How much of our identity is shaped by our environments? How much is intrinsic to who we are and beyond the control of external forces? These are ancient questions with complex answers. In this collection we've gathered texts that explore the issue of nature versus nurture from a variety of angles.
Publication year 2013
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Science / Nature, Sports, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine
The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance is a 2013 non-fiction book by David Epstein that investigates the role of genetics in athletics. The Sports Gene became a New York Times best seller and was nominated for the 2014 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. Epstein, an investigative reporter and a passionate runner, combines data from scientific research, interviews with experts, and biographies and anecdotes of individual athletes to paint a complex... Read The Sports Gene Summary
Publication year 1923
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships
Publication year 1981
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Relationships, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 1869
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Marriage, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Philosophy, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
The book-length essay The Subjection of Women was written in 1869 by John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher known for his progressive, utilitarian ideas. The essay includes four chapters and was published in London by Lonmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer publishers. The Subjection of Women is a persuasive argument, laying out the problem of women’s legal, marital, and societal oppression to show that gender equality is necessary to ensure social justice, improve societal progress, and... Read The Subjection of Women Summary
Publication year 1972
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Grandparents, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Grief / Death, Scandinavian Literature, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Business / Economics, Education, Science / Nature, Leadership/Organization/Management, Parenting
Publication year 1893
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Humor, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Satire, Race / Racism, American Literature
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science / Nature, History: World
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Parenting, Psychology
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Climate Change, Children's Literature, Animals
Publication year 1918
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Animals
Tags Lyric Poem, Religion / Spirituality, Animals, Victorian Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature
The Witch Elm (2018) is a psychological crime thriller by best-selling American Irish author Tana French. The story follows Toby Hennessy, who unearths harmful family secrets while salvaging his identity after a traumatic assault. A standalone novel separate from French’s award-winning Dublin Murder Squad series, The Witch Elm appeared on NPR’s list of best books from 2018 and the New York Times’s notable books of 2018. Other works by this author include The Trespasser (2016)... Read The Witch Elm Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science, Psychology, Music, Science / Nature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology, LGBTQ
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Objects, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Climate Change, Science / Nature, Finance / Money / Wealth
Publication year 1896
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Flora/plants, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Relationships
Publication year 1616
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Publication year 1978
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals
Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance