BOOK REVIEW : HOW TO STAY SANE IN AN AGE OF DIVISION

 

"The moment we stop listening to diverse opinions is also when we stop learning. Because the truth is we don't learn much from sameness and monotony. We usually learn from differences."

How to stay sane in an age of division, is the most fascinating short book written by Elif Shafak.

A must-read book of only 90 pages pocket-sized book with big think.

Elif Shafak poured wisdom, knowledge, and information into this small book. It is a great read for people, especially in this pandemic situations, where Covid 19 controlling our life.

Elif Shafak precisely talked about big topics like politics and culture, discriminating anger, apathy, suffering, wisdom, knowledge, endless feeling of an identity crisis, loneliness, inner peace, inter-connected wires in humans, and much more.

"We live in an age in which there is too much information, less knowledge, and even less wisdom. That ratio needs to be reversed. We definitely need less information, more knowledge, and much more wisdom."

Her style of writing is friendly like a wise friend or teacher is talking with us (readers), from beginning to end, reading enjoyment continues.

She wanted to show us how technologies and the modern world ruined our lives. We destroyed our lives with our desires and needs.

"It seems to me, more and more, we are pain, and hurt, and loneliness covered with skin."

She put many examples on the table for the reader to understand and relate to life. Elif Shafak unfolds the bitter realities as well, especially the Facebook and Like was a reflection of what we modern people are doing.

"We must strive to become intellectual nomads, keep moving, keep learning, resist confining ourselves in any cultural or mental ghetto, and spend more time not in select centers but at the margins, which is where real change always comes from."

The style of writing is soothing, readers feel that they are talking and discussing things with the writer directly.

One of the most important things, that is captivating for readers to unstoppable read, is the writer's art of storytelling. She told us the importance of storytelling and art in our lives. 

 "Stories bring us together, untold stories keep us apart."

She also talks about storytelling by telling her own memories and short stories. She told us how stories connect us together. Stories work like glue in our stories, they attached people.

"When you feel alone don't look within, look out and look beyond for others who feel the same way, for there are always others, and if you can connect with them and with their story, you will be able to see everything in a new light."

She passed optimistic thoughts to readers. There are many quotations in the book, which are thought-provoking. Therefore, one must read to enjoy and get as much as possible from such a genuinely written book.

"A human being, every human being, is complicated - layers upon layers of ideas, feelings, perceptions, recollections, reactions, desires, and dreams. By placing us into boxes they are denying us our own truth. By placing others into boxes we are denying them their own truth. And so it goes."

One of my favorite quotes from this book,

"Knowledge requires reading. Books. In-depth analyses. Investigative journalism. Then there is wisdom, which connects the mind and the heart, activated emotional intelligence, expands empathy. For that, we need stories and storytelling."

Worth reading for the reader where time is invested instead of wasted.

Highly recommended to everyone. 

P.S Don't read it in one go, if you are reading it in pdf. Because I read in one go yesterday, the whole day. Later I got a severe headache, because of my week eyesight. That's how my curiosity goes. But I enjoyed reading it. 😜😎