Set Boundaries, Find Peace

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.

tense → elegiac, still nonfiction

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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

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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

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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

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Atomic Habits

James Clear2018

This guide provides a system for building small daily routines and breaking bad ones. It focuses on the science of incremental behavior change.

tense → earnest, still self-help

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The Gifts of Imperfection

Brené Brown2010

A guide to living through the concepts of courage, compassion, and connection. It focuses on embracing vulnerability to achieve self-acceptance.

tense → earnest, still self-help

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Surrounded by Idiots

Thomas Erikson2014

A guide to a four-color personality model designed to help readers categorize and communicate with different behavioral types in the workplace.

tense → wry, still self-help

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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

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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

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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

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The Art of Happiness

Dalai Lama XIV1998

The Dalai Lama discusses his philosophy on mental discipline and suffering through interviews with a psychiatrist. It is a guide to secular ethics.

tense → meditative, still self-help

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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

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

God's Junk Drawer

fiyah Angelou2018

tense → hopeful, still nonfiction

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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

pace-1·prose0·bleak+1

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+1

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

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