Books
I like talking about books. Books, especially well-written ones, are complex and detailed thoughts, with rich and fertile ground for discussion. A single-paragraph can be interpreted in so many ways, that at best, discussing it is an exercise in inventiveness. But a book gives each paragraph a context, and grounds it in reality.
The following is a list of books that I’ve read, and will be happy to discuss.
(a very partial list, of course, in both meanings of the word)
1984
An extremely chilling story, warning against a dystopic authoritarian future, heavily inspired by the communist and fascist regimes that Orwell experienced in person.
The thing I like most about Orwell, is that he tells the unvarnished truth, even when it’s ugly, harsh, or pathetic.
The Left Hand of Darkness
What would the world look like if our biology was different? It’s fun to think about.
Ender’s Game
A kid gets gaslighted to take the blame for xenocide.
Of course, space combat and aliens are very fun, but I actually really connected to the story on an emotional level.
Speaker For The Dead
A sequel to Ender’s Game, and in my view it’s the best one in the series.
Extremely philosophical, but also touching, and poses big questions about life.
Foundation series
How would you engineer a new society? How does civilization come about? It’s fun to think about.
Stranger in a Strange Land
Can thought truly free us of all our shackles? Or are we earth-bound without redemption?
Flowers For Algernon
Is intelligence a blessing or a curse?
Catch-22
A clever parody that encapsulates the very essence of the experience of army service.
Jane Eyre
Whimsical, philosophical, and optimistic. We should all strive to be a little more like her.
War and Peace
Who really has the power, the leader or the people?
How much of our understanding of history is real, and how much of it is wishful thinking?
One of those books that make you pause and think. (unfortunately, it gives you plenty of space to pause)
Brave New World
Is it worth losing a part of what makes us human, in exchange for being happy?
Huxley describes what I consider as “the best of all possible dystopias”, and takes a cynical but refreshing view of the march of technology.
Don Quixote
The true, complete, and most entertaining history of the illustrious Knight Of The Sorrowful Face, and his upright squire, detailing their quest for eternal glory and governable insulas.
While most famous for fighting windmills in pop-culture, I feel this book is actually an ingenious hyperbole for the madness of man, when faced with the inherent meaninglessness of existence. Even though it was written in 1605, at times it reads almost like a contemporary postmodern novel, with a lot of self-awareness and subtle sarcasm.