Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Self Reliant
The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane
A young soldier's journey of courage and growth during the Civil War.
On a cold day, the fictional 304th New York Infantry Regiment awaits battle beside a river. Eighteen-year-old Private Henry Fleming, remembering his romantic reasons for enlisting as well as his ... (Wikipedia)
Little House in the Big Woods
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Childhood memories of living on a family farm in the Midwest during the late 19th century.
The novel describes the homesteading skills Laura observed and began to practice during her fifth year. It does not contain the more mature (yet real) themes addressed in later books of the series ... (Wikipedia)
Firestarter
by Stephen King
A young girl with pyrokinetic powers is pursued by a mysterious government agency.
Andy and Charlene "Charlie" McGee are a father/daughter pair on the run from a government agency known as The Shop. During his college years, Andy had participated in a Shop experiment dealing with ... (Wikipedia)
Into the Wild
by Jon Krakauer
A young man's journey of self-discovery, traveling into the wilderness of Alaska.
Librarian's Note: An alternate cover edition can be found, here, In April, 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. ... (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)
The Fountainhead
by Ayn Rand
A story of a brilliant architect who refuses to conform to the establishment, challenging the status quo.
In early 1922, Howard Roark is expelled from the architecture department of the Stanton Institute of Technology because he has not adhered to the school's preference for historical convention in ... (Wikipedia)
This Boy's Life
by Tobias Wolff
A young man's memoir of his tumultuous childhood and his struggle to overcome obstacles.
In the 1950s, nomadic and flaky Caroline Wolff wants to settle down and find a decent man to provide a better home for herself and her son, Tobias "Toby" Wolff. She moves to Seattle, Washington and ... (Wikipedia)
How to Be Alone
by Jonathan Franzen
A collection of essays exploring the complexities of solitude, self-reliance, and personal growth.
From the National Book Award-winning author of, The Corrections, a collection of essays that reveal him to be one of our sharpest, toughest, and most entertaining social critics While the essays in ... (Goodreads)
Walden
by Henry David Thoreau
A reflective journey into nature, exploring the power of contemplation and simplicity.
Originally published in 1854, Walden; or, Life in the Woods, is a vivid account of the time that Henry D. Thoreau lived alone in a secluded cabin at Walden Pond. It is one of the most influential and ... (Goodreads)
Nancy Drew: #1-64
by Carolyn Keene
Girl detective solves mysteries, faces danger and adventure.
Nancy Drew has been solving mysteries, and delighting fans, for over 75 years. Now, for the first time, you can purchase all sixty-four classic Nancy Drew titles in one complete set! #1: The Secret ... (Goodreads)
Cibola Burn
by James S.A. Corey
Space explorers encounter new civilizations with differing values, sparking a power struggle.
After the events of, Abaddon's Gate, , humanity has gained entry to thousands of new worlds and solar systems through the gate networks. At the start of Cibola Burn the United Nations, Martian and ... (Wikipedia)
Think and Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill
A step-by-step guide to personal success and wealth creation.
This is the original 1937 version of Napoleon Hill's Classic Book: Think and Grow Rich . To the greatest extent possible, the text and formatting have been kept exactly the same as in the original ... (Goodreads)
The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World
by Marti Olsen Laney
A guide to understanding the strengths of introversion, and how to navigate the challenges of an extrovert-centric world.
An insightful, empowering guide to making the most of your hidden strengths. Are you energized by spending time alone? In meetings, do you need to be asked for your opinions and ideas? Do you tend to ... (Barnes & Noble)
Moon Rising
by Tui T. Sutherland
The thrilling conclusion to the "Wings of Fire" series, as the dragonets of destiny face their biggest challenge yet.
The, New York Times,-bestselling series soars to even greater heights with a new prophecy and five new dragonets ready to claim their destiny! Peace has come to Pyrrhia... for now. The war between ... (Barnes & Noble)
True Grit
by Charles Portis
A young girl's quest for justice, accompanied by an aging U.S. Marshall.
The landmark anniversary edition of the #1, New York Times, bestselling classic novel, “an epic and a legend” (,The Washington Post,) Charles Portis has long been acclaimed as one of America’s most ... (Barnes & Noble)
Shift
by Hugh Howey
A post-apocalyptic adventure, as a father searches for his missing daughter in a mysterious new world.
