My Favourite Books
On the Road
"Anonymity in
the world of men is better than fame in Heaven" - Sal Paradise
Jack
Kerouac's masterpiece about life on the road. A semi-autobiographical work, it
follows the adventures of Sal Paradise, a budding young writer and his crazy
friend - Dean Moriarty. A book that marked the birth of the Beat generation,
and inspired millions, it is a must-read for all book lovers.
Ulysses
"A man of
genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of
discovery."
This
book is Joyce's attempt to create a fictional everyman to rival the classical
figure of Homer's Ulysses. The book employs the now famous "stream of
consciousness" method that I find utterly fascinating.
The Lord of the Rings
"All that is
gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by
frost."
J.R.R
Tolkien's trilogy is by far the most beautiful fantasy novel that I have ever
read! Every time I read it, I wonder at just how beautiful it is. Those who
have seen the movies and think of it as just another action adventure will
definitely change their minds if they read it. Brilliant!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy
"Please
relax," said the voice pleasantly, like a stewardess in an airliner with
only one wing and two engines, one of which is on fire, "you are perfectly
safe."
My
boss thought I was brilliant when he came to know that I read Tolkien and
Douglas Adams . Need I say more? Jokes apart, Douglas Adams' book is hilarious,
to say the least, and very imaginative.
Notes from Underground
"I am a sick
man. ... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. I believe my liver is
diseased"
Probably
Fyodor Dostoevsky's most definitive work, this book is about the Underground
man who gains a deep understanding of human imperfection. I was still at
college when I read it and this book continues to be one of the major
influences in my life.
Thus Spake Zarathustra
"When
Zarathustra was alone...he said to his heart: 'Could it be possible! This old
saint in the forest hath not yet heard of it, that God is dead!"
This
a book by Friedrich Nietzsche - my most favourite philosopher. Weary of his
wisdom, Zarathustra decides to spread it amongst his fellowmen. This book
introduces Nietzsche's influential, well-known, and misunderstood ideas
including the "overman" or "superman" and the "will to
power." It is also the source of Nietzsche's famous, and much misconstrued
statement - "God is dead."
