Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Self Actualization
Invisible Man
by Ralph Ellison
A black man's journey towards self-actualization in a world of racial oppression.
The narrator, an unnamed black man, begins by describing his living conditions: an underground room wired with hundreds of electric lights, operated by power stolen from the city's electric grid. He ... (Wikipedia)
The Hotel New Hampshire
by John Irving
A family's uproarious journey of growth and transformation, set in a series of hotels.
This novel is the story of the Berrys, a quirky New Hampshire family composed of a married couple, Win and Mary, and their five children, Frank, Franny, John, Lilly, and Egg. The parents, both from ... (Wikipedia)
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
by Richard Bach
A spiritual journey of self-discovery, exploring the mysteries of life and death.
In the cloud-washed airspace between the cornfields of Illinois and blue infinity, a man puts his faith in the propeller of his biplane. For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard ... (Goodreads)
The Book of Bright Ideas
by Sandra Kring
A heartwarming story of two sisters growing up in the 1960s, navigating family secrets and tragedies while discovering the power of love and forgiveness.
Wisconsin, 1961. Evelyn “Button” Peters is nine the summer Winnalee and her fiery-spirited older sister, Freeda, blow into her small town–and from the moment she sees them, Button knows this will be ... (Goodreads)
Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
by Rich Roll
A man's inspiring journey of self-transformation, unlocking his fullest potential.
An incredible but true account of achieving one of the most awe-inspiring midlife physical transformations ever,On the night before he was to turn forty, Rich Roll experienced a chilling glimpse of ... (Barnes & Noble)
Anne of the Island
by L.M. Montgomery
A young woman's journey of self-discovery as she transitions into adulthood, away from home.
Anne leaves Green Gables and her work as a teacher in Avonlea to pursue her original dream (which she gave up in, Anne of Green Gables, ) of taking further education at Redmond College in Nova ... (Wikipedia)
The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
by Ichiro Kishimi
Exploring the philosophical roots of happiness through the power of self-determination.
The Japanese phenomenon that teaches us the simple yet profound lessons required to liberate our real selves and find lasting happiness. The Courage to be Disliked shows you how to unlock the power ... (Goodreads)
Atlas Shrugged
by Ayn Rand
A tale of a dystopian future where the strongest minds take control of society.
This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies, ... (Goodreads)
The Adventures of Augie March
by Saul Bellow
Young man's search for identity amidst the chaotic and unpredictable life of the Depression-era Midwest.
The story describes Augie March's growth from childhood to a fairly stable maturity. Augie, with his brother Simon and the mentally abnormal George have no father and are brought up by their mother ... (Wikipedia)
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
by Michael A. Singer
A spiritual exploration of the soul and its connection to the world.
What would it be like to free yourself from limitations and soar beyond your boundaries? What can you do each day to discover inner peace and serenity? The Untethered Soul offers simple yet profound ... (Goodreads)
All Over But the Shoutin'
by Rick Bragg
Memoir of a young man's journey from poverty to achieving the American Dream.
The extraordinary gifts for evocation and insight and the stunning talent for storytelling that earned Rick Bragg a Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996 are here brought to bear on the ... (Goodreads)
Demian
by Hermann Hesse
A young man's spiritual journey towards self-discovery and enlightenment.
Emil Sinclair is a young boy raised in a middle class home, amidst what is described as a Scheinwelt , a play on words meaning "world of light" as well as "world of illusion". Sinclair's entire ... (Wikipedia)
The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
by Ken Robinson
A guide to unlocking true potential, exploring the power of passion and creative expression.
From one of the world's leading thinkers and speakers on creativity and self-fulfillment, a breakthrough book about talent, passion, and achievement The element is the point at which natural talent ... (Goodreads)
Toward a Psychology of Being
by Abraham H. Maslow
Maslow's theory of self-actualization and the hierarchy of needs, exploring the potential for human growth and fulfillment.
"If we wish to help humans to become more fully human, we must realize not only that they try to realize themselves, but that they are also reluctant or afraid or unable to do so. Only by fully ... (Goodreads)
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
by Mark T. Sullivan
True story of a young Italian man's courage and heroism during WWII.
Based on the true story of a forgotten hero,, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours., Pino ... (Goodreads)
My Brilliant Career
by Miles Franklin
A young woman in rural Australia dreams of a life beyond marriage and motherhood, but struggles to reconcile her desires with societal expectations.
