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American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson

Joseph J. Ellis1997

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  • His Excellency: George Washington

    Joseph J. Ellis

    A chronological study of Washington's character and leadership. It focuses on his evolution from a young soldier to a national figurehead.

    Same meditative register, still biography

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Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • Either/Or

    Søren Kierkegaard1992

    A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.

    Same meditative register

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

  • The Argonauts

    Maggie Nelson2015

    A memoir of the author's relationship with her partner and her pregnancy. It mixes personal narrative with academic theory on gender and family.

    Same meditative register

    pace0·prose+1·bleak-1

  • The Gulag Archipeligo 1918-1956: An Experiment In Literary Investigation I - Ii.

    Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    A history of the Soviet forced labor camp system based on survivor reports and the author's own imprisonment. It documents state-run repression.

    meditative → bleak, still history

    pace0·prose+1·bleak+2

To recover

3 more ↓

  • Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch

    Sally Bedell Smith

    A chronological biography of Elizabeth II covering her private life, public duties, and interactions with world leaders.

    meditative → earnest, still biography

    pace0·prose-1·bleak-1

  • Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

    Walter Isaacson

    A chronological account of Franklin's life from his printing apprenticeship to his diplomatic career and scientific experiments.

    meditative → earnest, still biography

    pace0·prose-1·bleak-1

  • First Women

    Kate Andersen Brower2016

    A collective biography of American First Ladies from 1960 to 2016. It focuses on their private lives, social circles, and political influence.

    meditative → warm, still biography

    pace+1·prose-1·bleak-1

Faster

3 more ↓

  • 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.

    meditative → playful

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

  • 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.

    meditative → playful

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

  • 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.

    meditative → earnest

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

Slower

3 more ↓

  • The Frontier in American History

    Frederick Jackson Turner1920

    A series of essays arguing that the American character and democracy were shaped by the continuous expansion into the western wilderness.

    meditative → clinical, still history

    pace-1·prose0·bleak-1

  • 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.

    Same meditative register

    pace-1·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.

    meditative → mysterious

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

Heavier

3 more ↓

  • Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation

    John Ehle

    A historical account of the Cherokee Nation's political struggles and their forced removal from ancestral lands in the 1830s.

    meditative → elegiac, still biography

    pace0·prose-1·bleak+2

  • Hitler: A Study in Tyranny – A Classic Biography: Authoritative and Readable, Abridged

    Alan Bullock

    A detailed biography of Adolf Hitler that focuses on his rise to power and his psychological control over the German state.

    meditative → clinical, still biography

    pace0·prose0·bleak+2

  • Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

    Dee Alexander Brown

    A chronological history of the displacement and systematic destruction of Native American tribes in the late 19th century.

    meditative → elegiac, still history

    pace0·prose-1·bleak+2