LitQueuelitqueue

After

The Russian Revolution 1917-1932

Sheila Fitzpatrick

6 of 6 directions open

More like it

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  • A Savage War of Peace: Algeria, 1954-1962

    Alistair Horne

    A history of the Algerian War for independence from France. It documents the use of torture and guerrilla tactics by both sides.

    Same clinical register, still political history

    pace0·prose0·bleak+1

Denser prose

3 more ↓

  • The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II, Volume I

    Fernand Braudel

    A history of the 16th-century Mediterranean that prioritizes geography and long-term environmental trends over individual events.

    clinical → meditative, still academic history

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

  • Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison

    Michel Foucault

    A philosophical history examines the shift from public torture to modern prison surveillance. It analyzes how power controls the body.

    Same clinical register

    pace0·prose+1·bleak0

  • 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.

    clinical → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-2

To recover

3 more ↓

  • Starter Villain

    John Scalzi2023

    A substitute teacher inherits his uncle's secret supervillain business, including a volcano lair and talking cats.

    clinical → wry

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

  • Playing with Fire

    Gena Showalter2006

    A barista gains elemental superpowers after being poisoned and must flee from a government agent. They eventually work together to escape.

    clinical → playful

    pace+1·prose-2·bleak-2

  • Digital Fortress

    Dan Brown1998

    The NSA's code-breaking supercomputer encounters an unbreakable algorithm. A cryptographer and a professor race to find the kill code.

    clinical → propulsive

    pace+2·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.

    clinical → 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.

    clinical → 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.

    clinical → earnest

    pace+2·prose-2·bleak-2

Slower

3 more ↓

  • The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II, Volume I

    Fernand Braudel

    A history of the 16th-century Mediterranean that prioritizes geography and long-term environmental trends over individual events.

    clinical → meditative, still academic history

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

  • 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.

    clinical → meditative

    pace-1·prose+1·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.

    clinical → mysterious

    pace-1·prose+1·bleak-1

Heavier

Same clinical register, still political history

3 more ↓

  • Churchill's Secret War: The British Empire and the Ravaging of India During World War II

    Madhusree Mukerjee

    An investigation into the 1943 Bengal Famine. It examines how Winston Churchill’s wartime policies contributed to millions of Indian deaths.

    clinical → bleak, still political history

    pace0·prose-1·bleak+1

  • Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar

    Simon Sebag Montefiore

    A history of Stalin’s inner circle and private life from the 1920s to his death. It focuses on the social dynamics of the Soviet leadership.

    clinical → cold, still political history

    pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1

  • 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.

    clinical → sardonic

    pace+1·prose-1·bleak+1