In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, author Madeleine Thien discusses her novel about a seven-year-old girl and her father seeking refuge in a sanctuary where different eras and lives intersect. The story centers on three foundational texts by Hannah Arendt, Baruch Spinoza, and Du Fu that the father chooses to share with his daughter during their journey.
The summary explores how these three historical thinkers influenced both the novel and Thien's own worldview during her nine-year writing process. Through their works, Thien examines themes of maintaining humanity during societal collapse, finding hope under authoritarianism, and the importance of love in a flawed world. The discussion delves into how these philosophers and poets approached ethical decision-making while facing oppression in their own times.
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
"The Book of Records" follows the journey of a seven-year-old girl named Lena and her father as they seek refuge in a sanctuary called Refuge Csea. This unique setting serves as a temporary haven where various eras and lives intersect, hosting travelers who are escaping their pasts and seeking new beginnings. As they depart for this sanctuary, Lena's father selects three profound works by Hannah Arendt, Baruch Spinoza, and Du Fu—texts chosen specifically for their complexity and ability to nurture his daughter's mind during their travels.
Thien discusses her deep engagement with these three thinkers, particularly drawn to their philosophical explorations of coping with adversity through love and hope. She examines Arendt's questioning of loving the world, Spinoza's perspectives on human freedom and free will, and Du Fu's contemplations on authoritarianism and hope. These thinkers, despite facing tyranny and societal collapse, maintained their capacity for love and connection.
Thien explains her attraction to these historical figures stems from their experiences with authoritarianism and societal upheaval while maintaining their humanity. She emphasizes their ability to make difficult choices during times of oppression and suggests that loving our flawed world is essential for humanity's survival.
During the nine-year process of writing "The Book of Records," Thien immersed herself in the works of Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu, developing a new perspective on the world. Through wrestling with their complex ideas and contradictions, she gained a deeper appreciation for the nuances of moral life and the constant presence of choice in ethical decision-making. Her engagement with these thinkers opened up what she describes as "another kind of love for the world," one that transcends time and space.
1-Page Summary
"The Book of Records" is a novel that unfolds within the haven of Refuge Csea, capturing the story of a father and daughter as they embark on a fresh start amidst others who are also seeking to settle anew. The intricate premise and the selection of books within the narrative hold distinct significance reflecting the mental fortitude and diversity of human thought across eras.
The novel commences as a seven-year-old girl named Lena and her father seek solace in Refuge Csea—a sanctuary for travelers escaping their pasts and hoping to establish new beginnings. Csea distinguishes itself as an ephemeral hub where eras converge and various lives momentarily intertwine, encapsulating the transient nature of its inhabitants, who typically linger briefly, seldom more than a couple of days.
Envisioned as a transient waypoint, Refuge Csea serves as a backdrop where those fleeing from one phase in life to another interact and rest momentarily before continuing their respective journeys. It is in this fleeting confluence of emigres and temporalities that the protagonists of "The Book of Records" find themselves.
The father, faced with the urgency of departure, instinctively selects three books from the depths of their former life—texts so esoteric, they promise to challenge and captivate the mind through infinite readings. These venerable works, penned by thinkers Hannah Arendt, Baruc ...
Premise and Structure of "The Book of Records"
In discussing her engagement with the works of Hannah Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu, Thien delves into the themes of their philosophical exploration of coping with adversity through the tools of love and hope.
Thien has spent significant time grappling with the ideas and works of the three thinkers, including wrestling with their contradictions. She chose these figures because their ideas have deeply influenced her over time.
In the exploration of Arendt's work, Thien lingers on a pivotal question posed by Arendt regarding the difficulty of loving the world. This question reflects Arendt's broader engagement with themes of freedom, moral life choices, and the individual's relationship with the world.
Although Spinoza's views are not explicitly discussed by Thien in the podcast segment provided, his renowned work, "Ethics," deals with human freedom and free will, probing the potential illusions surrounding this concept. The work is influent ...
Thien's Exploration of Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu
Thien's interest in certain historical figures stems from their experiences with authoritarianism and societal collapse and their dedication to preserving love and connection amidst these challenges.
Thien finds herself compelled by individuals who have grappled with tough decisions and moral quandaries during times of oppression and social turmoil. The historical figures she is drawn to each confronted tyranny, treachery, and the crumbling of society yet managed to embrace love for the world. This paradoxical strength and sentiment during such dire times is what attracts Thien to their stories.
Thien suggests ...
Authoritarianism, Societal Collapse, Struggle to Maintain Hope/Love
Through the intensive process of crafting her novel "The Book of Records," Thien has found herself deeply influenced by the philosophical teachings of Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu.
Thien speaks on how the nine-year journey of writing "The Book of Records" was a transformative educational experience in itself. Engaging with the works and ideas of historical thinkers like Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu, Thien learned to perceive the world with a new perspective. She found this endeavor demanding yet profoundly impactful as it actively involved her in thinking and grappling with the rich and varied perspectives of these intellectual giants.
Thien describes the experience of reading Arendt, Spinoza, and Du Fu as having opened a door to another kind of love for the world, one that traverses time and space. Their written works have allowed her to appreciate the subtleties involved in the choices we make in a moral life. By wrestling with the contradictions and complexities in the works of these thinkers, Thien highlights a significant aspect of morality: it's not about arriving at a fixed state of being a moral person but rather the ongoing presence of choice at every moment. She elucidates that the crux of their teachings centered around the continual decision-making process – whether to speak up or stay silent, to offer protection or to ignore, and to value or disregard the things that come our way ...
Thien's Novel Writing Journey and Its Influence on Her Worldview
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser