Basically what the title says: Is there any fiction book you’ve ever read that has emotionally or intellectually connected with you so much it changed the way you viewed the world, changed the way you viewed yourself or changed the way you viewed life (your own or in general)?
If so…
- What book was it?
- Why did it connect so well with you?
- How did it make you feel?
- And how did it change you?
Just to emphasize, I’m solely asking about works of fiction here. So nothing like reading just an academic book on philosophy or a self-help book or something.
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
Even if you’re not religious (I’m barely so), there’s a lot in it that shows you how we often work against ourselves, our own interests, and our own happiness. Since reading it, I constantly find myself getting agitated, or selfish, or whatever other negative emotion, and I’ll remember something Screwtape said and see my own behavior/emotion in a more objective light. It really has quite a lot of “if you’re unhappy, you’re probably doing it to yourself” advice.
In case anyone is unaware, the book is letters from a senior demon to a junior demon on how best to tempt and torment “the patient”. Since they can’t DIRECTLY influence us, they use thoughts and internal monologues that they can influence in order to alter our behavior. For example, if you want to do something really good for yourself, your internal voice might say, “Yes, but I’m hungry now, and this is far too important to do on an empty stomach… so I’ll get some lunch first and THEN get started on this great thing” and then you have lunch, get satisfied, lose momentum, and never do the thing (that might have changed your life!).
The John Cleese narrated audiobook version is gold.
I love this quote from screwtape, “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts”
I love C.S. Lewis’s adult works! Have you ever read Til We Have Faces?