Angle of Repose is a novel by Wallace Stegner that weaves together the stories of two couples living a century apart. It explores themes of love, betrayal, and the quest for independence through the lens of a historian, Lyman Ward, who delves into his grandparents' lives in the American West. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1972 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest novels about the American West.
Bleak House, published in 1852-1853, is a novel by Charles Dickens that revolves around the Jarndyce family and their entanglement in the interminable lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The story highlights the inefficiencies and injustices of the English Court of Chancery, as well as themes of family secrets, blackmail, murder, and social critique. The novel follows Esther Summerson, who becomes the guardian of two other wards, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, and their lives as they navigate the complexities of the lawsuit and personal secrets, particularly those surrounding Lady Dedlock and her past. The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of Victorian England and its critique of various social and legal institutions of the time.
Montaigne's *Essays* are a seminal work that introduced the essay as a literary form. The book is a personal and introspective exploration of various subjects, including the human condition, skepticism, and the importance of concrete experience over abstract learning. Montaigne's skepticism is reflected in the title *Essais*, meaning 'Attempts' or 'Tests', indicating a project of trial and error and tentative exploration. The essays cover topics such as the education of children, the role of the body, illness, aging, and death. Montaigne's writing style is characterized by multiple digressions, anecdotes from ancient and contemporary sources, and quotations that reinforce his critical analysis of reality[2][5][4].
In this book, Joseph Weizenbaum critiques the increasing reliance on computers for decision-making and argues that computers lack the human qualities of compassion, wisdom, and moral judgment. He discusses the limitations of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that computers are deterministic machines that cannot initiate actions or make ethical decisions. Weizenbaum warns against the misuse of computer technology in critical areas such as life-and-death decisions and advocates for a more balanced approach that leverages human intuition and initiative alongside technological advancements.
In this book, Bob Dylan offers his unique insights into the nature of popular music through essays on 66 songs by other artists, ranging from Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello. The essays are written in Dylan's distinctive prose and include poetic introductory segments and more conventional essay portions. The book is not just about music but also meditations and reflections on the human condition, incorporating nearly 150 carefully curated photos and dream-like riffs that add to the work’s transcendence.
The Audio Long Read 
