Recommendations - Ishmael's Case

Before I ever make any kind of recommendation, I like to get to know exactly what kind of person I am dealing with. What kind of books do they generally read, if any? What are they looking for in a book? What genre do they usually read? And, does size matter?

These are just a few of the questions I ask when someone asks me to suggest a good book for them. Because, I mean, it's nearly impossible to define 'good' as a term - it's so subjective, and I also find that term to be temporal. 

If let's say, for example, a good friend of mine, in his mid-30s, is going through a hard time and is looking for answers to certain big questions to life, and he asks me to recommend a book, I would ask: are you into reading? Do you care if the book is a thousand pages, or would you rather something short and to the point? I may ask him a few questions about whether he thinks spiritual books are flaky, or if he thinks coming-of-age books are too young for him. I would ask what other books he has read that he would say he liked and which books he disliked and why. Finally, I would ask a more specific question pinpointing something about a book I have in mind for him just to see how he reacts: How do you feel about philosophical books masquerading as a kid's book? This question would let me know if The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry were an option or not. 

I would never tell someone what book they had to read. I always simply suggest a few books and let them be on their way. So this friend, let's say, would be recommended three books: Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn; The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho; and, if this friend were highly literate, I would suggest Notes from Underground, by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Then, I would explain myself. I never ever describe the story or plot. I also recommend that the reader does not look at the back cover (or inside flap, for some books). The way that I introduce the novel is in a way that is relatable to the reader; I explain to them why I think the book in question appeals to him at that point in time. I reveal why I believe this book could help him on his journey. 

So, my reason for recommending Ishmael, in this case, is: it's a book that has many questions and many answers. It's a dialogue between a student and a teacher. And like you, I would say to my friend, the characters in this story are looking for meaning and struggling with many of life's questions. Sometimes the right book at the right time can provide with the right type of therapy. If your eyes and mind are up to the challenge, the right book can offer you so much more than a good read. 

Ishmael isn't an overly complex book, and so if he isn't an avid reader, he wouldn't get lost in the discussion. I think it would challenge him just the right amount to sustain his interest. I would also let him know that it's super entertaining, and so he won't get bored. 

So, that is how I go about picking books for friends and the glimpse I give them on the gift a book offers. I think people don't realize that reading isn't just a hobby that allows your imagination to run free - a 'good' book can also hold up a mirror to your life and help you find exactly what your looking for. 

Maybe that's why I read so much...