The best way to learn how to write is to read fervently and write diligently. Here are my top ten books that helped me learn about the joy of reading and the craft of writing:

The World According to Garp by John Irving. This was recommended to me by a high school friend. He told me a sign of a good book is that you care about the characters so much you’re worrying about them while you’re doing other things. Ever since, I’ve used that as a barometer for novels I’m reading.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri has a delicate, detailed way of writing that makes the most mundane activities of normal people seem riveting and heart-wrenching.
Intern by Dr. Sandeep Jauhar. When I was a hospital librarian, we purchased this memoir, and I fell in love with the memoir genre.
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas. I read this memoir many years ago, and the way the author pulls you into the depths of her experience has stayed with me.
The Boy Kings of Texas by Domingo Martinez. I heard a reading of a chapter from the book (“The Mimis”) on NPR. Of course I liked that Martinez is a fellow Texan, and his writing style made his life story fascinating. Memorable memoirs don’t always have to be about celebrities or an amazing, unique feat. Everyday life can be just as interesting.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. In terms of extraordinary experiences and “amazing feats,” Krakauer makes the struggle of climbing Mount Everest feel incredibly real. I’ve suffered through the Everest journey many times in my imagination.
Writing & Selling Your Memoir by Paula Balzer. This is essential for someone who wants to write a memoir but has no idea where to start.
Greenlight Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing by Brooke Warner. This book lifted me out of my depression of failing to break into traditional publishing. I went indie and haven’t looked back.
Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home by Leah Lax. I only realized after I’d read this memoir that it, like my memoir, was published by She Writes Press. The quality of the writing, editing, and design gave me confidence that I’d made the right choice to sign my contract with the company.
On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. The tone of this book is calm and casual and feels like a conversation with a friend. King offers a welcoming hand to the world of writing.