swap_horiz King Leopold's Ghost Alternatives

1

The Guns of August

Barbara Tuchmans masterpiece remains the definitive account of the outbreak of World War I. It meticulously details the...

Classic Narrative World War I Military History

9.9 Brilliant

2

Team of Rivals

Doris Kearns Goodwin provides a brilliant study of Abraham Lincolns political genius by focusing on his decision to incl...

Leadership Politics American Civil War Biography

9.9 Brilliant

3

The Fact of a Body

This is a genre-bending work that combines a memoir of the author's own traumatic past with a deep, investigative look a...

Murder Memoir Identity Trauma

9.5 Brilliant

4

Existentialism is a Humanism

Jean-Paul Sartres lecture is the most concise and readable introduction to existentialism. He argues that 'existence pre...

Humanism Existentialism Freedom Responsibility

9.5 Brilliant

5

Economics in One Lesson

Henry Hazlitts classic work is a powerful defense of free-market principles. The 'one lesson' is that the art of economi...

Classic Foundational Austrian School Free Market

9.4 Excellent

6

1776

David McCullough brings the American Revolution to life with his signature narrative flair. Focusing on the pivotal year...

Narrative Military History American Revolution George Washington

9.4 Excellent

7

The Problems of Philosophy

Bertrand Russells 'The Problems of Philosophy' is an excellent, concise introduction to the main questions of philosophy...

Philosophy Clarity Logic Epistemology

9.3 Excellent

8

Helter Skelter

Vincent Bugliosis 1974 account of the Manson Family murders, written with Curt Gentry, remains a definitive, albeit some...

True Crime Murder Courtroom 1960S

9.3 Excellent

9

Empire of Pain

Patrick Radden Keefe delivers a devastating, multi-generational history of the Sackler family, the architects of the opi...

Investigative Patrick Radden Keefe Sackler Family Opioid Crisis

9.3 Excellent

10

Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mills classic essay provides the clearest defense of Utilitarianism, the ethical theory that the best action...

Ethics Morality Social Theory Utilitarianism

9.2 Excellent

11

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth argues that talent is overrated and that the secret to outstanding achievement is 'grit'a combination o...

Education Psychology Motivation Success

9.1 Excellent

12

In Cold Blood

Truman Capote's groundbreaking 1966 novel-like account of the Clutter family murders in Kansas revolutionized true crime...

Classic Narrative Driven Journalism Nonfiction

9.0 Excellent

13

The Lessons of History

Will and Ariel Durant, authors of the massive 'Story of Civilization,' distilled their lifetime of research into this sl...

Philosophy Civilization Wisdom Human Nature

9.0 Excellent

14

Daring Greatly

Brené Browns 'Daring Greatly' challenges the cultural myth that vulnerability is a weakness. Through years of research,...

Leadership Psychology Emotional Intelligence Relationships

9.0 Excellent

15

Bad Blood

John Carreyrous investigation into the rise and fall of Theranos is a gripping, fast-paced account of one of the biggest...

Silicon Valley John Carreyrou Theranos Elizabeth Holmes

9.0 Excellent

16

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

John Berendts atmospheric account of a murder in Savannah, Georgia, is a cult classic that reads like a Southern Gothic...

True Crime Murder Atmosphere Murder Mystery

8.9 Very Good

17

Discourse on the Method

René Descartes seminal work marks the beginning of modern philosophy. By deciding to doubt everything he could not prove...

Logic Science Epistemology Rationalism

8.9 Very Good

18

Freakonomics

Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner apply economic principles to unconventional topics, from sumo wrestling to the impact o...

Fun Data Analysis Economics Social Science

8.9 Very Good

19

American Predator

Maureen Callahans chilling account of Israel Keyes, one of the most terrifying and methodical serial killers in American...

Serial Killer Investigative Fbi Maureen Callahan

8.9 Very Good

20

The Ethics of Ambiguity

Simone de Beauvoirs 'The Ethics of Ambiguity' provides the ethical framework for existentialism. She argues that because...

Ethics Existentialism Morality Freedom

8.9 Very Good