Nation & Nationalism

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 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Biography, History: World, Christian literature


Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War, Society: Nation

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Crime / Legal, Leadership/Organization/Management, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Grief / Death, Vietnam War, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2023

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation

Tags Politics / Government, Race / Racism, History: U.S., History: World, Social Justice, Biography


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Colonialism

Tags Creative Nonfiction, American Revolution, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., Military / War, History: World


Publication year 1985

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Play: Drama, Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, American Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction

August Wilson’s King Hedley II premiered in 1999 and opened on Broadway in 2001. It is the ninth installment in Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle (also known as the Century Cycle), a series of 10 plays that examine the experiences of Black Americans during the 20th century. It was nominated for multiple awards including a Tony and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes for other Pittsburgh Cycle plays, Fences in 1987... Read King Hedley II Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 1987

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Business / Economics, History: World, Leadership/Organization/Management, Creative Nonfiction, Self Help, Military / War, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun is a self-improvement and business leadership book by Wess Roberts, who was a human resources manager at Fireman’s Fund Insurance when he published the book in 1989. Using the historical figure of Attila the Hun as his mouthpiece, Roberts outlines his management style and approach to business. This guide refers to Attila’s “persona” when quoting words that Roberts imagines Attila might have said. In the introduction, Roberts discusses Attila... Read Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags Philosophy, Biography, Politics / Government, Leadership/Organization/Management, History: World, Business / Economics, Philosophy


Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Climate Change


Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism

Tags History: U.S., American Revolution, Politics / Government, Military / War, American Literature, History: World


Publication year 1900

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Nation, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Inspirational, African American Literature, American Literature, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S.


Publication year 1865

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Military / War, American Civil War, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1932

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Classical Period, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1997

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: War, Society: Nation

Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Education, Education, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, Incarceration, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, History: World

Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America is a work of nonfiction by James Forman Jr., an American lawyer and legal scholar specializing in racial inequities in criminal justice. Published in 2017, this critically acclaimed book examines the complex role Black leaders played in advancing tough-on-crime policies that ultimately contributed to the mass incarceration of Black people in the United States. Drawing on his experience as a public defender and his extensive... Read Locking Up Our Own Summary


Publication year 1807

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Lyric Poem


Publication year 1738

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Nation, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Satire, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Age of Enlightenment, Neoclassical, British Literature, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: European, Politics / Government


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, History: U.S., Social Justice, American Literature, African American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2006

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags Crime / Legal, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Military / War, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography

Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer (2006) by James L. Swanson is a popular true-crime historical thriller about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 and the search for the assassin John Wilkes Booth. James Swanson has written several books about Abraham Lincoln and other events in American history including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The book won the Edgar Award, a literary award for fiction and non-fiction works... Read Manhunt Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation

Tags Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, History: U.S., Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)