Kaveh Akbar is an Iranian-American poet acclaimed for his powerful and introspective poetry. His notable collections include Calling a Wolf a Wolf and Pilgrim Bell, exploring themes of addiction, faith, and identity.
If you enjoy reading books by Kaveh Akbar then you might also like the following authors:
Ocean Vuong writes poetry that feels intimate and emotionally honest. He explores family history, identity, migration, and queerness with vivid imagery and sincerity.
His collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds, blends rich language with moments of tenderness and powerful longing, making him a memorable poet for readers who appreciate Kaveh Akbar.
Saeed Jones’ poems often address race, sexuality, and identity in a direct, lyrical voice. He confronts the challenges of growing up Black and queer in America with clarity, passion, and vulnerability.
His notable work, Prelude to Bruise, packs emotional depth and intensity into each concise and skillfully crafted line.
Ada Limón's poetry feels warm, honest, and deeply human. She writes about life’s ordinary moments and emotional connections with clarity and gentle strength.
Her collection, The Carrying, beautifully mixes personal experiences and nature imagery, speaking to anyone who enjoys poetry grounded in emotion and authenticity.
Danez Smith's poetry is intense, resonant, and unapologetic. Smith examines race, gender, and politics with sincerity and powerful emotion.
The collection Don't Call Us Dead captures Smith’s talent for using vivid imagery and powerful language, creating poems that demand attention and leave an impression on readers.
Hanif Abdurraqib beautifully combines poetry, pop culture, and personal reflection. His poems have a conversational warmth, speaking directly to the reader about race, loss, music, and belonging.
In his notable book, A Fortune for Your Disaster, Abdurraqib thoughtfully explores love, heartbreak, grief, and resilience, capturing personal experiences in accessible and moving language.
Fatima Asghar blends poetry and storytelling with deep sensitivity, often addressing themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. Their book If They Come for Us mixes personal history with larger conversations about trauma, memory, and resilience.
Readers who find resonance in Kaveh Akbar's exploration of identity and emotional honesty will appreciate Asghar's intimate and bold voice.
Solmaz Sharif writes poetry that tackles the impact of language, war, and displacement. Her collection Look examines how language shapes perspectives on conflict, examining military terminology and official narratives with a critical, powerful clarity.
Like Akbar, Sharif's writing is thoughtful and charged with political insight, opening up conversations about personal and collective experiences of conflict.
Terrance Hayes is known for poems that combine inventive forms and vivid language to explore African-American identity, racism, and contemporary culture.
In his book American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin, Hayes uses the sonnet form to confront America’s troubled racial history. Those who connect with Kaveh Akbar's courageous stance on identity and societal issues will find Hayes's work equally moving and courageous.
Ross Gay writes poetry grounded in everyday wonders, joy, and connection, while acknowledging sorrow and vulnerability. His collection Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude focuses on gratitude and the small moments that give life meaning.
Readers who admire Akbar's capacity for hopefulness, warmth, and humanity in poetry will find similar comfort and inspiration in Gay's sincere expressions of joy and thankfulness.
Maggie Nelson creates work that blends poetry, creative nonfiction, and critical thought. Her book Bluets uses a mix of lyrical fragments and reflections to explore love, loss, and the color blue.
Readers who appreciate Akbar's poetic curiosity, intellectual depth, and openness will be drawn to Nelson’s thoughtful, original voice and unique literary structure.
Ben Lerner writes in a thoughtful, reflective style that often explores language and how we express our identities and experiences.
In his novel Leaving the Atocha Station, Lerner examines the uncertainty and self-awareness of a young poet abroad, blending sharp wit and sincere introspection.
Bryan Washington's writing captures everyday life honestly and clearly. He writes openly about family, identity, and belonging, especially within immigrant communities.
His novel Memorial explores the complex relationship between two young men in Houston, the tensions and tenderness of their intimacy, and the cultural differences that shape their connection.
Tommy Orange offers a lively and deeply affecting view into contemporary Native American lives. His writing tackles issues of identity, history, and resilience, with characters whose stories connect in surprising ways.
In There There, Orange follows multiple characters as they head toward a powwow, each carrying their own sense of loss, connection, and hope.
Elif Batuman blends humor, curiosity, and insight into stories about coming of age and self-discovery.
Her novel The Idiot portrays a young woman's early years in college, her exploration of love, language, and identity, with a sharp eye for human comedy and awkward truths about young adulthood.
Rachel Kushner combines powerful storytelling with a clear exploration of society and inequality. Her novel The Mars Room follows a woman's life in prison, revealing the realities and struggles faced by incarcerated women through raw emotion and penetrating social observation.