having faked it. It's now listed and sold as fiction - as are all her other books about horrible, terrible things happening to teenagers - but the word hasn't quite gone out to the schools and well-meaning counselors and youth advisors who still recommend the book. Read any of her stuff if you want - just know she made it all up, is all.

From the Wikipedia article on Beverly Sparks:

"Sparks has gone on to produce many other alleged diaries dealing with various problems faced by teenagers. These include .... It Happened to Nancy: By an Anonymous Teenager. Although billed as "real diaries," these do not appear to have been received by readers or reviewers as anything other than fiction."

Answer 2

The Perfect Storm : A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger, and The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey by Linda Greenlaw.

The first of these was made into a movie, and the second was written by the woman Swordboat Captain who is also in the other book and movie. Together they make a tremendous read.

Also, some true books I have enjoyed over the years also include: Never Cry Wolf, and Where No Birds Sang, by Farley Mowat. Soul on Ice, by Eldridge Cleaver, The Black Panther Party reconsidered, by Judson L. Jeffries.

These are all intensely personal stories of coming to grips with life. The last is a compendium of writings by people who were Black Panthers, or were seriously affected by them. It is a surprisingly well written documentary.

You could try I, Asimov, the Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, or The Autobiography of Malcom X, as told to Alex Haley. An American Childhood, by Annie Dillard. Or, The Story of the U-505, by Admiral Danial V. Gallery (Ret.).

These are all autobiography, and well done, and very interesting reading. The U-Boat story is really an autobiography of Dan Gallery about the years leading up to his accomplishment, the first American since John Paul Jones to capture an enemy warship on the high seas! (The ship is currently parked in Chicago, if you want to see it after reading the book)!

Lots more available, but I thought this short list might help.

Enjoy.

Answer 3

Lucy Grealy's Autobiography of a Face. Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

Answer 4

Ooh loads. Donnie Brasco. The French Connection. Wiseguy by Nicolas Pileggi (became the film Goodfellas). Stalingrad by Antony Beevor (awesome story of the Nazi-Soviet battle for the city of Stalingrad). Berlin: The Downfall 1945 also by Antony Beevor (another great book about the last days of Hitler's Third Reich and the Soviet attack on Berlin). David Guralnick's superb books about Elvis Presley. Any of the John Douglas books about serial killers and FBI profiling.

Answer 5

I've read a brilliant book recently called Arthur and George by Julian Barnes.

It's a true story about Arthur Conan Doyle's relationship with a guy called George Edjali. George was wrongly accused of a bizarre crime, and Conan Doyle campaigned vigorously to have the conviction quashed.

Excellent, well-written, fascinating read (short-listed for the Booker Prize too).

Answer 6

There's a great compilation of true stories formed from ones submitted by Americans to a radio station at the behest of author Paul Auster (this was 'The National Story Project').

As well as reading out many on air, Auster edited a collection of the best under the title "True Tales of American Life" (first published as "I thought my father was God, and other true tales"; as far as I can make out it's the same collection)

It's a really beautiful and life-affirming collection of stories with a staggering range of voices. It's true stories of ordinary people, and it's remarkable.

Answer 7

Book of Shadows: A Modern Woman's Journey into the Wisdom of Witchcraft and the Magic of the Goddess by Phyllis Curott

This is an autobiography that even I enjoyed!

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Shadows-Journey-Witchcraft-Goddess/dp/0767900553/sr=8-6/qid=1164583513/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6/103-5017200-8001410?ie=UTF8&s=books

Answer 8

I would suggest Dave Pelzer 'A Child Called It' and the sequels to that 'The Lost Boy' and 'A Man Named Dave'. I was really captivated by these books but i suggest you do not read them if you are easily upset and deeply sensitive. You could otherwise read Frank McCourts 'Angela's Ashes' which is about a troubled childhood too but his strength and positive attitude make it a really enjoyable read which is comic in some places. If you do decide to read any of these books i garauntee you will not put them down until you have finished!

Answer 9

Anthony Bourdain - KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL. I have read this book so many times..might help that I'm a chef though...

But seriously, this book not only tells the story of his struggle in the kitchen world, but also how he deals with his everyday chores in the kitchen. A quality read- I heartily recommend it...as long as you are not squeamish!

Also his follow up A COOKS TOUR is just as fascinating as it explores the food of other countries that you never really thought about before...

Answer 10

Marley & Me by John Grogan
It's a slice of family life that lasts the life of John's dog ... from the time that he gets it as a tiny puppy until the end. It's incredibly sad, touching but also makes you smile & makes you laugh.
http://marleyandme.com/

Diana's Story by Deric Longden this & his second, Lost for Words were televised a while back as 'Wide Eyed & Legless'.
The first covers Diana's illness, while the second one really tells you more about Deric's mother. It feels like you are definately reading about a real person & sharing the highs & lows of his life. Very moving & very funny. Don't read the second book on a train ... it made me laugh out loud.... I loved the bit where Deric's mother put the goldfish in the bath to give them a bit of a holiday.
There are other books written by Deric - all very good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dianas-Story-Deric-Longden/dp/0552139440/sr=1-6/qid=1164663428/ref=sr_1_6/202-1317720-5748632?ie=UTF8&s=books

If you like Siamese cats then I'd also recommend one of Doreen Tovey's books about her Siamese cats. You can feel the characters of the cats, stalking off the pages - again incredibly funny in places.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b/202-1317720-5748632?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=doreen+tovey