Texts in this collection explore topics like climate change, energy, and humanity's place in the environment through a variety of genres, whether the science fiction of Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake or the scientific journalism of Dan Egan's The Death and Life of the Great Lakes.
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Health / Medicine, Politics / Government, Science / Nature, History: World, Social Justice
What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City (2018) is pediatrician, scientist, and public health advocate Mona Hanna-Attisha’s (Dr. Mona) debut book that provides an in-depth look at the government’s poisoning of Flint residents and subsequent coverup. This story, according to Dr. Mona, is also about much deeper crises that the broader American society is currently facing: a breakdown in local democracy; misguided austerity policies; environmental injustices... Read What the Eyes Don’t See Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography
When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir by Paul Kalanithi. It was published in 2016. Kalanithi tells the story of his battle with cancer while being a practicing neurosurgeon. The book is organized chronologically, following the trajectory of his life from childhood to death, and is laced with deep philosophical thought and literary prose. His meditations combine the expertise of a professional with the experience of a patient, resulting in a book that communicates extremely... Read When Breath Becomes Air Summary
Publication year 1991
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature
Publication year 1865
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Lyric Poem, Modernism, Science / Nature
Publication year 2003
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2002
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Society: Colonialism
Tags Science / Nature, Colonial America, War On Terrorism / Iraq War
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Historical Fiction, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race
Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags History: World, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Psychology, Self Help, Technology, Philosophy
Publication year 2008
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science / Nature, History: U.S.
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Animals, Race / Racism, History: World, Philosophy, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1927
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community
Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community
Tags Business / Economics, Politics / Government, History: World, Science / Nature, Sociology
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (2012) is a nonfiction book co-authored by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. Acemoglu, an MIT economist renowned for his work on political economy, and Robinson, a political scientist and economist, combine their expertise to examine the reasons behind the varying levels of success and failure among nations. This interdisciplinary work, situated at the intersection of institutional economics, developmental economics, and economic history, examines a... Read Why Nations Fail Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
British-American neuroscientist Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams (2017) provides an in-depth exploration of the science of sleep health. Walker argues that sleep loss is an epidemic and one of the most serious public health issues of the 21st century. Drawing from a wealth of data and scientific studies, including his own innovative scientific breakthroughs during his time as a professor at the University of California-Berkeley, Walker illustrates the... Read Why We Sleep Summary
Publication year 1993
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 1949
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science / Nature
Publication year 1967
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Animals, Society: Nation, Natural World: Food
Tags History: U.S., Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Grief / Death, Travel Literature, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Action / Adventure, Biography
Publication year 2004
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature