Books have always been a source of inspiration and escapism but most people head straight for the fiction aisle when looking to be mesmerized by a story. This is their mistake because the old adage of truth is stranger than fiction is more than true.  Many people believe that non-fiction books are the adult equivalent to textbooks and are long boring tomes filled with numbers and dates and not drama or heart. While fiction gets most of the accolades there are loads of non-fiction books that paint a picture, cater to the imagination and allow us to delve into a historical subject like no other. We forget that even the most outlandish novels are built upon some kind of human experience and there are countless books to satisfy your cravings for escapism or inspiration and below are two you won’t want to miss.

One of the most celebrated stars of the 20th century was not Elizabeth Taylor or Jackie Kennedy but a horse named Seabiscuit that stole the hearts and imaginations of America in the 1930’s. Seabiscuit by author Laura Hillenbrand is the real life tale of the three men and a horse whose paths met at a particular place and time and created a magical moment that was the stuff of legend. The story of Red Pollard, Tom Smith and Charles Howard along with Seabiscuit is riveting from start to finish and is the definition of a page-turner.

Isaac’s Storm is the story of the deadliest hurricane in history and Isaac Cline who in September of 1900 was a U.S. Weather Bureau official in Galveston, Texas.  Erik Larson takes the reader into Galveston when it was hailed as the New York City of the Gulf and reputed to have more millionaires than Newport, Rhode Island. The author takes us into the lives of the people and the city who were about to lose everything in the most disastrous storm of the century.

Books have been considered treasures for centuries. In ancient times, stone tablets represented knowledge and power and the same was later true in the middle ages and renaissance when you could tell the stature of a man’s mind by how large his library was and what it included.  Books have been regarded as classics, masterpieces and have also been banned and burned. But even for those who reserve a special place in their heart for books can stand in disbelief when told how much some books have been sold for in the modern market.

The most expensive book of all time might surprise you. The most expensive book was the Codex Leicester which is a collection of mostly scientific writings by Leonardo Da Vinci. In 1994 the book was sold to Microsoft founder Bill Gates for 30.8 million dollars. The second most expensive book in history is the Gospel of Henry the Lion which in 1983 sold for 12.4 million dollars. This book of gospels consists of 266 pages and 50 beautifully hand illustrated pages. It was commissioned by Henry the Lion, who also happened to be the Duke of Saxony, to sit at in the Brunswick Cathedral at the altar of the Virgin Mary.

While modern books can’t compare with an ancient text rarity or a 1st edition sentimentality there are more contemporary additions to high priced books that may also have you scratching your head. Not listed in the millions but still a steep price is the forthcoming limited edition photo biography of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Due out in late 2011 the book sold out prior to the release date at a staggering price of $740.  What does that amount get you? It features over 650 photographs, some taken by the guitarist himself, wrapped in silk, bound in leather and signed and numbered by the guitarist himself.  Only 2,500 copies were allotted for sale.

Most people fail to realize that the movies that materialize onto movie screens have more than likely been written material at some point in time. Some like the Godfather are exception in both the written word as well as the screen while other fail miserably when translated onto the screen. Below are two beloved bestsellers that are coming to theatres in the near future.

Life of Pi is the fantasy tale of a young boy from India on a 227 day spiritual and physical journey while lost at sea.  Pi is on his way to Canada with his zoo keeping family but after the freighter ship they are on sinks he is left with the only other 3 survivors; a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, a hyena, a zebra and an orangutan.  Since its release in 2000 the novel has had several directors attached to it but all dropped out until now. Acclaimed director Ang Lee has taken over the post and is set to film in 2011. Over 3,000 young men were tested for the main role of Pi and an unknown, Suraj Sharm, was cast in the title role.

Another acclaimed novel set to be released on film in the near future is The Giver. The Giver is set in a utopian society where everything and everyone is in order. The community strives for sameness to avert unpleasantness. At twelve all individuals are given a career. Later in life they are put in a well-matched union where they have two offspring, one boy and one girl.  Jonas the central character of the book is given the career of the Receiver of Memories which must be past from the current giver to the boy.  The Giver has at times been controversial and even banned. A winner of numerous awards it is sure to be an acting juggernaut if handled correctly.