Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Perspective
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
Two young lives intertwine during World War II, spanning continents and cultures.
Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, ... (Goodreads)
Naked
by David Sedaris
Collection of humorous essays exploring the absurdities of everyday life.
Welcome to the hilarious, strange, elegiac, outrageous world of David Sedaris. In Naked , Sedaris turns the mania for memoir on its proverbial ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, ... (Goodreads)
The Winds of War
by Herman Wouk
The story of a family caught in the middle of World War II and their struggles to survive.
Like no other masterpiece of historical fiction, Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II is the great novel of America's Greatest Generation. , Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of ... (Barnes & Noble)
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
A young boy experiences a day of unfortunate events, learning to accept his feelings and move on.
Alexander narrates the story of having a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day. From the moment Alexander woke up, he noticed the bubble gum that was in his mouth when he fell asleep had now ... (Wikipedia)
Lives Other than My Own: A Memoir
by Emmanuel Carrère
A memoir of the author's life and the lives of others, exploring grief, loss, and the human experience.
From the acclaimed Emmanuel Carrère, an act of generous imagination that unflinchingly records devastating loss and, equally vividly, the wealth of human solace that follows in its wake In Sri Lanka, ... (Goodreads)
The Clown
by Heinrich Böll
A young man's reflective journey through post-war Germany, exploring the consequences of war.
Hans Schnier is the "Clown" of the novel's title. He is twenty-seven years old from a very wealthy family. At the beginning of the story he arrives in Bonn, Germany. As a clown, he had to travel ... (Wikipedia)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
A young autistic boy's investigation of a crime, and personal journey of understanding.
Christopher John Francis Boone is a fifteen-year-old boy who is implied to be on the autism spectrum , who lives with his father, Ed. He explains in his narration that his mother, Judy, died two ... (Wikipedia)
Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy
by Judd Apatow
A collection of interviews with comedians, exploring their creative process and personal lives.
Before becoming one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood, Judd Apatow was the original comedy nerd. At fifteen, he took a job washing dishes in a local comedy club—just so he could watch ... (Goodreads)
A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman
A humorous and heartwarming tale of an old man's life journey of redemption and second chances.
"Ove is a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People ... (Wikipedia)
River of Smoke
by Amitav Ghosh
Set in 19th century Canton, the novel follows the opium trade and its impact on various characters.
In September 1838, a storm blows up on the Indian Ocean and the Ibis , a ship carrying a consignment of convicts and indentured laborers from Calcutta to Mauritius, is caught up in the whirlwind. ... (Goodreads)
This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life
by David Foster Wallace
Reflections on leading a meaningful life, with compassion and understanding.
In this rare peak into the personal life of the author of numerous bestselling novels, gain an understanding of David Foster Wallace and how he became the man that he was. Only once did David Foster ... (Barnes & Noble)
Holidays on Ice
by David Sedaris
Collection of humorous essays, exploring the absurdities of the holiday season.
David Sedaris's beloved holiday collection is new again with six more pieces, including a never before published story. Along with such favorites as the diaries of a Macy's elf and the annals of two ... (Goodreads)
Nutshell
by Ian McEwan
A unique retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet, from the perspective of an unborn child.
Nutshell is a classic story of murder and deceit, told by a narrator with a perspective and voice unlike any in recent literature. A bravura performance, it is the finest recent work from a true ... (Goodreads)
The Time Keeper
by Mitch Albom
A man is sent on a journey to discover the true meaning of time.
From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like, Tuesdays with Morrie, and, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, comes his most imaginative novel yet,, The Time Keeper,—a compelling ... (Barnes & Noble)
Pardonable Lies
by Jacqueline Winspear
A detective investigates a murder in post-WWI England, uncovering secrets of the past.
In the third novel of this bestselling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot's ... (Goodreads)
Sophie's Choice
by William Styron
A survivor of the Holocaust is confronted with a devastating moral dilemma.
Stingo, a novelist who is recalling the summer when he began his first novel, has been fired from his low-level reader's job at the publisher McGraw-Hill and has moved into a cheap boarding house in ... (Wikipedia)
The Day the Crayons Quit
by Drew Daywalt
Adventures of mischievous crayons who refuse to stay in the box.
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit! Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break ... (Goodreads)
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
by Jon Scieszka
A humorous reimagining of the classic fairy tale, as told from the wolf's side of the story.
You thought you knew the story of the “The Three Little Pigs”… You thought wrong. In this hysterical and clever fracture fairy tale picture book that twists point of view and perspective, young ... (Goodreads)
Imperium
by Ryszard Kapuściński
A vivid account of the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of new nations in its place.
Imperium is the story of an empire: the constellation of states that was submerged under a single identity for most of the twentieth century - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This is ... (Goodreads)
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories
by Flannery O'Connor
A collection of short stories exploring the human condition, from the comic to the grotesque.
This now classic book revealed Flannery O'Connor as one of the most original and provocative writers to emerge from the South. Her apocalyptic vision of life is expressed through grotesque, often ... (Goodreads)
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee
by Charles J. Shields
A biography of Harper Lee, the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," exploring her life and the inspiration behind her iconic novel.
"A fine, well-rounded portrait of Harper Lee. Mockingbird is good reading."—Star-Tribune (Minneapolis) To Kill a Mockingbird —the twentieth century's most widely read American novel—has sold thirty ... (Goodreads)
Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin
by Kathy Griffin
Comedian Kathy Griffin recounts life stories and anecdotes from her career.
Official Book Club Selection is Kathy Griffin unplugged, uncensored, and unafraid to dish about what really happens on the road, away from the cameras, and at the star party after the show. (It's ... (Goodreads)
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk
by David Sedaris
Collection of humorous animal-based stories filled with wit and insight.
Featuring, David Sedaris's, unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in ... (Goodreads)
The Post-American World
by Fareed Zakaria
Exploring the changing global order, and the implications for America's future.
"This is not a book about the decline of America, but rather about the rise of everyone else." So begins Fareed Zakaria's important new work on the era we are now entering. Following on the success ... (Goodreads)
When Breath Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi
A doctor's poignant memoir about life, mortality and purpose in the face of terminal illness.
For readers of Atul Gawande, Andrew Solomon, and Anne Lamott, a profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir by a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis who attempts to answer ... (Goodreads)
Them: Adventures with Extremists
by Jon Ronson
Exploration of extreme political and fringe groups by an inquisitive journalist.
Ronson chronicles his travels and interviews with "extremists" and attempts to uncover the mystery behind the "tiny elite that rules the world from inside a secret room". The book is written on the ... (Wikipedia)
The Humans
by Matt Haig
A man's journey of self-discovery, struggling to understand the complexities of being human.
Body-snatching has never been so heartwarming . . . The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable novel about alien abduction, mathematics, and that most interesting subject of all: ourselves. Combine ... (Goodreads)
The Noticer: Sometimes, All a Person Needs Is a Little Perspective
by Andy Andrews
A mysterious figure helps people gain clarity and perspective on their life's challenges.
A New York Times Bestseller, Your chance to regroup, take a breath, and begin your life again awaits in the simple wisdom and heartwarming story of a man named Jones., Orange Beach, Alabama, is a ... (Barnes & Noble)
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
by David Sedaris
Humorous reflections on everyday life, navigating the absurdities of the human condition.
It's early autumn 1964. Two straight-A students head off to school, and when only one of them returns home Chesney Yelverton is coaxed from retirement and assigned to what proves to be the most ... (Goodreads)
Fear and Trembling
by Søren Kierkegaard
Philosophical essay exploring the importance of faith, and the human struggle for faith.
Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, and religious author interested in human psychology. He is regarded as a leading pioneer of existentialism and one of the greatest philosophers ... (Goodreads)
The Civil War, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville
by Shelby Foote
Comprehensive chronicle of the American Civil War, from its beginnings to the battle of Perryville.
The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. 1 begins one of the most remarkable works of history ever fashioned. All the great battles are here, of course, from Bull Run through Shiloh, the Seven Days Battles, ... (Goodreads)
Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love
by Dava Sobel
A captivating exploration of Galileo's life and times, told through his daughter's letters.
Dramatically recolors the personality and accomplishment of a mythic figure whose seventeenth-century clash with Catholic doctrine continues to define the schism between science and religion. ... (Goodreads)
The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People
by John Ortberg
A guide to spiritual growth through practical disciplines, offering a path to a more fulfilling life.
Ignite a deeper, more vibrant relationship with God that impacts not just your spiritual life but every aspect of your daily life. John Ortberg calls readers back to the dynamic heartbeat of ... (Goodreads)
All My Friends Are Dead
by Avery Monsen
A lighthearted exploration of death, in the context of the animal kingdom.
"Laugh out loud funny, and a tiny bit disturbing. In other words, perfect.", - The Huffington Post An amusing and captivating tale that's a delightful primer for laughing at the inevitable: If you're ... (Goodreads)
Wishful Drinking
by Carrie Fisher
An autobiographical account of the author's life and struggles with fame, addiction, and mental illness.
In Wishful Drinking , Carrie Fisher tells the true and intoxicating story of her life with inimitable wit. Born to celebrity parents, she was picked to play a princess in a little movie called Star ... (Goodreads)
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
A journey into the natural world and exploration of a small creature's extraordinary life.
In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, Elisabeth Bailey shares an inspiring and intimate story of her uncommon encounter with a Neohelix albolabris —a common ... (Goodreads)
Sh*t My Dad Says
by Justin Halpern
Collection of humorous musings and witticisms from an elderly father.
After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is "like Socrates, but angrier, ... (Goodreads)
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
by Orson Scott Card
Time travelers use the past to prevent a destructive future, and rewrite history in the process.
Sometime in the future, humanity invents a series of machines which allow them to view events in their past. Tagiri is a researcher at Pastwatch, the organization in charge of these machines. Her ... (Wikipedia)
The Diaries of Adam and Eve
by Mark Twain
A humorous exploration of the differences between men and women, as seen through the eyes of Adam and Eve.
"Good deal of fog this morning. I do not go out in the fog myself," notes Adam in his diary, adding, "The new creature does. It goes out in all weathers. And talks. It used to be so pleasant and ... (Goodreads)
Six Thinking Hats
by Edward de Bono
Systematic approach to problem solving, improving decision-making and creative thinking.
The multi million-copy bestseller Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono, author of Lateral Thinking and I Am Right You Are Wrong, teaches you how to run better meetings and make better decisions. ... (Goodreads)
The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
by Michael Booth
A humorous and insightful exploration of the Nordic countries, their cultures, and the reality behind their reputation as utopias.
Journalist Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians for more than ten years and has grown increasingly frustrated with the rose-tinted view of this part of the world offered up by the Western ... (Goodreads)
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
by Naoki Higashida
Insightful and moving exploration of life with autism from the perspective of a young boy.
Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, ... (Goodreads)
Selected Stories
by Alice Munro
A collection of short stories exploring the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of everyday life.
Spanning almost thirty years and settings that range from big cities to small towns and farmsteads of rural Canada, this magnificent collection brings together twenty-eight stories by a writer of ... (Goodreads)
The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme
by John Keegan
A detailed analysis of three historical battles, exploring the experiences of soldiers and the impact of technology on warfare.
The Face of Battle is military history from the battlefield: a look at the direct experience of individuals at 'the point of maximum danger'. It examines the physical conditions of fighting, the ... (Goodreads)
Goodbye to All That
by Robert Graves
Autobiographical account of Robert Graves' experiences during World War I and his disillusionment with the war and British society.
An autobiographical work that describes firsthand the great tectonic shifts in English society following the First World War, Robert Graves's Goodbye to All That is a matchless evocation of the Great ... (Goodreads)
Don't Be Sad
by عائض القرني
رحلة نفسية يجريها شاب من الأحزان إلى الإبداع للكشف عن الحقائق السرية المخفية تحت السطح.
