LitQueuelitqueue

After

The WEIRDest People in the World

Joseph Patrick Henrich2020

6 of 6 directions open

More like it

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  • The Hero with a Thousand Faces

    Joseph Campbell1949

    A study of the 'monomyth,' outlining the universal structural stages found in hero stories across global mythologies and religions.

    epic → earnest, still mythology

    pace0·prose0·bleak-1

Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • The Myth of Sisyphus

    Elliot M. Simon2007

    This study traces the Sisyphus myth from classical antiquity through the Renaissance. It examines how writers used the figure to discuss human effort.

    epic → elegiac, still mythology

    pace+1·prose+1·bleak+1

  • The Sum of Us

    Heather McGhee2021

    An analysis of how racism in American policy-making has led to the dismantling of public goods, affecting citizens across racial lines.

    epic → dark, still fantasy

    pace0·prose+1·bleak+2

  • Tao Te Ching

    Lao Tzu1842

    A collection of 81 short poetic verses outlining the principles of the Tao. It focuses on balance, inaction, and the flow of the natural world.

    epic → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

To recover

epic → playful, still fantasy

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.

    epic → 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.

    epic → 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.

    epic → 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.

    epic → 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.

    epic → 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.

    epic → earnest

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

Slower

3 more ↓

  • Either/Or

    Søren Kierkegaard1992

    A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.

    epic → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

  • 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.

    epic → meditative

    pace-1·prose0·bleak-1

  • Tao Te Ching

    Lao Tzu1842

    A collection of 81 short poetic verses outlining the principles of the Tao. It focuses on balance, inaction, and the flow of the natural world.

    epic → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

Heavier

3 more ↓

  • The Diary of a Young Girl

    Anne Frank2001

    A Jewish teenager records her daily life and thoughts while hiding from the Nazis in a secret annex in Amsterdam.

    epic → earnest

    pace0·prose-1·bleak+2

  • A Child Called "It"

    Dave Pelzer1987

    A memoir of the author's childhood survival against severe physical and psychological abuse by his mother in California.

    epic → bleak

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak+2

  • Twelve Years a Slave

    Solomon Northup1853

    A memoir by a free Black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He details twelve years of labor on Louisiana plantations.

    epic → earnest

    pace+1·prose-1·bleak+2