Do they really teach us? This dangerously crazy bibliophile keeps encountering people who do not really believe in the concept of bookish knowledge. Here, I am not talking about technical books; but those of a different variety: non-fiction, fiction, pulp fiction, philosophy, etc. So, coming back to the most important question of all - Do they really teach us??
There are a plethora of books available on personality development. What exactly does personality development promise? Then, there are those fiction-cum-philosophical books like those of Paulo Coelho, Ayn Rand, etc. It must be mentioned here that each author/authoress tries to impress his/her views in the book. And mostly, those are of an entirely personal nature. For. e.g. let me take the example of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. There is a clear divide among the people who have read it. Either they are dangerously crazy or they belong to a category that treats it as another simple story. What could be the reason for differing points of appeal for the same story? Ayn Rand's fleeing from Russia and abhorrence for Communism would explain her pro-capitalist leanings. I like her philosophy in parts. I cannot completely agree with her. That's the fundamental problem. You often do not agree with "everything".
I believe that the man's life shapes what he believes in. The Alchemist is a highly motivational one and infects you with an amazingly positive enthusiasm and zest for life. But then, would a person whose dream has failed like it at that instant of his life? Definitely not.
Books address so many issues, that one cannot possibly fathom. When it comes to religion too, there are books written by atheists and those by believers. More often than not, the book carries that strong flavour of religious inclinations too. Thus Spake Zarathustra and Brothers Karamazov are such examples.
So, a reader would obviously get confused with such differing facts and equally convincing arguments. What then is the solution?
Take what you believe in. If it appeals to you, then go ahead and embrace it. At times, you might need to be a non-conformist. The society needs to be given respect where due.
There are times when conforming to the rules of the society seems to be a bottleneck or hindrance. As we grow up, we begin to closely associate more with certain values and beliefs. So, discarding whatever doesn't appeal to us seems to be the solution. But then, we must never discard without reason. Tolerance and respect for another's opinion, even when it glaringly clashes with yours, is the key.
Compare these books with those simple children's books - Say Enid Blyton/ Tintin/ Asterix/ Tinkle/ Chandamama,etc. Those very books seem to be vibrating with a pure and divine energy; where characters are as human as possible; where people are known to make mistakes and importantly learn from them, etc. Well, they are wonderful companions for children during one of the most beautiful phases of life - that sweet innocence of childhood!
Well, life without books; almost impossible and umimaginable.
There are a plethora of books available on personality development. What exactly does personality development promise? Then, there are those fiction-cum-philosophical books like those of Paulo Coelho, Ayn Rand, etc. It must be mentioned here that each author/authoress tries to impress his/her views in the book. And mostly, those are of an entirely personal nature. For. e.g. let me take the example of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. There is a clear divide among the people who have read it. Either they are dangerously crazy or they belong to a category that treats it as another simple story. What could be the reason for differing points of appeal for the same story? Ayn Rand's fleeing from Russia and abhorrence for Communism would explain her pro-capitalist leanings. I like her philosophy in parts. I cannot completely agree with her. That's the fundamental problem. You often do not agree with "everything".
I believe that the man's life shapes what he believes in. The Alchemist is a highly motivational one and infects you with an amazingly positive enthusiasm and zest for life. But then, would a person whose dream has failed like it at that instant of his life? Definitely not.
Books address so many issues, that one cannot possibly fathom. When it comes to religion too, there are books written by atheists and those by believers. More often than not, the book carries that strong flavour of religious inclinations too. Thus Spake Zarathustra and Brothers Karamazov are such examples.
So, a reader would obviously get confused with such differing facts and equally convincing arguments. What then is the solution?
Take what you believe in. If it appeals to you, then go ahead and embrace it. At times, you might need to be a non-conformist. The society needs to be given respect where due.
There are times when conforming to the rules of the society seems to be a bottleneck or hindrance. As we grow up, we begin to closely associate more with certain values and beliefs. So, discarding whatever doesn't appeal to us seems to be the solution. But then, we must never discard without reason. Tolerance and respect for another's opinion, even when it glaringly clashes with yours, is the key.
Compare these books with those simple children's books - Say Enid Blyton/ Tintin/ Asterix/ Tinkle/ Chandamama,etc. Those very books seem to be vibrating with a pure and divine energy; where characters are as human as possible; where people are known to make mistakes and importantly learn from them, etc. Well, they are wonderful companions for children during one of the most beautiful phases of life - that sweet innocence of childhood!
Well, life without books; almost impossible and umimaginable.
3 comments:
There is a clear divide among the people who have read it. Either they are dangerously crazy or they belong to a category that treats it as another simple story.
Happened to finally read about this alchemist's soul of the world just days ago. I wish I had thought myself as someone dangerously crazy !! Books like these can sometimes talk what you want to hear - like say, astrological predictions.
"As we grow up, we begin to closely associate more with certain values and beliefs. So, discarding whatever doesn't appeal to us seems to be the solution. But then, we must never discard without reason. Tolerance and respect for another's opinion, even when it glaringly clashes with yours, is the key."
However, reason as you call it, is different for different people, its rarely as simple as black and white, there is a lot of grey in between. What does one do when he encounters the grey ? I have rarely seen books that bring out this grey, an author usually has his opinion of right or wrong and that is what he presents in a book. Real life is not like that. So even though you dont conform to the authors views , a book gives you an opportunity to atleast know them.
H: Great that u finally managed to read that book. Everything happens at the right time. Do let me know your opinions on the book.
Nitin:
"However, reason as you call it, is different for different people, its rarely as simple as black and white, there is a lot of grey in between. What does one do when he encounters the grey ?"
Authors are infact impressionists who try to impress their views on the readers. It is perfectly true that there is that region called grey, which proves to be often enigmatic, more opaque than transparent, etc; in between the two pure shades of black and white.
This was precisely what I had intended to convey. Act like a prism or a sieve. It is better to define our own philosophy system; what we closely relate to and believe in - from the ones floating around us, courtesy the books, movies, net, etc
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