We’ve all thought about it. Book lovers have made that imaginary list of which books they’d grab if all hell broke loose. But keep in mind that’s different than what you’d grab in a “normal” emergency, like say a fire. It’s completely different criteria. Have you noticed the last few years, right around 2000 C.E. to now, that there has been an overwhelming focus of end of the world scenarios in the global zeitgeist? (Fun word, zeitgeist. Say it…with a slight German accent. See? Fun!!) Is it because on some collective unconscious level we all sense something will happen? Or is it just influence from pop culture and media? Who cares! Let’s hop on that apocalyptic locomotive, relax in the dining car with some Soylent Green and have fun. I mean…if you can’t laugh at the end of the world, at least a little bit, then what’s the point?
So, here are my top five books I’d take in the event the world as we know it ends. (note: must be books a person actually owns in paper form, no electronic stuff, it’s the apocalypse!)
The Dhammapada – This is the closest thing we Buddhists have to a bible. It collects a large amount of the Buddha’s own words in verse form, covering nearly all aspects of life. Now, I’m not presumptive to think I will use this to single-handedly help reclaim humanity from the darkness …etc….etc. No, this is primarily for me, to help me follow the principles of Buddhism in horrible times. If others happen to take something from it, then that’s all the better.
The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes – This hardcover collects all 37 Sherlock Holmes stories and The Hound of the Baskervilles , all as they appeared originally in the magazine The Strange, complete with illustrations by the great Sidney Paget. If the end of the world hits, I want plenty of stories to keep me busy and this will do that very well. Also, Holmes stimulates my analytical & observant portions of my brain, which might be helpful. Finally, this book is very important to me because I LOVE Sherlock Holmes’ stories and this was a once in a lifetime find for me. I paid about $3 for it @ a used book store.
Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales – Anyone who knows me would not be surprised by this at all. Well…maybe only about why I didn’t choose Fahrenheit 451. In the event of the apocalypse, I think having a copy of it might be too little too late. That book is a forewarning; it does no good after the fact. Besides I’d like to hope I could remember the story from memory. Anyway…this collection has nearly all of Bradbury’s greatest short stories. Again, there’s lots of entertainment/learning/escapism to be culled from this book, in one phone book sized volume
Les Misérables – As of right now, I have not read this book. So, assuming the apocalypse comes, maybe I’ll have the time to finally read it all. It’s one of the greatest stories ever told. It’s as easy as that. :)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - This is a magnum opus, love letter to the golden age of comic books. There’s everything one could want in this tale of two Jewish immigrants creating comics & making it big, with; adventure, magicians/escape artists, romance, drama, war, tragedy & humor. I’d dare to say it’s a near perfect book. This would be a reminder of a more innocent, simpler time. It’s also a reminder of courage & strength when it pursuit of your dreams. It’s the story of America. I could easily read & re-read & read this again, never tiring of the true fictional legends behind our modern day mythology.
this is one of my favorite blogs you have ever done. making lists about books--it's so perfectly you. :)
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