These study guides analyze powerful words that have shaped and reflected some of the most influential moments in history. Perfect for exploring the power and craft of rhetoric, this collection covers Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments, among many others.
Publication year 1838
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Philosophy, Transcendentalism, Religion / Spirituality, American Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 1971
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Science / Nature, History: World, Biography
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Tags Ancient Greece, Philosophy, Philosophy
The philosopher Socrates and a man named Euthyphro meet at the court of a magistrate in charge of religious law. They discover that they both have cases to plead there. Socrates explains that he has been accused by a young man named Meletus of corrupting the youth of Athens by questioning the traditional beliefs about the gods and introducing new gods. Euthyphro says that he, too, has received similar accusations before, and that the thing... Read Euthyphro Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity
Tags Humor, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Self Help, Biography
Publication year 1998
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Identity: Language
Tags Education, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 1946
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Tags Philosophy, Existentialism, French Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
In “Existentialism is a Humanism” (1945), French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre attempts to convince an audience of philosophers and laypeople alike that his philosophy is neither pessimistic, nor relativist, nor quietist, nor subjectivist in the sense of presenting human beings as isolated individuals. He begins by elaborating Christians’ and Marxists’ criticisms of his ideas, then attempts to respond to each. In doing so, he focuses on the key formulation of existentialism, “existence precedes essence.” Then... Read Existentialism is a Humanism Summary
Publication year 1992
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Sociology, Social Justice, Politics / Government, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 1972
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Globalization, Society: Community
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Finance / Money / Wealth, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1973
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags History: World, Classic Fiction, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Journalism, History, Biography, Humor
Publication year 1953
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, African American Literature, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
“Flying Home” is the titular story of Ralph Ellison’s collection published in 1944. It tells the story of Todd, a Black Air Force candidate in flight training school in Macon County, Alabama, during World War II. As one of the first Black people accepted into the school, Todd is determined to prove that his capabilities are equal to those of his white counterparts. The story addresses themes of Fear of Judgment, Opportunities and the American... Read Flying Home Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, African American Literature, American Civil War, History: World, Politics / Government
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism
Tags Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World
Publication year 1796
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, American Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1863
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags History: U.S., American Civil War
Publication year 1955
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Life/Time: Midlife, Identity: Femininity
Tags Inspirational, Philosophy, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Biography, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Gift from the Sea is a 1955 work of inspirational nonfiction literature by American author Anne Morrow Lindbergh. While vacationing on Captiva Island, Florida, Lindbergh explores the questions of how to find a new, more natural rhythm of life and how to gain a deeper relationship with herself and others. To gain inspiration for this, she discusses various shells that she finds on the beach. The first two shells she finds symbolize the importance of... Read Gift From The Sea Summary
Publication year 2000
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education
Tags Diversity, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Social Justice, Sports
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Biography
Heavy is Kiese Laymon’s 2018 memoir. It won the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the LA Times Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose. Earning praise from Alice Walker, The Boston Globe, NPR, Time, and The Paris Review, Heavy acknowledges that “we’ve arrived at the point we have as a country in part because of lies we’ve told ourselves about what America means” (Abdurraquib, Hanif. “Heavy.” 4 Columns, 2018).This guide refers to the... Read Heavy Summary
Publication year 1948
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Environment
Tags Travel Literature, History: U.S., Urban Development, Creative Nonfiction, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction