Short Books You Can ACTUALLY Read in a Day.

Summary

This video script offers a curated list of short books that can be read in a day, perfect for those seeking quick yet impactful reads. The speaker shares personal experiences with various titles, including classics like 'Of Mice and Men' and 'Animal Farm', contemporary fiction, and even plays. The emphasis is on the power of brevity in storytelling and the joy of discovering new authors or genres in a short time frame. The script also touches on the use of Skillshare for enhancing writing skills and the importance of exploring different literary forms.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker has an affinity for short books, especially when exploring new authors or not wanting to commit to a long read.
• 🕒 They believe that the books listed can be read within a day, differing from other 'one day read' lists that may overestimate the average reader's pace.
• 🎨 The 'Penguin Little Black Classics' series is highlighted for its successful presentation of short stories.
• 👤 'The Nose' by Nikolai Gogol is mentioned as an example of an absurdist short story that can be consumed in a day.
• 📖 The speaker appreciates short novels by authors like John Steinbeck, specifically mentioning 'Of Mice and Men' for its brevity and impact.
• 🐷 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell is recommended as a classic that can be read in a day and offers deep societal commentary.
• 👥 'Passing' by Nella Larsen is noted for its quick pace and introspective narrative, suitable for a day's read.
• 🐾 'Flush: A Biography' by Virginia Woolf offers a light-hearted and fluffy read from a dog's perspective, perfect for a day's enjoyment.
• 📚 The importance of brevity in storytelling is discussed, with the speaker's quest to find resources to write impactful short stories.
• 🎨 Skillshare is recommended as a platform for learning, with specific mention of a 'Writing Short Fiction' course that the speaker found helpful.
• 🔍 The script concludes with a discussion on the power of short stories and thrillers, with 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn suggested as a compelling read.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is a discussion about short books that can be read in a day, including the presenter's personal recommendations and experiences with various titles.

Why does the speaker have a special affinity for short books?

The speaker has a special affinity for short books because they are ideal for when they are in a particular mood, not familiar with the author, or do not want to commit to a longer reading session.

What does the speaker consider when evaluating if a book can be read in a day?

The speaker considers the book's length, the reading pace of an average reader, and whether the book can convey its intended message and be fully appreciated within a day.

Which publishing house does the speaker mention for honoring short stories effectively?

The speaker mentions Penguin Little Black Editions as the publishing house that has successfully honored short stories.

What is the title of the Nikolai Gogol's story mentioned in the script?

The title of the Nikolai Gogol's story mentioned is 'The Nose'.

What is the speaker's opinion on 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck?

The speaker considers 'Of Mice and Men' a powerful and impactful story that benefits from its brevity, allowing for fully crafted characters and a devastating story within a short time frame.

Which classic book by George Orwell did the speaker read in a day?

The speaker read 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell in a day.

What is the name of the short story collection by Miranda July?

The name of the short story collection by Miranda July is 'No One Belongs Here More Than You'.

Why does the speaker believe plays can be enjoyed like novels?

The speaker believes plays can be enjoyed like novels because they allow the reader to formulate imagery in their head, providing a more immersive and personal experience.

What is the speaker's recommendation for a thriller that can be read in a day?

The speaker recommends 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn as a thriller that can be read in a day due to its compelling narrative and desire to know the ending.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Affinity for Short Books

The speaker expresses a preference for short books, especially when exploring new authors or seeking a quick read. They highlight that while many 'books in a day' lists exist, they often overestimate the reading pace of the average person. The speaker aims to recommend books that can genuinely be read in a day, emphasizing the accessibility and enjoyment of short reads. They mention Penguin Little Black Editions as a publisher that excels in short story collections, giving examples like Nikolai Gogol's 'The Nose' and 'How Much Land Does a Man Need?' by Leo Tolstoy. The speaker also appreciates Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' for its brevity and powerful storytelling.

05:03

🔍 Reflecting on Storytelling and Skillshare

The speaker discusses the importance of storytelling and the elements that make a story successful and impactful, even in a short format. They share their experience with Skillshare, an online learning community, where they have been exploring writing short fiction. They appreciate the platform's 'learn by doing' approach and the structured learning paths it offers, particularly for mastering the skill of writing concise yet compelling narratives. The speaker also mentions a promotional offer for Skillshare, encouraging viewers to take advantage of the first month free with a provided code.

10:04

📚 Diverse Selections for One-Day Reads

The speaker provides a diverse list of books suitable for one-day reads, including contemporary fiction, classics, and non-fiction. They mention 'Lanny' by Max Porter and 'The Seas' by Samantha Hunt for their exploration of maturity and life's truths. 'MC' by Otessa Moshfegh introduces the listener to the author's distinct writing style. The speaker also recommends short story collections for their brevity and potential for weird and wonderful narratives, citing 'No One Belongs Here More Than You' by Miranda July. Non-fiction recommendations include 'Cockroaches' by Scholastic Mukanga, which tells of the Rwandan genocide.

Keywords

💡Short Books

Short books refer to literary works that can be read in a relatively short amount of time, typically within a single day. In the context of the video, the theme revolves around the enjoyment and value of short books, which allow for quick engagement with diverse authors and themes without requiring a large time commitment. The script mentions various examples of short books that are impactful and can be consumed in a day.

💡Reading Pace

Reading pace is the speed at which an individual reads and comprehends text. The script acknowledges that everyone reads at different paces, and while the speaker may be slightly above average due to their extensive book consumption, the video aims to recommend books that the average reader can realistically finish in a day.

💡Penguin Little Black Classics

Penguin Little Black Classics is a series of short books published by Penguin Books. The script praises this series for successfully honoring short stories and mentions that the speaker has had positive experiences reading several of these editions, such as Nikolai Gogol's 'The Nose,' which is described as an absurd and consumable story.

💡Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men is a short novel by John Steinbeck that tells a poignant story about friendship, dreams, and the harsh realities of the Great Depression. The script highlights this book as an example of powerful storytelling that can be read in a short amount of time, with its brevity contributing to its impact.

💡Animal Farm

Animal Farm is a classic allegorical novella by George Orwell that critiques power structures and the corruption of ideals. The script describes reading this book in a day, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary society and its status as a must-read classic.

💡Contemporary Fiction

Contemporary fiction refers to literary works set in the present day or near-present and often reflects current social issues or trends. The script mentions several contemporary fiction books that can be read in a day, such as 'Lanny' and 'The Seas,' which explore themes of maturity and life's truths.

💡Short Stories

Short stories are brief works of fiction that tell a story concisely. The script recommends short story collections as being readable in a day, especially if they are 'weird' or 'funky,' like Miranda July's 'No One Belongs Here More Than You,' which offers offbeat narratives.

💡Non-Fiction

Non-fiction refers to books that present real events, people, or information, as opposed to fictional narratives. The script notes that while non-fiction is often read over a longer period, some books in this genre, such as 'Cockroaches' by Scholastic Mukanga, can be read in a day due to their powerful storytelling and emotional impact.

💡Plays

Plays are dramatic works intended for performance, often consisting of dialogue between characters and stage directions. The script suggests that plays can be read like novels and enjoyed in a day, with examples given such as 'Bus Stop' by William Inge and 'August: Osage County,' which explore American life and family dynamics.

💡Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community offering thousands of classes across various fields, from film to illustration. The script mentions Skillshare as a resource that has helped the speaker with their writing and content creation, and it is offered as a recommendation for viewers looking to learn new skills, including writing short fiction.

💡Thrillers

Thrillers are a genre of fiction that aim to evoke suspense, excitement, and a sense of urgency in the reader. The script recommends 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn as an example of a thriller that, despite its length, can be read in a day due to the compelling need to discover its conclusion.

Highlights

The speaker has a special affinity for short books and finds them ideal for quick reads or when exploring new authors.

