Trust & Doubt

Believing in people, institutions, or the spiritual world requires an act of trust. What happens when that trust is shaken, either by our own wavering commitments or an act of betrayal? Can trust ever be regained once it is lost? These are some of the ideas explored in this thematic collection.

The Courage to Be Disliked

by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga

Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Loneliness, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Self Discovery, Equality, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt

Tags Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Psychology, Philosophy

The Courage to Be Disliked is a 2013 nonfiction self-help and psychology book written by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. Structured as a Socratic dialogue between a youth and a philosopher, the book introduces Alfred Adler’s psychological theories, addressing common challenges and points of confusion in the context of real-world application.Kishimi is a Japanese philosopher, psychologist, teacher, and translator who has studied Adlerian psychology and Greek philosophy for decades. Koga, a Japanese writer, encountered Adlerian... Read The Courage to Be Disliked Summary

The Crossing

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Fear, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope, Gratitude, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil

Tags Action & Adventure, Immigration & Refugeeism, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Poverty, Military & War, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Gary Paulsen’s The Crossing is a young adult novel published in 1987. This realistic work of fiction highlights the hope and opportunity Manny, a Mexican teenager, envisions waiting for him in America, and the desperation that propels him to attempt the border crossing from Mexico into the United States.Paulsen (1939-2021) was a celebrated author of middle grade and young adult fiction, best known for writing the award-winning Hatchet series. His work often depicts wilderness settings... Read The Crossing Summary

The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Perseverance, Conflict, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Religion & Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was originally published in 2003 and has become an international bestseller, with sales of over 80 million. It was made into a popular movie starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou, and Ian McKellen. The novel is Brown’s fourth, a fast-paced thriller with political, historical, and religious overtones. Its initial release generated controversy for perceived condemnation of the Catholic Church and historical inaccuracies. Despite the charges, The Da Vinci Code... Read The Da Vinci Code Summary

The Dead

by James Joyce

Publication year 1914

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Love, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Memory, Guilt, Perseverance, Nostalgia, Conflict, Hope, Marriage

Tags Grief & Death, Relationships, Education, Education, World History, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction

“The Dead” is a short story by Irish writer James Joyce. The story is a part of Joyce’s renowned Dubliners collection, first published in 1914, which portrays daily life in the Irish city of Dublin in the early 20th century. In “The Dead,” a literary young man attends a party with his wife. The events at the party prompt him to reflect on his life and his place in the universe. The short story has... Read The Dead Summary

The Dead and the Gone

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hope, Religion & Spirituality, Social Class, Trust & Doubt

Tags Science Fiction, Survival Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s The Dead and the Gone, published in 2008, is the second book in The Last Survivors, a postapocalyptic series about an asteroid hitting the moon and setting off a chain of natural disasters on Earth. The novel focuses on three stateside Puerto Rican siblings as they struggle to survive starvation while living in a New York City apartment building. Pfeffer has written many young adult science-fiction novels and has likewise received several... Read The Dead and the Gone Summary

The Death Cure

by James Dashner

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Trust & Doubt

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

The novel opens by showing Thomas, who is stuck in a padded room and consumed with anger. Not only is he disgusted with WICKED, but he also cannot reconcile the betrayal he feels Teresa has committed back in the Scorch. He can no longer speak to either her or Aris telepathically. Each day, he watches the door, waiting and willing for it to open. On the 26th day, the door opens. The Rat Man, Janson, announces... Read The Death Cure Summary

The Demon-Haunted World

by Carl Sagan

Publication year 1996

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Science & Technology, Religion & Spirituality, Education, Nation, Space, Appearance & Reality

Tags Science & Nature, Education, Religion & Spirituality, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

... Read The Demon-Haunted World Summary

The Door

by Magda Szabó

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Guilt, Love, Memory, Death, The Past, Place, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Classic Fiction

... Read The Door Summary

The Doors of Perception, and Heaven and Hell

by Aldous Huxley

Publication year 1954

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Art, Religion & Spirituality, Fear, Joy, Memory, Indigenous Identity, Language, Mental Health, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Objects & Materials, Place, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Beauty, Good & Evil, Literature, Music, Order & Chaos, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Psychology, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Nature, Health

... Read The Doors of Perception, and Heaven and Hell Summary

The Drawing of the Three

by Stephen King

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Love, Mental Health, Death, Friendship, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Western, Action & Adventure

... Read The Drawing of the Three Summary

The Drowning Woman

by Robyn Harding

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

... Read The Drowning Woman Summary

The Dry

by Jane Harper

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt

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

For the first time in 20 years, Falk returns to his hometown of Kiewarra to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke Hadler. Luke is suspected of killing his wife, Karen Hadler, and son, Billy Hadler, before turning the shotgun on himself. Many residents in Kiewarra do not blame Luke for taking such drastic, violent measures, considering how desperate everyone has become because of the two-year-long drought. Falk and Luke’s father, Gerry Hadler, discuss... Read The Dry Summary

The Duke and I

by Julia Quinn

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Trust & Doubt, Shame & Pride, Love, Perseverance, Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Trauma & Abuse, Gender & Feminism, World History, Regency Era

... Read The Duke and I Summary

The Enormous Radio

by John Cheever

Publication year 1947

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags Gothic Literature, Science Fiction, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense, American Literature, Classic Fiction

“The Enormous Radio” is a short story written by John Cheever and first published in The New Yorker in 1947. It was republished in 1953 as the eponymous story in Cheever’s The Enormous Radio and Other Stories. Cheever went on to publish five novels and eight story collections, including a seminal anthology released in 1978 as The Stories of John Cheever. This book earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and a National Book Critics... Read The Enormous Radio Summary

The Ersatz Elevator

by Lemony Snicket

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Order & Chaos, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Love, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Family, Teamwork

Tags Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Humor, Children`s Literature

... Read The Ersatz Elevator Summary

The Ex Hex

by Erin Sterling

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Relationships, Special Occasions, Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

... Read The Ex Hex Summary