A History of the Jews

In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom

Yeonmi Park

A woman recounts her childhood in North Korea, her escape through China, and her eventual resettlement in South Korea.

pace+1·prose-1·bleak0

Confessions

Augustine of Hippo

A 4th-century bishop writes a spiritual autobiography addressed to God. He recounts his sinful youth and his eventual conversion to Christianity.

earnest → meditative

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

Antifragile

Nassim Nicholas Taleb2012

A philosophical exploration of systems that thrive under stress and disorder. It argues against fragility in economics and personal life.

earnest → reflective

pace0·prose+1·bleak-1

How to Read a Book

Mortimer J. Adler1940

This is a guide to active reading techniques for different genres. It outlines levels of reading from basic literacy to syntopical analysis.

earnest → mysterious

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

Love Comes Softly

Janette Oke1979

A widow on the 19th-century frontier enters a marriage of convenience with a widower to survive the winter and care for his daughter.

earnest → tender

pace0·prose-2·bleak-2

The perfect Christmas

Debbie Macomber2009

A woman hires a grumpy matchmaker to find a husband. He assigns her three tasks to complete before he will introduce her to his chosen candidate.

earnest → warm

pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

Danger in the Shadows

Dee Henderson2002

A woman in witness protection hides from a kidnapper while a FBI agent works to keep her safe. The story incorporates elements of Christian faith.

Same earnest register

pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Neil deGrasse Tyson2017

A summary of the origin of the universe, the laws of physics, and the nature of space and time.

earnest → playful

pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

Steal Like an Artist

Austin Kleon2012

A series of short, illustrated principles for creative work. It focuses on remixing existing ideas and establishing productive daily habits.

earnest → playful

pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

Poke the Box

Seth Godin2011

A short manifesto encouraging readers to start projects and take initiative. It argues that the greatest risk is staying in place.

Same earnest register

pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

Confessions

Augustine of Hippo

A 4th-century bishop writes a spiritual autobiography addressed to God. He recounts his sinful youth and his eventual conversion to Christianity.

earnest → meditative

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

How to Read a Book

Mortimer J. Adler1940

This is a guide to active reading techniques for different genres. It outlines levels of reading from basic literacy to syntopical analysis.

earnest → mysterious

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

The Red Book: Liber Novus

C.G. Jung2009

A psychologist records his visions and internal dialogues in an illuminated manuscript created during a period of intense self-exploration.

earnest → dreamlike

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

A Child Called "It"

Dave Pelzer1987

A memoir of the author's childhood survival against severe physical and psychological abuse by his mother in California.

earnest → bleak, still survival

pace+1·prose-2·bleak+1

Twelve Years a Slave

Solomon Northup1853

A memoir by a free Black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He details twelve years of labor on Louisiana plantations.

Same earnest register, still survival

pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1

Hiroshima

John Hersey

The book follows six people in Hiroshima during and after the atomic bombing. It records their movements and physical symptoms.

earnest → clinical

pace+1·prose0·bleak+1