What are the best books of all time?
The answer is definitely a matter of opinion, but according to this list I have read 6 out of 100 of the best books of all time. Though I have not yet read Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. I think I will make it my number 7.
Recently, I finished Galapagos by the same author. Without giving away too much, this story is about the de-evolution of humanity. How our brains shrink over the course of a million years, and we become sea creatures. Vonnegut is very direct about his view that “big brains” are the root of all problems within society. He lays it on pretty thick, so much so that I felt like someone punched me in the heart at the end.
Underneath the general theme that we are all so completely messed up is a deeper message about the unique value of humanity.
You wake up late. Get a speeding ticket on the way to work. Find a note on your desk reminding you of an overdue report. But a co-worker brings you a coffee with a sympathetic smile and suddenly it’s all okay.
What goes on in the small circle of each individual life appears to go on in the larger sphere that we all share. With each misfortune (and all to frequently occurring tragedies), what happens when the dust clears is surprisingly enough to make it all worthwhile once more. Vonnegut presents this point as well as other insights into human nature so elegantly…Galapagos is worth a listen while you jog or mow the lawn.