A list of books that can be read in a day has been compiled, emphasizing the accessibility for all readers.

Penguin Little Black Editions are praised for their successful representation of short stories.

Mikhail Bulgakov's 'The Nose' is highlighted as an absurd yet consumable short story.

The importance of brevity in storytelling is discussed, using 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck as an example.

George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is recommended as a classic that can be read in a day and remains relevant.

Nella Larsen's 'Passing' is noted for its quick pace and deep exploration of societal issues.

A biography of a Spaniel dog is mentioned as a light, fluffy read that's enjoyable in a day.

Skillshare is recommended as a platform for learning, including writing short fiction.

The power of short stories to convey complex ideas in a concise manner is discussed.

Miranda July's 'No One Belongs Here More Than You' is highlighted for its offbeat and funky short stories.

Non-fiction books like 'Cockroaches' by Scholastic Mukanga are recommended for their profound impact.

Ernest Hemingway's 'A Movable Feast' is suggested as a quick read offering a glimpse into the author's life in France.

The effectiveness of brevity in conveying powerful messages is exemplified by 'Darkness Visible' by William Styron.

Plays are recommended as a form of literature that can be read and enjoyed in a day.

Gillian Flynn's 'Sharp Objects' is suggested as a thriller that, despite its length, can be read in a day due to its gripping narrative.

The speaker invites viewers to share their suggestions for short books, emphasizing the community aspect of book lovers.

