In the mood for deep thought? Pondering life as you look out on the horizon? These books are for you!
Sections
4
Poetry
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Plays
Poetry
Beautiful poetry, guaranteed to get you in your feelings
Crush - Richard Siken
More poetry - short and breezy, but rich in language
The Dream of a Common Language - Adrienne Rich
Non-Fiction
A series of essays about the world we live in and how we shape it
The Anthropocene Reviewed - John Green
A terminally ill professor gives his last lecture to the world, passing on the most valuable lessons he’s learned
The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
All about the lessons a dying man wishes to pass on to a young man
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson - Mitch Albom
Fiction
An allegorical sort of tale of a boy in pursuit of treasure, and the journey he undergoes, both in physical travels and mental clarity.
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
An introspective and harrowing look at mental health and its impact on life
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
A modern classic, both a children’s story and a deeper look at sociopolitical stressors and their impact on a generation
The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
A classic, all about work, love, and pursuit of the ultimate dream
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
An experimental and kinda trippy read about the effects of war on a generation
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
A collection of beautiful short stories, each multilayered and complex
The Shell Collector - Anthony Doerr
Short stories exploring the self
The Metamorphosis and Other Stories - Franz Kafka
Poetic language and a fascinating premise work together to warn against complacency in an increasingly technological world
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Plays
Tennessee Williams is the expert at packing in so much meaning in so few words - the play will end not so different than it starts, yet it feels everything is explored in the short few acts
The Glass Menagerie - Tennessee Williams
Another experimental, surrealist play
Waiting for Godot - Samuel Beckett
An experimental retelling of an ancient myth, this play is simple and short, yet bountiful to unpack
