literature

Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.

Book Review: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck explores the transformative power of adopting the right mindset to achieve personal and professional success. Dweck, a renowned psychologist, introduces the concept of two fundamental mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. A fixed mindset assumes that abilities, intelligence, and talents are static traits, leading individuals to avoid challenges, fear failure, and feel threatened by others’ success. Conversely, a growth mindset embraces the belief that abilities can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance, fostering resilience and a passion for growth.
By Am@n Khan about a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "And Yet..." by Christopher Hitchens
It's mid-May and the heat in Britain continues. England is burning and my flat because of its age has this unfortunate habit of not cooling down. So when it is say 20 degrees celsius outside (68F for our USA friends) it is perhaps 30 degrees celsius (86F) in my apartment. So, since it has been up to 25 degrees celsius (77F) outside on some days, it has been up to (95F) in my apartment. You get the picture. Any heat outside has extra heat added to it when I'm in my apartment. But at least I can still escape into my books. So here it is, a review of And Yet by Christopher Hitchens.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Fear Fest 2025
As a big nerd it has been a tradition for me to attend all things convention every year since 2019. Last weekend on May 24th for the first time ever I attended the convention known as Fear Fest in Raleigh, North Carolina, just an hour and some change away from where I live. Fear Fest is the horror movie version of Comic Con and my journey to it is actually an interesting one if I say so myself.
By Joe Pattersonabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "A Hitch in Time" by Christopher Hitchens
Yes, I'm still reading anthologies of works by the late and great Christopher Hitchens. Before this little binge read, I hadn't read something by Hitchens ever since I was a teenager. It's always been a joy getting back into his works and trying to understand where his points of view lie and how they have changed over the course of his life. I was also recently watching one of his talks that he did more towards the end of his life where he is rather more subdued than previously but definitely has the same level of British sarcasm within him.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Portable Atheist" ed. by Christopher Hitchens
It's almost June 2025 and that means it's almost halfway through the year. You can expect another article at the end of the year on 'The Best Books' and 'The Literary Entirety' and I've made my job easier by starting it at the beginning of the year and adding to it every so often rather than trying to collate it at the end of the year (I don't know why I ever did it that way to begin with). But this is one of the books you might se pop up here and there, I've definitely found some stuff I can use in some upcoming 'sleepless nights' articles. So, let's take a look at the ideas expressed in this anthology of essays entitled The Portable Atheist compiled by Christopher Hitchens.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review : The Hobbit
Overview The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, written by J.R.R. Tolkien and first published in 1937, is a seminal work of fantasy literature. This novel, initially intended for children, has captivated readers of all ages with its rich world-building, memorable characters, and timeless themes. Set in the fictional realm of Middle-earth, The Hobbit follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant hobbit, as he embarks on an unexpected adventure filled with danger, treasure, and self-discovery. The book serves as a precursor to Tolkien’s more expansive The Lord of the Rings trilogy, introducing key elements of his legendarium, including the One Ring.
By Am@n Khan about a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Dublin Palms" by Hugo Hamilton
As of now, it is the middle of May 2025 and I can honestly say that I have been diving into some pretty good books lately. I got this one from the library again, their stand for these books was called 'I can't remember what it was called but the cover was blue'. Dublin Palms is a great tale of language and identity written in an almost stream-of-consciousness way. It contains some beautiful language about...well, language. And it has various meditations on culture which, as the story gets underway, become more and more important. If you're in a reading slump at all and want to appreciate some really beautiful writing, then I would definitely recommend picking up this relatively short, but wonderful book.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review : Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
The Impact of Rich Dad Poor Dad on Personal Finance Rich Dad Poor Dad, co-authored by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, is a personal finance book that has transformed how millions approach money, wealth, and financial independence. First published in 1997, it has sold over 32 million copies worldwide and remains a cornerstone for those seeking financial literacy. The book contrasts two perspectives: the "poor dad," who represents traditional thinking about money—emphasizing job security and saving—and the "rich dad," who advocates for financial education, investing, and building passive income streams. Its conversational style and relatable storytelling make complex financial concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds. 😊
By Am@n Khan about a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Man Without a Shadow" by Joyce Carol Oates
It's the end of April 2025 and that means it's time for an obligatory 'oh my god that scared the hell out of me' conceptual terror novel. Now, I had been searching around the library for something absolutely perfect before I just gave up and read another Joyce Carol Oates book, because that should do it. Anyways, long story short - this book scared the daylights out of me because it was so raw. Many people find this book to be 'warm' and 'hopeful' - guys, are we reading the same book? A book which is basically about a woman who exploits a man with a neurological condition just so she can have some love in her life and doesn't really have to give anything because he won't remember it anyway? That doesn't sound hopeful to me. The ending was definitely not hopeful. This book is sad and disturbing.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall . Top Story - June 2025.
It's May 2025 and the weather is pretty good. Whilst I'm writing this I'm eating nachos but what's new? There's some interesting stuff out on Kindle sales and so, I've been about. One of those books is called Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall. It's a true account of the cult perpetuated by the monstrous Warren Jeffs - a man who's evil cannot be put into words. If you've seen the Netflix documentary Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey then you probably know bits and pieces of what I'm talking about. Let's take a look at just what Elissa Wall has to say about this and, content warning: shit's about to get dark.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The House of Mirrors" by Erin Kelly
I have been trying to read more widely into my favourite genre to get a feel for all the different sub-genres in the air at the moment. I recently wrote an article entitled Everything is Cannibalism on the fact that there might be an issue with so many sub-genres within horror. But, it also ends on the note of perhaps splitting it off into sub-genres won't be that bad seeing as this means there'll be more experimenting going on within horror. It's a weird situation seeing as experimenting is good, but if everyone then starts writing one sub-genre because it's doing well, it becomes stale. In The House of Mirrors by Erin Kelly, I find we have two weird situations again: first of all, the book is pretty good in terms of plot and structure. However, unfortunately enough - I found the character of Alice to be not quite to my liking all the time.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
Strangers on a Train was Patricia Highsmith’s debut novel, first published in 1950. The story idea came to the author during her time working at a New York department store, where she found herself fascinated by strangers’ lives and the possibilities of anonymous interactions.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks