Aron Ralston made international news in 2003 for severing his right arm to free himself from between a canyon wall and a boulder. The story of being trapped for six days in an isolated part of the Utah Canyons, Ralston's first-person account is both thrilling and inspirational. The 2011 Academy Award-nominated film "127 Hours" was based upon "Between a Rock and a Hard Place."
This book is Joe Simpson's inspirational personal account of surviving a mountaineering mishap in the Peruvian Andes. Mistakenly left for dead by his partner, Simpson descends through a snowstorm on a broken right leg, heel and ruptured knee. His determination in striving forward during this ordeal is a testament to the human spirit.
Paulo Coelho's most popular book is a simple fable about a shepherd boy's journey, leaving his homeland to search for treasure in Egypt. Following his dream, the boy struggles to reach his destination and learns life-changing truths along the way. Though occasionally criticized for its writing style, many people have found it thought-provoking and it remains a popular book.
Mitch Albom, author of "Tuesdays with Morrie," reflects on the meaning of life by weaving three stories together about an 83-year-old man's death. The hurts, troubles and mysteries of his life are explained by five people he meets in heaven. Similar to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Albom's book will stay with you long after you've read the last page.