After
Notes from Underground
Stephen Duncombe1997
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
5 of 6 directions open — nothing slower
More like it
- pace0prose0bleak+1
Coming of Age in Mississippi
Anne Moody1968
Anne Moody recounts her life as a Black woman in the Jim Crow South. She details her transition from a poor child to a civil rights activist.
Same tense register
pace0·prose0·bleak+1
- pace+1prose+1bleak0
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Omar El Akkad2025
Same tense register, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+1·bleak0
- pace+1prose+1bleak+1
Jerusalem
Simon Sebag-Montefiore2011
A chronological history of Jerusalem over 3,000 years. It tracks the city's religious evolution and the many empires that conquered it.
Same tense register, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+1·bleak+1
- pace0prose+1bleak0
The Lessons of History
Will Durant1968
A concise survey of recurring patterns in human history across biology, religion, and economics. It summarizes themes from a ten-volume series.
Same tense register
pace0·prose+1·bleak0
1 more ↓ ↑
- pace+1prose+1bleak0
The Friday Afternoon Club
Griffin Dunne2024
Griffin Dunne recounts his life in a famous Hollywood family. The narrative centers on the 1982 murder of his sister, Dominique.
Same tense register, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+1·bleak0
Denser prose
- pace0prose+3bleak-1
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Douglas R. Hofstadter1979
An exploration of how cognition emerges from hidden neurological patterns. It uses math, art, and music to explain self-referential systems.
tense → playful
pace0·prose+3·bleak-1
- pace0prose+3bleak0
Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard1992
A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.
tense → meditative
pace0·prose+3·bleak0
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+1prose+3bleak0
Antifragile
Nassim Nicholas Taleb2012
A philosophical exploration of systems that thrive under stress and disorder. It argues against fragility in economics and personal life.
tense → reflective, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+3·bleak0
- pace+1prose+3bleak+2
Memoirs of my nervous illness
Daniel Paul Schreber1955
A German judge documents his elaborate delusions and theological theories during his confinement in a mental asylum.
tense → elegiac, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+3·bleak+2
- pace0prose+3bleak-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.
tense → meditative
pace0·prose+3·bleak-1
To recover
- pace+1prose+2bleak-1
Thinking, fast and slow
Daniel Kahneman2011
A psychologist explains the two systems of thought: one fast and intuitive, the other slow and logical. It details common cognitive biases.
tense → clinical, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+2·bleak-1
- pace0prose+2bleak-1
Chemistry
Theodore L. Brown1977
A textbook covering the fundamental principles of matter, atomic structure, and chemical bonding. It includes practice problems and diagrams.
tense → educational, still nonfiction
pace0·prose+2·bleak-1
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+1prose+2bleak-1
No More Tears
Gardiner Harris2025
An investigation into the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on the development and marketing of Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo.
Same tense register, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+2·bleak-1
- pace+2prose0bleak-1
Modern Romance
Aziz Ansari2015
A comedian and a sociologist examine how technology and infinite choice have changed the search for a partner. It uses data and interviews.
tense → playful, still nonfiction
pace+2·prose0·bleak-1
- pace0prose+1bleak-1
Faster
- pace+3prose0bleak0
The Sun and Her Flowers
Rupi Kaur2017
A collection of short, illustrated poems organized into five stages of growth. It covers themes of loss, trauma, and self-healing.
tense → earnest
pace+3·prose0·bleak0
- pace+3prose0bleak-1
Pillow Thoughts
Courtney Peppernell2016
A collection of short poems and prose pieces organized by emotional state. It focuses on themes of heartbreak, healing, and loneliness.
tense → tender
pace+3·prose0·bleak-1
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+3prose0bleak-1
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.
tense → playful
pace+3·prose0·bleak-1
- pace+3prose0bleak-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.
tense → playful
pace+3·prose0·bleak-1
- pace+3prose+1bleak0
Bad Blood
John Carreyrou2018
A journalist tracks the rise of Elizabeth Holmes and the eventual exposure of her multibillion-dollar blood-testing startup as a fraud.
tense → propulsive
pace+3·prose+1·bleak0
Heavier
tense → elegiac, still nonfiction
- pace+1prose+2bleak+2
We're all doing time
Bo Lozoff1985
A guide to spiritual practice and meditation specifically written for people serving time in the prison system.
pace+1·prose+2·bleak+2
- pace+1prose+2bleak+2
Mother Hunger
Kelly McDaniel2021
A counselor analyzes the psychological impact of missing maternal nurturance, protection, and guidance during infancy.
pace+1·prose+2·bleak+2
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace0prose+2bleak+2
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.
tense → tender, still nonfiction
pace0·prose+2·bleak+2
- pace+1prose+2bleak+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.
pace+1·prose+2·bleak+2
- pace+1prose+2bleak+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.
tense → eerie, still nonfiction
pace+1·prose+2·bleak+2