Escape

Adnan's Story

Rabia Chaudry2016

An advocate for Adnan Syed reviews the evidence and legal proceedings of his 1999 murder conviction. It includes details not covered in the podcast.

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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

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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, still memoir

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The Education of Henry Adams

Henry Adams

A man writes a sardonic third-person account of his life and his failure to adapt to the technological shifts of the late 19th century.

earnest → sardonic, still memoir

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The Comfort Book

Matt Haig2021

A collection of short reflections, lists, and anecdotes intended to provide mental support. It is a non-linear book of philosophy and memoir.

earnest → warm, still memoir

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Tuesdays with Morrie

Mitch Albom1994

A journalist reconnects with his dying college professor for weekly lessons on life. They discuss aging, regret, and love as the professor declines.

earnest → tender, still memoir

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Star Nomad

Lindsay Buroker2016

A fighter pilot and a small crew of strangers attempt to escape a system-wide war in a freighter. It is a character-driven space adventure.

earnest → playful

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Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever

Bill O'Reilly

A minute-by-minute narrative of John Wilkes Booth's plot to kill Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent manhunt for the conspirators.

earnest → propulsive, still true crime

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American Kingpin

Nick Bilton2017

This account follows Ross Ulbricht as he builds the Silk Road dark web market and the federal agents who spend years tracking him down.

earnest → propulsive, still true crime

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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

Jon Krakauer

A journalist recounts the 1996 Everest disaster. He details the logistical failures and the storm that killed several climbers.

earnest → tense, still memoir

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The Education of Henry Adams

Henry Adams

A man writes a sardonic third-person account of his life and his failure to adapt to the technological shifts of the late 19th century.

earnest → sardonic, still memoir

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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, still memoir

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M Train

Patti Smith2015

A musician travels to various cafes and gravesites around the world. She reflects on her late husband, her favorite books, and her daily rituals.

earnest → elegiac, still memoir

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Broken

Shy Keenan2008

The author recounts years of severe physical and sexual abuse by her parents. It follows her journey toward survival and activism.

earnest → bleak, still memoir

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The Fact of a Body

Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich2017

A lawyer investigates a 1992 murder case while confronting her own history of childhood trauma. It blends true crime with personal memoir.

earnest → meditative, still memoir

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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.

earnest → bleak, still memoir

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