Transcripts

size does not

matter especially in the realm of books

I do have a special affinity for short

books I found myself picking up a short

book especially if it's an author that

maybe I'm not super familiar with or I'm

just in a mood and I don't feel like

engaging with a novel for over 30 hours

of my life so today I've compiled a list

of some great books that you can

actually read in a day that are for

everyone and the reason that I say there

for everyone is I see a lot of these

videos and I find them incredibly

commendable I think the creators are

fantastic that make these videos but a

lot of them are maybe a little bit more

than a day for

the average reader or slightly above

average reader we all read at different

Paces right I would consider myself

maybe slightly above average just

because I consume so many books but I

think the average reader sometimes a day

might really mean 5 days six days seven

days but these are books that I think

you can actually read in a day and get

the foundation of what the text is

really supposed to represent get the

realized version of the book so let's

get into it I would say my favorite

version of Classics or at least the

publishing house that I found has really

successfully honored these short little

stories is penguin little black editions

I've read about three of them and I've

had amazing experiences with them and

I've quite literally read them in

approximately what would be a day the

most recent one that I had read was

mikolai goal's the nose is a very absurd

story about a man who loses his nose I

did a play production of this story

basically very Loosely based on it took

place in the 80s and I said you got the

right girl because I look like the80s

threw up on me every single day of my

life so so but this was great totally

consumable didn't feel like it was

overwhelming whoever translated it did a

fantastic job and I love that I've also

read love to stoys how much land does a

man need in conjunction with another

story in that as well and I forgetting

the name both stories were fantastic

though and really just small concise

told you exactly what you wanted to get

out of it very lesson learning right

about greed you don't need much and

beautiful loved it fantastic

I've also read life of a stupid man by

rayun Kagawa found this on the side of

the road and it was love at first sight

especially the title it's all these

ruminations on what you can kind of do

better in life these roamings of the

mind and kind of unsettled versions of

yourself it's very kind of dark a little

bit Broody but very good very very good

very very good to kind of go into the

realm classic I guess we should talk

about a book or at least an author who I

really love my favorite book is over 500

pages but this author also is incredibly

successful in writing very short pros of

M Men by John Steinbeck Steinbeck has a

lot of small novels I haven't read

Canary row yet but I understand that is

a fantastic short novel as well I've

read the Wayward bus which is pretty

short but something that I would say

maybe takes a couple of days to read the

Moon is down is also incredibly short

but maybe a little bit more of daunting

material dealing with war and things

like this Of Mice and Men I'm rereading

it I mean I read it for like 15 minutes

this morning the brevity of it is what I

think makes it so powerful you can have

these fully crafted characters in such a

short amount of time and a truly

devastating story happened in such a

short time frame that the reader just

kind of feels like they've been fully

fed this is what oh my God

118 pages is the version that I have I

remember reading this in middle school I

think and it felt so long and arduous

but this is really just a perfect length

to show you the quality of great

storytelling I love it I mean come on

now another fantastic classic another

fantastic classic Animal Farm by George

Orwell I quite literally read this in a

day during Co I didn't get out of my

bathrobe I sat I festered I thought

about life I thought about pigs I

thought about Barnyard Antics and I

thought about how the world Works which

is basically what this book is about I

feel like everybody kind of puts this on

short book lists and it totally deserves

to be there this is one of my favorite

books I will probably reread this again

I brought this home from my parents

house because I wanted to reread it it's

Fant fantastic it's a classic like no

other and it continues to remain

relevant in today's society Nella Larson

passing this is a book that took me a

couple of days to read but I definitely

think the story is worthy of being read

in a day it's very very quick paced and

it kind of follows the guidelines of

exactly what you want out of a story it

was like a perfect diagnosis of how a

story should be written there's a

beginning there's a middle and then

there's this end and all of the

characters are showing you things about

yourself whether or not their story is

incredibly parallel to yours it's

showing you things about yourself and

things about society and things about

people and at the root of this this is a

great people story and uh really great

love it to kind of not be about

people flush this

is this is a biog

biography about a Spaniel dog and life

through his lens through his eyes and

how he is living this kind of

respectable life and then craziness

happens and he's his trajectories kind

of set off kilter it's all of the little

journeys of this dog I think it's a

funny way to read Virginia wolf without

it feeling too

existential and too difficult to maybe

comprehend in a day this is kind of a

light fluffy book that makes the reader

want to read more it almost seems like a

little ludicrous that it's a dog written

through that it's a dog that it's a a

story written through the perspective of

a dog but it's it's good it's great it's

fun it's light and I feel like sometimes

you need a light book that you can read

in a day cuz sometimes these ones get a

little depressing and you get you know

weighted down it's like you got a

Perpetual weighted blanket on you and it

hurts not in a good way you know going

