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The 50 best short articles & essays to read for students, the capital t truth by david foster wallace, this is the life by annie dillard, things we think we know by chuck klosterman, why does it feel like everyone has more money than you by jen doll, phoning it in by stanley bing, the fringe benefits of failure, and the importance of imagination by j.k. rowling, 50 more articles about life, love and relationships, crazy love by steven pinker, no labels, no drama, right by jordana narin, the limits of friendship by maria konnikova, 50 more articles about love and relationships, words and writing, writing, briefly by paul graham, write like a mofo by cheryl strayed, 20 more articles about writing, the same river twice by david quammen, you can't kill the rooster by david sedaris, scars by david owen, 100 more short memoirs, a brief history of forever by tavi gevinson, school for girls by jasmin aviva sandelson, 50 more articles about growing up, why we play by eva holland, why sports are for losers by matt taibbi, 50 more articles about sports, keep your identity small by paul graham, the muggle problem by ross douthat, 75 more articles about politics, notes of a native son by james baldwin, a letter to my nephew by james baldwin, a place where we are everything by roxane gay, 30 more articles about race, what no one else will tell you about feminism by lindy west, bad feminist by roxane gay, 10 more articles about feminism, holy water by joan didion, how to disagree by paul graham, so what if mountain dew can melt mice by chuck klosterman, 150 great articles and essays.

What Is Math? by Dan Falk

Life with purpose by philip ball, what is everything made of by charles sebens, small, yes, but mighty by natalie angier, your handy postcard-sized guide to statistics by tim harford, 100 more articles about science, the internet, the attention economy by tom chatfield, user behaviour by michael schulson, escape the matrix by virginia heffernan, instagram is over by kate lindsay, 50 more articles about the internet, the environment, we should fix climate change — but we should not regret it by thomas r. wells, is humanity suicidal by edward o. wilson, 50 more articles about the environment, what is the monkeysphere by david wong, how life became an endless, terrible competition by daniel markovits, your lifestyle has already been designed by david cain, 100 more articles about psychology, mental health, adventures in depression by allie brosh, the most dangerous idea in mental health by ed cara, the acceleration of addictiveness by paul graham, 50 more articles about mental health, why you are unhappy by tim urban, buy experiences, not things by james hamblin, 20 more articles about happiness, a few words about breasts by nora ephron, hello, i am fat by lindy west, the onset by my ngoc to, 25 more articles about body image.

About The Electric Typewriter We search the net to bring you the best nonfiction, articles, essays and journalism

The 25 Greatest Essay Collections of All Time

Today marks the release of Aleksandar Hemon’s excellent book of personal essays, The Book of My Lives , which we loved, and which we’re convinced deserves a place in the literary canon. To that end, we were inspired to put together our list of the greatest essay collections of all time, from the classic to the contemporary, from the personal to the critical. In making our choices, we’ve steered away from posthumous omnibuses (Michel de Montaigne’s Complete Essays , the collected Orwell, etc.) and multi-author compilations, and given what might be undue weight to our favorite writers (as one does). After the jump, our picks for the 25 greatest essay collections of all time. Feel free to disagree with us, praise our intellect, or create an entirely new list in the comments.

The Book of My Lives , Aleksandar Hemon

Hemon’s memoir in essays is in turns wryly hilarious, intellectually searching, and deeply troubling. It’s the life story of a fascinating, quietly brilliant man, and it reads as such. For fans of chess and ill-advised theme parties and growing up more than once.

Slouching Towards Bethlehem , Joan Didion

Well, obviously. Didion’s extraordinary book of essays, expertly surveying both her native California in the 1960s and her own internal landscape with clear eyes and one eyebrow raised ever so slightly. This collection, her first, helped establish the idea of journalism as art, and continues to put wind in the sails of many writers after her, hoping to move in that Didion direction.

Pulphead , John Jeremiah Sullivan

This was one of those books that this writer deemed required reading for all immediate family and friends. Sullivan’s sharply observed essays take us from Christian rock festivals to underground caves to his own home, and introduce us to 19-century geniuses, imagined professors and Axl Rose. Smart, curious, and humane, this is everything an essay collection should be.

The Boys of My Youth , Jo Ann Beard

Another memoir-in-essays, or perhaps just a collection of personal narratives, Jo Ann Beard’s award-winning volume is a masterpiece. Not only does it include the luminous, emotionally destructive “The Fourth State of the Matter,” which we’ve already implored you to read , but also the incredible “Bulldozing the Baby,” which takes on a smaller tragedy: a three-year-old Beard’s separation from her doll Hal. “The gorgeous thing about Hal,” she tells us, “was that not only was he my friend, he was also my slave. I made the majority of our decisions, including the bathtub one, which in retrospect was the beginning of the end.”

Consider the Lobster , David Foster Wallace

This one’s another “duh” moment, at least if you’re a fan of the literary essay. One of the most brilliant essayists of all time, Wallace pushes the boundaries (of the form, of our patience, of his own brain) and comes back with a classic collection of writing on everything from John Updike to, well, lobsters. You’ll laugh out loud right before you rethink your whole life. And then repeat.

Notes of a Native Son , James Baldwin

Baldwin’s most influential work is a witty, passionate portrait of black life and social change in America in the 1940s and early 1950s. His essays, like so many of the greats’, are both incisive social critiques and rigorous investigations into the self, told with a perfect tension between humor and righteous fury.

