LitQueuelitqueue

After

Learning to Be Me

Jocelyn Golden2005

6 of 6 directions open

More like it

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  • Clarice Lispector

    Assis Brasil1969

    A critical analysis of Clarice Lispector's literature and philosophy. It examines her interior style and existential themes.

    melancholy → elegiac, still nonfiction

    pace0·prose0·bleak0

Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • Manufacturing consent

    Edward S. Herman1988

    This text outlines a model for how corporate and state interests shape news media. It uses case studies to show how dissent is filtered out.

    melancholy → tense, still nonfiction

    pace0·prose+1·bleak+1

  • The Tyranny of Merit

    Michael J. Sandel2020

    This book examines how the ideal of meritocracy creates social division. It argues that the system demeans those without degrees and fuels populism.

    melancholy → tense, still nonfiction

    pace+1·prose+1·bleak+1

  • I Hope We Choose Love

    Kai Cheng Thom2019

    A collection of personal essays and poems regarding justice, social movements, and trauma. It examines how to maintain community after harm.

    melancholy → elegiac, still nonfiction

    pace+1·prose+1·bleak+1

To recover

3 more ↓

  • Redshirts

    John Scalzi2012

    Low-ranking crew members on a starship realize they are disposable characters in a sci-fi television show. They attempt to escape their fate.

    melancholy → playful

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak-1

  • The Da Vinci Code

    Dan Brown2003

    A symbologist and a cryptologist flee the police while solving puzzles hidden in art. They search for a secret regarding the Holy Grail.

    melancholy → propulsive

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

  • Fifty Shades of Grey

    E.L. James2000

    A college student enters a sexual contract with a wealthy businessman. The story focuses on their power dynamics and BDSM encounters.

    melancholy → earnest

    pace+1·prose-2·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.

    melancholy → 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.

    melancholy → 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.

    melancholy → earnest

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

Slower

3 more ↓

  • Rough Sleepers

    Tracy Kidder2023

    A doctor and his team provide medical care to the homeless population of Boston, navigating the limits of the healthcare system.

    melancholy → tender, still nonfiction

    pace-1·prose0·bleak+2

  • On The Road

    Dawna Cservak2024

    melancholy → tender, still nonfiction

    pace-1·prose0·bleak-1

  • The Prophet

    Kahlil Gibran1900

    A prophet waiting for a ship home delivers twenty-six sermons to a crowd. He speaks on topics like love, work, and death.

    melancholy → meditative

    pace-1·prose0·bleak-1

Heavier

melancholy → elegiac, still nonfiction

3 more ↓

  • Rough Sleepers

    Tracy Kidder2023

    A doctor and his team provide medical care to the homeless population of Boston, navigating the limits of the healthcare system.

    melancholy → tender, still nonfiction

    pace-1·prose0·bleak+2

  • Bellevue

    David M. Oshinsky2016

    A chronological account of America's oldest public hospital, detailing its evolution from a colonial almshouse to a modern medical center.

    pace0·prose0·bleak+2

  • Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity

    Katherine Boo

    A journalist follows several residents of Annawadi, a slum near the Mumbai airport. It tracks their efforts to survive amid corruption and poverty.

    melancholy → eerie, still nonfiction

    pace0·prose0·bleak+2