Books like Take the cannoli

A deadpan, deeply nerdy road trip through the weird, haunted, and hilarious corners of American culture. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Take the cannoli.

quirky
nostalgic
inquisitive
cynical yet affectionate

01
The partly cloudy patriot
Sarah Vowell
An anecdotal and reflective journey through the historical landscapes and cultural quirks of the United States.
Shares:
- inquisitive
- American identity
02
Assassination vacation
Sarah Vowell
A delightfully morbid and deeply nerdy road trip through the weirdest, darkest corners of American history.
Shares:
- quirky
- nostalgic
- wry
- deadpan
03
I was told there'd be cake
Sloane Crosley
A wry and hilarious celebration of well-intentioned haplessness in the modern city.
Shares:
- wry
- self-deprecating
04
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls
David Sedaris
A globe-trotting masterclass in finding the hilarious, grotesque, and surprisingly tender details hidden in everyday life.
Shares:
- wry
- self-deprecating
- observant
- family eccentricities
05
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
David Sedaris · 2004
A hilarious, sharp-tongued exploration of the inescapable, absurd, and ultimately endearing trap of family.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- wry
- self-deprecating
- observant
06
Trick Mirror
Jia Tolentino
A razor-sharp, dizzying plunge into the funhouse mirror of modern internet culture and millennial self-delusion.
Shares:
- wry
- sharp
07
Manhood for amateurs
Michael Chabon
A warm, wry, and deeply articulate exploration of the fumbling, beautiful mess of modern fatherhood and middle age.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- wry
- self-deprecating
08
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
Chuck Klosterman
A hyper-caffeinated, wildly entertaining deep dive into the profound philosophical truths hidden inside our trashiest pop culture.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- wry
09
Shrill
Lindy West
A hilarious, battle-tested manifesto for taking up space and refusing to apologize for it.
Shares:
- wry
10
The faraway nearby
Rebecca Solnit
A lyrical, associative journey through the landscapes of memory, illness, and the stories that bind us together.
Feels:
- introspective
- wintry
- expansive
11
Furiously Happy
Jenny Lawson
A wildly tangential, laugh-out-loud manifesto on fighting crippling depression with weaponized absurdity.
Feels:
- chaotic
- uplifting
- empathetic
12
Consider the lobster, and other essays
David Foster Wallace · 2005
A dizzying, hyper-articulate plunge into the absurdities and moral anxieties of modern American life.
Shares:
- inquisitive
- wry
- observant

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