through this list I kind of keep

thinking like what makes a successful

story what captures an audience what is

is the driving force of these characters

that can be so fully equipped to tackle

the story in such a short amount of time

and I was doing a little bit of research

of that on my own

and I was taking a course so I recently

started a patreon and I have been

wanting to kind of implement writing a

little bit more of my feelings my

thoughts and it's really hard it's not

hard but it's not the easiest thing to

do to kind of make that very brief and

still impactful in such a short manner I

have been kind of looking for resources

to make that dream become a reality and

I have found success in skillshare you

don't know what skillshare is it is the

largest online learning community with

thousands of classes led by industry

professional profs platforms across film

productivity illustration crafts Hobbies

tons of different things that you can

sink your teeth into skillshare is a

worldclass community that connects

teachers and members and members to

inspiration and feedback from

like-minded creatives it has a learn by

doing approach to teaching where each

member can create and share a project

after completing a class it's been

really interesting and fun has been

using their learning paths learning

paths are curated sequential class

collections to master a specific skill

or competence so that you know exactly

where to start your Learning Journey you

can save time searching skillshare has

curated high quality content in the

category of your choice so you have a

clear direction to achieve your goal the

one that I've been using is writing

short fiction I want to be able to write

something that does its job in a short

way but makes it successful and maybe

not even short fiction that I'm writing

but being able to use the instruments

that I found in this course and write

something that makes sense and captures

the audience without feeling like oh my

God this is this was a meeting that

could have been sent in an email sort of

thing so thank you so much to skillshare

as always for helping me make great

videos for teaching me so many things

about myself that I didn't even know

were possible and now hopefully you can

do that as well if you would like going

into the New Year have a new learning

path on your side great people over at

skillshare have offered me a wonderful

code the first 500 people to sign up

with a link in my bio using my code can

get the first month of skill share for

free maybe they can even teach you how

to do an Australian accent a successful

one cuz mine is sort of a little bit off

um I don't know if they have proper

classes for that but maybe you never

know you can find it

out oh boy so now we're going to get

into the realm of more contemporary

orary fiction fiction that I've

discovered in my reading that I was able

to read in a day or close to a day or

again a book that feels like you could

fully comprehend it in a day obviously

there's millions of books that are short

well not Millions but you know what I

mean there's tons of books that are

short that you could definitely read in

a day but these are ones that I have in

my collection or that I've come across

that I really like first one Lanny About

a Boy reaching maturity and a town kind

of ostracizing him but finding company

in the strangest of places I don't know

why I keep on doing this like a

newscaster or like a MSNBC late night

host what are the books that are fit for

one day enjoyment back in five it's a

great book I've talked about this a

million times before and I loved it in

that same sort of vein of maturity and

finding out the truths of life we have

the Seas by Samantha hunt definitely

read that maybe in a day maybe not I

don't know pretty close to that though

fantastic loved loved loved felt like a

little girl kicking my feet giggling

kind of but same sort of idea I also

have and it's not my favorite book by

any means but it's a book that I think

introduces you to the mindset of a very

famous author and somebody whose writing

I think is fantastic and that's MC Glo

by otessa mhag this is definitely like a

Nolla it's all about this sailor who

wakes up in mysterious conditions and

he's trying to kind of retrace and

understand how he ended up there I

didn't have an amazing time reading this

but I think it showed me the framework

from a mind that's doing fantastic

things on the page definitely read this

in a day 100% I also want to talk about

short stories I think a lot of short

story collections are readable in a day

especially if the short stories don't

take a lot of page

real estate I was trying to think of the

word I especially like if they're a

little bit weird I like if they're funky

and I'm like what are you going on about

absolutely what are you talking about

and when I think about what are you

talking about what's going on I think

about no one belongs here more than you

by Miranda July she's wild she's a wild

cookie girl cookie girl these short

stories are very offbeat very funky

makes you feel like you're in a little

bit of like a weird dream gift shop and

you're shopping for a candle that looks

like um I don't know some sort of

gecko you know what I mean though

they're leaning into the weirdness which

I appreciate and I feel like you're

constantly kind of trying to see if the

next story is going to top the last

story in this sort of inflamed weirdness

world that July crafts I think it's fun

doable in a day tons of short story

collections are obviously doable in a

day but that was just the one that was

jumping out to me uh and then we're

going to get into non-fiction I read a

lot of non-fiction and I like to take my

time with non-fiction so it's kind of

rare that I'll read a non-fiction book

in a day but there are some books that I

think you can read in a day and you can

be successful with them first of which

is oh God one of the best books I've

ever read in my entire life and I feel

like I don't talk about it enough on

this channel even though I probably do

but that is cockroaches by Scholastic

mukanga this is an author whose family

