Reading Series
The Big Picture
The overview books from across the library.
These books introduce a whole subject before the individual stories begin. Every title also belongs to its own Series.
14 booksThere’s no required order. Start wherever you want.
In this series
Browse all books- 01humanity.exeHuman history at full speed, from the Big Bang to the 2020s, with the recurring code behind empires, money, nations, collapse, and power exposed along the way.2 hr 58 min read
- 02The Human ConditionA neuroscience-grounded exploration of why human existence feels so difficult, stripping away romanticism to reveal the biological machinery behind love, pain, memory, and identity.48 min read
- 03The Drug BookA poetic field guide exploring psychoactive substances through personal narrative, cultural context, and the altered states they produce.53 min read
- 04
Pantheon IA deep dive into the gods of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia—from Horus and Isis to Inanna and Enki—exploring divine power, mythology, and what these deities reveal about humanity's oldest civilizations.1 hr 58 min read - 05
BelieversA poetic journey through seven major world religions, told not as doctrine but as shared human longing for meaning.23 min read - 06
The Cult PlaybookA systematic breakdown of what all major cults—from Jonestown to NXIVM—have in common, exposing the universal playbook of manipulation used by charismatic leaders.35 min read - 07
The ThinkersA wild, irreverent tour through history's greatest scientific minds—from Tesla's pigeon talks to Galileo's church-defying telescopes—told like your coolest friend is explaining genius over coffee.1 hr 3 min read - 08
What Is Money?A sweeping history of money from ancient barter to fiat currency, exploring how value, trust, and power shape what we call wealth.31 min read - 09
In Crust We TrustPizza's trip from ancient flatbread to immigrant food, delivery empire, frozen aisle, cartoon icon, regional argument, and global comfort ritual.34 min read - 10
The Borders BookA sardonic journey through how modern national borders were carved out of empires by mapmakers, warlords, and colonizers who drew terrible lines across continents.1 hr 23 min read - 11
Echoes of PowerThirty-seven legendary rulers and conquerors who forged empires through sheer force of will, from Cleopatra to Genghis Khan to Shaka Zulu.1 hr 13 min read - 12
The CrownAn exploration of monarchy, power, and the symbolism of royal authority through history.Short book - 13
The PresidentsA witty, irreverent tour through American presidential history that treats each commander-in-chief as a flawed human rather than a marble monument.1 hr 38 min read - 14
TyrantsA psychological exploration of how childhood wounds and trauma transform individuals into history's most destructive tyrants.21 min read