Here are 100 books that The Shepherd fans have personally recommended if you like The Shepherd. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of West with the Night: A Memoir

Laura Shepard Townsend Author Of Destiny's Consent: The Gypsy's Song

From my list on adventures where the marvelous meets reality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have learned about the nature of magic and the mythical firsthand. I have always been a seeker, fiercely curious and an avid reader to try to understand the world so as to find myself and my destiny. Wise women appeared to guide my path as I quested the heroine’s journey with its many helpers and spirits, its coincidences, and its marvels. When I dreamt about the Roma, I knew the story was important; I attended UCLA and got to work. My passion has never dwindled during the 20 years it took to manifest the Destiny's Consent book series.

Laura's book list on adventures where the marvelous meets reality

Laura Shepard Townsend Why Laura loves this book

I think more than anything, I loved the way she described everything. Her language is as if her words were first sent to her heart and then to her soul before they came onto the page. The warmth and the power are overwhelming in her style. It is obvious she loved grandly Africa and its denizens, and as a reader, I couldn’t help but feel the same.  

I love heroines in exotic places and situations, especially if it is much of their own makings or seemingly destiny. This book is a memoir of a tomboy girl in East Africa, so even though it is all true, it feels epic.  

I could really relate to Beryl as a girl with her animals. (Growing up, I loved and collected animals from nature, too.) Beryl grew up with a zebra for a pet, horses for friends, and, of course, the most loyal dog.  

By Beryl Markham ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked West with the Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

WEST WITH THE NIGHT appeared on 13 bestseller lists on first publication in 1942. It tells the spellbinding story of Beryl Markham -- aviator, racehorse trainer, fascinating beauty -and her life in the Kenya of the 1920s and 30s.

Markham was taken to Kenya at the age of four. As an adult she was befriended by Denys Finch-Hatton, the big-game hunter of OUT OF AFRICA fame, who took her flying in his airplane. Thrilled by the experience, Markham went on to become the first woman in Kenya to receive a commercial pilot's license.

In 1936 she determined to fly solo…


If you love The Shepherd...

Book cover of Cold Peace: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part I

Cold Peace by Helena P. Schrader,

It is 1948 in Berlin. The economy is broken, the currency worthless, and the Russian bear is preparing to swallow its next victim. In the ruins of Hitler's capital, former RAF officers and a woman pilot start an air ambulance company that offers a glimmer of hope. Yet when a…

Book cover of 2010

Elizabeth L. Young Author Of Fugo: Terror from the Sky

From my list on stories of flight by aircraft and spaceships.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have worked in the aeronautical industry, including with the first international mobile satellite communications company, Inmarsat, and am married to a rocket scientist who flies our own plane. Together, we have learned and taught about many aspects of flight and cutting-edge technology. When I started writing my book, I went for inspiration from some of my favorite books about flight that I want to share with other readers. From the stories told by great pilots like Beryl Markham and Chuck Yeager to vivid fiction about flight and space, I like to share these tales with readers who may be as fascinated by this field as I am.

Elizabeth's book list on stories of flight by aircraft and spaceships

Elizabeth L. Young Why Elizabeth loves this book

I always wondered what happened to “Hal,” the intelligent computer, at the end of the story in 2001: A Space Odyssey. In this sequel, I found the answer to nearly all the questions that lingered after I read the earlier novel.

The new personalities introduced in this book fascinated me, especially the love interests and how they are handled during deep space explorations. The whole story left me wanting to know even more about the spaceships and the people who flew on them.

By Arthur C. Clarke ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 2010 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“A daring romp through the solar system and a worthy successor to 2001.”—Carl Sagan

Nine years after the disastrous Discovery mission to Jupiter in 2001, a joint U.S.-Soviet expedition sets out to rendezvous with the derelict spacecraft—to search the memory banks of the mutinous computer HAL 9000 for clues to what went wrong…and what became of Commander Dave Bowman.

Without warning, a Chinese expedition targets the same objective, turning the recovery mission into a frenzied race for the precious information Discovery may hold about the enigmatic monolith that orbits Jupiter.

Meanwhile, the being that was once Dave Bowman—the only human…


Book cover of Flight of the Old Dog

Elizabeth L. Young Author Of Fugo: Terror from the Sky

From my list on stories of flight by aircraft and spaceships.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have worked in the aeronautical industry, including with the first international mobile satellite communications company, Inmarsat, and am married to a rocket scientist who flies our own plane. Together, we have learned and taught about many aspects of flight and cutting-edge technology. When I started writing my book, I went for inspiration from some of my favorite books about flight that I want to share with other readers. From the stories told by great pilots like Beryl Markham and Chuck Yeager to vivid fiction about flight and space, I like to share these tales with readers who may be as fascinated by this field as I am.

