Books About Art

This assortment of study guides focuses on the arts, from cinema to cuisine. Read on to explore Aristotle’s Poetics, which analyzes the nature and uses of poetry; An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski, a manual for actors based on the author’s work and teachings at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which chronicles the art of fine dining.

Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government

White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era is a 2006 nonfiction book by Shelby Steele, a Black conservative author who specializes in the study of race relations in the US. This guide refers to the e-book published in 2009 by HarperCollins. The title points to the book’s central theme: white guilt—the loss of moral authority—and the damaging responses it elicited in Black and White Americans in the... Read White Guilt Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Social Justice, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Environment

Tags Politics / Government, Philosophy, History: World, Education, Education, Social Science, Business / Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1981

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Psychology, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation, Society: Community

Tags History: U.S., Psychology, Sociology, Politics / Government, Social Science, History: World, Psychology, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Music, Arts / Culture, Creative Nonfiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Self Help


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1973

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers

Tags Parenting, African American Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, History: World, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture

Zora and Me (2010) is a middle grade novel by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon. Both authors held a strong interest in 20th-century Black American writer Zora Neale Hurston, and they wanted to introduce her to younger readers. Bond has an MFA in poetry, while Simon has an MA in anthropology; Hurston was both a writer and an anthropologist. Inspired by real details from Hurston’s childhood as illustrated in her short stories, Bond and Simon... Read Zora and Me Summary