Obvious State Illustrated Pocket Books
Obvious State Illustrated Pocket Books
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Beautiful books for people who love words. Obvious State’s illustrated pocket editions bring poetry, philosophy, and classic literature together with striking artwork in a compact format made for reading, keeping, and giving.
Why they caught our eye
We choose books that offer something beyond a handsome cover. These editions invite you to revisit a favorite writer or discover someone new, whether you’re drawn to Austen’s wit, Dickinson’s poetry, or reflections on the natural world. Choose a title with someone particular in mind—or find one you’ll be happy to keep close.
Details
• Select your title from the menu
• One book per selection; books sold individually
• Illustrated paperback editions from Obvious State
• Poetry, literary selections, and philosophy
• Contents and page counts vary by title; see below
Explore the titles
Women Writers — Collected Works
Why they caught our eye
This is exactly the kind of anthology we like: beautiful, intelligent, and easy to dip into. It brings together poetry, excerpts, and observations from an impressive range of pioneering women writers in a compact illustrated edition that makes a terrific literary gift.
Details:
• Collection of poetry, excerpts, and musings by pioneering women writers
• Writers include Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Charlotte Brontë, Zora Neale Hurston, L. M. Montgomery, Mary Shelley, Willa Cather, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and more
• Paperback, 88 pages
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Publisher: Obvious State
• ISBN-13: 9781633300194
Jane Austen — Collected Passages and Quotations
Jane Austen’s sharp wit, romantic complications, and wonderfully observant prose come together in an illustrated collection of passages and quotations, arranged in six playful chapters.
Why they caught our eye
We love a book that is as enjoyable to give as it is to keep. This edition pairs Austen’s social satire with bold illustrations and beautiful typography, making it a thoughtful choice for a devoted reader or someone discovering her humor for the first time.
Details
• Selected passages and quotations by Jane Austen
• Six themed chapters exploring love, manners, self-knowledge, tea, neighbours, and novels
• Illustrated paperback, 96 pages
• Measures 4.5 × 6 inches; 0.25 inches thick
• Publisher: Obvious State, 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781633300309
On Nature — Collected Works
Poetry, excerpts, and reflections on the natural world meet bold graphic illustrations in this pocket anthology from Obvious State. Writers including Emerson, Thoreau, Wordsworth, Frost, and Rossetti consider the beauty and mystery of the world around us.
Why they caught our eye
This is a book to reach for when you want to slow down and notice more. Evan Robertson’s illustrations give familiar literary voices a fresh visual presence, making it a thoughtful gift for a reader, a gardener, or someone happiest outdoors.
Details
• Illustrated anthology of poetry, excerpts, and reflections on nature
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson, Obvious State cofounder
• Perfect-bound paperback, 84 pages
• Measures 4.5 × 6 inches; 0.2 inches thick
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Publisher: Obvious State, 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781633300217
Miles to Go — Robert Frost
Why they caught our eye
A small book with wonderful shelf and gift appeal. Nine beloved Frost poems are paired with crisp contemporary illustrations, making this an inviting introduction for a new reader and a handsome edition for someone who already loves his work.
Details:
• Includes 9 poems by Robert Frost
• Selections include “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” “The Road Not Taken,” “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” and “Birches”
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Pocket-size paperback
• Publisher: Obvious State
• ISBN-13: 9781633300033
Hope Is the Thing — Emily Dickinson
Why they caught our eye
Dickinson’s poetry lends itself beautifully to this intimate format. The pairing of her precise, quietly powerful words with modern illustrations makes this feel both literary and approachable—a lovely gift for a poetry reader or someone just beginning to discover her.
Details:
• Curated collection of poems by Emily Dickinson
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Giftable pocket-size paperback
• Publisher: Obvious State
• ISBN-13: 9781633300101
Dostoevsky’s Philosophy
Why they caught our eye
An ingenious introduction to Dostoevsky for readers who may not be ready to tackle one of the great novels—or a thoughtful companion for those who already know them. Twelve themes place competing passages and ideas side by side, capturing the tension and humanity that make his work so compelling.
Details:
• Explores 12 fundamental themes in Dostoevsky’s work
• Pairs competing quotations and passages from characters across his major works
• Includes 12 illustrations
• Paperback, 96 pages
• Pocket edition: 4.5 x 6 inches
• Publisher: Obvious State
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781633300293
Letters from a Stoic — Seneca (Pocket Edition)
Why they caught our eye
A beautifully compact introduction to Stoic thought. Seneca’s practical reflections on time, friendship, fear, integrity, discipline, joy, wisdom, ethics, and mortality still feel remarkably contemporary—and the illustrated pocket format makes this especially giftable.
Details:
• Selected collection of 12 letters by Seneca
• Paperback, 84 pages
• Pocket edition: 4.5 x 6 inches
• Illustrated by Obvious State
• Publisher: Obvious State
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781633300286
The Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
Why they caught our eye
An especially accessible way into one of the foundational works of Stoicism. This abridged edition organizes Aurelius’s reflections into twelve themes, giving the reader a clear path through his ideas while retaining the beauty and immediacy of the original.
Details:
• Illustrated, abridged edition of The Meditations
• Organized into 12 thematic chapters centered on Stoic principles
• Translation draws from Farquharson and Long with edits for clarity
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Publisher: Obvious State
• ISBN-13: 9781633300231
Most Absurd — Shakespeare’s Silliest Lines
Why they caught our eye
Shakespeare without the homework. This clever collection gathers his funniest stage directions, insults, oddities, and absurd observations, then gives them an equally playful visual treatment. A terrific small gift for readers, teachers, theater people, and the bard-curious.
Details:
• Collection of Shakespeare’s funniest lines, stage directions, insults, and observations
• Paperback, 88 pages
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Pocket edition: 4.5 x 6 inches
• Publisher: Obvious State
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781633300255
Song of Myself — Walt Whitman
Why they caught our eye
A beautifully approachable way to encounter Whitman’s exuberant masterpiece. This edition thoughtfully condenses the poem and pairs it with striking illustrations, preserving its sense of wonder while making it inviting for a modern reader.
Details:
• Abridged edition of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”
• Approximately one-third of the original poem
• Includes 27 illustrations
• Based on Whitman’s final version of the poem
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Publisher: Obvious State
• ISBN-13: 9781633300071
To Live Deliberately — Henry David Thoreau
Why they caught our eye
A handsome reminder to pay attention to how we live. Thoreau’s famous argument for simplicity, nature, and purposeful living feels remarkably current, and the illustrated format makes his ideas especially approachable.
Details:
• Visual reimagining of Thoreau’s essay “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” from Walden
• Includes 30 illustrations
• Paperback, 72 pages
• Pocket edition: 4.5 x 6 inches
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Publisher: Obvious State
• ISBN-13: 9781633300088
Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair — Pablo Neruda
Why they caught our eye
A classic poetry gift with real emotional weight. Neruda’s passionate poems of love, longing, and heartbreak are paired here with bold typography and illustrations, giving this famous collection a distinctive contemporary presentation.
Details:
• Poetry by Pablo Neruda
• Illustrated pocket edition
• Paperback, 96 pages
• Pocket edition: 4.5 x 6 inches
• Illustrated by Evan Robertson
• Printed in the United States on premium paper
• Publisher: Obvious State
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781633300125