"خطّ المؤلف في هذه الصفحات علاجاً لمن عاش ضائقة أو ألمّ به حزن أو هم، أو طاف به طائف من مصيبة، أو أقضي مضجعه أرق، وشرد نومه قلق. وأينا يخلو من ذلك. هنا في طيات هذا الكتاب آيات وأبيات، صور وعبر، ... (Goodreads)
Leave Me
by Gayle Forman
A woman, overwhelmed by her responsibilities, leaves her family to find herself. She discovers that sometimes you have to lose yourself to find your way back home.
Every woman who has ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of going home to make dinner, and every woman who has ever dreamed of boarding a train to a place where no one ... (Goodreads)
You'll Grow Out of It
by Jessi Klein
A collection of humorous essays about the author's journey from tomboy to womanhood.
From Emmy award-winning comedy writer Jessi Klein,, You'll Grow Out of It, hilariously and candidly explores the journey of the 21st-century woman. As both a tomboy and a late bloomer, comedian Jessi ... (Barnes & Noble)
Chasing Vermeer
by Blue Balliett
An artistic mystery that unravels through a series of clues and puzzles.
The book begins with a mysterious letter that is delivered to three unknown recipients, two women and one man. The letter tells them they are of great need to the sender, but begs them not to tell ... (Wikipedia)
Cat and Mouse
by Günter Grass
A tale of two friends, one a cat and the other a mouse, who navigate their complex relationship amidst the turmoil of Nazi Germany.
The narrator describes the character "The Great Mahlke" from their youth together through to Mahlke's disappearance near the end of the Second World War. Much of the action of the story is on a ... (Wikipedia)
Big Fish
by Daniel Wallace
A son's quest to unravel the truth behind his father's enigmatic life stories.
A young man (William Bloom), at the deathbed of his father (Edward Bloom), tries to reconcile his memories of his dad with the person he really is. Where as he always saw his father as an ... (Wikipedia)
This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike.
by Augusten Burroughs
A humorous yet thoughtful collection of personal stories and advice on dealing with life challenges.
If you're fat and fail every diet, if you're thin but can't get thin enough, if you lose your job, if your child dies, if you are diagnosed with cancer, if you always end up with exactly the wrong ... (Goodreads)
The Best Nest
by P.D. Eastman
A bird couple's hilarious quest to find the perfect nest, learning to appreciate what they already have.
Back in 1957, Theodor Geisel responded to an article in Life magazine that lamented the use of boring reading primers in schools. Using the pseudonym of "Dr. Seuss" (Seuss was Geisel's middle name) ... (Goodreads)
A Country Doctor's Notebook
by Mikhail Bulgakov
A young doctor's struggles to practice medicine in a small rural village.
Brilliant stories that show the growth of a novelist's mind, and the raw material that fed the wild surrealism of Bulgakov's later fiction. With the ink still wet on his diploma, the ... (Goodreads)
Conversation in the Cathedral
by Mario Vargas Llosa
Two men's lives intersect in a corrupt and oppressive Peru, leading to a conversation in a bar that reveals the truth about their pasts.
A haunting tale of power, corruption, and the complex search for identity, Conversation in The Cathedral takes place in 1950s Peru during the dictatorship of Manuel Apolinario Odría Amoretti. Over ... (Goodreads)
A Man in Full
by Tom Wolfe
A portrait of Atlanta's elite and the racial and economic divides that plague society.
The setting is Atlanta, Georgia — a racially mixed, late-century boomtown full of fresh wealth and wily politicians. The protagonist is Charles Croker, once a college football star, now a ... (Goodreads)
The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism
by Karen Armstrong
A historical account of the rise of fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and its impact on modern society.
In our supposedly secular age governed by reason and technology, fundamentalism has emerged as an overwhelming force in every major world religion. Why? This is the fascinating, disturbing question ... (Goodreads)
The Thing About Jellyfish
by Ali Benjamin
A young girl's quest to reconcile the death of her best friend, and the power of human connection.
The book follows Suzy Swanson, the protagonist and narrator, who theorizes the death of her friend, Franny Jackson, was caused by a jellyfish sting. Suzy has started the seventh grade, which is the ... (Wikipedia)
So You Don't Get Lost in the Neighborhood
by Patrick Modiano
A man's chance encounter with an old friend leads him to investigate his past and confront his memories.
“Modiano is an ideal writer to gorge on . . . A moody, delectable noir.” —, The New Yorker, “The best kind of mystery, the kind that never stops haunting you.” —, Entertainment Weekly, “A work of ... (Barnes & Noble)
Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life
by Hector Garcia Puigcerver
A guide to living a long and happy life, drawing on Japanese culture and philosophy.
Según los japoneses, todo el mundo tiene un ikigai, un motivo para existir. Algunos lo han encontrado y son conscientes de su ikigai, otros lo llevan dentro, pero todavía lo están buscando. Este es ... (Goodreads)
Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford
by Clint Hill
Clint Hill, a former Secret Service agent, recounts his experiences serving five US Presidents and the historic events he witnessed.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Kennedy and Me and Five Days in November reflects on his seventeen years on the Secret Service for presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and ... (Barnes & Noble)
I'm Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago
by Hape Kerkeling
Hape Kerkeling, Deutschlands vielseitigster TV-Entertainer, lief zu Fuß zum Grab des heiligen Jakob – über 600 Kilometer durch Spanien bis nach Santiago de Compostela – und erlebte die reinigende ... (Goodreads)
Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush
by Jon Meacham
A biography of George H.W. Bush, exploring his life and legacy as a politician and statesman.
From Pulitzer Prize winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham comes a sweeping yet intimate biography of George H. W. Bush. Based on rigorous research, hours of private interviews, ... (Goodreads)
Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
A collection of essays and speeches by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on various topics, including his experiences in World War II and his views on society.
Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons (Opinions) is a rare opportunity to experience Kurt Vonnegut speaking in his own voice about his own life, his views of the world, his writing, and the writing of ... (Goodreads)
Plutarch's Lives: Volume I
by Plutarch
Biographies of famous Greeks and Romans, exploring their virtues and flaws. Provides insight into ancient history and human nature.
Plutarch's Lives, written at the beginning of the second century A.D., is a social history of the ancient world by one of the greatest biographers and moralists of all time. In what is by far his ... (Goodreads)
Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid
by Denis Leary
A humorous take on American culture, politics, and society, with a focus on self-deprecating humor and satire.
A hilarious blast of scathing irreverence from the award-winning actor and comedian . "A pissed off Leary is the best Leary," says one critic of the writer and comic. In Why We Suck , Dr. Denis Leary ... (Goodreads)
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail
by David Miller
A man's journey of self-discovery on a 2,200 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.
In 2003, software engineer David Miller left his job, family, and friends to hike 2,172 miles of the Appalachian Trail., AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, is Miller’s account of this thru-hike from ... (Barnes & Noble)
It's So Easy: And Other Lies
by Duff McKagan
A story of rock-n-roll excess, and a cautionary tale of redemption.
A founding member of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver shares the story of his rise to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, his struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, his personal crash and burn, ... (Goodreads)
The Glass Room
by Simon Mawer
A story of a family living through the turbulent years of early 20th century Europe.
High on a Czechoslovak hill, the Landauer House has been built for newlyweds Viktor and Liesel Landauer, a Jew married to a gentile. But, when the storm clouds of WW2 gather, the family must flee, ... (Goodreads)
Cold Granite
by Stuart MacBride
Detective Logan McRae investigates the abduction and murder of young boys in Aberdeen, Scotland.
It is Logan McRae's first week back after being on sick leave for a year; courtesy of Angus Robertson (The Mastrick Monster) who carved him up with a knife. Someone is kidnapping children, murdering ... (Wikipedia)
Anatomy for the Artist
by Sarah Simblet
Comprehensive guide to human anatomy for artists, featuring detailed illustrations and explanations of bones, muscles, and more.
For millennia, the human body has been celebrated as nature's finest masterpiece. This superb drawing guide helps you unravel its complexity and capture its aesthetic on paper. Packed with ... (Goodreads)
All That Is
by James Salter
A novel about the life of a World War II veteran and his journey through love, loss, and the publishing industry in post-war America.
An extraordinary literary event, a major new novel by the PEN/Faulkner winner and acclaimed master: a sweeping, seductive, deeply moving story set in the years after World War II. From his ... (Goodreads)
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