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After

Capitalist Realism

Mark Fisher2009

6 of 6 directions open

More like it

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  • Goodbye to All That

    Robert Graves1929

    A poet recounts his childhood and his time as an officer in the trenches of the First World War before leaving England for good.

    Same sardonic register

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Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • 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, still philosophy

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

  • 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, still philosophy

    pace0·prose+1·bleak-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.

    sardonic → mysterious, still philosophy

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

To recover

3 more ↓

  • Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies

    Tara Schuster2020

    A television executive shares personal anecdotes and daily rituals used to recover from a neglected childhood. It is a memoir-style guide.

    sardonic → playful

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

  • Let's Pretend This Never Happened

    Jenny Lawson2013

    A collection of essays about growing up in a rural town with a taxidermist father. It focuses on social anxiety and strange family incidents.

    sardonic → playful

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

  • The Four Agreements

    Don Miguel Ruiz1997

    A guide to personal conduct based on four principles derived from Toltec traditions. It focuses on changing internal dialogue to reduce suffering.

    sardonic → warm, still philosophy

    pace0·prose-2·bleak-2

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·bleak-2

  • 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·bleak-2

  • 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·bleak-2

Slower

3 more ↓

  • 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.

    sardonic → mysterious, still philosophy

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

  • Either/Or

    Søren Kierkegaard1992

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

    sardonic → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

  • The Upanishads

    Anonymous1957

    Ancient Sanskrit texts explore the nature of reality and the self. They document a shift from ritual sacrifice to internal spiritual inquiry.

    sardonic → meditative, still philosophy

    pace-1·prose0·bleak-2

Heavier

3 more ↓

  • Animal Farm

    George Orwell1945

    Farm animals overthrow their human owner to run the farm themselves. The pigs gradually seize control and establish a new hierarchy.

    Same sardonic register

    pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1

  • 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+1

  • 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+1