How much of our identity is shaped by our environments? How much is intrinsic to who we are and beyond the control of external forces? These are ancient questions with complex answers. In this collection we've gathered texts that explore the issue of nature versus nurture from a variety of angles.
Publication year 1988
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Finance / Money / Wealth, Business / Economics, Self Help
Publication year 1978
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Anthropology, Anthropology, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 1910
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Philosophy, Italian Literature, Ancient Rome
On the Nature of Things is a philosophical work by the Roman author Titus Lucretius Carus (whom we call “Lucretius”). It was written in the early 50s BC, in Latin. Though this is a work of science and philosophy, it is also a poem. This work provides a detailed description of Epicurean philosophy, which encompasses theories of atoms, cosmology, theology, and a wide variety of natural phenomena. It also addresses the nature of the mind... Read On The Nature Of Things Summary
Publication year 1859
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Science / Nature, History: World, Religion / Spirituality
Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (published in 1859) is a seminal work in evolutionary biology of great historical and scientific importance. Darwinian thought, especially regarding evolution, is now commonly accepted as the most powerful theory in biology and the natural history of species—and the system of natural selection that this theory advanced has been applied (and misappropriated)... Read On the Origin of Species Summary
Publication year 49
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Classical Period, Philosophy, Ancient Rome, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1823
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Classic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction
Written in 1823 by Claire de Duras, Ourika is a French novella based on real events about a Senegalese woman taken as a slave from her native country and raised in French high society. Ourika is one of the first European texts to feature a black protagonist, the psychological depth of whom promotes empathy with the racial “Other” and highlights the importance of nurture (versus nature) in human psychological development. In the Introduction, a young doctor is summoned to an... Read Ourika Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Fathers, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Southern Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: World, Romance
Out of the Easy, written by Ruta Sepetys and published in 2013, is a young adult historical fiction novel. Sepetys is an award-winning Lithuanian American writer of young adult historical fiction. Her honors include the Carnegie Medal, awarded to one work of children’s or young adult literature per year. Her novels are international best sellers and are widely translated. Out of the Easy is about Josie, a teenage girl living in the French Quarter of... Read Out of the Easy Summary
Publication year 1977
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Agriculture
Publication year 2008
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Education
Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Science / Nature, Social Science, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2018
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1962
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1994
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Parenting
Publication year 1909
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Social Justice, Naturalism, Education, Education
Publication year 1921
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Lyric Poem, Free verse
Publication year 1923
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Free verse
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Irish Literature
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Sports
Publication year 1915
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Metaphysical, Romanticism / Romantic Period
Social Intelligence
by Daniel Goleman
Publication year 2006
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Language
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Science / Nature, Sociology, Relationships, Business / Economics, Psychology
... Read Social Intelligence Summary