Match BookHopeful books
Hopeful books aren't necessarily light. Many go through hard things; what they share is an underlying belief that people and worlds can change for the better.
Every book here reads as hopeful. Open one to see the books that feel most like it.
87 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
- Astrophysics for People in a HurryNeil deGrasse Tysonnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human ExperienceBrené Brownnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD)John Medinanarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of LessGreg McKeownnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional NeglectJonice Webbnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The AlchemistPaulo Coelholiterary fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human RaceWalter Isaacsonbiography · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Graveyard BookNeil Gaimanyoung adult · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The MaidNita Prosemystery · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Midnight LibraryMatt Haigcontemporary fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Reason I Jump: the Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with AutismNaoki Higashidamemoir · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Their Eyes Were Watching GodZora Neale Hurstonclassics · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur BuilderMichael Pollannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
An Absolutely Remarkable ThingHank Greencontemporary fiction · hopeful · moderate · ambiguous ending- An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and DesignersDanny Gregorynarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Assassin's ApprenticeRobin Hobbfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native LandRebecca Naglenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading InnovationLinda A. Hillnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Content Strategy for the WebKristina Halvorsonnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Cooked: A Natural History of TransformationMichael Pollannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the WorldJennifer Palmierinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · ambiguous ending
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsDaniel H. Pinknarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
EchoPam Muñoz Ryanyoung adult · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew AmericaThomas L. Friedmannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · ambiguous ending
I Am the MessengerMarkus Zusakcontemporary fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- In Defense of Food: An Eater's ManifestoMichael Pollannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Just Keep Buying: Proven Ways to Save Money and Build Your WealthNick Maggiullinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to LeadSheryl Sandbergnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Letter from the Birmingham JailMartin Luther King Jr.classics · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending- Neural Networks and Deep LearningMichael Nielsennarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
New York 2140Kim Stanley Robinsonscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending- Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and DeliveryGarr Reynoldsnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
ProvenanceAnn Leckiescience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems (Voices That Matter)Steve Krugnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
Spinning SilverNaomi Novikfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex WorldStanley McChrystalnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Bean TreesBarbara Kingsolverliterary fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The City We BecameN. K. Jemisinfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Curse of ChalionLois McMaster Bujoldfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The DotPeter H. Reynoldsyoung adult · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamPatrick Lencioninarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Golden EnclavesNaomi Novikfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Infinite GameSimon Sineknarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Long Way to a Small, Angry PlanetBecky Chambersscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and FeminismJennifer Gunternarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Midnight TrainMatt Haigfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The PostmanDavid Brinscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Lovebell hooksnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't KnowAdam M. Grantnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Thinking In Systems: A PrimerDonella H. Meadowsnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- To Be Taught, If FortunateBecky Chambersscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too MovementTarana Burkememoir · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Web Form Design: Filling in the BlanksLuke Wroblewskinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
WeywardEmilia Harthistorical fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- What the Road SaidCleo Wadenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of LifeLulu Millernarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Women Who Run With the WolvesClarissa Pinkola Estésnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- A Choice of GodsClifford D. Simakscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- A People's Future of the United States: Speculative Fiction from 25 Extraordinary WritersVictor LaVallescience fiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Almost Human: Making Robots ThinkLee Gutkindnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Floating HotelGrace Curtisliterary fiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'KeeffeKathryn Laskybiography · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Jabari JumpsGaia Cornwallyoung adult · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your BikeGrant Petersennarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Math-ish: Finding Creativity, Diversity, and Meaning in MathematicsJo Boalernarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your BusinessAmber Macnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday LifeHelen Czerskinarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- SupercrunchersIan Ayresnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Annunciation (Voices of the South)Ellen Gilchristliterary fiction · hopeful · moderate · ambiguous ending
The Invention of AirSteven Johnsonbiography · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball DreamsDarcy Freynarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed As You AreAlicia Menendeznarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The LuminariesSusan Dennardyoung adult · hopeful · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
The Once and Future WitchesAlix E. Harrowfantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight BiasDolly Chughnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- This Is My BodyLindsay King-Millermemoir · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
ThornIntisar Khananifantasy · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Voice Male: The Untold Story of the Pro-Feminist Men's MovementRob A. Okunnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider WorldOlga Khazannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- When at Times the Mob Is Swayed: A Citizen’s Guide to Defending Our RepublicBurt Neubornenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of InnovationSteven Johnsonnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Geeks, Genes, and the Evolution of Asperger SyndromeDean Falknarrative nonfiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Rise (Volume 1)Patty Azzarellocontemporary fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Sisters of the Vast BlackLina Ratherscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- StixBreanna Leslieyoung adult · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The SeepChana Porterscience fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Time Biases: A Theory of Rational Planning and Personal PersistenceMeghan Sullivannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
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