The Dutch philosopher Erasmus said, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” Why do we value books and literature so highly? This thematic collection gathers books that offer unique insights into the power, energy, and appeal of, well, books!
Publication year 1958
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore
The Once and Future King (1958) by T. H. White is considered a classic of epic fantasy and (alongside Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, from which it draws inspiration) the definitive retelling of the legend of King Arthur. White’s tale spans the entire life of the legendary king, from his orphaned youth to his apprenticeship under Merlyn to the establishment of Camelot. The story is comprised of four separate novels, each of which focuses on... Read The Once and Future King Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice
Publication year 1955
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Surrealism
Publication year 1961
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Relationships
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, The Lost Generation, LGBTQ, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, French Literature
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Music, Natural World: Animals
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Relationships, Class, Music, Parenting, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1846
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Language
Tags Philosophy, American Literature, Arts / Culture, Literary Criticism, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Edgar Allan Poe’s essay “The Philosophy of Composition” first appeared in Graham’s Magazine in 1846. A year earlier, his poem “The Raven” made him a celebrity. In the essay, Poe describes the process he claims to have followed in writing that poem. The essay illustrates Poe’s aesthetic principles according to which a poem must have a certain length, “unity of effect,” and connection among its elements. It also presents his ideas concerning beauty in poetry... Read The Philosophy of Composition Summary
Publication year 1933
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Christian literature, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2003
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Irish Literature, Play: Drama
Martin McDonagh is a British Irish playwright and filmmaker known for his absurdist black humor. He drew inspiration for The Pillowman from his own personal affinity for fairytales and his realization that many children’s stories have subtly dark undertones. The play is about two brothers, Katurian and Michal, who are under investigation for a series of child murders that bear an uncanny resemblance to some of Katurian’s fictional stories.The Pillowman debuted its first public reading... Read The Pillowman Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge
Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Arts / Culture, Psychology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Philosophy, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1991
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Community
Tags Anthropology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Mythology, Philosophy
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers, published in 1988, is a nonfiction companion to a six-episode PBS documentary series by the same name. The main text of the book is a transcript of an extensive conversation between comparative mythology expert Joseph Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers. Using mythological stories, psychoanalytic theories, and personal anecdotes, Campbell and Moyers examine how world mythologies illuminate the mysteries of human life through shared symbols as... Read The Power of Myth Summary
Publication year 1757
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1866
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Self Discovery
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Magical Realism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Gender / Feminism, African Literature, African American Literature, French Literature, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Arts / Culture, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death
Publication year 1964
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy
Publication year 1939
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Marriage
Tags American Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction, Satire, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
First published in the New Yorker in 1939, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is James Thurber’s short story about the flamboyant fantasy life of a timid suburban Everyman. A gentle satire of the human imagination (among other things), the story struck an immediate and lasting chord in the midcentury American imagination and is widely regarded as a comic masterpiece. Its distinctive mixture of pathos and parody made it one of the most anthologized short... Read The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Summary