I am looking for a book that will help someone find meaning in his life. It could be a philosophy/self-help book, novel, children's book, etc... The general theme should be redemption for past mistakes and an appreciation for personal achievements. Thanks! University (Between the Covers) Blue
Or better still, Homecare Planning For Your 14-Year old Knocked Up Daughter-Anton Lavey heretic...if you actually are a true believer in Stanism, please forgive. Or not, considering Lavey preaches the celebration of feelings, however solcially acceptable, and i have strong feelings about a guy that is fine with letting his daughter do whatever she wants as early as 10...
Just realized how off track and disrespectful of this thread that last post was, and i meant to put in a smiley face to show heretic I was not really serous, but to address the question at hand...Apologies, in all seriousness. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau...Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman...the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain...A Prayer For Own Meaney, by John Iriving...The Plague, by Albert Camus...The Russians are great at this sort of thing, but generally tomes, although Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago isn't as long... But if I had to pick just one, off the top of my head, which fits the criteris I think you're looking for, it would be The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera...a mix of romance, history, philosophy, discovery, pain, passion, and meditation. Should be just what you're looking for...but any of the above will do, in differeing wayd...If none of these seem to fit the bill, please let me know, I'll list more. Good Luck, for whoever is looking for meaning; there's nothing more important than that.
May I recommend the April 2003 issue of Playboy? Hunchback of Notre Dame is a nice story...kinda long winded though.
Thought about that, but it's more of a rejection of accepted meanings, and a questioning of reality than a discovery of meaning itself. Kasey was stoned, completely blitzed, while writing the 1st 3rd of the book, and it shows....Excellent, excellent read; counter culture bible, but I'm not sure that it's what UB was after.
I thought about it because of the coming to bloom of the many characters in the book. How they broke free from bonds that had held them down, learning to look at life in a different way. It is negative in several ways, but it also taught me about the ability of those who fear change, to face it and become better because of it.
Oh no, don't get me wrong...it's an excellent book, and very inspirational, but I feel that it's more about individual v society, the value of independant thinking, and the questioning of reality; all valuable discoveries, and as you say many characters 'bloom' in the process. I just feel that there are others more on the mark for what it sounds like UB is after, but then again your opinion is at least as valid as mine, and if it did for you what UB is asking, then Bob's your uncle. Peace JAG
Stan is our Master. All hail Stan. Stan is our Master. All hail Stan. Stan is our Master. All hail Stan.
Ishmael An adventure of mind and spirit by Daniel Quinn A really great read that will (hopefully) make even the most jaded person look at life and civilization from a different perspective.
Following up on MacBeth's Russian answer, if you have time for a tome, it's hard to beat The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. Simply an awesome piece of work. A good anthology of Kierkegaard might do the trick as well. Then there's the grandpa himself, Plato, who is not nearly as hard to read as most people think.
