Books about real people whose stories amaze them with their life experiences (10 photos)

Many people love reading books because they contain amazing and fantastic worlds that take us away from reality and take us on an unforgettable journey. But works based on real events can be no less exciting. We invite you to get acquainted with books that have unique life material, which is devoid of tedious clericalism and imbued with love for the reader.

"My Lieutenant", Daniil Granin





The author tells a confessional story about himself, whom he calls “my lieutenant.” A book about one of the most difficult and terrible periods in the history of mankind, about the Second World War, written by the author in a friendly and sincere manner.

“We had higher education and complete illiteracy in what is needed for happiness.”

"The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks



This is a series of short studies of some of the most interesting patients that Sachs, a British neurologist and neuropsychologist, encountered during his career. The title of the book refers to the story of one of the patients, Mr. P., who suffers from visual agnosia. Visual agnosia is a special perception of objects (not meaning blindness) that a person is not able to recognize with vision alone. For example, if Mr. P were shown an object, he would not be able to tell what it was just by looking at it. However, if he could touch it or it made a sound, Mr. P would immediately recognize the object. Therefore, he really cannot distinguish a wife from a hat.

"Daniel Stein, translator", Lyudmila Ulitskaya





The novel became a bestseller and received the Big Book literary award for 2007. The book grew out of a documentary biography of Oswald Rufeisen, with whom Ulitskaya was familiar. The book raises themes of coexistence of people of different religions, religious tolerance and mutual respect. Language becomes the regulator of relationships, as the title of the book refers to.

"Aka Grace" Margaret Atwood



This is the story of a young girl who rocked Canada. The author builds a detective puzzle against the backdrop of a psychological drama, leaving readers in suspense until the very end.

"Of All Creatures Great and Small" by James Herriot



James Herriot is a veterinarian and English writer who speaks openly about his personal experiences. His stories are full of both humor and tragedy. No reader (neither young nor adult) will remain indifferent to stories about fat, fat cats or the miracle of the birth of a calf.

"The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diana Ackerman



Antonina Zhabinska, whose portrait you see on the right, is a Polish zoologist and children's writer who became the heroine of a novel by Diane Ackerman. This is a story about a terrible time and a fearless woman. The novel will reveal to you different aspects of the heroine’s life: from raising her son and caring for animals to the occupation of Poland and saving persecuted people at the cost of her own life.

"Journey to Kon-Tiki" by Thor Heyerdahl



Norwegian traveler Thor Heyerdahl tells a fascinating story about a 1947 expedition along the supposed route of Indian migration from Peru to Polynesia. With great love and humor, the author describes the relationships in the team, which is so important for the grandiose plan.

“House on the Embankment”, Yuri Trifonov



The story was based not just on the personal memories of the author, who lived in a real house on the embankment (“Government House” in Moscow), but also on the personal mistakes of his youth, the pain of which never subsided. Depicting a portrait of society of that time, the author dispassionately and mercilessly transferred all its weaknesses to paper. In addition, some heroes have real prototypes: Professor Ganchuk (Isaak Izrailevich Mints, Soviet historian), Sonya (Lena Mints), Anton Ovchinnikov (Lev Fedotov).

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell



Autobiography of a zoologist about the joy of communicating with nature. Many of the characters in the book are real people hidden under fictitious names. The stories the author narrates are full of not only funny events, but also serious episodes of interaction between humans and animals.

“Laurel”, Evgeny Vodolazkin



The author of the novel, Doctor of Philology, immerses you in the realities of the medieval world, through which the reader will travel with Arseny, going from the grandson of a healer to becoming a monk. The episode dedicated to the feat of foolishness is based on the lives and evidence of their miracles. Despite the complex material, the author avoids didactics and does not shy away from humor.