After
Walden or, Life in the Woods
Henry David Thoreau1849
- pace
- prose
- structure
- bleakness
3 of 6 directions open — nothing to recover from, nothing denser, nothing slower
More like it
- pace0prose-1bleak0
Walden & Civil Disobedience
Henry David Thoreau2007
A man lives in a cabin by a pond for two years to observe nature and practice self-reliance. He details his daily expenses and philosophy.
Same meditative register, still nature writing
pace0·prose-1·bleak0
- pace0prose-1bleak0
Braiding Sweetgrass
Robin Wall Kimmerer2013
A botanist and member of the Potawatomi Nation weaves together indigenous legends and scientific study. It focuses on ecological interconnectedness.
Same meditative register, still nature writing
pace0·prose-1·bleak0
- pace0prose0bleak0
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.
Same meditative register, still philosophy
pace0·prose0·bleak0
- pace0prose0bleak0
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, still philosophy
pace0·prose0·bleak0
1 more ↓ ↑
- pace0prose0bleak0
Self-Reliance and Other Essays
Ralph Waldo Emerson1993
A collection of 19th-century lectures advocating for individualism and nonconformity. The prose is dense, formal, and philosophical.
Same meditative register, still philosophy
pace0·prose0·bleak0
Faster
- pace+3prose-3bleak0
Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
Frank W. Abagnale
A teenager poses as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer to cash millions in fraudulent checks. He evades the FBI across several countries.
meditative → playful, still memoir
pace+3·prose-3·bleak0
- pace+3prose-3bleak+1
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
pace+3·prose-3·bleak+1
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+3prose-3bleak0
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+3·prose-3·bleak0
- pace+3prose-3bleak0
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+3·prose-3·bleak0
- pace+3prose-3bleak0
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+3·prose-3·bleak0
Heavier
- pace+1prose-1bleak+3
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
pace+1·prose-1·bleak+3
- pace+2prose-3bleak+3
A Child Called "It"
Dave Pelzer1987
A memoir of the author's childhood survival against severe physical and psychological abuse by his mother in California.
meditative → bleak, still memoir
pace+2·prose-3·bleak+3
3 more ↓ ↑
- pace+1prose-2bleak+3
When Rabbit Howls
Truddi Chase1987
A woman and her ninety-two distinct personalities document her history of severe childhood trauma and her journey through therapy.
meditative → bleak, still memoir
pace+1·prose-2·bleak+3
- pace+2prose-1bleak+3
Wasted
Marya Hornbacher1998
A detailed memoir of the author's decade-long struggle with anorexia and bulimia. It documents hospitalizations and the physical decay of the body.
meditative → bleak, still memoir
pace+2·prose-1·bleak+3
- pace+2prose-2bleak+3
A House in the Sky
Amanda Lindhout2013
A freelance journalist is kidnapped in Somalia and held for fifteen months. The memoir details her captivity and the conditions she endured.
meditative → tense, still memoir
pace+2·prose-2·bleak+3
