Books About Art

This assortment of study guides focuses on the arts, from cinema to cuisine. Read on to explore Aristotle’s Poetics, which analyzes the nature and uses of poetry; An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski, a manual for actors based on the author’s work and teachings at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which chronicles the art of fine dining.

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Grief / Death, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall (Penguin Random House, 2016) is a historical middle-grade novel. The book follows young Arthur Owens as he grapples with grief, discovers his own heaven, and learns how people, himself included, can surprise you. The Seventh Most Important Thing was nominated for 16 state awards and was an ALA Notable Book, an ILA Teachers Choice, and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. Shelley Pearsall based the... Read The Seventh Most Important Thing Summary


Publication year 1904

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Classic Fiction, Irish Literature, Religion / Spirituality, British Literature, Arts / Culture, History: World


Publication year 1967

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community

Tags Philosophy, Sociology, French Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government

Guy Debord’s 1967 philosophy text, The Society of the Spectacle, analyzes the phenomena of alienation and argues that alienation’s root cause is located within the economic, political, and cultural spheres of modern society. While previous periods of capitalist development saw the hyper-exploitation of workers, the period of capitalism after WWII saw an improvement in labor conditions for greater numbers of workers in society. However, for Debord, this improvement in work conditions did not translate to... Read The Society of the Spectacle Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family

Tags Arts / Culture, History: World, Biography

Kao Kalia Yang’s The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father was published in 2016; this guide refers to the Kindle edition of the text. The book won the Minnesota Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Chautauqua Prize. The Song Poet presents the story of Kalia’s father, Bee Yang, as an artist and a song poet.Song poetry is a traditional form of Hmong art. The Hmong... Read The Song Poet Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Poverty, Class, Indian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Arts / Culture


Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Arts / Culture, History: European, Victorian Period, Italian Literature, History: World, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, History: Asian, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Fame, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery

Tags Music, History: World, Biography, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons

Tags Asian Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Chinese Literature, Arts / Culture

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a novel by contemporary American writer Lisa See. See is one-eighth Chinese, and most of her books feature Chinese history and traditions. First published in 2017, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane centers around the story of a young girl named Li-yan, who lives with her family in remote tea mountains of China. In their everyday life, her village relies on rituals, belief, and taboos, and they are... Read The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Arts / Culture

The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, Ancient Greece, Relationships, Arts / Culture, Military / War, American Literature, Children's Literature

The Titan’s Curse (2007) is the third installment in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, following The Lightning Thief (2005) and The Sea of Monsters (2006) and preceding The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008) and The Last Olympian (2009). The series centers around the adventures of Percy Jackson, a boy who is the son of the Greek god of the sea Poseidon and a mortal woman named Sally Jackson. Percy learns that he... Read The Titan's Curse Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Globalization, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1976

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Education, Education, Christian literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, Italian Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Sociology, Arts / Culture, Technology, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Language

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Arts / Culture, Psychology, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Historical Fiction, Education, Education, Latin American Literature, Military / War, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Weight of All Things, written by esteemed American author Sandra Benitez, is a lyrical novel portraying the effects of the civil war in El Salvador during the 1980s. This war between conservatives and communists is portrayed through the eyes of a child; detailing the brutality of both sides and showcasing the futility of war. Written in the third person omniscient style, the events of a brutal war are depicted with graphic detail, yet the... Read The Weight of All Things Summary


Publication year 1979

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags History: U.S., Journalism, Politics / Government, Arts / Culture, Class, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Music, Arts / Culture, Biography, Mental Illness