Can you please look at this?

It might be like "the way they are."

I renew my plea for context.

Title of what? Andrew Clements' book of that name?

If so, it's a counterpoint to his previous book Things Hoped For. Some things hoped for never come to be as opposed to things that are, which have.

It's Amy Leach's book.

AnonymousWhat am I to understand when I see "things that are" as a title?

It's just a catchy title. I suppose she could not imagine a better one.

I think this is unfair. As far as I can tell (because I haven't read the book; just read about it), Things That Are is a collection of essays on the wonders of the natural world, which apparently actually exist and which you wouldn't believe actually existed unless someone like Amy vouched for their existence.

I think it just means things that are in the present, i.e. things that exist. So, maybe it creates an expectation about the qualities of those things in question. When we read the book, we'll be informed about them.

I think it means more than things that exist; it means things that surprise you that they actually exist.

AnonymousWhat am I to understand when I see "things that are" as a title?

I think the title causes you to question it, and makes you want to read the book. Did you read it?

AlpheccaStars I think the title causes you to question it, and makes you want to read the book. Did you read it?

No, I didn't. I just wondered what native speakers think when they see that title, because people also buy the book without knowing anything about its content, and I thought if this is the case, the title must convey something even without context.