I used to absolutely love James Michener novels.
Here is the list of bestselling authors whose books I used to read repeatedly when I was young:
- Dick Francis
- James Clavell
- Ian Fleming
- James Michener
- Wilbur Smith
I have always been a loner and controversial. As such I had to do something to keep myself entertained. And reading the books written by the authors above was my way of doing it.
And my nature and values were changed because of the same.
Spending time with these novelists was much better than wasting my time with empty headed youngsters of my own age. These novels taught me sound ethics and also I was exposed to inspiring tales of adventure.
Michener in many of his novels writes about how the American nation was colonized. When immigrants from Europe reached what is now the United States they found a continent waiting for them. But they needed to conquer the same. The Red Indian who lived there were not exactly welcoming. Many battles were fought between the immigrants and the Indians.
Michener also explains the values and ethics and character traits that were instrumental in enabling the immigrants to succeed in their grand adventure. Any person who reads Michener repeatedly will gain a good understanding of the qualities required of the citizens to enable nation building.
We often talk about our duty to the nation and the debt we owe the founding fathers of India. Much of this is – in my opinion – emotional blackmail. Very few people are inspired by ideas of self sacrifice and duty and so forth. Maybe the rare birds who are aiming for enlightenment will find this inspiring. But not the mass of humanity.
As the Bible says (while speaking of spiritual aspirants) – For many are called but few are chosen.
Out of the entire human race many are called so most are not even called, many are called and few are chosen.
So in order to involve the vast majority of people who are not aiming for enlightenment in the task of nation building we must speak to them in their language. We need to motivate them with incentives that they want and value.
These last four paragraphs are just by the way. I am – in this article – discussing Michener.
Michener knows how to tell a story and entertain. He has inspired me with tales of adventure. Ordinary people are depicted as dealing with extraordinary obstacles and surmounting them. And of course many of the characters fall by the wayside.
Of course Michener is writing about American culture.
If you want to read and digest Indian culture through tales of adventure read the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Also the Arabian Nights. These ancient classics will do an even better job in entertaining, instructing and inspiring you.
But if you would like to immigrate and settle in the USA or perhaps Europe Michener would be ideal. You will learn how the Americans conquered their beautiful and great nation. It will become a part of your education.
Here is an extract from the novel – The Drifters. A mature man is discussing life and ethics with a headstrong young girl of seventeen. The girl says:
… that what gnaws – that a man should waste his life on baubles and at the end cry out, “I have been defrauded.” Believe me at my end I will not complain.
The man asks the girl: “Are you confessing that you have already made the wrong choices?”
The girl replies: “We all do. The trick is to accept the consequences when they fall due.”
I think we can visit counsellors, psychotherapists and coaches all our lives and not get an insight that is as valuable as the one above. And this is just one of the Michener novels. Read them all. It is a necessary part of your education as I said earlier.
I hope you liked this article. Please share it on WhatsApp, FB and X and let me have your comments. Feedback from my readers keeps me going.
Find this handy. Buy me a coffee