Elizabeth's book list on stories of flight by aircraft and spaceships

Elizabeth L. Young Why Elizabeth loves this book

I love this book because the scenes of ariel combat are so realistic. I learned a lot about fighter aircraft and how the Russians could have gotten the better of us with newer technology until one of our own old aircraft was retrofitted to make her superior. Once I got into the fight scenes, I could not put the book down until I found out “who won!”

By Dale Brown ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Flight of the Old Dog as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Newly repackaged, here is the runaway bestseller that launched Dale Brown's phenomenal career.

"A superbly crafted adventure." (W.E.B. Griffin)

"Suspenseful and spellbinding." (Clive Cussler)


If you love Frederick Forsyth...

Book cover of The Chrysalis Option

The Chrysalis Option by Eric Coulson,

Kiana Azunna knows all about struggle and loss. Orphaned before she was ten and left in charge of her younger sister, she was the first woman to earn the green beret of the Royal Marine Commandos. 

While she has learned how to “fit in,” she is longing for a place…

Book cover of Night over Water

Elizabeth L. Young Author Of Fugo: Terror from the Sky

From my list on stories of flight by aircraft and spaceships.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have worked in the aeronautical industry, including with the first international mobile satellite communications company, Inmarsat, and am married to a rocket scientist who flies our own plane. Together, we have learned and taught about many aspects of flight and cutting-edge technology. When I started writing my book, I went for inspiration from some of my favorite books about flight that I want to share with other readers. From the stories told by great pilots like Beryl Markham and Chuck Yeager to vivid fiction about flight and space, I like to share these tales with readers who may be as fascinated by this field as I am.

Elizabeth's book list on stories of flight by aircraft and spaceships

Elizabeth L. Young Why Elizabeth loves this book

I found this story absolutely gripping and gathering suspense as it went along. I became deeply involved with all the passengers on the Flying Clipper, especially as I learned there were surprises and mysteries surrounding them.

I liked the vivid descriptions of the “flying ship” and how she behaved in a storm. I have reread this book twice since owning it. 

By Ken Follett ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Night over Water as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ken Follett takes to the skies in this classic novel of international suspense. Set in the early days of World War II, Night over Water captures the daring and desperation of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances-in prose as compelling as history itself. . . .

September 1939. England is at war with Nazi Germany. In Southampton, the world's most luxurious airliner-the legendary Pan Am Clipper-takes off for its final flight to neutral America. Aboard are the cream of society and the dregs of humanity, all fleeing the war for reasons of their own…


Book cover of The Blue Max

Gordon Anthony Author Of Bloody April

From my list on World War 1 aerial warfare.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been fascinated by stories of aerial warfare for as long as I can remember. I can still recall picking up They Fought for the Sky in a bookshop while on a family holiday one year, and I devoured it. The tales of bravery and innovation were all new to me, but that book sparked an interest which has lasted a lifetime. I’ve read dozens of books on the topic and visited air museums to see the aircraft for myself. I’m still reading books on this topic today, and I still marvel at the new perspectives which can be put on this most wonderful and most dreadful period of history.

Gordon's book list on World War 1 aerial warfare

Gordon Anthony Why Gordon loves this book

I saw the movie The Blue Max many years ago and really enjoyed it. In my opinion, the book is even better.

It was one of the books which drove my deepening interest in World War 1 aviation, and it revealed a gritty side to the conflict. I could never quite make up my mind whether to admire or loathe the leading character, which made the story even more fascinating.

By Jack D. Hunter ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Blue Max as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bruno Stachel is a nobody, a newly recruited junior officer in a First World War German combat squadron. But he is determined not to remain a nobody for long. He has his sights on the Blue Max - the most coveted of all German decorations - and he will do anything to get it. From the very moment he shoots down his first plane, everything he does is aimed in that direction: bedding his commander's wife, courting publicity at every turn, even arranging the deaths of his competitors...Jack D. Hunter's novel is a brilliant study of a pilot tortured by…


Book cover of Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane

Vicky Fang Author Of Invent-a-Pet

From my list on inspiring girls in STEM.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love encouraging kids to explore engineering, design, and technology! I am a former Google product designer for kids and families. I started writing to address a growing need for coding education, particularly for girls and kids of color. Stories are a wonderful way to demonstrate concepts and to invite kids to approach STEM with creativity and imagination. I picked a range of books for this post, from non-fiction to fantastic, because different kids will respond to different kinds of stories. Through these books, I hope that kids will find inspiration and tools for creative problem-solving, for STEM and beyond.