The heroine, Sybylla Melvyn, is an imaginative, headstrong girl growing up in rural Australia in the 1890s. Drought and a series of poor business decisions reduce her family to subsistence level, her ... (Wikipedia)
To Have or to Be? The Nature of the Psyche
by Erich Fromm
A philosophical exploration of the fundamental differences between having and being, and how they shape our lives and society.
To Have Or to Be? is one of the seminal books of the second half of the 20th century. Nothing less than a manifesto for a new social and psychological revolution to save our threatened planet, this ... (Goodreads)
The Glass Bead Game
by Hermann Hesse
In a future society, an elite group of intellectuals play a complex game that combines music, mathematics, and philosophy.
The beginning of the novel introduces the Music Master, the resident of Castalia who recruits Knecht as a young student and who is to have the most long-lasting and profound effect on Knecht ... (Wikipedia)
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
An exploration of the concept of 'flow' and how it can be used to enhance optimal experience.
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, ... (Goodreads)
Rise of the Evening Star
by Brandon Mull
A coming-of-age adventure of a teenage girl, who discovers powerful magic and must save her world.
At the end of the school year, Kendra and her brother Seth find themselves racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures. Grandpa Sorenson, the caretaker, invites three ... (Goodreads)
Angles of Attack
by Marko Kloos
A military sci-fi novel about a soldier's journey through the ranks as humanity fights for survival against alien invaders.
The alien forces known as the Lankies are gathering on the solar system's edge, consolidating their conquest of Mars and setting their sights on Earth. The far-off colony of New Svalbard, cut off ... (Goodreads)
Heartless
by Gail Carriger
A steampunk-inspired adventure of a young woman determined to secure her future despite a scheming family.
Blending steampunk with urban fantasy , Heartless is set in an alternate history version of Victorian era Britain where vampires and werewolfs are welcomed as members of society, often in the upper ... (Wikipedia)
Once a Runner
by John L. Parker Jr.
An elite runner's obsessive journey to become the fastest runner in the world.
The novel opens with a physically fit young man standing on a track, watching as "the night joggers" toil around him. He begins to walk toward the starting post and thinks that now that the Olympic ... (Wikipedia)
World Without End
by Ken Follett
Epic tale of love and war, tracing the lives of two families over centuries.
The novel begins in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, England in the year 1327 . Four children - Merthin, Caris, Gwenda, and Merthin's brother Ralph - head into the woods on All Hallows Day . ... (Wikipedia)
The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection
by Michael A. Singer
A memoir of Singer's journey to surrendering to life's flow, leading to unexpected opportunities and personal growth.
From the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Untethered Soul comes this thought-provoking, inspirational memoir on the magic that happens when you just let go Spirituality is meant to ... (Goodreads)
My Sweet Audrina
by V.C. Andrews
A young woman's journey to understand her childhood trauma and reclaim her identity.
V.C. Andrews, author of the phenomenally successful Dollanganger series, has created a fascinating new cast of characters in this haunting story of love and deceit, innocence and betrayal, and the ... (Goodreads)
The Heiress Effect
by Courtney Milan
A witty and unconventional heiress struggles to find love while navigating societal expectations and family obligations in Victorian England.
Miss Jane Fairfield can’t do anything right. When she’s in company, she always says the wrong thing—and rather too much of it. No matter how costly they are, her gowns fall on the unfortunate side of ... (Goodreads)
Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential
by Caroline Myss
A spiritual exploration of self-discovery, uncovering the path to one's life purpose.
New York Times bestselling author and medical intuitive Caroline Myss has found that when people don’t understand their purpose in life the result can be depression, anxiety, fatigue, and eventually ... (Barnes & Noble)
Something Blue
by Emily Giffin
A woman navigates the intricacies of marriage, friendships, and career choices.
Darcy Rhone has always been able to rely on a few things: her beauty and charm. Her fiancé Dex. Her lifelong best friend Rachel. She never needed anything else. Or so she thinks until Dex calls of ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Initiate
by Veronica Roth
A young girl must navigate a dangerous initiation process to join a secret society and uncover the truth about her family's past.
The Initiate provides readers with a glimpse into Tobias's Dauntless initiation experience, including an epic game of late-night Dare; his first tattoo; the beginning of his passion for training new ... (Goodreads)
Dibs in Search of Self
by Virginia M. Axline
An exploration of the inner world of a troubled child, seeking self-worth and acceptance.
The portrait of a little boy achieving, under therapy, a successful struggle for identity. ... (Goodreads)
Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
by Nathaniel Branden
A guide to building and maintaining healthy self-esteem, with practical exercises and insights into the psychology of self-esteem.
