LitQueuelitqueue

After

All Joy and No Fun

Jennifer Senior2014

5 of 6 directions open — nothing to recover from

More like it

1 more ↓

  • Outliers

    Malcolm Gladwell2008

    The author examines how external factors like birth dates, cultural legacy, and practice hours determine high levels of success.

    Same earnest register, still sociology

    pace+1·prose0·bleak0

Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • Seeing Like a State

    James C. Scott1998

    An analysis of how large-scale state projects fail by ignoring local knowledge. It covers forestry, city planning, and forced villagization.

    earnest → analytical, still sociology

    pace0·prose+2·bleak+3

  • 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

    pace0·prose+2·bleak0

  • 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-1·prose+2·bleak0

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.

    earnest → playful

    pace+2·prose-1·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.

    earnest → playful

    pace+2·prose-1·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.

    Same earnest register

    pace+2·prose-1·bleak0

Slower

3 more ↓

  • 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.

    earnest → tender, still sociology

    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.

    earnest → meditative

    pace-1·prose+2·bleak0

  • 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-1·prose+2·bleak+1

Heavier

3 more ↓

  • 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.

    earnest → tender, still sociology

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak+3

  • Waking up white

    Deborah Kittredge Irving2014

    The author recounts her personal realization of her own racial biases and the systemic nature of white privilege in America.

    earnest → analytical, still sociology

    pace+1·prose+1·bleak+3

  • Conquest: Sexual Violence And American Indian Genocide

    Andrea Lee Smith

    An analysis of the historical and ongoing use of sexual violence as a tool of colonialism against Native American women.

    earnest → bleak, still sociology

    pace0·prose+1·bleak+3