Can we ever fully trust our senses, or are they too unreliable to perceive the world as it is? In this collection, we gather texts that explore the idea of appearance versus reality, from classics such as Aristotle's On the Soul to contemporary bestsellers like Jia Tolentino's Trick Mirror.
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Inspirational, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, MD, is an inspirational advice book on how people and businesses can respond to changing times and situations by learning how to adapt quickly and successfully. The book centers on a parable about two mice and two people who live in a maze and search for cheese—the things each wants in life—and what happens when the cheese they’ve been enjoying disappears. First published in 1998, the book proved... Read Who Moved My Cheese? Summary
Publication year 1962
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Aging, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Play: Drama, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, History: U.S., American Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 1798
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, History: U.S., Education, Education, American Literature, History: World
Weiland (1798), by Charles Brockden Brown, is one of the first Gothic horror novels printed in America and one of the earliest works in American literature to be influenced by European Romanticism. The narrative appears to have been based on newspaper accounts of the James Yates murders, in which a New York native murdered his wife and four children, claiming that the Holy Spirit told him to do so. Brown often fused history and fiction... Read Wieland Summary
Publication year 1979
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1926
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Animals, Food, Relationships, Science / Nature
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Food, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Modern Classic Fiction
Wintergirls is a young-adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson published in 2009 by Penguin Books. Wintergirls is the winner of the 2010 Milwaukee County Teen Book Award and has received several other award nominations. Wintergirls follows the mental health journey of Lia Overbrook as she attempts recovery from anorexia, depression, and other mental health issues. Lia spends the weeks during Thanksgiving and Christmas struggling to gain closure over her former best friend Cassie’s death. Lia... Read Wintergirls Summary
Publication year 1961
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Depression / Suicide, Confessional
Publication year 1974
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Mythology, Love / Sexuality, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, History: World
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
You is a 2014 thriller novel written by New York Times bestselling author Caroline Kepnes. The story is narrated by Joe Goldberg, a bookstore employee who develops an obsession with an aspiring writer named Beck. The title, You, alludes to the narrator’s obsession; the entire narrative is addressed to Beck in the second person. The novel and its sequels were adapted into a television series of the same name. This guide uses the 2014 Atria... Read You Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature
Publication year 2025
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Identity: Femininity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Publication year 1962
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Confessional, Science / Nature
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Drama / Tragedy, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage