250 Topics for Familiar Essays (Writing Suggestions)

250 Topics for Familiar Essays (Writing Suggestions) This list of 250 subjects for familiar essays originally appeared as an appendix to Essays and Essay-Writing, an anthology edited by William M. Tanner and published by the Atlantic Monthly Press in 1917. But dont let the date scare you away. While a few of the topics are musty (Our Ragtime Age) and some are a bit perplexing (Grooves and Graves), the majority of these topics are as timely (or perhaps timeless) as ever (The Shrinking Earth, Illusions We Live By, Our Nervous Age). Tanners brief introduction strikes an encouraging note: In no other form of prose composition is the selection of a subject so much a matter of the writers own choosing as in the familiar essay. Though adequate subjects can rarely be assigned by another person, it is possible that the student may find in the following list a few titles that suggest subjects of interest to him and within the range of his observation and experience. So remain open to these suggestions. Feel free to update a topicfor example, by turning telephone etiquette into email or texting behaviors. If youre puzzled by a subject, dont try to decipher what the author intended a century ago. Instead, take a few minutes to explore its possible meanings for you today. 250 Topics for Familiar Essays 1. On Discovering Oneself2. On Deceiving Oneself3. Epidemic Education4. The Pleasures of Loafing5. Favorite Antipathies6. On Wearing New Shoes7. The Penalty of Violating Convention8. First Impressions9. On Acquiring an Artistic Temperament10. A Model Obituary 11. Uses of Disagreeable People12. Keeping up Appearances13. The Psychology of Bargains14. People Who Make-Believe15. Conceited People16. Our Nervous Age17. Sophomore Apathy18. The Enchantment of Distance19. On Being Worth Knowing20. The Glory of the Commonplace 21. Mental Laziness22. On Thinking for Oneself23. The Necessity of Being Amused24. Mans Opinion of Himself25. On Giving Advice26. Silent Talkers27. My Ailments28. The Valor of Ignorance29. An Apology for Bores30. College Libraries as Social Centers 31. Judging by Appearances32. On Making Excuses33. The Pleasure of Escape34. A Word for Mediocrity35. On Attending to Other Peoples Business36. The Heritage of the Youngest Child37. Academic Snobbishness38. On Being Small89. A Defense of Day-Dreaming40. Leaders and Led 41. The Excitement of Having a Bank Account42. By-Products of Church Attendance43. Fashionable Tardiness44. The Penalties of Success45. On Looking Ones Best46. Cultural Immunity47. Personality in Apparel48. The Responsibility of Greatness49. On Recovering from Love Affairs50. The Passing of the Country Road 51. Mute Eloquence52. On Choosing Ones Ancestors53. The Psychology of Patent Medicines54. Helpful Enemies55. The Tyranny of Trifles56. Intellectual Alarm Clocks57. The Monotony of Student Life58. Table Manners59. On Holding Ones Tongue60. Dangers of Narrowmindedness 61. The Tendency to Exaggerate Misfortune62. Outgrown Opinions63. On Making Apologies for Oneself64. My TaskmasterDuty65. Talkers66. The Character of Horses67. Why the Dessert Course Last?68. On Being Introduced69. Running on Low Gear70. Etiquette for Ancestors 71. On Going Barefooted72. Cast-off Enthusiasms73. The Joys of the Country Cottager74. On Answering Advertisements75. Reflections While Shaving76. Shams77. Intellectual Inheritances78. The Imperious They79. On Knowing When to Stop80. Personality in the Handshake 81. Hairpins82. On Taking Oneself Too Seriously83. A Curse of Cleverness84. Living Caricatures85. On Repenting at Leisure86. Imitations87. The Joys of Procrastination88. Popular Fallacies89. Men Say90. Human Parasites 91. On Looking Wise92. Mechanical Pleasures93. Sponges94. On Waiting for the Postman95. Intellectual Pioneers96. Animal Resemblances in People97. The Pleasures of Quarreling98. Bird Music99. Victims of Charity100. On Being Misunderstood 101. Some False Impressions of Childhood102. Rivalry in Gift-Giving103. Faces and Masks104. On Posing for My Friends105. Seasonal Joys106. The Value of Disagreement107. The Pleasures of Living108. Garden Friends109. Animal Facial Expressions110. Automobile Society 111. On Outgrowing Ones Family112. The Abuse of the Imagination113. Humorous Blunders114. Getters and Receivers115. On Praying in Public116. Pleasures of Memory117. My Selves118. A Plea for Ghosts119. On Keeping a Secret120. Color Antipathies 121. The Art of Eating Spaghetti122. Pins or Angels?123. On Going to Sleep124. Human Blindness125. Dream Adventures126. Behind the Teeth127. On Riding Pegasus with Spurs128. Butterfly Fancies129. Present130. The Glamour of the Past 131. Chameleons132. On Being Good Company for Oneself133. Face Value134. The Monotony of Being Good135. Safety Valves in Student Life136. On Being Mentally Alert137. Company Manners138. Natures Spring Song139. Mountains and Molehills140. Old-fashioned Remedies 141. On Wearing Overshoes142. The Influence of Proximity143. Bristles144. Working Over-Time145. On Nursing a Grievance146. Family Expectations147. Mental Perspective148. Subway Scenery149. The Futility of the Practical150. On Making Up Ones Mind 151. The Responsibility of a Perfect Baby152. Domineering Ideals153. On Living in the Present (Future)154. Social Misfits155. Interesting By-Paths156. Temporal Halos157. Face Forward!158. Mental Vagrancy159. On Hugging a Conclusion160. An Apology for Polite Lying 161. Preparedness162. Gasoline and Onions163. On Stepping Aside164. Voices165. Late Arrivals166. Next!167. Mental Detours168. Watch Your Step!169. On Telling Jokes170. Epitaph Humor 171. The Winged Circle172. Spring Styles in Freshmen173. American Aggressiveness174. Natures Languages175. Earthbound176. On Advising the Almighty177. Mental Lapses178. Fashion Bondage179. Haunted Libraries180. The Humor of Cartoons 181. Wasting Time182. On Growing Up183. Beyond My Horizon184. Mental Shock-Absorbers185. After He Was Dead186. Successful Failures187. The Dilettante188. Humorous Dyspepsia189. On Becoming Ones Own Financier190. Conservation of Social Resources 191. Perfume and the Lady192. On Being Eye-Minded193. The Satisfaction of Being Well-Dressed194. Earth Odors195. The Life Urge in Nature196. The Shrinking Earth197. College Ethics198. The Triumph of the Machine199. Human Gadflies200. The Failure of Success 201. Social Eclipses202. Adventures While Pursuing an Idea203. Our Ragtime Age204. On Boasting of Weakness205. Discords206. Suspended Judgments207. Second Thoughts208. On Keeping Step209. Understudies210. The Vogue of Boredom 211. Smoke Wreaths212. Traveling and Arriving213. Echoes214. Screens, Past and Present215. Illusions We Live By216. On Losing Ones Grip217. Poppies218. Anvil Choruses219. Interesting Pathetic Fallacies220. Evidences of Humor and Joy in Animals 221. On Card-Indexing Ones Friends222. Gigglers and Growlers223. Too Much Momentum224. Mental Indigestion225. Diddling226. Female Orators227. Laughter as a Social Asset228. Personal Reactions229. Grooves and Graves230. On Taking Thought for the World 231. Blind Optimism232. Church Theatricals233. The Skimmed Milk of Human Kindness234. On Asking Why235. Canine Expressions236. On Seeing Ones Name in Print237. Backyard Gardens238. Curiosity in Chickens239. The Passing of Modesty240. On Going to War 241. Telephone Manners242. Nodding243. Social Protective Coloring244. On Arising to the Occasion245. Human Registers246. The Responsibility of Being Sane247. Acid Tests248. The Pleasures of Eating249. On Losing Ones Freckles250. Mental Precipitates