Popular Study Guides

The Popular Study Guides Collection brings together a selection of our most-visited Guides in one convenient place. Featuring titles ranging from classic literature with enduring appeal to popular book club picks, this Collection represents a diverse array of literature readers can't get enough of.

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, LGBTQ, Romance


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Social Justice


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Daughters & Sons

Tags Historical Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 170

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome

Content Warning: The source text and study guide both contain references to suicide.“Cupid and Psyche” is a story from the ancient Roman novel The Metamorphoses (also known as The Golden Ass) by Apuleius, written around 160 CE. The story describes the love between Cupid, the god of love, and Psyche (pronounced SY-kee), a young woman, and the trials they undergo as the result of human and divine meddling.Although the legend of Cupid and Psyche was... Read Cupid and Psyche Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature


Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community

Tags History: World, Business / Economics, Finance / Money / Wealth, Anthropology, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Health / Medicine, Education, Education, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Psychological Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Introduction Different Seasons (1982) by Stephen King is a collection of four novellas that are tied together by a connection to the four seasons. Three of the four stories (“Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”, “Apt Pupil”, and “The Body”) have been made into films, and the fourth (“The Breathing Method”) is under consideration for adaptation.This guide refers to the 1983 Signet edition.Content Warning: This book contains references to death by suicide, sexual assault, racism... Read Different Seasons Summary


Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Relationships, Agriculture, Lyric Poem, Education, Education


Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, History: World, Politics / Government, Biography


Publication year 1755

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Sociology, Age of Enlightenment, Education, Education, History: World, French Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

“Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men,” often known as the “Discourse on Inequality” or the “Second Discourse,” is an essay by the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau published in 1765. This summary is based on The First and Second Discourses, edited and translated by Roger D. Masters and Judith R. Masters, and published by St. Martin’s Press in 1964.SummaryRousseau wrote the essay in response to a prize announced by the Academy of... Read Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Summary


Publication year 1957

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Inspirational, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Class, Poverty, Incarceration, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Biography


Publication year 2016

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Race, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World


Publication year 2014

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Society: Community

Tags WWII / World War II, Animals, History: World, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Military / War, History: Asian, Action / Adventure, Biography


Publication year 1991

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, American Literature