In 2007, the Center for Automation in Nanobiotech (CAN) outlined the hardware and software platform that would one day allow robots smaller than human cells to make medical diagnoses, conduct ... (Goodreads)
Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor
by Clinton Romesha
A firsthand account of the Battle of Keating, where a small group of soldiers fought against overwhelming odds in Afghanistan.
The only comprehensive, firsthand account of the thirteen hour firefight at the Battle of Keating by Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, for readers of, Black Hawk Down, by Mark Bowden and, ... (Goodreads)
The Cross of Lead
by Avi
A young boy's fight for survival in medieval England, discovering his hidden identity.
"Asta's Son" is all he's ever been called. The lack of a name is appropriate, because he and his mother are but poor peasants in 14th century medieval England. But this thirteen-year-old boy who ... (Goodreads)
The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making
by Alana Chernila
A guide to making pantry staples from scratch, including bread, cheese, and condiments, with recipes and tips for beginners.
“This is my kitchen. Come on in, but be prepared—it might not be quite what you expect. There is flour on the counter, oats that overflowed onto the floor, chocolate-encrusted spoons in the sink. ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Good Shepherd
by C.S. Forester
A WWII naval thriller following the captain of a destroyer as he navigates the dangers of the Atlantic and battles his own demons.
The hero of The Good Shepherd is Commander Krause, the captain of the fictional US Navy, Mahan,-class destroyer USS Keeling in World War II . Krause is in overall command of an escort force ... (Wikipedia)
Brave Enough
by Cheryl Strayed
A collection of quotes and essays on love, loss, and life. Encourages readers to be brave enough to face their fears and pursue their dreams.
National Best Seller From the best-selling author of, Wild, a collection of quotes—drawn from the wide range of her writings—that capture her wisdom, courage, and outspoken humor, presented in a ... (Barnes & Noble)
Self-Reliance and Other Essays
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Collection of essays exploring the potential of individualism and the power of self-reliance.
Essayist, poet, and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) propounded a transcendental idealism emphasizing self-reliance, self-culture, and individual expression. The six essays and one ... (Goodreads)
Father and I Were Ranchers
by Ralph Moody
A boy's coming-of-age story, learning the values of hard work and perseverance while growing up on a ranch.
Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasures and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth ... (Barnes & Noble)
Prentice Alvin
by Orson Scott Card
Alvin is a young boy with a powerful knack, struggling to control his abilities and navigate a world of magic and danger.
After being released from his time with Ta-Kumsaw , an Indian leader who taught Alvin the ways of Indian people, the young boy sets out to start his apprenticeship as a Smith in the town where he was ... (Wikipedia)
Natural Born Heroes: How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance
by Christopher McDougall
A thrilling tale of a group of misfits who rediscover the ancient secrets of strength and endurance through their journey in Crete.
The best-selling author of Born to Run now travels to the Mediterranean, where he discovers that the secrets of ancient Greek heroes are still alive and well on the island of Crete, and ready to be ... (Goodreads)
Lioness Rampant
by Tamora Pierce
Alanna of Trebond, now a knight, must face her greatest challenge yet to save her kingdom from a powerful sorcerer.
The first chapter of this book finds Alanna, Faithful, and Coram on a quest for the 'Dominion Jewel', which grants immense psychokinetic power to any monarch who owns it. In the town of Berat, Alanna ... (Wikipedia)
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work
by Matthew B. Crawford
A philosophical exploration of the value of manual work and the satisfaction it brings, challenging the modern notion that white-collar jobs are superior.
A philosopher/mechanic's wise (and sometimes funny) look at the challenges and pleasures of working with one's hands Called "the sleeper hit of the publishing season" ( The Boston Globe ), Shop Class ... (Goodreads)
The Rules Do Not Apply
by Ariel Levy
A memoir of a woman's journey of self-discovery, exploring the boundaries of freedom and responsibility.
A gorgeous, darkly humorous memoir about a woman overcoming dramatic loss and finding reinvention—for readers of Cheryl Strayed and Joan Didion When thirty-eight-year-old New Yorker writer Ariel Levy ... (Goodreads)
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)
Patriots
by James Wesley, Rawles
A group of survivalists navigate a post-apocalyptic world after an economic collapse and societal breakdown.
America faces a full-scale socioeconomic collapse —the stock market plummets, hyperinflation cripples commerce and the mounting crisis passes the tipping point. Practically overnight, the fragile ... (Goodreads)
Call to Arms
by Robert Kirkman
A group of survivors fight to survive in a world overrun by zombies, facing danger and difficult choices along the way.
After being betrayed by members of his own community,Rick Grimes charts a new course and marshals his forces against the Whisperers., Collects THE WALKING DEAD,#151-156. ... (Barnes & Noble)
Life is So Good
by George Dawson
The inspiring autobiography of George Dawson, who learned to read at 98 and shares his wisdom and experiences of a century of life.
In this remarkable book, 103-year-old George Dawson, a slave's grandson who learned to read at age 98, reflects on his life and offers valuable lessons in living as well as a fresh, firsthand view of ... (Goodreads)
The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love
by Kristin Kimball
A woman's journey of self-discovery, finding purpose and love in the farming life.
From a “graceful, luminous writer with an eye for detail” (,Minneapolis Star Tribune,), this riveting memoir explores a year on a sustainable farm. When Kristin Kimball left New York City to ... (Barnes & Noble)
Santa Olivia
by Jacqueline Carey
A young girl with superhuman abilities fights against a corrupt government in a dystopian world.
Set in a future dystopia United States, the town of Santa Olivia is effectively a desert war zone where people have no rights and legally no longer exist, with the town's name even being changed ... (Wikipedia)
Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness
by Robert Specht
A young teacher's journey to a remote Alaskan village, where she faces challenges and finds love and acceptance among the native people.
Anne Hobbs is a prim and proper 19-year-old schoolteacher who yearns for adventure. She finds this and much more in a town with the unlikely name of Chicken, located deep in the Alaskan interior. It ... (Goodreads)
One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey
by Sam Keith
The journal of Richard Proenneke, who left civilization to live alone in the Alaskan wilderness, building his own cabin and living off the land.
To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin...to be a self-sufficient ... (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)
The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life
by J.L. Collins
A financial guide to help readers achieve financial freedom and create wealth.
“In the dark, bewildering, trap-infested jungle of misinformation and opaque riddles that is the world of investment, JL Collins is the fatherly wizard on the side of the path, offering a simple map, ... (Goodreads)
The Backyard Homestead: Produce All the Food You Need on Just a Quarter Acre!
by Carleen Madigan
A guide to creating a self-sufficient homestead in your backyard, producing fresh food and reducing reliance on grocery stores.
This comprehensive guide to homesteading provides all the information you need to grow and preserve a sustainable harvest of grains and vegetables; raise animals for meat, eggs, and dairy; and keep ... (Barnes & Noble)
Birthmarked
by Caragh M. O'Brien
A post-apocalyptic adventure of a young woman struggling to find her place in a divided world.
In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's ... (Goodreads)
Julie of the Wolves
by Jean Craighead George
A young girl's journey to find her true identity, guided by a pack of wolves.
Julie/Miyax (My-yax) is an Inuk girl torn between modern Alaska and the old Inuit tradition . After her mother's death, she is raised by her father Kapugen (Kah-Pue-Jen). In his care, Miyax becomes ... (Wikipedia)
Scarlet
by A.C. Gaughen
Will Scarlet, a girl disguised as a boy, joins Robin Hood's band of outlaws and struggles to keep her secret while fighting for justice.
Scarlet's story continues in this romance-filled, action-packed second book in A. C. Gaughen's stunning twist on Robin Hood. , ,* "A rip-roaring tale." –,Booklist, starred review, on, Scarlet, Life ... (Barnes & Noble)
Independent Study
by Joelle Charbonneau
Cia Vale continues her education at the University, where she uncovers dark secrets and must fight for her survival.
In the series debut The Testing , sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in ... (Barnes & Noble)
American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant
by Ronald C. White Jr.
A comprehensive biography of Ulysses S. Grant, exploring his life as a soldier, president, and American icon.
NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER - From the author of, A. Lincoln,, a major new biography of one of America's greatest generals–and most misunderstood presidents Finalist for the Gilder-Lehrman Military ... (Goodreads)
Dairy Queen
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
A teenage girl's journey of self-discovery, learning to find her place in the world.
15-year-old girl Darlene Joyce (D.J.) Schwenk lives on a farm in Red Bend, Wisconsin, where she and her family own a dairy farm. When D.J.'s father hurts his hip, leaving him unable to work, D.J. ... (Wikipedia)
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