Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The protagonist of this novel has no name and is truly the Invisible Man, or I. M. Although college educated, I.M. remains a victim of racism and injustice, as he grows from childhood into his adult life, in a panoramic view of race relations in American education, labor relations, politics, and society in general.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
Newsweek praised this as the "book that tells you what's beautiful, what's inspiring, what's fun and what's just unforgettable everywhere on earth." The book is packed with recommendations of the world's best places to visit, on and off the beaten path, a continent-by-continent listing of beaches, museums, monuments, islands, inns, restaurants, mountains, and more. The book notes say, “The prose is gorgeous, seizing on exactly what makes each entry worthy of inclusion. And, following the romance, the nuts and bolts: addresses, phone and fax numbers, web sites, costs, and best times to visit.”

Skeletons on the Zahara: a True Story of Survival by Dean King
A reviewer for Amazon.com said this: “Some stories are so enthralling they deserve to be retold generation after generation. The wreck in 1815 of the Connecticut merchant ship, Commerce, and the subsequent ordeal of its crew in the Sahara Desert, is one such story. With Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival, Dean King refreshes the popular nineteenth-century narrative once read and admired by Henry David Thoreau, James Fenimore Cooper, and Abraham Lincoln. King’s version, which actually draws from two separate first person accounts of the Commerce's crew, offers a page-turning blend of science, history, and classic adventure.”

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Accompanied only by his old college buddy Stephen Katz, Bryson starts out one March morning in north Georgia, intending to walk the entire 2,100 miles to trail's end atop Maine's Mount Katahdin. Alix Wilber for Amazon.com said, “The reader is treated to both a very funny personal memoir and a delightful chronicle of the trail, the people who created it, and the places it passes through. Whether you plan to make a trip like this one yourself one day or only care to read about it, A Walk in the Woods is a great way to spend an afternoon.”

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
From Amazon.com: “Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end.”