Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley

Virginia Woolf: A Biography

Quentin Bell1972

A two-volume biography of the author written by her nephew. It uses family papers to detail her life, work, and social circle.

pace0·prose0·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.

elegiac → 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.

elegiac → 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.

elegiac → mysterious

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

Love Unscripted

Tina Reber2010

An A-list movie star hides in a small-town pub to escape fans and falls for the owner. The story follows the logistical strain of his fame.

elegiac → warm

pace0·prose-2·bleak-2

My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business

Dick Van Dyke2011

Dick Van Dyke recounts his career from radio to sitcoms and film. He focuses on his work ethic, his co-stars, and his personal struggles.

elegiac → warm

pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

You Had Me at Hola

Alexis Daria2020

Two soap opera actors attempt to revitalize their careers while filming a new show. They navigate a public romance to hide their private lives.

elegiac → playful

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.

elegiac → 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.

elegiac → playful

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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.

elegiac → earnest

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.

elegiac → 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.

elegiac → 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.

elegiac → dreamlike

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

Escape from Camp 14

Blaine Harden2012

The biography of Shin Dong-hyuk, the only person born in a North Korean political prison camp known to have escaped.

elegiac → bleak, still biography

pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1

Nagasaki

Susan Southard2015

A historical account follows five survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki across seven decades of their lives.

Same elegiac register, still biography

pace0·prose-1·bleak+1

House of Sticks

Ly Tran2021

A Vietnamese girl grows up in Queens while working in her family's sweatshop. She navigates poverty, failing eyesight, and cultural isolation.

Same elegiac register, still biography

pace+1·prose0·bleak+1