After
Self-Reliance and Other Essays
Ralph Waldo Emerson1993
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
3 of 6 directions open — nothing to recover from, nothing denser, nothing slower
More like it
Same meditative register, still philosophy
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Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu1842
A collection of 81 short poetic verses outlining the principles of the Tao. It focuses on balance, inaction, and the flow of the natural world.
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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.
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The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious (Collected Works 9i)
C.G. Jung
Jung defines the structural components of the psyche. He explores universal symbols and inherited mental patterns through various cultural myths.
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Walden or, Life in the Woods
Henry David Thoreau1849
A man spends two years living in a cabin in the woods to observe nature and simplify his life. It is a series of slow, philosophical essays.
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1 more ↓ ↑
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Letters to a Young Poet
Rainer Maria Rilke
A series of ten letters from a famous poet to an aspiring soldier. He offers advice on solitude, sexuality, and the inner life of an artist.
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Faster
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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.
meditative → earnest
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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.
meditative → tender
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3 more ↓ ↑
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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.
meditative → playful
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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.
meditative → playful
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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.
meditative → earnest
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Heavier
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Being Mortal
Atul Gawande2014
A surgeon examines how modern medicine handles aging and death. He argues for prioritizing quality of life over the extension of it.
meditative → tender, still philosophy
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War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
Chris Hedges2002
A war correspondent analyzes how societies use conflict to create a sense of national purpose. He uses history and personal experience.
meditative → elegiac, still philosophy
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3 more ↓ ↑
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Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture
Roxane Gay
A collection of essays by various authors regarding sexual violence and harassment. The writers describe personal experiences and cultural norms.
meditative → earnest, still essays
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The Drowned and the Saved
Primo Levi
A series of analytical essays examining the social hierarchy, psychological trauma, and ethics of survival within Nazi concentration camps.
Same meditative register, still essays
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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.
meditative → sardonic
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