Thought-provoking books exploring ideas about community
I have two short books to recommend this week. The Vegetarian, at 192 pages, by Han Kang is a disturbing novel about a women’s decision to stop eating meat and the consequences of that decision. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder is a small book measuring 4 x 6 inches, that deals with some big ideas. On the surface both don’t have much in common, but look a little deeper and both explore ideas of what it means to belong to a community.
In the Vegetarian, Yeong-hye wakes from a vivid dream and refuses to eat meat from that point forward. Her quiet life with her husband is turned upside down. Her relationship with her family becomes strained. Eventually Yeong-hye is ostracized by her husband and her family. Only her sister remains steadfastly by her side, caring for her in spite of Yeong-hye’s ever-stranger behaviour.
Even in red blooded Alberta it’s not uncommon to meet vegetarians so it’s hard to understand why this decision should have such terrible consequences. But the story is set in South Korea where eating meat is ingrained in the culture. South Korea’s society is also more homogenous than Alberta’s so this act of individual rebellion stands out. Of course, the book is not just about vegetarianism. It serves as a vehicle to explore the consequences of individuality for a community. What does it mean be a vegetarian when everyone eats meat? What are the consequences of standing out from the crowd? How much does a community have to put up with to allow for individual expression? Yeong-hye’s behavior eventually becomes self destructive and we see that her individual expression has costs that her community must bear, in this case her sister must care for her. What happens with the costs of individual expression become too onerous for the community? After all there must be limits for individual expression within a community. As South Korea grows wealthier it must grapple with evermore individuals freed from dependence on their traditional communities by their newfound wealth. This will have profound implications for South Korean society. How much individual expression can you allow while still maintaining a cohesive community?
Preserving our communities is Timothy Snyder’s goal in his new book. Mr. Snyder is a historian and his opening line reflects his background. “History does not repeat, but it does instruct.” Mr. Snyder, like all of us, is trying to understand the powerful forces that are straining our societies. His main areas of study are Central and Eastern Europe and he has mined their histories for lessons to guide us. His 20 lessons outline the various ways previous societies have broken down. Authoritarian governments come from the Left as often as they do from the Right so there are lessons here for you no matter your political persuasion. Each lesson is backed by a historical example of this principle breaking down and its consequences.
Some lessons we’ve heard before. “#11. Investigate. Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media.” We live in a complicated world where leaders often engage in spin. It’s doubly important to be knowledgeable and to rely on yourself to understand the issues. Other lessons are subtle. “#12. Make eye contact and small talk.” This small step is perhaps the most important in making connections with people. Those connections are the foundation of politics and maintaining them keeps communities alive. “Having old friends is the politics of last resort. And making new ones is the first step toward change,” says Mr. Snyder.
Of all the lessons this one resonated the most with me. “#3. Beware the one party state.” Authoritarian states are marked by their insatiable need for power. They will do anything to keep it. Yet the more partisan our politics becomes the more this thinking infects our discourse. Why does every political party feel that they need to win every election? That the party you vote for sometimes loses is not a flaw of our democracy, it is precisely what makes our society strong.
Both great books articulate simple truths. People are crazy and are difficult to live with, but we’ve got to figure out a way live together.
Kris Samraj is head of non-fiction services at Medicine Hat Public Library.