LitQueuelitqueue

After

Utopia

Thomas More

5 of 6 directions open — nothing to recover from

More like it

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  • Autobiography

    Morrissey2013

    The singer of The Smiths recounts his childhood in Manchester and his music career. The prose is dense, rhythmic, and highly critical of others.

    Same sardonic register

    pace0·prose0·bleak+1

Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • Doktor Faustus

    Thomas Mann1948

    A composer trades his soul for musical genius as his life and the rise of Nazi Germany are chronicled by a concerned friend.

    sardonic → elegiac, still philosophical fiction

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak+3

  • 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.

    sardonic → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

  • Antifragile

    Nassim Nicholas Taleb2012

    A philosophical exploration of systems that thrive under stress and disorder. It argues against fragility in economics and personal life.

    sardonic → reflective

    pace0·prose+1·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.

    sardonic → playful

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak0

  • 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.

    sardonic → playful

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak0

  • 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.

    sardonic → earnest

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak0

Slower

3 more ↓

  • A Modern Utopia

    H. G. Wells1900

    Two travelers are transported to a parallel Earth where a global state manages all human activity. The book outlines the planet's social systems.

    sardonic → meditative, still philosophical fiction

    pace-1·prose0·bleak0

  • Doktor Faustus

    Thomas Mann1948

    A composer trades his soul for musical genius as his life and the rise of Nazi Germany are chronicled by a concerned friend.

    sardonic → elegiac, still philosophical fiction

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak+3

  • 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.

    sardonic → meditative, still philosophical fiction

    pace-1·prose0·bleak0

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.

    sardonic → earnest

    pace0·prose-1·bleak+3

  • 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.

    sardonic → bleak

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak+3

  • 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.

    sardonic → earnest

    pace+1·prose-1·bleak+3