If you enjoy reading books by Jeff Hobbs then you might also like the following authors:
Matthew Desmond is a sociologist who writes about inequality and poverty in the United States. His book “Evicted” focuses on the lives of eight families in Milwaukee struggling to keep their homes.
The story captures the cycle of poverty through real lives, showing how evictions ripple through communities and impact everything from health to stability.
Desmond’s ability to spotlight the human cost of housing insecurity gives the book an emotional depth that sticks with you. If you appreciated Jeff Hobbs’ way of bringing real-life struggles into focus, you might find Desmond’s work equally powerful.
Ta-Nehisi Coates is an author who captures personal and societal struggles with depth and emotion. In “Between the World and Me,” Coates writes a heartfelt letter to his son, reflecting on what it means to be Black in America.
He shares his own experiences growing up in Baltimore, the challenges of understanding his place in the world, and the fears he has for his son’s future.
Coates doesn’t shy away from talking about history or the realities of systemic issues, all while keeping the narrative deeply personal. The book feels raw and honest, as though you’re being invited into an intimate conversation between father and son.
Mike Isaac is a journalist who wrote “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.” The book tells the dramatic story of Uber’s rise and its internal struggles, focusing on its early days, the ambition of its founder Travis Kalanick, and the culture of the company.
It explores the big decisions and conflicts that shaped one of the most disruptive companies of the modern era. Fans of Jeff Hobbs might enjoy how Isaac captures the people behind the headline-making events.
Bharati Mukherjee was a talented author who explored themes of migration, identity, and cultural clashes. Her book, “Jasmine,” tells the story of a young woman from a small village in India whose life takes unexpected turns as she journeys to America.
The novel follows her transformation, shaped by love, loss, and resilience, as she reinvents herself in new and often challenging circumstances.
Fans of Jeff Hobbs may appreciate how Mukherjee brings attention to the personal struggles and societal forces that shape her characters’ lives.
Alex Kotlowitz is an author and journalist known for exploring the lives of people impacted by poverty and violence. His book, “There Are No Children Here,” tells the story of two brothers, Lafeyette and Pharoah, as they grow up in a public housing project in Chicago.
It focuses on their struggles with daily life, shaped by the harsh realities of their surroundings. The book gives a vivid look at their resilience and dreams in a challenging environment.
Siddhartha Mukherjee is a doctor and author who writes about science in a way that feels personal and deeply human. One of his books, “The Emperor of All Maladies,” tells the story of cancer.
It mixes history, biology, and the lives of patients to show how we’ve battled this disease over centuries. He shares moments, like early surgeries without anesthesia, breakthroughs with chemotherapy, and the struggles of people trying to survive.
The book makes complex ideas feel clear and shows the drive behind scientists and doctors who work to treat something so devastating.
Katherine Boo is a journalist and author who writes about people living in poverty, offering a deeply human perspective on their lives. Her book, “Behind the Beautiful Forevers,” focuses on a small slum in Mumbai called Annawadi.
It tells the story of families trying to survive in harsh conditions while facing corruption, inequality, and fragile dreams.
One intriguing part of the book is the story of Abdul, a teenager who sorts garbage to support his family, but becomes tangled in accusations that could destroy everything he’s worked for.
Boo’s writing brings out the struggles and hopes of her subjects in a way that feels personal and real.
Jon Krakauer is a writer who focuses on real-life stories with a sharp eye for human struggles and the choices people make in extreme situations.
His book “Into the Wild” follows the journey of Chris McCandless, a young man who gave up material comforts and walked into the Alaskan wilderness.
Krakauer pieces together Chris’s travels through letters, journals, and interviews, exploring what might have driven him to leave everything behind. The mix of adventure and personal reflection explores ideas about freedom, risk, and identity in a way that stays with readers.
Rebecca Skloot is an author known for exploring science through deeply human stories. Her book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” uncovers the history of HeLa cells, which came from Henrietta, a Black woman whose cells were taken without her knowledge.
These cells led to major breakthroughs in medicine, but the story also shows how her family dealt with the ethical and emotional fallout. It’s a mix of science, history, and personal struggle, shedding light on issues of consent and medical ethics.
Adrian Nicole LeBlanc is a writer who captures real-life stories with a focus on deeply human experiences.
Her book, “Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx,” follows the lives of two young women, Jessica and Coco, as they navigate love, poverty, and survival in a rough neighborhood.
The story shows their struggles with relationships, raising kids, and finding stability while caught in cycles of drug dealings and incarceration. It’s a raw, detailed look at their world, filled with moments of hope and heartbreak.
Readers who are drawn to Jeff Hobbs’ work might enjoy how LeBlanc brings the threads of these real lives into focus.
Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer and social justice advocate who writes with heart and humanity. His book, “Just Mercy,” tells the story of a young man, wrongly convicted and sentenced to death, and Stevenson’s fight to prove his innocence.
The book shares stories from Stevenson’s career, showing the struggles of those caught in a broken justice system. It’s personal, emotional, and shows the impact one person can have when they refuse to give up on others.
Robert Kolker is a journalist and author who writes about real people and their struggles. One of his books, “Hidden Valley Road,” tells the story of the Galvin family, who had twelve children.
Six of the siblings were diagnosed with schizophrenia, while the others lived with the consequences of the illness and the stress it placed on everyone.
The book follows decades of their lives, showing how the family dealt with the illness and became part of groundbreaking research into mental health. Kolker draws you into the family’s world without turning their story into a clinical study or a textbook.
Cheryl Strayed is an author who writes with honesty about life’s challenges and personal growth. Her memoir, “Wild,” tells the story of her journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail after losing her mother and seeing her life fall apart.
Along the way, she faces loneliness, physical exhaustion, and unexpected encounters with strangers. The book blends her struggles on the trail with reflections on her past, creating a vivid picture of starting over, step by step.
Jonathan Kozol is an author who has spent years writing about social issues in America, focusing on education and inequality.
One of his most well-known books, “Savage Inequalities,” examines the stark differences between public schools in wealthy neighborhoods and those in poor areas.
The book highlights real stories of children who face overcrowded classrooms, crumbling buildings, and a lack of basic resources.
Kozol takes readers into schools where students share outdated textbooks or lack access to libraries, showing the harsh realities of an unequal system.
His writing shines a light on the challenges these children face every day, making it impossible to ignore how unfair the system is. If you’re drawn to stories about people navigating difficult circumstances, this book offers unforgettable perspectives.
Elizabeth Kolbert is a nonfiction writer known for exploring human impact on the planet. In her book “The Sixth Extinction,” she talks about how humans have changed the Earth and how these changes are driving many species to disappear forever.
She mixes science and history, describing fascinating creatures like the golden toad, which vanished almost overnight. The book weaves together stories from the past and present, showing how small actions can have huge consequences for life on Earth.