Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

Mozart

Maynard Solomon1995

A detailed biography of the composer that uses primary documents to track his life from a child prodigy to his final years in Vienna.

pace0·prose0·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.

Same meditative register

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-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.

meditative → reflective

pace0·prose+1·bleak0

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.

meditative → mysterious

pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

#Girlboss

Sophia Amoruso2015

The founder of Nasty Gal chronicles her transition from a hitchhiking shoplifter to the CEO of a multi-million dollar fashion retailer.

meditative → playful, still business

pace+1·prose-2·bleak-1

The Love Hypothesis

Ali Hazelwood2021

A biology PhD candidate enters a fake relationship with a young professor to satisfy a friend. They navigate academic politics and attraction.

meditative → playful

pace+1·prose-2·bleak-1

Beautiful Bastard

Christina Lauren2013

An MBA intern and her demanding media executive boss engage in a series of sexual encounters while competing at work. It is an erotic romance.

meditative → playful

pace+1·prose-2·bleak-1

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

pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

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

pace+2·prose-2·bleak-1

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

pace+2·prose-2·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.

Same meditative register

pace-1·prose+1·bleak-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.

meditative → mysterious

pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

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.

meditative → dreamlike

pace-1·prose+1·bleak0

Escape from Camp 14

Blaine Harden2012

The biography of Shin Dong-hyuk, the only person born in a North Korean political prison camp known to have escaped.

meditative → bleak, still biography

pace+1·prose-1·bleak+2

Nagasaki

Susan Southard2015

A historical account follows five survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki across seven decades of their lives.

meditative → elegiac, still biography

pace0·prose-1·bleak+2

House of Sticks

Ly Tran2021

A Vietnamese girl grows up in Queens while working in her family's sweatshop. She navigates poverty, failing eyesight, and cultural isolation.

meditative → elegiac, still biography

pace+1·prose0·bleak+2