Order & Chaos

Like night and day or winter and summer, there is a rigid division between the states of order and chaos that seems immutable. Nevertheless, these opposing forces also depend on one another. In this study guide collection, we've put together texts that explore themes related to the diametrically opposed yet inextricably linked forces of order and chaos.

London

by Samuel Johnson

Publication year 1738

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Place, Power & Greed, Politics & Government, Order & Chaos, Justice, Nation, The Past, Nostalgia, Grief

Tags Satirical Literature, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Age of Enlightenment, Neoclassicism, British Literature, Finance, European History, Politics & Government

... Read London Summary

Lorne

by Susan Morrison

Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, Art, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags US History, Arts & Culture

... Read Lorne Summary

MaddAddam

by Margaret Atwood

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Safety & Danger, Religion & Spirituality, Order & Chaos, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Good & Evil, Art, Mothers, Fathers, Siblings, Family, Hope, Environment, Future

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

Margaret Atwood’s novel MaddAddam, published in 2013, completes her post-apocalyptic MaddAddam trilogy that begins with Oryx and Crake (2003) and continues with The Year of the Flood (2009). The trilogy takes place in the aftermath of a destroyed technological dystopia, a world in which corporations have totalitarian control. Atwood, an award-winning Canadian author, has been a prolific writer of poetry, short stories, novels, and many other forms since the early 1960s. She is known for... Read MaddAddam Summary

Maps of Meaning

by Jordan B. Peterson

Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Religion & Spirituality, Order & Chaos

Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, World History, Science & Nature, Philosophy, Psychology, Fantasy, Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Maps of Meaning Summary

Maybe Next Time

by Cesca Major

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Midlife, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy

... Read Maybe Next Time Summary

Meditations on First Philosophy

by René Descartes

Publication year 1641

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fate, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Philosophy, Age of Enlightenment, Religion & Spirituality, Education, Education, French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Meditations on First Philosophy is a philosophical treatise by René Descartes. Originally published in Latin in 1641, the text would go on to influence European and global philosophical traditions. In this work, Descartes argues for the existence of God and the immortality of the soul. Two of its major contributions to philosophy are mind/body dualism and the famous phrase “I think, therefore, I am.” The book comprises six meditations wherein Descartes seeks to doubt all... Read Meditations on First Philosophy Summary

Mind Games

by Nora Roberts

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Love, Revenge, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Self Discovery, Fame, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Mind Games Summary

Moneyball

by Michael Lewis

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Order & Chaos, Perseverance, Appearance & Reality

Tags Business & Economics, Sports, Science & Nature, World History, Biography

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game is a nonfiction book by Michael Lewis published in 2003 by W. W. Norton. Lewis holds a master’s degree in economics and made his writing debut with the acclaimed Liar’s Poker (1989), based on his experience working for the investment bank Salomon Brothers. This background prepared him for Moneyball, a book about how statistics is applied to baseball in a method known as sabermetrics. A movie adaptation... Read Moneyball Summary

Murderland

by Caroline Fraser

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Place, Family, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags True Crime, Biography

... Read Murderland Summary

Naked Lunch

by William S. Burroughs

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Order & Chaos, Mental Health, Safety & Danger, Justice, Community, Politics & Government

Tags The Beat Generation, Classic Fiction, Science Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse, American Literature, Satirical Literature, Politics & Government, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Naked Lunch is a 1959 novel by American author William. S. Burroughs. In it, Lee, a heroin user, looks to escape New York to avoid arrest by the police. He thus embarks on a journey through Philadelphia and Mexico before arriving in the fictional state of Freeland, where all life is well-ordered and hygienic. Following a riot in a Freeland psychological reconditioning center, however, Lee flees to the strange and fantastical city of Interzone. There... Read Naked Lunch Summary

Necropolitics

by Achille Mbembe

Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Indigenous Identity, Race, Death, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Place, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Social Science, Politics & Government, Sociology

... Read Necropolitics Summary

Needful Things

by Stephen King

Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Community, Power & Greed, Conflict, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse

... Read Needful Things Summary

New from Here

by Kelly Yang

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Shame & Pride, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Place, Equality, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Science & Technology, Safety & Danger, Race, Mothers, Siblings, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Social Class, Community, Nation, Regret

Tags Race & Racism, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read New from Here Summary

Nexus

by Yuval Noah Harari

Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Politics & Government, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags World History, Science & Nature, Philosophy

... Read Nexus Summary