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.

The Sweetness of Water

by Nathan Harris

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Memory, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, The Past, Marriage, Daughters & Sons, Community, War, Safety & Danger, Plants

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Race & Racism, American Civil War, African American Literature, Grief & Death, US History, Love & Sexuality, Post-War Era, Military & War, World History

... Read The Sweetness of Water Summary

The Tequila Worm

by Viola Canales

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Education, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Arts & Culture

The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary

The Theory of the Leisure Class

by Thorstein Veblen

Publication year 1899

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Power & Greed, Social Class

Tags Business & Economics, Education, Education, Social Science, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Sociology, Philosophy, Politics & Government

The Theory of the Leisure Class: An Economic Study of Institutions (1899), written by Norwegian-American sociologist and economist Thorstein Veblen, is a critique of consumerism and conspicuous culture promoted by the wealthy leisure class in America during the Industrial era. Veblen proposes that economics is not simply the study of markets and cash flow; it must include sociological analysis to accurately reflect a society’s consumption patterns and their cultural and economic repercussions. Though the book... Read The Theory of the Leisure Class Summary

The Therapist

by B. A. Paris

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Loyalty & Betrayal, Community, Appearance & Reality

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

... Read The Therapist Summary

The Undefeated

by Kwame Alexander

Publication year 2019

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Perseverance

Tags Children`s Literature, History: African , Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Race & Racism

“The Undefeated” (2019) is a free verse children’s poem by poet and novelist Kwame Alexander. The poem, published as a picture book, celebrates Black Americans, highlighting the struggles the Black community has endured and overcome throughout America’s history, with particular attention on great figures from history, including artists, athletes, and civil rights activists. While the poem’s target audience is children, Alexander and the book’s illustrator, Kadir Nelson, address serious topics like slavery and police brutality... Read The Undefeated Summary

The View From Saturday

by E. L. Konigsburg

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Teamwork, Loneliness, Friendship, Animals

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Disability, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The View From Saturday by American author Elaine Lobl Konigsburg was published in 1996 and won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children’s literature in 1997—Konigsburg’s second Newbery Medal. She is one of only six writers to win the award twice (her first was awarded for From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in 1968). Prior to becoming a writer of children’s and young adult fiction and publishing over 20 works from... Read The View From Saturday Summary

The Virgin Suicides

by Jeffrey Eugenides

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Memory, Beauty, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Grief, The Past, Future, Environment, Appearance & Reality

Tags Coming of Age, Depression & Suicide, Climate Change, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Classic Fiction

The Virgin Suicides is a realistic fiction novel written by Jeffrey Eugenides and originally published in 1993. Using death by suicide as its central motif, the novel examines the themes of The Objectification of Women, Romanticizing the Past, and The Effects of Loss. A statement of youth disillusionment, death by suicide becomes The Death of the Future, another of the novel’s themes. The novel was adapted into a critically acclaimed film directed by Sofia Coppola... Read The Virgin Suicides Summary

The Visit

by Friedrich Dürrenmatt

Publication year 1956

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Revenge, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Tragedy, Comedy & Satire, German Literature

The Visit, by Swiss author and playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt, premiered in 1956 at the Schauspielhaus Zürich under the German title Der Besuch der alten Dame, or The Visit of the Old Lady. Dürrenmatt’s darkly comic satiric plays are credited with helping revitalize German theatre following World War II. His writing also reveals the influence of German playwright Bertolt Brecht, notably in Dürrenmatt’s use of parables: simple stories using human characters to illustrate a lesson or... Read The Visit Summary

The Way of All Flesh

by Samuel Butler

Publication year 1903

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Family, Marriage, Death, Education, Coming of Age

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, Victorian Period, British Literature, Music, World History, Victorian Era

... Read The Way of All Flesh Summary

The Weight of Ink

by Rachel Kadish

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Love, Femininity, Safety & Danger, Perseverance, Regret

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Love & Sexuality, Philosophy, Jewish Literature, British Literature, World History, Religion & Spirituality

... Read The Weight of Ink Summary

The Wicked King

by Holly Black

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Death, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Siblings, Hate & Anger, Daughters & Sons, Family, Revenge, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Politics & Government, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Shame & Pride, Conflict, Fathers, Perseverance, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

... Read The Wicked King Summary