These texts explore the concept of the nation, an idea of community that inspires patriotism and nostalgia. What makes a nation? And why are people willing to die—or to kill—to protect it? These are just a couple of the questions examined in the texts in this collection.
Publication year 2023
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Business / Economics
Publication year 1956
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Arts / Culture, The Beat Generation, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
“A Supermarket in California” is a prose poem by the American poet Allen Ginsberg. Written in 1955, it appears alongside Ginsberg’s most well-known work, “Howl,” in his book Howl and Other Poems. Published November 1, 1956 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Lights Books as part of their Pocket Poets Series, Howl and Other Poems was subject to an obscenity trial in 1957 due to its use of sexually explicit language. The trial eventually ruled in the... Read A Supermarket in California Summary
Publication year 1997
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Humor, Philosophy, Post Modernism, American Literature
A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is a 1997 essay collection by David Foster Wallace. The seven essays explore 1990s US social issues through subjects such as television, tennis, and (in the most famous essay) a Caribbean cruise. The essays have been referenced many times in popular culture, particularly the title essay, which recounts Wallace’s experiences on a cruise.This guide references the 1998 Abacus edition of the collection.SummaryIn the first essay, “Derivative Sport... Read A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Economics, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community, Society: Nation
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Finance / Money / Wealth
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Publication year 1892
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, African American Literature, Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., Sociology, History: World, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: War, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration
Tags History: U.S., Social Justice, Politics / Government, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
Publication year 1974
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Free verse
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Community
Tags History: U.S., Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Depression / Suicide, Education, History: The Americas, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Globalization, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, Gender / Feminism, Sociology, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government
Publication year 1993
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation
Tags History: U.S.
Becoming Mexican American is a nonfiction book published in 1993 by social historian George J. Sánchez. Sánchez examines the cultural adaptation of Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles between 1900 and 1945 and its role in the formation of Chicano identity. The Mexican population of Los Angeles combined practices and beliefs from Mexico and the United States to form a unique ethnic form of Americanism, which was later mobilized by the second generation of American-born Chicanos... Read Becoming Mexican American Summary
Publication year 2003
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: U.S., American Revolution, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, African American Literature, History: World, Humor
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Politics / Government, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Business / Economics, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1993
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Relationships: Family
Tags Satire, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Indian Literature, Class, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation
Tags History: World, Latin American Literature, Arts / Culture, Military / War, Politics / Government, History: European, Class, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Education, Education, History: U.S.
Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America, 4th Edition, by John Charles Chasteen was published in 2016. The first edition was printed in 2001. Chasteen works as an author, translator, and professor of Latin American history and culture. He teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Some of his other notable works are Americanos: The Struggle for Latin American Independence, National Rhythms, African Roots: The Deep History of... Read Born in Blood and Fire Summary
Publication year 1880
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: War
Tags French Literature, Military / War, Historical Fiction
“Boule de Suif,” which translates to “ball of fat” in English, is a short story by 19th-century French Naturalist writer Guy de Maupassant. Published in 1880, it was his first published story and is considered one of his greatest works. The story explores the power dynamics of class and gender while also painting a picture of the dismal final days of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 in Prussian-occupied France. All told, Maupassant wrote some 300... Read Boule De Suif Summary
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction