The Power & Perils of Fame

In this thematic Collection, explore The Power & Perils of Fame through works that discuss the highs and lows of having a following. Featuring autobiographical accounts from those who have achieved celebrity status as well as fictional works, these titles examine the nature of fame, both historically and in contemporary settings, as they explore topics such as power, pressure, and privacy.

Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Magical Realism, History: World


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Animals

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fame, Relationships: Family

Tags Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Relationships, History: World, Social Justice, Biography

Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black, published in 1995, is an autobiographical account of the childhood and adolescence of the American lawyer and educator Gregory Howard Williams. An exceptional achiever throughout his life, Williams devoted 10 years to penning this memoir that centers around his being raised to believe he’s white, only to be told as a 10-year-old boy that he’s of African American... Read Life on the Color Line Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: U.S., Arts / Culture


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: World, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Fame, Society: Economics, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Identity: Language

Tags Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Biography


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Humor, Music, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Memoir / Autobiography


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, American Revolution, Politics / Government


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Jewish Literature, History: World, Biography, Music, Inspirational


Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Memoir / Autobiography, Health / Medicine


Publication year 1880

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Realism, Realistic Fiction, Naturalism, Class, History: European, French Literature


Publication year 1966

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fame, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender

Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, American Literature, Confessional


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Crime / Legal


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Gender

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Nation, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Arts / Culture, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Depression / Suicide, History: U.S., Mental Illness, History: World