©2024 Fable Group Inc.
Blog

Books To Read When Reddit Is Down

Reddit Blackout Book Recommendations
The Reddit Blackout of 2023 has begun, leaving millions of Redditors looking for something else to read. Hundreds of major subreddits have gone private to protest Reddit’s changes to API pricing. Here’s more from the organizers: “We stand in solidarity with numerous people who need access to the API, including bot developers, people with accessibility needs (r/blind), and 3rd party app users (Apollo, Sync, and many more).”While your favorite subreddit might be dark this week, we’ve made some book recommendations inspired by the most popular subreddits. Click the links below to download any of these books on the Fable app. It’s the most literary solution to our empty feeds!

Reddit Book Recommendations

Whether you prefer fiction or nonfiction, novels or memoirs, fantasy or self-help books, there is a book for everybody on this reading list.While finding the perfect book for every subreddit, we used Fable Coach, a reading companion we created with artificial intelligence technology. When making suggestions, Fable Coach is guided by our core values. The editorial team constantly reviews Fable Coach’s posts to ensure they are accurate and appropriate.Here are the recommendations. How many have you read?
r/funny: “Bossypants” by Tina Fey
This memoir by the comedic actress is packed full of humor and wit. Fans of the r/funny subreddit will appreciate her one-of-a-kind writing. As a self-help counterpoint, you could try “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson. This book challenges readers to let go of their obsession with being happy all the time and embrace the difficult moments in life.For the fiction readers in the r/funny audience, try “Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It’s a humorous take on the apocalypse combining the powers of two great authors.
r/gaming: “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin
Fable’s Cameron Capello recommends this novel, the story of two video game designers who build a life-long friendship while navigating fantasy and science fiction story worlds in the games that they create.For a nonfiction deep dive into the gaming universe, try “Console Wars” by Blake J. Harris gives a detailed history of the battle between Sega and Nintendo.
r/aww: “How to Draw Adorable” by Carlianne Tipsey
At the r/aww subreddit, readers post adorable and heartwarming content. From lessons on cute proportions to charts of silly hairstyles and hilarious facial expressions, this book will teach readers how to create art that is happy, bright, expressive, and full of joy.If you want a novel in the same emotional territory, try “Legends & Lattes,” the literary equivalent of a warm hug from a friend. This fantasy novel shows us the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way.
r/pics: “Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton
This book is a collection of photographs and stories from the popular Humans of New York blog, pairing beautiful pictures with a mini-memoir of the person in the photo. People who appreciate great visual art gather at the r/pics subreddit and will love the artist’s striking imagery and the depth of emotion it captures.If you want to learn more about the art of photography, get a copy of “On Photography” by Susan Sontag. One of the most highly regarded books of its kind, the author called this landmark book “a progress of essays about the meaning and career of photographs.”
r/science: “The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution” by Walter Isaacson
This book nonfiction classic encourages readers to consider how technology can improve the world. Readers of r/science will appreciate the book’s insights into the history and future of computing.If you want to read about other kinds of science, try “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking for an introduction to cosmology or “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot for an enlightening woman about a woman whose cells revolutionized medical science.
r/Music: “The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century” by Alex Ross
The New Yorker’s music critic is the author of this book, encouraging readers to engage with music to understand society. Redditors on r/Music passionately discuss all kinds of music, and they will appreciate the book’s in-depth exploration of a century of musical innovation.Plenty of great short stories and novels are set in the world of music as well. Fable’s Cameron Capello recommends “We Sold Our Souls” by Grady Hendrix. It’s a spine-tingling horror novel that takes readers on an epic journey into the heart of a conspiracy-crazed, pill-popping, paranoid country that seems to have lost its very soul.
r/todayilearned: “A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived: The Stories in Our Genes” by Adam Rutherford
Rutherford writes an entertaining and informative look at the history of human genetics, challenging many common assumptions about human origins and diversity. Like the r/todayilearned subreddit, it takes an engaging and accessible approach to a complex subject.
r/art: “About Looking” by John Berger
This classic book explores our role as observers to reveal new layers of meaning in what we see. The r/art subreddit is filled with readers passionate about understanding and creating visual art, and they’ll appreciate this beloved nonfiction book.
r/books: “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan
My favorite subreddit is r/books, where millions of readers gather to discuss all things literary and pursue personal growth. I recommend “Welcome to the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan for this special place. This form-shattering novel will make anybody excited to read more literature. Skipping across time, space, and writing styles, this book feels a bit like browsing a series of brilliant Reddit threads.

Keep reading on Fable

The Fable app is built for social reading, with tools for sharing highlights, comments, insights, links, pictures, and videos as you read together. We also make it easy to launch your free book club. With our platform, you can host every aspect of an online discussion at a single destination to reach readers and build safe online communities regardless of location or time zone.
Start your own book club today!
You can also discover your new favorite book by exploring thousands of book lists on Fable. It’s easy to make your own list as well!
Make a great book list.
Just finished reading a book and have the urge to share your thoughts with the world? It’s time to write your review! You can also import your Goodreads reviews to your Fable account!
Rate and review your favorite books

Notification Icon
Fable uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB