Rubicon - Tom Holland

Title:

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic

Author:

Tom Holland

Year:

2003

Country:

England

Themes:

The actions of any one man can have large impacts upon a nation

The desire for personal glory can prove to be fatal

The intense personal rivalries that exist between men

Synopsis:

The story of how the Roman Republic was destroyed by greed, pride, and grandeur.

Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain

Title:

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

Author:

Anthony Bourdain

Year:

2000

Country:

America

Themes:

The road to success is long and hard

Things aren’t always what you expect behind the scenes

The best satisfactions in life are those that are pure

Synopsis:

The story of Anthony Bourdain’s life and career in the restaurant business.

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

Title:

The Metamorphosis

Author:

Franz Kafka

Year:

1915

Country:

Austria

Themes:

The pain of being a burden upon one’s family

The contempt that can develop when being troubled by another

The internal problems that can drag a family down

Synopsis:

The story of a man who wakes up to discover he has transformed into a giant insect.