Naked , David Sedaris

His essays often read more like short stories than they do social criticism (though there’s a healthy, if perhaps implied, dose of that slippery subject), but no one makes us laugh harder or longer. A genius of the form.

Against Interpretation , Susan Sontag

This collection, Sontag’s first, is a dazzling feat of intellectualism. Her essays dissect not only art but the way we think about art, imploring us to “reveal the sensuous surface of art without mucking about in it.” It also contains the brilliant “Notes on ‘Camp,'” one of our all-time favorites.

The Common Reader , Virginia Woolf

Woolf is a literary giant for a reason — she was as incisive and brilliant a critic as she was a novelist. These witty essays, written for the common reader (“He is worse educated, and nature has not gifted him so generously. He reads for his own pleasure rather than to impart knowledge or correct the opinions of others. Above all, he is guided by an instinct to create for himself, out of whatever odds and ends he can come by, some kind of whole- a portrait of a man, a sketch of an age, a theory of the art of writing”), are as illuminating and engrossing as they were when they were written.

Teaching a Stone to Talk , Annie Dillard

This is Dillard’s only book of essays, but boy is it a blazingly good one. The slender volume, filled with examinations of nature both human and not, is deft of thought and tongue, and well worth anyone’s time. As the Chicago Sun-Times ‘s Edward Abbey gushed, “This little book is haloed and informed throughout by Dillard’s distinctive passion and intensity, a sort of intellectual radiance that reminds me both Thoreau and Emily Dickinson.”

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man , Henry Louis Gates Jr.

In this eloquent volume of essays, all but one of which were originally published in the New Yorker , Gates argues against the notion of the singularly representable “black man,” preferring to represent him in a myriad of diverse profiles, from James Baldwin to Colin Powell. Humane, incisive, and satisfyingly journalistic, Gates cobbles together the ultimate portrait of the 20th-century African-American male by refusing to cobble it together, and raises important questions about race and identity even as he entertains.

Otherwise Known As the Human Condition , Geoff Dyer

This book of essays, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in the year of its publication, covers 25 years of the uncategorizable, inimitable Geoff Dyer’s work — casually erudite and yet liable to fascinate anyone wandering in the door, witty and breathing and full of truth. As Sam Lipsyte said, “You read Dyer for his caustic wit, of course, his exquisite and perceptive crankiness, and his deep and exciting intellectual connections, but from these enthralling rants and cultural investigations there finally emerges another Dyer, a generous seeker of human feeling and experience, a man perhaps closer than he thinks to what he believes his hero Camus achieved: ‘a heart free of bitterness.'”

Art and Ardor , Cynthia Ozick

Look, Cynthia Ozick is a genius. One of David Foster Wallace’s favorite writers, and one of ours, Ozick has no less than seven essay collections to her name, and we could have chosen any one of them, each sharper and more perfectly self-conscious than the last. This one, however, includes her stunner “A Drugstore in Winter,” which was chosen by Joyce Carol Oates for The Best American Essays of the Century , so we’ll go with it.

No More Nice Girls , Ellen Willis

The venerable Ellen Willis was the first pop music critic for The New Yorker , and a rollicking anti-authoritarian, feminist, all-around bad-ass woman who had a hell of a way with words. This collection examines the women’s movement, the plight of the aging radical, race relations, cultural politics, drugs, and Picasso. Among other things.

The War Against Cliché , Martin Amis

As you know if you’ve ever heard him talk , Martin Amis is not only a notorious grouch but a sharp critical mind, particularly when it comes to literature. That quality is on full display in this collection, which spans nearly 30 years and twice as many subjects, from Vladimir Nabokov (his hero) to chess to writing about sex. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that he’s a brilliant old grump.

Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories From History and the Arts , Clive James

James’s collection is a strange beast, not like any other essay collection on this list but its own breed. An encyclopedia of modern culture, the book collects 110 new biographical essays, which provide more than enough room for James to flex his formidable intellect and curiosity, as he wanders off on tangents, anecdotes, and cultural criticism. It’s not the only who’s who you need, but it’s a who’s who you need.

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman , Nora Ephron

Oh Nora, we miss you. Again, we could have picked any of her collections here — candid, hilarious, and willing to give it to you straight, she’s like a best friend and mentor in one, only much more interesting than any of either you’ve ever had.

Arguably , Christopher Hitchens

No matter what you think of his politics (or his rhetorical strategies), there’s no denying that Christopher Hitchens was one of the most brilliant minds — and one of the most brilliant debaters — of the century. In this collection, packed with cultural commentary, literary journalism, and political writing, he is at his liveliest, his funniest, his exactingly wittiest. He’s also just as caustic as ever.

The Solace of Open Spaces , Gretel Ehrlich

Gretel Ehrlich is a poet, and in this collection, you’ll know it. In 1976, she moved to Wyoming and became a cowherd, and nearly a decade later, she published this lovely, funny set of essays about rural life in the American West.”Keenly observed the world is transformed,” she writes. “The landscape is engorged with detail, every movement on it chillingly sharp. The air between people is charged. Days unfold, bathed in their own music. Nights become hallucinatory; dreams, prescient.”

The Braindead Megaphone , George Saunders

Saunders may be the man of the moment, but he’s been at work for a long while, and not only on his celebrated short stories. His single collection of essays applies the same humor and deliciously slant view to the real world — which manages to display nearly as much absurdity as one of his trademark stories.

Against Joie de Vivre , Phillip Lopate

“Over the years,” the title essay begins, “I have developed a distaste for the spectacle of joie de vivre , the knack of knowing how to live.” Lopate goes on to dissect, in pleasantly sardonic terms, the modern dinner party. Smart and thought-provoking throughout (and not as crotchety as all that), this collection is conversational but weighty, something to be discussed at length with friends at your next — oh well, you know.

Sex and the River Styx , Edward Hoagland

Edward Hoagland, who John Updike deemed “the best essayist of my generation,” has a long and storied career and a fat bibliography, so we hesitate to choose such a recent installment in the writer’s canon. Then again, Garrison Keillor thinks it’s his best yet , so perhaps we’re not far off. Hoagland is a great nature writer (name checked by many as the modern Thoreau) but in truth, he’s just as fascinated by humanity, musing that “human nature is interstitial with nature, and not to be shunned by a naturalist.” Elegant and thoughtful, Hoagland may warn us that he’s heading towards the River Styx, but we’ll hang on to him a while longer.

Changing My Mind , Zadie Smith

Smith may be best known for her novels (and she should be), but to our eyes she is also emerging as an excellent essayist in her own right, passionate and thoughtful. Plus, any essay collection that talks about Barack Obama via Pygmalion is a winner in our book.

My Misspent Youth , Meghan Daum

Like so many other writers on this list, Daum dives head first into the culture and comes up with meat in her mouth. Her voice is fresh and her narratives daring, honest and endlessly entertaining.

The White Album , Joan Didion

Yes, Joan Didion is on this list twice, because Joan Didion is the master of the modern essay, tearing at our assumptions and building our world in brisk, clever strokes. Deal.

84 Best Essay Writing Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best essay writing books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Milan Kundera | 5.00

Evan Spiegel [Evan Spiegel said this was his favorite book.] (Source)

Iulia Ghita I like Milan Kundera’s books with his philosophical digressions that sometimes remind me of my own dilemmas, with The Unbearable Lightness of Being as my favourite. I find Kundera’s stories awfully sad, but yet so real, so close to human nature. I admit, I’m not a fan of happy endings, I prefer thought provoking endings. (Source)

Carlos Eire The title, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, comes from the main character’s obsession with the fact that all we have is the now, nothing else except the ever-moving now. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

The Writing Strategies Book

Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers

Jennifer Serravallo | 4.99

So You Want to Talk About Race

Ijeoma Oluo | 4.99

Mike Monteiro LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK! https://t.co/x3jxCD3q7g (Source)

Sarah Parcak @PJR23 @IjeomaOluo Amazing book! (Source)

Imani Gandy Corn I’m not really kidding. Ijeoma’s book is great for white people—because seriously, get a clue—but it’s also great for Black people who are sick and tired of trying to talk about race with clueless white people and end up frustrated and wanting to stab everything in sight. (Source)

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas | 4.98

Bianca Belair For #BlackHistoryMonth  I will be sharing some of my favorite books by Black Authors 7th Book: The Hate U Give By: Angie Thomas @angiecthomas The movie was really great, but it just hits different when you read the book! https://t.co/rxMH5Uu6JN (Source)

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Thomas C. Foster | 4.95

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may...

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

I Am Malala

How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)

Malala Yousafzai, Patricia McCormick | 4.95

Adebola Taofeek I am finishing this Malala book tonight . Issa must. (Source)

Invisible Cities

Italo Calvino | 4.94

Colin Thubron Oh God. Well, officially it’s Marco Polo describing the cities of his travels to Kublai Khan. It’s been opined that every city he describes is a version of Venice, but I think that doesn’t really work. They seem to me to be marvellous imaginative fantasies, which sometimes reproduce states of mind. There are 40 or so cities described, all entirely imaginary I think, and that’s what’s so magical... (Source)

James Meek It has different layers. The set-up is that Kublai Khan has conquered this vast empire; an empire so large that he, sitting at the centre of it, cannot know all the many parts of it. He can’t visit them, he can’t see them, and if he goes to one part all the other parts have changed. So he sits there at the centre of his empire and Marco Polo travels around and visits the various cities and comes... (Source)

Fish in a Tree

Lynda Mullaly Hunt | 4.92

Complete Essays

Michel de Montaigne, Charles Cotton | 4.92

Ryan Holiday There is plenty to study and see simply by looking inwards — maybe even an alarming amount. (Source)

Alain de Botton I’ve given quite a lot of copies of [this book] to people down the years. (Source)

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

Reni Eddo-Lodge | 4.91

Don't have time to read the top Essay Writing books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

• Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
• Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
• Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

Cece Bell | 4.91

First and Second Series

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Douglas Crase | 4.91

John Kaag We forget that that is basically what philosophy is: it is teaching. That’s what you really get out of Emerson’s essays. (Source)

Brown Girl Dreaming

Jacqueline Woodson | 4.90

Barack Obama In November 2014, Obama took a trip to D.C. independent bookstore Politics and Prose to honor small businesses and add to his personal library. Accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, POTUS picked up novels from the Redwall fantasy series by Brian Jacques, as well as some from the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park. He also added this title to his heavy bags. (Source)

