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 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Arts / Culture, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography, Self Help


Publication year 1975

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family

Tags Lyric Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Mental Illness, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Mythology

Louise Glück is among the most lauded poets in the American canon. Glück’s writing is often surgically precise in terms of formal craft, and reveals a deep emotional complexity. She addresses sadness, mourning, trauma, and individual suffering metaphorically through the natural world, mythology, autobiographical events, or universal truths. She is known for alluding to cultural myths and personas in her work, some of which appear in “Gretel in Darkness” through the perspective of young Gretel... Read Gretel in Darkness Summary


Publication year 1985

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Social Science, Arts / Culture, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Politics / Government

Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life by Robert N. Bellah, Richard Madsen, William M. Sullivan, Ann Swidler, and Steven M. Tipton, is a sociological study published in 1985 that explores the balance between individualism and community within American society. The authors, who bring a collective background in sociology and theology to their analysis, investigate how Americans navigate the tensions between personal autonomy and social belonging. The book addresses topics such as... Read Habits of the Heart Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Music, Arts / Culture, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, French Literature, Historical Fiction

Published in 2011, Half-Blood Blues is the second book by Esi Edugyan, a black Canadian author. The novel won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2012 and was also shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize and the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction. As historical fiction, the story examines the lives of a diverse group of jazz musicians during World War II as they balance personal jealousies with the need to help each other amid mounting... Read Half-Blood Blues Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Historical Fiction, History: European, Gender / Feminism, Health / Medicine, Arts / Culture, British Literature, Elizabethan Era, History: World


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, Bullying, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture

Jacqueline Woodson's 2018 middle grade novel, Harbor Me, tracks the bonds of friendship that develop across six fifth-graders when they are given a unique opportunity to get to know each other. Amari, Esteban, Tiago, Ashton, Holly, and Haley Shondell McGrath (the narrator) are students with special learning needs in a Brooklyn school. Each friend has fears and frustrations that they share with each other over the year, and by opening up, they discover a collective... Read Harbor me Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Historical Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, History: World, Arts / Culture

Here by Richard McGuire is a graphic novel published on December 4, 2014, by Pantheon Books. The graphic novel focuses on the same corner of a room over billions of years. It depicts the area long before the house is built and long after it falls. By using different visual styles, overlapping panels, and non-chronological narration, McGuire creates a narrative that comments on the nature of time and life. Here is considered a transformative work... Read Here Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Children's Literature, Mental Illness, Arts / Culture

Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction is a 2018 graphic memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. A finalist for the National Book Award, it earned praise for its compassionate and honest portrayal of a child growing up in a family marked by addiction and abuse. This guide refers to the 2018 Graphix edition.Plot SummaryThe story traces Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s childhood and his family. Beginning and ending with... Read Hey, Kiddo Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

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

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

Home of the Brave is a 2008 juvenile novel by Katherine Applegate that is written entirely in free verse. The story revolves around the protagonist, a young boy named Kek, who has fled from violence and upheaval in his native Sudan and traveled alone to the United States. Kek’s father and older brother were killed in an attack on their camp, and Kek was forced to leave his mother behind to save his own life... Read Home of the Brave Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics

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


Publication year 1981

Genre Book, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Race / Racism, Parenting, African American Literature, American Literature, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Historical Fiction, Animals, Race / Racism, American Civil War, Sports, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S., Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, History: World, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Arts / Culture

Published in 2013 by Tim Tingle, How I Became a Ghost is a work of middle grade fiction that follows a young boy in the Choctaw nation and his death on the Trail of Tears. The Choctaw Trail of Tears refers to The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the forced relocation of Choctaws from their homes in the deep south to areas further west. How I Became a Ghost has received an American Indian... Read How I Became a Ghost Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Music, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Biography


Publication year 1926

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Self Discovery, Society: Education, Identity: Language

Tags Arts / Culture, Modernism, British Literature, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Natural World: Objects, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Philosophy, Technology, Arts / Culture, Self Help, Information Age, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Politics / Government


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts / Culture

How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery (2015) is a nonfiction book by Kevin Ashton about creativity. Ashton has led three start-ups and was a pioneer in the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) in inventory systems, underscoring his business credibility in this area. His thesis extends into the creative process involved in any field, including art and medicine. Ashton’s main point strikes an open and democratic tone: Being creative is... Read How to Fly a Horse Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Identity: Language

Tags Education, American Literature, Arts / Culture, Self Help, Inspirational, Education, Literary Criticism


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: World, Arts / Culture, Historical Fiction, Race / Racism


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, History: World, Historical Fiction, Music

If I Ever Get Out of Here (2013), by Eric Gansworth—a member of Onondaga Nation and Haudenosaunee—is a young adult, contemporary fiction novel about a teenage boy, Lewis “Shoe” Blake. Lewis narrates his struggles fitting into life in junior high and navigating the cultural differences between his life on the reservation, which he refers to as “the rez,” and that of his white classmates.Other work by this author includes Apple: Skin to the Core.Plot SummaryThe... Read If I Ever Get Out of Here Summary