1. Schulz and Peanuts by David Michaelis

Michaelis tackles the tale of the world’s most famous cartoonist, and he does so wonderfully. He demonstrates how Schulz’s childhood and military service affected his comic. He delves into great detail, especially concerning the origins of the name Peanuts (one of my favorite parts of the book). The biography is peppered with Peanuts comics, usually pertaining to the topic Michaelis is currently discussing.

2. Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang

Chang delivers an excellent biography of how a royal consort gained power and ruled China for decades. Cixi rises to power after giving birth to the emperor’s only son, and upon the emperor’s death, she aids in a coup to gain power. The biography reads like a novel, thanks to Chang’s compelling and eloquent writing.

3. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee

Gbowee, frustrated with the violence of the Liberian civil war and the suffering it inflicted upon women, led a women’s peace protest, gaining national attention. It is inspiring to see the rise of the peace group, how women flock to Gbowee and gain power from their protest.

4. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I highly recommend listening to the audiobook of this memoir, as Poehler’s narration is hilarious and engaging. This book appeals to longtime fans as well as people who don’t know much about her.

5. Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

Another biography by Chang that delivers a gripping story about a real-life figure. Chang clearly underwent scrupulous research in writing this book, yet the information is portrayed in such a captivating fashion that reading it feels rewarding, not onerous.