Books like

Books like Papillon

12 books with a reading profile close to Papillon by Henri Charrière. Clear-cut; an easy read.

1

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise

by Ruth Reichl

memoir, narrative

In this memoir, Ruth Reichl details her tenure as the restaurant critic for the New York Times, where she utilized elaborate costumes and personas to avoid detection by staff.
2

This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor

by Adam Kay

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Adam Kay provides a chronological account of his medical career through verbatim diary entries written between 2004 and 2010.
3

Permanent Record

by Edward Snowden

memoir, narrative

Edward Snowden details his transition from a committed CIA and NSA technologist to a whistleblower who exposed the United States government’s system of mass digital surveillance.
4

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

by Anthony Bourdain

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Anthony Bourdain exposes the grueling, chaotic reality of professional restaurant life, stripping away the glamour often associated with high-end dining.
5

107 Days

by Kamala Harris

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

In 107 Days, Kamala Harris provides a chronological account of the compressed 2024 presidential campaign following the transition at the top of the Democratic ticket.
6

The Elephant Whisperer: Learning About Life, Loyalty and Freedom from a Remarkable Herd of Elephants

by Lawrence Anthony

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Lawrence Anthony accepts a rogue herd of wild elephants onto his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, South Africa, to save them from being shot.
7

JUNGLEKEEPER

by Paul Rosolie

memoir, narrative

Paul Rosolie recounts his experiences living within the deep Amazon basin, focusing on the immediate realities of rainforest conservation.
8

Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake

by Frank W. Abagnale

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

In this memoir, Frank Abagnale recounts his years as a teenage con artist during the 1960s.
9

Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir

by Ruth Reichl

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Ruth Reichl documents her decade-long tenure as the editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, beginning with her transition from restaurant critic to corporate executive.
10

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character

by Richard P. Feynman

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Richard Feynman recounts his life through a series of anecdotal sketches that prioritize intellectual play over formal academic history.
11

Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases

by Paul Holes

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Paul Holes traces his twenty-four-year career as a cold case investigator, centered primarily on the decades-long pursuit of the Golden State Killer.
12

Orange Is the New Black

by Piper Kerman

Also clear-cut · memoir, narrative

Piper Kerman recounts the year she spent in a minimum-security federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, following a decade-old conviction for drug money laundering.

Get picks matched to your own reading on papr.

Get papr

Your library, beautifully understood.