Vicky's book list on inspiring girls in STEM

Vicky Fang Why Vicky loves this book

This non-fiction book about Emma Lilian Todd by Kirsten Williams Larson and illustrated by Tracy Subisak offers an inspiring story about a woman engineer inventing an airplane. The story and illustrations do a fantastic job of showing the real-world process of design thinking, with research and failures along the way. I love the themes of perseverance and the important message that great inventions build upon one another.

By Kirsten Larson , Tracy Subisak (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Wood, Wire, Wings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book * NSTA Best STEM Book List

This riveting nonfiction picture book biography explores both the failures and successes of self-taught engineer Emma Lilian Todd as she tackles one of the greatest challenges of the early 1900s: designing an airplane.

Emma Lilian Todd's mind was always soaring--she loved to solve problems. Lilian tinkered and fiddled with all sorts of objects, turning dreams into useful inventions. As a child, she took apart and reassembled clocks to figure out how they worked. As an adult, typing up patents at the U.S. Patent Office, Lilian built the inventions…


If you love The Shepherd...

Book cover of Voices on the Wind

Voices on the Wind by Helena P. Schrader,

An air assault many times stronger than the London Blitz threatens to break the resistance of the British in Malta and enable the Axis Powers to seize Suez and Middle Eastern Oil.

Voices on the Wind is a story of four of Malta's defenders: Senior Intelligence Officer and former Battle…

Book cover of The Tibbets Story

Robert O. Harder Author Of The Three Musketeers of the Army Air Forces: From Hitler's Fortress Europa to Hiroshima and Nagasaki

From my list on the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Why am I passionate about this?

In May 1968, I arrived at my first duty station as a new B-52 navigator-bombardier. Later, at the bar, I was hailed by a booming voice from behind the beer taps. "Hi ya, lieutenant!" Moments later, he asked what I thought of the USAF so far. I said I was career-minded. ‘‘Hell, only the pilots get promoted; navigators get diddley-squat. Get out as soon as you can.” After he departed, the bartender came over. “Know who that was, lieutenant? He’s Tom Ferebee, the man who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima." The colonel had both underscored my dismal career prospects and instilled a lifelong passion for the subjects discussed in this book.

Robert's book list on the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Robert O. Harder Why Robert loves this book

While researching my book, I was fortunate to become acquainted with the Tibbets family, including his second wife Andrea Quattrehomme and his grandson Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets IV (USAF Ret.). Their co-operation, coupled with the details in this autobiography, was instrumental in revealing what the man was really like.

In 1937, Tibbets graduated from the Kelly Field, Texas pilot school, the “West Point of the Air." Among the first to deploy to Europe in 1942, he flew the lead plane in the initial heavy bomber raid against Fortress Europa. Additionally, he often flew as personal pilot to flag officers, including Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. After 43 combat missions he was rotated home to help development of the troubled B-29 program, which directly led to his selection as commander of the world’s first atomic bomber force.

By Paul W. Tibbets ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Tibbets Story as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

1 HARDCOVER BOOK WITH DUST COVER


Book cover of Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot

Martha W. Murphy Author Of CRU Oyster Bar Nantucket Cookbook: Savoring Four Seasons of the Good Life

From my list on the eclectic reader of nonfiction.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a narrative nonfiction writer interested in a broad range of topics, including but not limited to: food and the people who bring it to us; travel and life in faraway places; human health and the role of medicine; memoir as one person’s story yet illustrative of the human spirit; and the unique and remarkable role dogs play in our lives. I am the same kind of reader: I read across a range of topics, mostly nonfiction. The bookshelves in my house and the record of titles I’ve checked out from my local library show an eclectic taste, as do the books I’m recommending here. I hope you’ll enjoy them!

Martha's book list on the eclectic reader of nonfiction

Martha W. Murphy Why Martha loves this book

I expected a book of insider stories about the hidden world of commercial airline travel from the people who make it possible, but instead I found a beautifully written, lyrical, and awestruck look at what it means to travel high above the Earth’s surface day after day, zooming between cities on opposite sides of the world.

I have never had the physics of flight, gravitational pull, wind, storms, and clouds explained so clearly and compellingly. I frequently reread passages for their beauty and emotion and completely unique fresh perspective. I knew flying was a sophisticated skill, but this book made it clear how truly complex a pilot’s job is.

The author’s love of his hard-won occupation is enthralling, making this a book to share with aspiring aviators in your life.  

