We are living in a volatile world. And while we have always known that in the back of our minds, with increasing wars and hate crimes throughout the world, what has happened in Nepal this week has been a stark and ugly reminder of the fact. I, like most millenials, can’t make sense of what’s happening. Conversations with family and friends help but since we are all struggling to understand what’s going on and how humans can be so brutal and commit such horrifying acts, sometimes we all get sucked into a deep well of melancholy from where there is no getting out.
When this happens, as a reader, it’s only natural for me to turn to books and recommend books to those around me as well. I also find myself actively seeking recommendations from friends too. It’s interesting to know what books they turn to when they find themselves lost and helpless.
As a millennial, I feel like we have seen a lot—from the Royal massacre and people’s revolution to massive natural calamities and even a pandemic. And somehow we have managed to wrap our heads around it and survive, perhaps even emerge stronger. But what happened this past week was unimaginable. The image of a boy clad in a school uniform being carried away as blood dripped from his head is something I will never forget and be able to understand. Such horrors are countless.
I feel like if I don’t divert my mind and try to make sense of the world, in an increasingly hostile environment, I will not be able to function. So I picked up a selection of books that I feel will be able to help. These are books that I have read before and plan to reread in bits and spurts. I believe they will allow me to play with ideas that I might not necessarily agree with but those that are important to understand.
Why Men Rape by Tara Kaushal
This book is a result of meticulous hard work involving a lot of data collection and research. Kaushal traveled extensively through India, talking to both victims and perpetrators of violence. She interviewed those who have been accused of rape and men involved in gang rapes as well. Many times, she received threats and had to seek police protection. Kaushal argues as well as shows through anecdotal evidence how patriarchy and misogyny have armed men with a deep sense of entitlement, one which leaves them unable to understand the meaning of the word no. I think this is a good book to understand the psychology of men who choose to commit violent crimes as well as discuss an issue that is so often swept under the carpet in Nepal. I’m already rereading it to understand the psychological aspect of crime.
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Yuval Noah Harari is a genius. In ‘Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind’, he has explained human history in an engaging and entertaining way. His writing is smooth and you don’t feel like you are reading a difficult book despite some concepts being hard to grasp. The book received a fair bit of criticism with some readers and critics calling it superficial and simplistic. But I think it’s a great window to how humans got to where we are. It also explains the origins of almost all aspects of mankind including religion, society, and civilization. There’s a lot of evolutionary psychology here too that might be helpful to understand how humans have evolved and where we are at today. I recommend you read the book in spurts to understand some key concepts if you aren’t in the mood to read a 500 page long narrative at the moment. It will definitely help to make sense of how societies work and maybe see the current chaos in a different way.
Against Empathy by Paul Bloom
I read this a long time ago and must have reread the passages I have highlighted a few times ever since then. ‘Against Empathy’ is a brilliant book on how being empathetic isn’t all that great as it’s made out to be. Bloom actually makes a case against empathy, suggesting how we might be better off without it. He says that while empathy seems noble, it’s a flawed guide for making moral decisions. For someone like me who grew up being taught the importance of empathy and its importance to live life as morally as possible, this book came as a shocker. Initially, I couldn’t make sense of what Bloom was saying but as I read the book, I realized how empathy can work against us without us even realizing it. Bloom argues that empathy makes us focus on individuals rather than the broader picture. You then make decisions based on emotions rather than a fair assessment of the situation. Biases are inherent in empathy and it impairs judgement, he says. The book makes you look at your ideas and question where they might be flawed. I loved it and I’m sure everyone reading it will find something to take home.
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
We need to read more books on feminism if we ever hope to create a fair and safe society. On Tuesday, the second day of the protests, a 20 something boy, who was in my lane to set fire to a house, made lewd comments and even tried to come close and put his hand on my shoulders. I could see he felt so powerful and much of it came from the fact that he was a man, despite being half my age. Roxane Gay’s book of essays on feminism, race, and pop culture will make you look at important issues from different perspectives. Gay is an excellent observer of society and her analysis helps clear out the tangles of ideas and thoughts in your head. The book was written over a decade ago but the ideas and themes are still relevant today. The arguments in the book are well researched and clear and make for insightful reading.
The Doctor and the Saint by Arundhati Roy
I love Arundhati Roy’s writing and ideas. I will read anything she writes and I wish she published more often than she does. Her latest book, a memoir, ‘Mother Mary Comes to Me’ is what I’m currently reading and I love it. Her writing has me in a trance. ‘The Doctor and the Saint’ is the Gandhi Ambedkar debate that argues how the caste system was promoted in India by one of its most revered figures. It’s a look at how the caste system oppresses the poor and the voiceless and gives unjustified power to some. The book can get depressing at times but this short but intense work by Roy opens your eyes to how pervasive the caste system is and how that has been harming our society for ages. By examining the contrasting stances of Gandhi and Ambedkar, she provides insight into their lives and guiding principles. What I especially like about Roy’s writing in this book is her wry sense of humor.
