After
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Caroline Criado Pérez
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
6 of 6 directions open
More like it
- pace0prose0bleak0
India after Gandhi
Ramachandra Guha2007
A chronological history of India from 1947 to the modern era. It covers the challenges of maintaining a democracy in a diverse nation.
Same analytical register
pace0·prose0·bleak0

- pace0prose+1bleak+1
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.
Same analytical register, still sociology
pace0·prose+1·bleak+1

- pace+1prose0bleak+1
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.
Same analytical register, still sociology
pace+1·prose0·bleak+1

- pace0prose0bleak+1
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.
analytical → bleak, still sociology
pace0·prose0·bleak+1
1 more ↓ ↑
- pace0prose0bleak-1

Denser prose
- pace-1prose+1bleak-2
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Douglas R. Hofstadter1979
An exploration of how cognition emerges from hidden neurological patterns. It uses math, art, and music to explain self-referential systems.
analytical → playful
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

- pace-1prose+1bleak-1
Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard1992
A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.
analytical → meditative
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace0prose+1bleak+1
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.
Same analytical register, still sociology
pace0·prose+1·bleak+1

- pace-1prose+1bleak-2
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.
analytical → meditative
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

- pace0prose+1bleak-1
Antifragile
Nassim Nicholas Taleb2012
A philosophical exploration of systems that thrive under stress and disorder. It argues against fragility in economics and personal life.
analytical → reflective
pace0·prose+1·bleak-1

To recover
- pace+1prose-2bleak-2
Modern Romance
Aziz Ansari2015
A comedian and a sociologist examine how technology and infinite choice have changed the search for a partner. It uses data and interviews.
analytical → playful, still sociology
pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

- pace+1prose-2bleak-2
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.
analytical → playful
pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+2prose-2bleak-2
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.
analytical → propulsive
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

- pace+1prose-2bleak-2
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.
analytical → earnest
pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

- pace+2prose-2bleak-2
The Martian
Andy Weir2011
A man does arithmetic to stay alive on Mars. Problem, attempt, result, repeat.
analytical → wry
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

Faster
- pace+2prose-2bleak-1
The Sun and Her Flowers
Rupi Kaur2017
A collection of short, illustrated poems organized into five stages of growth. It covers themes of loss, trauma, and self-healing.
analytical → earnest
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

- pace+2prose-2bleak-2
Pillow Thoughts
Courtney Peppernell2016
A collection of short poems and prose pieces organized by emotional state. It focuses on themes of heartbreak, healing, and loneliness.
analytical → tender
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+2prose-2bleak-2
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.
analytical → playful
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

- pace+2prose-2bleak-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.
analytical → playful
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

- pace+2prose-2bleak-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.
analytical → earnest
pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2
Slower
- pace-1prose+1bleak-2
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Douglas R. Hofstadter1979
An exploration of how cognition emerges from hidden neurological patterns. It uses math, art, and music to explain self-referential systems.
analytical → playful
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

- pace-1prose+1bleak-1
Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard1992
A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.
analytical → meditative
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace-1prose+1bleak-2
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.
analytical → meditative
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

- pace-1prose+1bleak-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.
analytical → mysterious
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

- pace-1prose+1bleak-1
The Red Book: Liber Novus
C.G. Jung2009
A psychologist records his visions and internal dialogues in an illuminated manuscript created during a period of intense self-exploration.
analytical → dreamlike
pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1
Heavier
- pace+1prose-1bleak+1
Evicted
Matthew Desmond2016
Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they face eviction. It documents the mechanics of the private rental market and extreme poverty.
analytical → clinical, still sociology
pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1

- pace0prose+1bleak+1
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.
Same analytical register, still sociology
pace0·prose+1·bleak+1

3 more ↓ ↑
- pace-1prose0bleak+1
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.
analytical → tender, still sociology
pace-1·prose0·bleak+1

- pace+1prose0bleak+1
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.
Same analytical register, still sociology
pace+1·prose0·bleak+1

- pace0prose0bleak+1
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.
analytical → bleak, still sociology
pace0·prose0·bleak+1