I cannot pick just one. Not possible, lol but depends on my mood. On the "based on real life" or autobiography side, I really loved "born a crime", economical commentary - "the tipping point" by Malcom gladwell, "difficult women" is an interesting compilation of short stories showing essentially the back stories of how people got where they are (aimed at showing that where somebody may be seen negatively by society, they have a backstory and lives that led to that point). Hmmm. Then there is a handful of like 75 novels. I can't ever pick. They all have different reasons to be favorites.