
After
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth
Alexandra Robbins2011
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
5 of 6 directions open — nothing to recover from
More like it
- pace0prose0bleak+2
Everyday Sexism
Laura Bates2014
A collection of real-life accounts detailing the daily harassment and discrimination women face. It documents systemic sexism across society.
Same earnest register, still journalism
pace0·prose0·bleak+2

- pace0prose0bleak+2
Tightrope
Nicholas D. Kristof2020
Journalists document the decline of working-class American towns through the lives of people in the author's childhood hometown.
Same earnest register, still journalism
pace0·prose0·bleak+2

- pace0prose0bleak0
The Soul of a Chef: The Journey Toward Perfection
Michael Ruhlman
A journalist follows chefs through a rigorous certification exam and into the kitchens of high-end restaurants to observe their techniques.
Same earnest register, still journalism
pace0·prose0·bleak0
- pace0prose0bleak+1
So You've Been Publicly Shamed
Jon Ronson2015
The author interviews people whose lives were ruined by viral social media call-outs. It examines the history and mechanics of collective shame.
earnest → wry, still journalism
pace0·prose0·bleak+1

1 more ↓ ↑
- pace-1prose0bleak+2
The Underground Girls of Kabul
Jenny Nordberg2014
A journalist documents the Afghan practice of 'bacha posh,' where families raise daughters as sons. It follows several women and their families.
Same earnest register, still journalism
pace-1·prose0·bleak+2

Denser prose
- pace-2prose+2bleak0
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.
earnest → playful
pace-2·prose+2·bleak0

- pace-2prose+2bleak+1
Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard1992
A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.
earnest → meditative
pace-2·prose+2·bleak+1

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace-1prose+2bleak0
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.
earnest → meditative
pace-1·prose+2·bleak0

- pace-2prose+2bleak+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.
earnest → dreamlike
pace-2·prose+2·bleak+1
- pace-2prose+2bleak+1
No Archive Will Restore You
Julietta Singh2018
The author examines the history of her own body through the lens of race, desire, and pain. It is a collection of fragments and academic theory.
earnest → meditative
pace-2·prose+2·bleak+1

Faster
- pace+1prose0bleak+1
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.
earnest → propulsive, still journalism
pace+1·prose0·bleak+1

- pace+1prose-1bleak+1
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.
Same earnest register
pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+1prose-1bleak0
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.
earnest → tender
pace+1·prose-1·bleak0

- pace+1prose-1bleak0
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.
earnest → playful
pace+1·prose-1·bleak0

- pace+1prose-1bleak0
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.
earnest → playful
pace+1·prose-1·bleak0

Slower
- pace-2prose+2bleak0
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.
earnest → playful
pace-2·prose+2·bleak0

- pace-2prose+2bleak+1
Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard1992
A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.
earnest → meditative
pace-2·prose+2·bleak+1

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace-2prose+2bleak0
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.
earnest → meditative
pace-2·prose+2·bleak0

- pace-2prose+2bleak+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.
earnest → mysterious
pace-2·prose+2·bleak+1

- pace-2prose+2bleak+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.
earnest → dreamlike
pace-2·prose+2·bleak+1
Heavier
earnest → clinical, still journalism
- pace0prose+1bleak+3
Hiroshima
John Hersey
The book follows six people in Hiroshima during and after the atomic bombing. It records their movements and physical symptoms.
pace0·prose+1·bleak+3

- pace0prose0bleak+3
Columbine
Dave Cullen2009
A journalist reconstructs the 1999 school shooting using police records and the killers' journals to debunk common myths.
pace0·prose0·bleak+3

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace0prose0bleak+3
And the Band Played on
Randy Shilts1987
A journalistic account of the early AIDS epidemic. It tracks the spread of the virus and the political response from 1980 to 1985.
Same earnest register, still journalism
pace0·prose0·bleak+3

- pace0prose+1bleak+3
My War Gone By, I Miss It So
Anthony Loyd1999
A journalist reports on the Bosnian War while grappling with his family's military legacy and a personal addiction to heroin.
earnest → bleak, still journalism
pace0·prose+1·bleak+3

- pace0prose0bleak+3
Missoula
Jon Krakauer2015
A journalist investigates several sexual assault cases at the University of Montana. He follows the victims, the accused, and the legal process.
Same earnest register, still journalism
pace0·prose0·bleak+3
