(Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I see you.)

Ha!

I didn't need that repressed memory unlocked, Tep.

I wish I could go back in time and tell 21-year-old me "If a dude harangues you to read this so you can 'understand him,' just go find someone else," because WOW, was that dude (and that book) a waste of time and energy.

Lol yes I feel like most books I’d want people to read would not get read. Though the Murderbot suggestion earlier was good for that. And if I had a way to force them to read something I might be picking a nonfiction book that would open minds (not sure what but some kind of history book maybe?)

If he's trying to make you read THAT you probably already understand him ... and don't think it's worth the time.

guys(and mostly it is guys) who love that book really are obsessed by it. I haven't read it...maybe I'd like it, my own taste being rather dudely in its way. But I don't think I want to be an *evangelist* for any book I didn't write myself anymore.(Even if getting David Simon as a follower wins me social media in a way ten people understand). Basically, a guy that doesn't like *anyone* picked me. Well, not *picked me*, picked me, Lippman could make it look like an accident and get another award, but if the Internet had Ms. Congeniality, I think I could have picked up 2021's virtual statuette. Even if I've stopped putting dashes in my expletives.

I've pushed my favorites on very close family or friends, but not generally. Probably because a friend in college gave me her absolute favorite book in the world and I hated it. It was decades ago, so not sure if I would still hate it, but not going to give it another chance. It was The Mangus by John Fowles. My vague memory was that I thought all the characters were sickos. Now I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and they were all sickos, so my embrace of sicko characters may vary.

Other than a number of classics, the ones I recommend include The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I would already know if that was the person's thing before I pushed them. Loved a lot of classics including As I Lay Dying, and Grapes of Wrath. People ought to read lots of the classics!

If he's trying to make you read THAT you probably already understand him ... and don't think it's worth the time.

I was not so smart when I was 21.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

That's on my TBR list!

a friend in college gave me her absolute favorite book in the world and I hated it.

Freshman year of college, my roommate tried to get me to read Prince of Tides, but the cover made it look like a cheesy romance novel, and I was also not super open-minded as a lass of 18. I did eventually read it, I think the summer after freshman year, and I absolutely loved it. And my roommate has teased me about that—initially refusing to read it, but then loving it once I finally read it—ever since.

And even though I do still love Prince of Tides, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to people, because it falls squarely in the category of books I like to call "Holy Shit This Family Is Severely Fucked Up." And while I tend to like those books, I never assume other people will.

GUILTY

GUILTY eta: I just can't see that word enough

ON ALL COUNTS!!!