Do you remember the book or books that opened your eyes to life as it would be in another time, in another place, or as another person? According to this study, reading fiction increases a person’s empathy towards others. Books, and not only those of the fiction variety, can change our lives, transform our thinking, and inspire us to do amazing things. What are some of the books that have changed your life?
Although my list is too long to include in full, here are a few that have stuck with me:
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II,
Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl
whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain
her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well
as their neighbors.
Rohinton Mistry
A portrait of India featuring four characters. Two are
tailors who are forcibly sterilized, one is a student who
emigrates, and the fourth is a widowed seamstress who
decides to hang on. A tale of cruelty, political thuggery and
despair by an Indian from Toronto, author of
Such a Long Journey.
Marjane Satrapi
The great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor and the
daughter of ardent Marxists describes growing up in Tehran
in a country plagued by political upheaval and vast
contraditions between public and private life.
For more suggestions and personal stories, check out some of the titles below:
We would love to hear about the books that changed your life! Share your personal recommendations in the comments!
*Annotations courtesy of NoveList.