Nathaniel Branden's book is the culmination of a lifetime of clinical practice and study, already hailed in its hardcover edition as a classic and the most significant work on the topic. Immense in ... (Goodreads)
An Ember in the Ashes
by Sabaa Tahir
A young woman's fight for freedom in a world of tyranny and oppression.
A Scholar girl by the name of Laia lives in the Martial Empire with her grandparents and brother Darin in the city of Serra. Their existence is a grueling one as they are seen as second-class ... (Wikipedia)
Jessica
by Bryce Courtenay
A young girl's journey from poverty to success, overcoming obstacles and finding love along the way.
Jessica is a tomboy, raised to be her father's son to help out on the farm. Her older sister Meg is very much her mother's daughter, and it is Meg's and their mother's mission for Meg to seduce Jack ... (Wikipedia)
Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story
by Arnold Schwarzenegger
A biographical account of Arnold Schwarzenegger's life, from humble beginnings to becoming a Hollywood icon.
In his signature larger-than-life style, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall is a revealing self-portrait of his illustrious, controversial, and truly unique life. The greatest immigrant success ... (Barnes & Noble)
Slammerkin
by Emma Donoghue
The turbulent life of a young woman in 18th century England, exploring the consequences of poverty and gender inequality.
Mary Saunders is a highly intelligent girl living in poverty in 1760 London. She is repelled when her mother Susan encourages her to become a seamstress, wanting nothing to do with the "wretched ... (Wikipedia)
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: A Fable for Managers {and Their Employees}
by Patrick Lencioni
A story about a manager who helps his employees find fulfillment by addressing three key factors that make a job miserable.
A bestselling author and business guru tells how to improve your job satisfaction and performance.In his sixth fable, bestselling author Patrick Lencioni takes on a topic that almost everyone can ... (Goodreads)
Everything That Remains: A Memoir by the Minimalists
by Joshua Fields Millburn
A memoir about two friends who left their corporate jobs and embraced minimalism, finding happiness in simplicity and letting go of excess possessions.
What if everything you ever wanted isn't what you actually want? Twenty-something, suit-clad, and upwardly mobile, Joshua Fields Millburn thought he had everything anyone could ever want. Until he ... (Barnes & Noble)
On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy
by Carl R. Rogers
A comprehensive guide to the art of psychotherapy, exploring the science and philosophy behind it.
The late Carl Rogers, founder of the humanistic psychology movement, revolutionized psychotherapy with his concept of "client-centered therapy." His influence has spanned decades, but that influence ... (Goodreads)
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
by George Orwell
A struggling poet's quest to remain independent and stay true to himself in a society obsessed with money.
Gordon Comstock has 'declared war' on what he sees as an 'overarching dependence' on money by leaving a promising job as a copywriter for an advertising company called 'New Albion '—at which he shows ... (Wikipedia)
An Autobiography
by Angela Y. Davis
Angela Y. Davis' life story, from growing up in Birmingham to becoming a political activist and scholar.
Her own powerful story to 1972, told with warmth, brilliance, humor & conviction. The author, a political activist, reflects upon the people & incidents that have influenced her life & commitment to ... (Goodreads)
Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own
by Kate Bolick
A memoir and cultural critique exploring the history and contemporary relevance of the "spinster" lifestyle.
A, New York Times Book Review, Notable Book,“Whom to marry, and when will it happen—these two questions define every woman’s existence.” So begins Spinster , a revelatory and slyly erudite look at ... (Barnes & Noble)
Backseat Saints
by Joshilyn Jackson
A woman flees her abusive husband and confronts her past, seeking redemption and a new life.
Rose Mae Lolley's mother disappeared when she was eight, leaving Rose with a heap of old novels and a taste for dangerous men. Now, as demure Mrs. Ro Grandee, she's living the very life her mother ... (Goodreads)
Fighting Destiny
by Amelia Hutchins
A fae prince and a human woman are bound by fate, but their love is threatened by dark forces. Steamy romance with supernatural elements.
Have you ever heard of the old Celtic legends of the Fae—beautiful, magical, and deadly creatures that have a love of messing with humans just for kicks and giggles? Welcome to my world. What started ... (Goodreads)
The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic
by Emily Croy Barker
A disillusioned grad student finds herself transported to a magical world, but soon realizes it's not all she imagined.
Nora Fisher is an English teacher trying to earn her PhD in Literature when her boyfriend, Adam, breaks up with her. Nora must attend a wedding that weekend, but while she and her friends stay at a ... (Wikipedia)
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