The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea

I Was Told to Come Alone

Souad Mekhennet2017

A Muslim journalist travels into conflict zones to interview members of ISIS and Al-Qaeda to understand radicalization.

Same tense register, still journalism

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The Gulag Archipeligo 1918-1956: An Experiment In Literary Investigation I - Ii.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

A history of the Soviet forced labor camp system based on survivor reports and the author's own imprisonment. It documents state-run repression.

tense → bleak

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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.

tense → meditative

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Antifragile

Nassim Nicholas Taleb2012

A philosophical exploration of systems that thrive under stress and disorder. It argues against fragility in economics and personal life.

tense → reflective

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The Martian

Andy Weir2011

A man does arithmetic to stay alive on Mars. Problem, attempt, result, repeat.

tense → wry

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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.

tense → warm

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On a Pale Horse

Piers Anthony1983

After accidentally killing the personification of Death, a man must take over the office. He navigates the bureaucracy of the afterlife.

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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.

tense → 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.

tense → playful

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Bad Blood

John Carreyrou2018

A journalist tracks the rise of Elizabeth Holmes and the eventual exposure of her multibillion-dollar blood-testing startup as a fraud.

tense → propulsive, still journalism

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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.

tense → meditative

pace-2·prose+2·bleak-2

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.

tense → mysterious

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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.

tense → dreamlike

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And the Band Played on

Randy Shilts1987

A journalistic account of the early AIDS epidemic. It tracks the spread of the virus and the political response from 1980 to 1985.

tense → earnest, still journalism

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My War Gone By, I Miss It So

Anthony Loyd1999

A journalist reports on the Bosnian War while grappling with his family's military legacy and a personal addiction to heroin.

tense → bleak, still journalism

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Missoula

Jon Krakauer2015

A journalist investigates several sexual assault cases at the University of Montana. He follows the victims, the accused, and the legal process.

tense → earnest, still journalism

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