Books About Art

This assortment of study guides focuses on the arts, from cinema to cuisine. Read on to explore Aristotle’s Poetics, which analyzes the nature and uses of poetry; An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski, a manual for actors based on the author’s work and teachings at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which chronicles the art of fine dining.

A Thousand Never Evers

by Shana Burg

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Race, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Family, Community, Education, Politics & Government

Tags Children`s Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture

... Read A Thousand Never Evers Summary

At Swim-Two-Birds

by Flann O'Brien

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Social Class, Fate, The Past, Power & Greed, Good & Evil, Trust & Doubt, Conflict

Tags Irish Literature, Humor, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Satirical Literature, Arts & Culture, Social Class, British Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

... Read At Swim-Two-Birds Summary

A Whole New Mind

by Daniel H. Pink

Publication year 2004

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Sociology, Education, Education, Science & Nature, Business & Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Arts & Culture

Daniel H. Pink’s A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, released in 2005, considers and challenges society’s history of valuing left-brained attributes over creative and empathic right-brained thinkers. Pink, an author of several books on business and human behavior, argues that the age of left-brain supremacy is over, making way for whole-minded thinkers who will define and thrive within the coming Conceptual Age. Pink offers six essential whole-minded aptitudes that are key... Read A Whole New Mind Summary

Bamboo People

by Mitali Perkins

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Education, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Military & War, Asian Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins is a young adult, coming-of-age, historical fiction novel about two boys—one Burmese, the other Karenni—growing up during an intense period of violence between the Burmese military and the Karenni people. The book was named an “ALA APALA Honor Book, Indies Choice Honor Book of the Year for Young Adults, ALA Top Ten Book in Best Fiction for Young Adults, [and] International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society [and... Read Bamboo People Summary

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life

by William Finnegan

Publication year 2015

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age, Friendship, Perseverance, Self Discovery, Environment, Appearance & Reality, Social Class, Politics & Government, Safety & Danger, Community, Literature

Tags Sports, Travel Literature, Action & Adventure, Bullying, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Race & Racism, Relationships, Poverty, Politics & Government, Science & Nature, Social Justice, World History, Biography

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is a 2015 memoir by William Finnegan, a writer for The New Yorker and the author of several social journalism books such as A Complicated War: The Harrowing of Mozambique and Dateline Soweto: Travels with Black South African Reporters. In Barbarian Days, Finnegan reflects on his upbringing in California and Hawaii, as well as his coming of age in the late 1960s. He relays his experience of the surfing counterculture... Read Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life Summary

Before We Were Free

by Julia Alvarez

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture

When Julia Alvarez’s Before We Were Free (2002) begins, the life of Anita de la Torre, an 11-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic, is about to change forever. The novel investigates themes of family, government corruption, superstition, and the power of the written word, all set against the backdrop of the months before and after the assassination of a brutal dictator, Rafael Trujillo. This study guide uses the 2007 Laurel Leaf Reprint Edition.Plot SummaryDuring the... Read Before We Were Free Summary

Begin Again

by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

Publication year 2020

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Race & Racism, Arts & Culture, US History, Philosophy, Post-War Era, World History, Biography, Social Justice, Politics & Government

Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own is a non-fiction book by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., a Princeton University professor specializing in race and religion in the US. The title gestures to a passage in James Baldwin’s last novel, Just Above My Head (1979), which stresses the importance of new beginnings in the quest to rebuild the US as a truly multiracial democracy. A New York Times bestseller, Begin Again... Read Begin Again Summary

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

by Aron Ralston

Publication year 2004

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Fate, Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Death

Tags Inspirational, Action & Adventure, Travel Literature, Animals, Arts & Culture, Philosophy, Relationships, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Nature, Music, Sports, Biography

Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a 2004 adventure and survival memoir by American mountain climber Aron Ralston. The narrative focuses on Ralston’s near-death experience when his arm became stuck under a boulder in a canyon in Utah, where he remained trapped for five days until he amputated his arm. Dealing with profound existential themes, the book garnered critical acclaim and became a New York Times bestseller. A 2010 film adaptation titled 127... Read Between a Rock and a Hard Place Summary

Beyond Culture

by Edward T. Hall

Publication year 1976

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Future, Globalization, Community

Tags Anthropology, Arts & Culture, Sociology, Anthropology, Science & Nature, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

... Read Beyond Culture Summary

Big Magic

by Elizabeth Gilbert

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Language, Art, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude

Tags Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Psychology, Arts & Culture, Inspirational, Psychology

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015) is a self-help guide by author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert. This New York Times bestseller outlines six elements of creativity: courage, permission, enchantment, persistence, trust, and divinity. Gilbert uses anecdotes from her life and writing career, as well as the work of others, to explain these concepts, and presents her views and philosophical musings about creativity and inspiration. The work explores themes such as The Importance of Play... Read Big Magic Summary

Bird By Bird

by Anne Lamott

Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Perseverance, Grief, Language

Tags Self-Improvement, Humor, Arts & Culture, Biography

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott was originally published in 1994. Many of Lamott’s books have been on the New York Times bestsellers list, which qualifies her to offer advice about how to write. She also taught at writing conferences and at UC Davis, received a Guggenheim Fellowship, and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Bird by Bird is a combination of memoir, self-help book, and writing... Read Bird By Bird Summary

Book Scavenger

by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Friendship

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

Book Scavenger (2015) is the debut novel by children’s author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Upon publication, it immediately became a New York Times bestseller and soon after the book was named an Amazon Book of the Year, Indie Top Ten Pick, and received more than 20 state awards and nominations. Book Scavenger has since been translated into 12 languages. Book Scavenger is the first volume in a Middle Grade Detective series of the same name. Other... Read Book Scavenger Summary

Born in Blood and Fire

by John Charles Chasteen

Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, Social Class, Equality, Politics & Government, Nation

Tags World History, Latin American Literature, Arts & Culture, Military & War, Politics & Government, European History, Social Class, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Education, Education, US History

Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America, 4th Edition, by John Charles Chasteen was published in 2016. The first edition was printed in 2001. Chasteen works as an author, translator, and professor of Latin American history and culture. He teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Some of his other notable works are Americanos: The Struggle for Latin American Independence, National Rhythms, African Roots: The Deep History of... Read Born in Blood and Fire Summary

Born to Run

by Bruce Springsteen

Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Love, Coming of Age, Midlife, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Art, Fame, Justice, Music, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Music, Arts & Culture, Mental Illness, Social Justice, US History, Biography

... Read Born to Run Summary