On Immunity

An Inoculation

Eula Biss | 4.89

Bill Gates The eloquent essayist Eula Biss uses the tools of literary analysis, philosophy, and science to examine the speedy, inaccurate rumors about childhood vaccines that have proliferated among well-meaning American parents. Biss took up this topic not for academic reasons but because of her new role as a mom. This beautifully written book would be a great gift for any new parent. (Source)

The Good Immigrant

Nikesh Shukla | 4.89

Amal Unbound

Aisha Saeed | 4.88

Burn After Writing

Sharon Jones | 4.87

The Fire This Time

A New Generation Speaks About Race

Jesmyn Ward | 4.87

Playing in the Dark

Whiteness and the Literary Imagination

Toni Morrison | 4.86

What My Mother and I Don't Talk About

Fifteen Writers Break the Silence

Michele Filgate | 4.86

Danielle Kurtzleben I took a break from politics to review a book about moms and think about the three words that could change a lot of mom-child relationships (it’s not “I love you,” either). https://t.co/aVSV1GRvxo (Source)

The Art of the Personal Essay

An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present

Phillip Lopate | 4.85

101 Story Starters for Kids

One-Page Prompts to Kick Your Imagination into High Gear

Dena McMurdie and Batch of Books | 4.85

Writing Academic English, Level 4

Alice Oshima, Ann Hogue | 4.85

The Art of Teaching Writing

Lucy McCormick Calkins | 4.85

The Prose of Sir Thomas Browne

Thomas Browne, Norman J. Endicott | 4.84

The Letters of the Younger Pliny

Pliny the Younger, Betty Radice | 4.84

Essay Exam Writing for the California Bar Exam

Mary Basick and Tina Schindler | 4.84

Writers Inc

A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning

GREAT SOURCE | 4.83

Great Writing 5 (5th Edition) Student Book with Online Workbook

Keith S. Folse and Tison Pugh | 4.83

Reading Like a Writer

A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them

Francine Prose | 4.83

Writing Essays for Dummies

Mary Page, Carrie Winstanley | 4.82

A Professor's Guide to Writing Essays

The No-Nonsense Plan for Better Writing

Dr. Jacob Neumann | 4.81

Fundamentals of Answer and Essay Writing

Jeff Alan Fleming and Susan Patricia Sneidmiller | 4.81

Why I Write

George Orwell | 4.81

A Short Guide to Writing About Biology

Jan A. Pechenik | 4.81

Longman Academic Writing Series 3 Sb with Online Resources

Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue | 4.81

The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge

Rainer Maria Rilke | 4.80

Be a Better Writer

For School, For Fun, For Anyone Ages 10-15

Steve Peha and Margot Carmichael Lester | 4.80

From Idea to Essay

A Rhetoric, Reader, and Handbook

Jo Ray McCuen-Metherell, Anthony Winkler | 4.79

Longman Academic Writing Series 1

Sentences to Paragraphs, with Essential Online Resources

Linda Butler | 4.79

College Writing 101

The Essential Guide to Writing for College and Beyond

C.M. Gill | 4.79

Everything's an Argument with Readings

Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruszkiewicz, Keith Walters | 4.78

How to Write Better Essays

Bryan Greetham | 4.78

The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need

A One-Stop Source for Every Writing Assignment

Susan Thurman and Larry Shea | 4.78

College Essay Essentials

A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay

Ethan Sawyer | 4.78

Longman Academic Writing Series 2

Paragraphs, with Essential Online Resources

Ann Hogue | 4.78

A Student's Writing Guide

Gordon Taylor | 4.78

The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson | 4.78

The College Panda's SAT Essay

The Battle-tested Guide for the New SAT 2016 Essay

Nielson Phu | 4.76

The Wars of the Roses

England's First Civil War

Trevor Royle | 4.76

Essay Writing Skills

Essential Techniques to Gain Top Marks

Patrick Forsyth, Jacqueline Connelly | 4.75

On Writing the College Application Essay

The Key to Acceptance at the College of Your Choice

Harry Bauld | 4.75

Great Writing 5: From Great Essays to Research

From Great Essays to Research

Keith S. Folse and Tison Pugh | 4.74

Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps, Third Edition

Crafting a Winning Personal Statement

Alan Gelb | 4.74

Writing from Start to Finish

A Six-Step Guide

Kate Grenville | 4.73

The College Panda's SAT Writing

Advanced Guide and Workbook

Nielson Phu | 4.73

A Very Short Introduction

David Norman | 4.73

Tom Wolfe | 4.73

Essay Writing

Teaching the Basics from the Ground Up

Jock Mackenzie | 4.72

How to Write a 5th Grade (or any other grade) Essay

Kathleen Powers | 4.72

Great Writing 3

From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays

Keith S. Folse, Elena Vestri Solomon, et al. | 4.72

Scholastic Success with Writing

Scholastic | 4.72

Longman Academic Writing Series 5

Essays to Research Papers

Alan Meyers | 4.71

Crafting the Personal Essay

A Guide for Writing and Publishing Creative Nonfiction

Dinty W. Moore | 4.71

GRE Analytical Writing

Solutions to the Real Essay Topics - Book 2 (Test Prep Series)

Vibrant Publishers | 4.71

The Norton Book of Nature Writing, College Edition [With Field Guide to Norton Book of Nature Writing]

John Elder and Robert Finch | 4.70

A World of Writing Stories, Poems, Plays and Essays

David L. Pike and Ana Acosta | 4.70

How to Write a Paragraph, Grades 6-8

Kathleen Teacher Created Resources Staff | 4.70

A Guide to Philosophy in Six Hours and Fifteen Minutes

Witold Gombrowicz, Benjamin Ivry | 4.69

Practice Makes Perfect Mastering Writing

Gary Muschla | 4.69

California Performance Test Workbook

Preparation for the Bar Exam

Mary Basick and Tina Schindler | 4.68

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays

What Worked for Them Can Help You Get into the College of Your Choice

. Staff Of The Harvard Crim | 4.68

Writing Fabulous Sentences & Paragraphs

Jill Norris | 4.68

How to Write Any High School Essay

The Essential Guide

Jesse Liebman | 4.67

Writing Essays about Literature

A Brief Guide for University and College Students

Katherine O. Acheson | 4.67

Evidence-Based Reading, Writing, and Essay Workbook for the SAT

Kaplan Test Prep | 4.66

A Guide and Style Sheet

Kelley Griffith | 4.66

Scarlett's Women

Gone With the Wind and Its Female Fans

Helen Taylor | 4.65

How to Write an Essay, Grades 6-8

Gabriel Teacher Created Resources… | 4.65

Essay Writing For English Tests

Gabi Duigu | 4.65

Mastering The 5-paragraph Essay

Mini-Lessons, Models, and Engaging Activities That Give Students the Writing Tools That They Need to Tackle—and Succeed on—the Tests

Susan Van Zile | 4.63

ESL Intermediate/Advanced Writing

Mary Ellen Munoz Page, Dr. Steven Michael Gras Ph.D., et al. | 4.62

Best College Essays 2018

America's Best College Admissions Essays

Gabrielle Glancy and Teja Watson | 4.60

How to Write a Story, Grades 4-6

Evan Moor | 4.59

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by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.  

Essays Every High School Student Should Read

December 4, 2016 in  Pedagogy

One of the most important goals of any English class should be to help students learn how to express themselves to an audience — how to tell their own stories, how to provide much-needed information, and how to convince others to see things from a different perspective.

Below are some essays students can read, not only to help them see how such writing is done in the real world, but also to learn more about the world around them.

[bctt tweet=”Need a #mentortext for student essays? Check out these exemplars for personal narrative, argumentative, and expository essay writing.”]

Note : This is a living list. I will continue adding to it as I find important essays and articles, and as my readers make suggestions.

If You Think Racism Doesn’t Exist by Jordan Womack | Lesson Plan

A 17-year-old Oklahoma author details incidents of discrimination he has faced within his own community. Brief, yet impactful, the author’s authenticity strikes readers at their core and naturally leads the audience to consider other perspectives.

Facebook hack ‘worse than when my house burned down’ says teacher by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

When a hacker destroyed my Facebook account and I couldn’t find a way to reach out to Facebook, I decided to use my story, voice, and platform to shed light on a situation faced by people around the world. This can serve as a mentor text for students writing personal narratives on shared experiences in the context of current events.

Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee by Andrew Lam

Vietnamese lecturer, journalist, and author Andrew Lam offers advice in this letter to a young Iraqi refugee he sees in a photograph on the Internet.

Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends by Jan Hoffman

Learn why early and lifelong friendships are as vital for boys as they are for girls and what happens when those friendships are fractured.

Chris Cecil: Plagiarism Gets You Fired by Leonard Pitts Jr

The Miami Herald columnist and 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner castigates a Georgia newspaper editor for plagiarizing his work. This column would go great with this followup article from The Boston Globe: Ga. Editor is Fired for Lifting Columns .

Class Dismissed by Walter Kirn

The author of Lost in the Meritocracy postulates that getting rid of the high school senior year might be good for students.

Complaint Box | Packaging by Dylan Quinn

A high school junior complains about the impossible-to-open packaging faced by consumers of everything “from action figures to zip drives.”

Drowning in Dishes, but Finding a Home  by Danial Adkison

In this 2014 essay, a teenager learns important lessons from his boss at Pizza Hut.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua

An American scholar of Chicana cultural theory discusses how she maintained her identity by refusing to submit to linguistic terrorism.

Humble Beast: Samaje Perine by John Rohde

The five-time Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year features the University of Oklahoma’s running back.

In Praise of the F Word by Mary Sherry

An adult literacy program teacher argues that allowing students to fail will actually help them.

The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie

A Native American novelist recounts his experience loving reading and finally writing in spite of a culture that expected him to fail in the “non-Indian world” in order to be accepted.

Lane’s Legacy: One Final Ride by Keith Ryan Cartwright

A heartbreaking look back at the hours before and the circumstances surrounding Lane Frost’s untimely death, followed by reflections on his rise to fame — before and after death.

Learning to Read by Malcolm X

The 1960s Civil Rights leader writes about how educating himself in prison opened his mind and lead him to become one of the leading spokesmen for black separatism.

Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass

A former slave born in 1818 discusses how he learned to read in spite of laws against teaching slaves and how reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition, without remedy.”

Learning From Animal Friendships by Erica Goode

Scientists consider studying the phenomenon of cross-species animal friendships like the ones you see on YouTube.

Losing Everything, Except What Really Matters by Dan Barry

After a 2011 tornado destroys a house, but spares the family, a reporter writes about what’s important.

The Marked Woman by David Grann

How an Osage Indian family in Oklahoma became the prime target of one of the most sinister crimes in American history.

Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List by Lizette Alvarez

Read about what happens if you happen to share a name of a “suspicious person” on the U.S. No-Fly List.

Newly Homeless in Japan Re-Establish Order Amid Chaos by Michael Wines

After the tsunami that resulted in nuclear disaster in 2011, a reporter writes about the “quiet bravery in the face of tragedy” of the Japanese people.

No Ordinary Joe by Rick Reilly

Why in creation did American Football Conference’s 1981 best young running back Joe Delaney jump into that pit full of water that day, even though he couldn’t swim?

Politics and the English Language By George Orwell

Animal Farm and 1984 author, Orwell correlates the degradation of the English language into multi-syllabic drivel and the corruption of the American political process.

Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America author tells about her experiences attempting to survive on income of low-paying jobs.

Starvation Under the Orange Trees by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, who later authored the fictionalized account of Okies in California, The Grapes of Wrath, first wrote this essay documenting the starvation of migrant workers in California during the Great Depression.

To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This by Mandy Len Catron

Is falling in love really a random event, or can two people “love smarter?”

We’ll Go Forward from this Moment by Leonard Pitts

The 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner pens a column chronicling the toughness of the American family’s spirit in the face of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. He wrote the column one day after the attacks.

What’s Wrong with Black English? by Rachel L. Jones

Jones, a student at Southern Illinois University in the 1980s, wrote this piece for Newsweek. In her essay, Jones adds her story and perspective to the debate over Black English.

Related topics: Mentor Texts , Teaching Writing

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

A wonderful list of essays! I have neglected to teach essays as literature (only as student writing samples before we began work on an essay, after a novel). I’m looking forward to using these!

Thank you very much! I’d love to hear (or read) your feedback on the selections. Your input can help other teachers decide which essays to teach their students.

This list looks really great. Unfortunately, the first two links I chose were not working. One took me to a professors homepage and the other never opened.

Thank you for letting us know. I checked the “If you think racism doesn’t exist” went to the WordPress.com site where the author wrote his article and “Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee” went to the Huffington Post article. Is it possible that your school web filter is blocking WordPress and Huffington Post?

Thank you for this. I am teaching a summer class that prepares 8th graders for high school essay writing. Trying to find a way to make it more creative and interesting, even interactive. I like the essays. If you have ideas about specific ways to use them, beyond reading and discussion, I would love to hear them.

You’re welcome! I think additional activities would depend on who your students are, their interests, and which essay(s) you plan to use. Perhaps if you join our RTE Facebook group and tell us about your kids and the essay you want to use, we can devise some activities to help them engage. Check us out here .

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8 of The Best Short Books To Read For the Rest of Summer

Yashvi Peeti

Yashvi Peeti is an aspiring writer and an aspiring penguin. She has worked as an editorial intern with Penguin Random House India and HarperCollins Publishers India. She is always up for fangirling over poetry, taking a walk in a park, and painting tiny canvases. You can find her on Instagram @intangible.perception

View All posts by Yashvi Peeti

For the purpose of this article, I’ve defined short books as ones under or around 250 pages. The page length is taken from their Goodreads description. Most of the books also happen to be easy to read. I’ve included a bit of everything: poetry, classics, essay collections, memoirs, and fiction. You can pick whatever best fits your current reading quirks!

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (89 pages)

This is a short, fun, easy-to-read play by Oscar Wilde. It’s divided into three acts. The writing and scene are short, crisp, and witty. It was published in 1895 and reflects the thinking and ways of that time, but it is still very relevant. Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax are in love with the suitor of the same name. They’re in love with the name more than their suitors, and the name might not even exist. Chaos ensues, and an old handbag might save the day. In typical Wilde fashion, there are poetic gems and truth bombs scattered all over this short play.

For Every One by Jason Reynolds (102 pages)

This tiny book really is for everyone. Jason Reynolds uses verse poetry to talk to and about dreamers. As a fellow dreamer, it warmed my heart and spelled out things I really needed to hear. It asks you to believe in your dreams and hold on to them. It also acknowledges how painful and frustrating that process can be. But it shows that there isn’t any one form of dreaming. A dream looks different for everyone, and we all have the luxury of dreaming our own unique dreams. It’s a book that celebrates, supports, and understands what it’s like to strive for something you wish to be true.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (110 pages)

This is the story of Esperanza, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. We experience her life in a series of lyrical vignettes. It is borrowed from the author’s own experiences. It released in 1984 and still hasn’t lost its relevance. It’s a short classic that’s accessible and beyond beautiful. The book does not use quotation marks, so that’s something to keep in mind before picking it up. It’s assigned reading in countless schools and translated into multiple languages — all for good reason!

Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot (143 pages)

This is a memoir of an Indigenous woman growing up on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. She survived a turbulent childhood and ended up in the hospital years later with a diagnosis of PTSD and BPD II. She’s given a notebook to write her way out of it, and this book is a wondrous result of those entries. One can go into this book knowing that her memory might not be exact, but she threads together her experiences with raw honesty and beautiful lyricism.

Lord of The Butterflies by Andrea Gibson (115 pages)

This is one of my favourite poetry chapbooks by one of my absolute favourite poets. It’s queer, romantic, and warm, exploring family, love, and loss. Gibson’s poetry is deeply personal while also feeling universally relatable. Anything I can write about it doesn’t come close to how it makes me feel, so I’ll quote from it instead. Here’s a line from the poem “Daytime, Somewhere” that stands out to me:

“I say, I don’t believe in good people. I believe in people who are committed to knowing their own wounds intimately.”

This Is One Way To Dance by Sejal Shah (198 pages)

In this collection of essays, Sejal Shah explores what it’s like to be a Gujarati child of parents from India and Kenya. Her essays are personal and intimate while offering commentary on race and gender in America. It talks about the battle of holding on to your culture, language, and family in a land that doesn’t actively make space for it. She lets the readers get a look into her marriage and how she builds a life with someone through that commitment. Pick it up to get lost in her life and musings.

The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh (209 pages)

This is a unique memoir that explores the relationship of a daughter with her mother. Koh was 15 and living with her parents in California when they moved to Korea for a job. She stays, living with her older brother, and feels abandoned by her mother. Her mother writes her letters that she doesn’t fully grasp until years later when she begins to translate them. It’s a story of love, loss, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It also feels like a celebration of language and an exploration of the generational history that gets us to our present moment. (Trigger warning: eating disorder and suicide)

Infinite Country by Patricia Engel (256 pages)

This is a story etched with heartache and hope. It follows a Columbian family that’s separated due to deportation. Elena and Mauro meet as teenagers and fall in love despite the terrifying brutality in Bogotá. They travel to the United States with their first daughter and send wages to Elena’s mother. They have two more children and feel torn by their undocumented status, their grim prospects back home, and the small life they hope to build in a new country. When Mauro is deported, Elena is tasked with taking care of herself and three small children. Infinite Country is a tense, painful, lyrical account of their lives. (Trigger warning: sexual assault)

If you liked this, also check out our short book archives and Short Standalone Graphic Novels That Capture Entire Emotions .

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Essay on Books for Students and Children

500 Words Essay on Books

Books are referred to as a man’s best friend . They are very beneficial for mankind and have helped it evolve. There is a powerhouse of information and knowledge. Books offer us so many things without asking for anything in return. Books leave a deep impact on us and are responsible for uplifting our mood.

This is why we suggest children read books from an early age to gain knowledge. The best part about books is that there are various types of books. One can read any type to gain different types of knowledge. Reading must be done by people of all ages. It not only widens our thinking but also enhances our vocabulary.

Different Genres of Books

There are different genres of books available for book readers. Every day, thousands of books are released in the market ranging from travel books to fictional books. We can pick any book of our interest to expand our knowledge and enjoy the reading experience.

Firstly, we have travel books, which tell us about the experience of various travelers. They introduce us to different places in the world without moving from our place. It gives us traveling tips which we can use in the future. Then, we have history books which state historical events. They teach about the eras and how people lived in times gone by.

Furthermore, we have technology books that teach us about technological developments and different equipment. You can also read fashion and lifestyle books to get up to date with the latest trends in the fashion industry.

Most importantly, there are self-help books and motivational books . These books help in the personality development of an individual. They inspire us to do well in life and also bring a positive change in ourselves. Finally, we have fictional books. They are based on the writer’s imagination and help us in enhancing our imagination too. They are very entertaining and keep us intrigued until the very end.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of Reading Books

There are not one but various advantages of reading books. To begin with, it improves our knowledge on a variety of subjects. Moreover, it makes us wiser. When we learn different things, we learn to deal with them differently too. Similarly, books also keep us entertained. They kill our boredom and give us great company when we are alone.

Furthermore, books help us to recognize our areas of interest. They also determine our career choice to a great extent. Most importantly, books improve our vocabulary . We learn new words from it and that widens our vocabulary. In addition, books boost our creativity. They help us discover a completely new side.

In other words, books make us more fluent in languages. They enhance our writing skills too. Plus, we become more confident after the knowledge of books. They help us in debating, public speaking , quizzes and more.

In short, books give us a newer perspective and gives us a deeper understanding of things. It impacts our personality positively as well. Thus, we see how books provide us with so many benefits. We should encourage everyone to read more books and useless phones.

FAQs on Books

Q.1 State the different genres of books.

A.1 Books come in different genres. Some of them are travel books, history books, technology books, fashion and lifestyle books, self-help books, motivational books, and fictional books.

Q.2 Why are books important?

A.2 Books are of great importance to mankind. They enhance our knowledge and vocabulary. They keep us entertained and also widen our perspective. This, in turn, makes us more confident and wise.

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• School Education /

✍️Essay On Books: Free Samples for Students 

• Updated on  
• Nov 2, 2023

Books are considered human’s best friend. It has been an integral part of human society for ages and will continue to be a crucial part of human life. There are several categories of books, that offer us knowledge about specific fields. Words written in books serve as a source of knowledge, information, and entertainment , which are necessary for skill enhancement and polishing the language. Books are written in every language to fulfill the needs of people living in every region from villages to abroad. In this blog, you will get to know how to write an essay on books and we have also provided some sample essays on books for you. Keep Reading!

Table of Contents

• 1 Short Essay on Books
• 2 Essay on Books in 150 Words
• 3.1 Different Genres of Books
• 3.2 Benefits of Reading Books

Also Read: 15 Best-Selling Books of All Times

Short Essay on Books

Books are pages filled with ideas, thoughts, stories, imagination, and knowledge. Even after extreme advancements in technology , books continue to be cherished by humans. The reason behind that is the convenience and their appeal. 

Given below are some short sample essays on books that will help school-going children and students: 

Also Read: Essay Writing

Also Read: Motivational Books

Essay on Books in 150 Words

Books are considered true friends of humans, as they can teach us life lessons. Books are the repositories that impart wisdom and knowledge. From ancient times to today’s digital world, books have served as a source of inspiration, expanding the thought process and imparting education.

In schools, they teach us how reading books can shape our future and when a person grows, the impact of his learning through books is reflected in his lifestyle. In an era of mobile phones, smartphones, television, and laptops, we all still trust books. Books provide deep knowledge about any specific subject without any modifications.

Books possess the ability to ignite your imagination and take you to a completely different world. Some readers value books as humans, some highlight the important parts, some readers make collections of limited editions of books, and some even cherish the smell of old books. The cover and physical appearance of the books on the bookshelf reflect comfort.

Thus, books play an important role in everyone’s life. Nowadays movies are also directed based on famous books. 

Also Read: Essay on Education System

Essay on Books in 300 words

Books help mankind to evolve mentally. The thoughts of a person reflect his/her personality and the thoughts are developed based on your learning in life. As mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, books are considered the powerhouse of knowledge and information. The vintage look of the book adds charm to its appearance and such books attract the reader. Holding a book in hand, flipping pages while reading, using beautiful bookmarks in the book, and sensing the texture of pages can deeply imply a sensory effect on the readers.

Different Genres of Books

A book reader can enjoy a variety of genres of books. In spite of technological advancements in human life, thousands of books are released in the market. The budding writers also publish their books as they know the fact that good readers still prefer to read from books. If you do not want to purchase the hard copy of the book then, you can go for the online version. 

Following are some of the genres of books:

• Travel books- Such books tell the story and experience of travellers.
• Motivational books- Like “Atomic Habits” are used to inspire and motivate people to adopt good habits in life.
• Fictional books- Like “As You Like It” that represent literary fiction and play.
• Novel- it comes under the most read books by the reader. Novels are the long work of narrative fiction framed in prose.

Benefits of Reading Books

There are many benefits of reading books. Books help to increase our vocabulary and enhance our knowledge of a variety of subjects. They also serve as a good source of entertainment during free time. It boosts the ability of the reader to think creatively. They help in improving the fluency and enhance the communication skills . Books are a great source of knowledge it would help us in public speaking , debates, quizzes, examinations, etc.

Also Read: Best Indian Authors

In short, books have a positive impact on our personality. We should read more books of different genres and avoid using mobile phones without any reason.

Relevant Blogs

Books play an effective part in the life of humans from childhood to adulthood. Reading books is a great habit as it will broaden the knowledge. For students, books are the main source of knowledge and education. The imagination and creative skills of students can be developed with the help of books. Even a 1-2 year child also learn about colours, number, fruits, vegetables, and animals with the help of a toddler’s book.

To write a good essay on books you must be familiar with what are books, how many types of books are there, the different genres of books, their role in human society, and the benefits of books. Then, you can include all this knowledge in your essay. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to write an essay on books: Draft the raw information. Arrange it in a systematic order. Frame the introduction paragraph of the essay stating what are books. Then, frame the body and conclude the essay on the advantages and benefits of books. Proofread and edit your essay to bring more clarity.

To write an essay on ‘my favourite book,’ including the title of the book, incorporate a brief review of the book, and conclude with the lesson one may gain from reading that particular book.

This was all about an essay on books. The skill of writing an essay comes in handy when appearing for standardized language tests, thinking of taking one soon? Leverage Live provides the best online test prep for the same. Register today and if you wish to study abroad then contact our experts at 1800572000 .

Kajal Thareja

Hi, I am Kajal, a pharmacy graduate, currently pursuing management and is an experienced content writer. I have 2-years of writing experience in Ed-tech (digital marketing) company. I am passionate towards writing blogs and am on the path of discovering true potential professionally in the field of content marketing. I am engaged in writing creative content for students which is simple yet creative and engaging and leaves an impact on the reader's mind.

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Effective Academic Writing 2: The Short Essay (Student Book) 50365th Edition

• ISBN-10 0194309231
• ISBN-13 978-0194309233
• Edition 50365th
• Publisher Oxford University Press
• Publication date April 13, 2006
• Language English
• Dimensions 8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches
• Print length 176 pages
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 50365th edition (April 13, 2006)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0194309231
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0194309233
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches
• #9,962 in Foreign Language Instruction (Books)
• #10,258 in English as a Second Language Instruction
• #28,338 in Professional

About the authors

Alice savage.

Alice Savage is a graduate of the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont and is currently on the faculty at Lone Star College, North Harris in Houston, Texas. Alice has lived in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle as well as Houston, and enjoys city life and the performing arts. When not teaching or writing, she also enjoys traveling for conferences and climbing mountains with her family.

Patricia Mayer

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