Teams & Gangs

Anyone who has played a team sport knows the rush that comes from feeling like an integral piece of a well-oiled machine. Yet exhilaration and cooperation are only one aspect of team dynamics. This collection explores all facets of the team relationship, both positive and negative.

Possession

by A. S. Byatt

Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Literature, Memory, Femininity, The Past, Objects & Materials, Teamwork, Art, Beauty, Fame, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature, Postmodernism

A. S. Byatt’s novel Possession: A Romance, published in 1990, is a work of historical fiction that combines the elements of literary mystery and romance. The novel won the Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in English-language literature. Its narrative unfolds along two parallel timelines. In 1986, two young scholars, Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, discover a secret love affair between the eminent Victorian poet Randolph Henry Ash and the lesser-known Christabel LaMotte... Read Possession Summary

Post Office

by Charles Bukowski

Publication year 1971

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Loneliness, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Midlife, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Economics, Nation, Politics & Government, Fate, Justice, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Classic Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, Humor, American Literature, The Beat Generation

... Read Post Office Summary

Praying for Sheetrock

by Melissa Fay Greene

Publication year 1991

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Community

Tags US History, Race & Racism, Southern Literature, World History, Politics & Government

Praying for Sheetrock is a book of literary nonfiction by writer Melissa Fay Greene. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1991. A group of experts convened by New York University’s journalism department also included the book on its list of the best journalism of the 20th century. The book’s author, Greene, is a native of Georgia. She has published six nonfiction books and has written for many publications, including The... Read Praying for Sheetrock Summary

Principles

by Ray Dalio

Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Teamwork, Power & Greed

Tags Business & Economics, Self-Improvement, Leadership, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography

... Read Principles Summary

Promises to Keep

by Sharon Robinson

Publication year 2004

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Race, Future, The Past, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Fame, Justice, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Biography, African American Literature, Sports, US History

... Read Promises to Keep Summary

Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey Into the Afterlife

by Eben Alexander

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Love, Memory, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Place, Space, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Fate, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Health, Science & Nature, Biography

Dr. Eben Alexander’s 2012 memoir, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, documents his near-death experience (NDE) while in a coma resulting from a rare bacterial infection. As an academic neurosurgeon with a materialist worldview, Alexander did not believe in an afterlife. The book details how his NDE forced him to reconcile his scientific training with what he now considered proof of a reality beyond the physical world. The memoir explores several themes:... Read Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey Into the Afterlife Summary

Queen of Shadows

by Sarah J. Maas

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Guilt, Love, Femininity, Race, Coming of Age, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure, Fairy Tale & Folklore

... Read Queen of Shadows Summary

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

by Susan Cain

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Shame & Pride, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Wins & Losses

Tags Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Leadership, Parenting

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking is a nonfiction book by Susan Cain, published in 2012. It is considered part of the psychology and self-help genres. The book made several bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and National Public Radio. It also was voted the best nonfiction book of 2012 by the Goodreads Choice Awards and has been translated... Read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Summary

Real Tigers

by Mick Herron

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Teamwork, Politics & Government, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Espionage, British Literature

... Read Real Tigers Summary

Rebel Witch

by Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Memory, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance

... Read Rebel Witch Summary

Red Mars

by Kim Stanley Robinson

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Perseverance, Loneliness, Nostalgia, Future, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Food, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Immigration, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

Red Mars, a 1992 science fiction novel by Kim Stanley Robinson, is the first book in the Mars trilogy about settling and terraforming the planet Mars. Red Mars follows the first 100 people who land on Mars and begin the complex process of terraforming the planet. In 1993, Red Mars won the Nebula Award and the British Science Fiction Association Award. This guide uses the 2009 HarperVoyager edition.Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions... Read Red Mars Summary

Red Sparrow

by Jason Matthews

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Politics & Government, Revenge, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Nation, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

Jason Matthews’s debut novel, Red Sparrow (2013), is an espionage thriller that launches a trilogy of the same name. The story is set in the 2010s against the backdrop of a renewed rivalry between Russia and the West, introducing two intelligence officers on opposing sides: Dominika Egorova of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and Nathaniel Nash of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). After Dominika’s promising ballet career is violently cut short, her manipulative uncle... Read Red Sparrow Summary

Relic

by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Death, Animals, Plants, Teamwork, Politics & Government, Science & Technology

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fantasy

... Read Relic Summary

Rendezvous with Rama

by Arthur C. Clarke

Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Fear, Hope, Memory, Masculinity, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

Published in 1973, Rendezvous With Rama is a science fiction adventure novel by British author Arthur C. Clarke. In his time, Clarke was known as one of the “Big Three” writers of science fiction alongside American authors Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein. Clarke’s expertise in space flight prompted him to develop the novel and screenplay for his best-known work, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Rendezvous With Rama won major speculative fiction awards, including the... Read Rendezvous with Rama Summary