By Mark Vanhoenacker ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Skyfaring as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**Sunday Times Bestseller**
**Book of the Week on Radio 4**

'One of the most constantly fascinating, but consistently under-appreciated aspects of modern life is the business of flying. Mark Vanhoenacker has written the ideal book on the subject: a description of what it's like to fly by a commercial pilot who is also a master prose stylist and a deeply sensitive human being. This is a man who is at once a technical expert - he flies 747s across continents - and a poet of the skies. This couldn't be more highly recommended.' Alain de Botton

Think back to when…


Book cover of Road to Gold: A Sweetwater Sullivan Naval Aviation Adventure

Stefan Vučak Author Of F/X-26

From my list on military aviation and its effect on the modern political era.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve had an interest in military aviation and the impact this had on US and world geopolitics since my college days, and devoured these books at the university library. Once I started my professional career and could afford to buy my own, my library of techno thrillers grew. This reading enriched my knowledge, entertained, and provided ideas for writing my own books. As a book reviewer for Readers’ Favorite, I try to pick – among other genre – works that deal with this theme.

Stefan's book list on military aviation and its effect on the modern political era

Stefan Vučak Why Stefan loves this book

If I wanted to learn what it took to become a US Air Force aviator, I found the perfect book. I had several good chuckles at what raw recruits endured at Pensacola at the hands of no-nonsense instructors. A fail at boot camp meant getting washed out.

When the story’s main character graduated to flying single-engine propeller aircraft, I was in the sky with him and his close friend. Transitioning to jets made my day, as did an occasional amusing amour. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and gained valuable information for my own writing. However, I could not help but wonder whether real life would actually be that romantic.

By William H. Labarge ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Road to Gold as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"ROAD TO GOLD" : WHAT IT TAKES TO EARN THOSE COVETED "WINGS OF GOLD"Celebrating the 100TH Anniversary of Naval AVIATION BY: Bill "Sweetwater" LaBarge, Navy Carrier Pilot and New York Times Bestselling Author.From basic training to deadly battle in the skies, he followed a path of high risk and proud tradition.Matt "Sweetwater" Sullivan's dream of becoming a Navy pilot could not possibly have prepared him for the body-numbing pace of basic training with a class of bewildered beginners. With grit, verve, and determination, Matt would survive the "Pensacola Pressure-Cooker" and go on to Saufley Field to meet the grueling demands…


If you love Frederick Forsyth...

Book cover of Rescue Run

Rescue Run by John Winn Miller,

In this exciting sequel to the award-winning The Hunt for the Peggy C, Capt. Jake Rogers sneaks back into occupied Europe with some of his crew in a desperate attempt to save his Jewish beloved’s father from being sent to Auschwitz.

But a shocking betrayal forces them to flee…

Book cover of The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and Her Famous Brothers

Tracey Enerson Wood Author Of The President's Wife

From my list on amazing women whose stories were lost or hidden.

Why am I passionate about this?

 As a military wife, and daughter, sister, mother, and mother-in-law to military members, I gained a strong perspective of what it is like to be behind the scenes, keeping the family together and building my own career while supporting the important missions of the men around me. In my reading, I’m drawn to historical fiction, as I feel it makes the stories come alive for me. I love a good story, and what entertains and informs even better than the documented facts are the dialog, relationships, and emotions of the characters. So it seems only natural to write about the amazing women behind the curtain in history in the engaging and memorable form of novels.

Tracey's book list on amazing women whose stories were lost or hidden

Tracey Enerson Wood Why Tracey loves this book

Every schoolchild learns the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright and the famous first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk.

But how many know of the brilliant, irrepressible, and extroverted woman who supported them throughout and is a key reason for their success? The woman who travelled to France and met with presidents, kings, and queens to sell the idea of aviation, when the American people weren’t yet believers?

In keeping with my desire to learn the rest of the story, especially the women in the background who made the grand events possible, I am studying the story of Katharine Wright Haskell.

Both heartwarming and tragic at times, it is a story of the American dream at a time when it seemed anything was possible.

By Richard Maurer ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Wright Sister as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

Not many people know that the Wright brothers had a sister, Katharine Wright. She supported her high-flying, inventor brothers through their aviation triumphs and struggles. This is her story.

On a chill December day in 1903, a young woman came home from her teaching job in Dayton, Ohio, to find a telegram waiting for her. The woman was Katharine Wright; the telegram, from her brother Orville, announced the first successful airplane flight in history. In this, the first authoritative biography of the Wright brothers’ sister, Richard Maurer tells Katharine’s story. Smart and well-educated, she was both confidant and caregiver to…


Book cover of West with the Night: A Memoir
Book cover of 2010
Book cover of Flight of the Old Dog

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