Week 4 (November 21-25): Worldview Changers
with Rebekah at She Seeks Nonfiction
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Week 4 (November 21-25) - Worldview Changers: One of the greatest
things about reading nonfiction is learning all kinds of things about
our world which you never would have known without it. There’s the
intriguing, the beautiful, the appalling, and the profound. What
nonfiction book or books has impacted the way you see the world in a
powerful way? Do you think there is one book that everyone needs to read
for a better understanding of the world we live in? (Rebekah @ She Seeks Nonfiction)
Marx, Karl; Engels, Friedrich "The Communist Manifesto" (GE: Das kommunistische Manifest) - 1848
I don't think some people want their worldview changed. There are many books that can change your view, your understanding about how things work. But if people would read The Communist Manifesto without thinking Soviet Union, oppression, etc. but with an open mind as to what we can do for each other, maybe Karl Marx' wish would come true:
"Then the world will be for the common people, and the sounds of happiness will reach the deepest springs. Ah! Come! People of every land, how can you not be roused."
Maybe think Scandinavian, they are the closest to the beliefs of Marx and Engels and they are the happiest people in the world.
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For more information on Nonfiction November check here.
I keep meaning to read the Manifesto. Maybe next year as part of my aim to read 10 classics?
ReplyDeleteI've read it three times and definitely would not call it a classic. A world-changer, yes....like Mein Kampf in that regard. ;-) (The first time I read it was to read world-changing books, the following times were for classes in modern European history and sociological theory.)
DeleteIn response to the original question, I suppose if I could make everyone read one book...it would be....Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death", which has only become more relevant with every passing year. That, or Alain de Botton's "Consolations of Philosophy"., which taps into Seneca, de Montaigne, etc to see what we can learn from them....and from the inquiring life in general.
Who knows, Kitten. I definitely recommend it, otherwise it wouldn't have appeared here.
Delete@Stephen. It depends what you call a classic. For me, it's a book that has a certain age, in my case I usually tend to go for more than a hundred but that might be due to my age, others call books a classic when it's only fifty years old. In that respect it definitely is a classic. And - it still is read and widely spoken of. So, I don't know why you wouldn't call it a classic but that's up to you.
DeleteI think I read something by Alain de Botton but I can't remember what it was. I only remember that it didn't make a huge impression, otherwise I certainly would know more about it. But, I might go and have a look for this one. Thanks.
It's an interesting question. One book that everyone needs to read to understand the world better. Your suggestion is not one that I would have thought of, but it's an interesting one to think about. I would probably have picked a more religious book.
ReplyDeleteI only just found this in my spam folder, sorry, Lark.
DeleteI think a lot of people think differently on this question. And I know many picked religious books but in my opinion that might make you understand yourself better but not today's world. There is so much hatred in this world, often disguised under the religious cloak, understanding other people's suffering and the willingness to share and not just greedily picking what people think is rightfully theirs might be better understood through people like Marx than through the bible, the qu'ran or similar books.
There are certainly tenets of communism I agree with, though I only have a cursory knowledge. Thanks for sharing your recommendations.
ReplyDeleteGulag Archipelago is a great book to learn more about what people can do for one another under communism.
DeleteThank you, Shelley Rae. There is a lot any person would agree with, not what they did with it but the original idea.
Delete@Anon. I totally agree though that is not about communism but Stalinism and what the Russians did with.
I have not read it, but can imagine it is a life changer. I think it might be somewhat misunderstood since it is, for many people, connected to communism. It would certainly be interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't as much a huge mind changer for me, Lisbeth, since I have read other books about it and always liked the idea of the original and true communism, not what the politicians in certain countries did with it. But I would like to see what people who only have negative connotations with what they think after they read about the original idea.
DeleteNeat choice! It definitely was a good idea, before things went wrong
ReplyDeleteYou mean, before people changed the meaning of the whole concept? Definitely, Emma. It still would be a great idea if we didn't have to deal with people.
DeleteI love this category because you're right: there ARE books out there that can change our worldview, if we'll be open. Thanks for sharing these recommendations.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Lisa. And I found some wonderful recommendations by other bloggers, that's the greatest beauty of it.
DeleteIt's a book that definitely changed the world! And I have heard before that the way things worked out in reality was not actually in accord with the book. One really does need to read those original texts in order to understand history better (and maybe the future).
ReplyDeleteMany good ideas get shattered by people who only see their own profit. Karl Marx certainly didn't but most leaders in today's communist countries do.
DeleteAnd I also think, the more people read about anything, not just form one side, the more they will understand what is really going on in this world and try to help. Readers For a Better World!