was trapped in the randan genocide and

she's taking the stories of her family

and talking about the horrors of the

wandon genocide and how everybody's

lives were affected how every single

person was touched by it and oh my God

this is a profound novel and something I

think every single person can read and

get something out of it's graphic it's

tough it's difficult but it's it should

almost be like required reading in

schools it's uh amazing amazing and you

can absolutely read this in a day maybe

it might be a lot of emotions coming on

to you reading this in a day so it might

be a very difficult day but definitely

doable in a day and you

can oh you can feel it you can feel it

fantastic fantastic novel a Movable

Feast by Ernest Hemingway definitely

readable in a day sassy sassy Hemingway

about his life living in France the

people that he encounters kind of these

short stories as well short Memoir

stories I would also say and this is

kind of like a little bit of a sadder

one so I'm sorry but this was a book

that I picked up at a time where I

wanted it and needed it the most by a

great author that I love and it's all

about depression dealing with depression

that is Darkness visible by William

styron wow fantastic fantastic fantastic

again dark difficult subject matter but

the novel is very short I think it's

what 84 Pages 84 pages but again it's

that argument of the power of brevity

and how much do you need to write in

order to convey a powerful message and

it's great it's great it's great it's

great it's great it's great it's great I

also have a special category and this

isn't going to be suggestions this is

going to be more of like a reminder that

these are things that can be read and I

think should have an appreciation to be

read and I'm a little bit partial

because I'm a performer but plays plays

and I know a lot of people don't really

know where to start but I think that if

you just pick up any play you'll find

something in it and yes plays are meant

to be performed yes yes yes I totally

understand that I hear you loud and

clear say it louder for the people in

the back but I find myself reading plays

and enjoying them a lot like a novel I

feel like maybe you can even extrapolate

on the imagery a little bit more because

so much is not described to you you have

to formulate it all in your head kind of

on the go so I just have a stack I don't

have like a huge Play Collection

actually the oldest boy which is uh my

friend's book which I should give back

to her by Sarah rule I did read this in

this moving exploration of Parenthood an

American mother and a Tibetan father

have a three-year-old son believed to be

The Reincarnation of a Buddhist llama

with the Tibetan llama and a monk come

to their home unexpectedly asking to

take their child away for a life of

spiritual training in India the parents

must make a life-altering choice that

will test their strength their marriage

and their hearts interesting I did read

this but I forgot what it was about bus

stop by William in this is the sort of

classic Marilyn story about h is you

know Kansas city in

America and uh you know how people were

living and shooting for their

dreams this also reminds me a lot of

wward bus by John Steinbeck Red Light

Winter oh my God this is one of my

favorite favorite plays it's a

three-person show and a girl running

away from her life in America and she

meets these she she runs off to

Amsterdam and works in the red light

district and she meets these two men and

kind

of as time goes on their stories

reconnect they lose touch but then they

reconnect and it's beautiful I love it

down Mount Morgan by Arthur Miller I

have this because I actually performed

in this I played a

17-year-old not now I love Arthur Miller

though I also can suggest uh small craft

warnings by Tennessee Williams as well

he just kind of older writers that I

think captured

these stages of grief and these stages

of trying to break away from the

structure of that time frame in American

history and it's beautiful beautiful and

then oh God we have August Osage County

oh man I love this story I love this

story I don't know what it is but a lot

of my plays are with kind of America

very American I have a strong desire to

play very American characters and this

is a very American story the movie is

fantastic as well all about family all

about family family

secrets so good so good so good that's

just some plays there's more that I can

suggest as well but these are just some

just some that I have physically and I

just wanted to talk about how I think

plays can be read in a day and be

enjoyed and you can just have a lot of

thoughts about plays you can just think

about stuff um

the

last book that I want to talk about and

really probably the only book that I've

read in recent years from this category

is Thrillers I think Thrillers 100% are

a category of book that you can read in

a day cuz your body just wants to know

the end they just want to know it's like

please tell me tell me what's going on

the book that I would suggest for this

is sharp objects by Gillian Flynn oof

what a book this is a great book again

all about family and secrets and a small

town and who done it kind of thing these

little girls go missing and it's so well

written it is a longer book but

something that you can read in a day I

think because you're going to want to

know the ending absolutely absolutely

highly

[Music]

suggest I talked a lot I'm so sorry

anyway thank you so much for watching my

short books let me know what books you

suggest as a short book there's a ton of

short books out there and I would love

to hear your suggestions these are just

mine these are the ones that came off

the top of my head but I would love to

hear other suggestions you guys are

wonderful you're fabulous thank you so

much for being here I have a patreon now

if anybody was wondering I'm going to be

posting exclusive content check it out

if you want to I highly suggest we're

having fun over there already we're

having fun you guys are wonderful you're

fabulous thank you so much for being

here

I will see you in the next

one