After
Unmasking Autism
Devon Price2022
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
5 of 6 directions open — nothing denser
More like it
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I Hope We Choose Love
Kai Cheng Thom2019
A collection of personal essays and poems regarding justice, social movements, and trauma. It examines how to maintain community after harm.
Same elegiac register, still nonfiction
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The Tyranny of Merit
Michael J. Sandel2020
This book examines how the ideal of meritocracy creates social division. It argues that the system demeans those without degrees and fuels populism.
elegiac → tense, still nonfiction
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The Myth of Sisyphus
Elliot M. Simon2007
This study traces the Sisyphus myth from classical antiquity through the Renaissance. It examines how writers used the figure to discuss human effort.
Same elegiac register
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Prognosis
Sarah Vallance2019
A memoir of the author's recovery after a traumatic brain injury left her with a significantly lowered IQ. She documents her struggle to relearn.
elegiac → tense, still nonfiction
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1 more ↓ ↑
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Memoirs of my nervous illness
Daniel Paul Schreber1955
A German judge documents his elaborate delusions and theological theories during his confinement in a mental asylum.
Same elegiac register, still nonfiction
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To recover
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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.
elegiac → playful, still nonfiction
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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.
elegiac → playful
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3 more ↓ ↑
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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.
elegiac → propulsive
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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.
elegiac → earnest
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The Martian
Andy Weir2011
A man does arithmetic to stay alive on Mars. Problem, attempt, result, repeat.
elegiac → wry
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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.
elegiac → 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.
elegiac → 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.
elegiac → 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.
elegiac → 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.
elegiac → earnest
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Slower
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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.
elegiac → playful
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Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard1992
A collection of papers presents two life philosophies: the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure and the ethical commitment to duty.
elegiac → meditative
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3 more ↓ ↑
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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.
elegiac → meditative
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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.
elegiac → mysterious
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Heavier
Same elegiac register, still nonfiction
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We're all doing time
Bo Lozoff1985
A guide to spiritual practice and meditation specifically written for people serving time in the prison system.
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Mother Hunger
Kelly McDaniel2021
A counselor analyzes the psychological impact of missing maternal nurturance, protection, and guidance during infancy.
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3 more ↓ ↑
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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.
elegiac → tender, still nonfiction
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Bellevue
David M. Oshinsky2016
A chronological account of America's oldest public hospital, detailing its evolution from a colonial almshouse to a modern medical center.
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Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Katherine Boo
A journalist follows several residents of Annawadi, a slum near the Mumbai airport. It tracks their efforts to survive amid corruption and poverty.
elegiac → eerie, still nonfiction
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